he new ‘Helmsman’ joins the core Fears collection in the Brunswick family and features an entirely brushed and media-blasted case to reduce distracting reflection of the sun from the sky or glint from the water. The case has increased water resistance to 20 ATM (200m) to ensure regular soaking in open water has no impact on the watch’s performance. Time is shown on a bright white dial with a matte textured surface ensuring maximum contrast while reducing glare.

The contrasting applied chapter ring is finished in Marine Blue to complement the blued hands and indices and helps focus the eye on the core time telling part of the dial. The hands and indices are diamond polished to ensure they catch the light easily to increase legibility. Finally, the watch is fitted to a waterproof FKM textured rubber strap in matching Bright White with Marine Blue stitching and keepers with an all-brushed Fears’ bespoke buckle.

Powering the ‘Helmsman’ is a top-grade, Swiss Made La Joux-Perret G101 movement calibre displaying Hours, Minutes and Seconds. Visible through the open case back is the Fears Blue automatic winding rotor with a ‘Bristol flower’ motif highlighted in contrasting white.

Commenting on the launch of the Fears Brunswick 40 ‘Helmsman’ ES, Nicholas Bowman-Scargill, (4th) Managing Director of the Fears Watch Company, says: “As the second watch from Fears to carry the ES (Endurance Specification) designation, the ‘Helmsman’ is the result of our learnings from last year’s Experimental 01 watch created for a British rowing world-record attempt. During the development of the ‘Helmsman’ we focused specifically on the individuals who will be wearing this watch when out on the water and paid careful attention to understand what they require from a time-telling tool on their wrist. The Experimental 01 showed us the importance of having an anti-reflective case to avoid any sun being distractingly shone into the eye, either from the sky or water. The high contrast, matte white dial was also shown to aid legibility while keeping the dial clear of unnecessary wording.”

This being a Fears, the watch must still have a degree of elegance to it, which comes from the subtle adjustments made to the Brunswick 40 case architecture. This elegance is a by-product of its function as a tool watch. Quite often a watch designed for those yachting will be focused more on how it looks and wears in the yacht club, whereas we have designed and made a tool watch focused on how it operates on the wrist in this specific environment.

The Brunswick 40 ‘Helmsman’ ES is non-limited edition. The watch can be purchased at the Fears Bristol Boutique, via the Fears website, and through the global network of Fears Authorised Stockists. The Brunswick 40 ‘Helmsman’ ES retails for £3,450 inc. VAT (£2,875 ex. VAT).

TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS

CASE

• 316L Stainless Steel, 40mm x 38mm cushion-shaped, 46.5mm lug-to-lug (depth 11.90mm to top of domed sapphire glass). All brushed and media-blasted. Screw down, signed crown. Open caseback.
• 20ATM (200m) water resistant.
• Made in Hong Kong

LUG WIDTH

• 20mm

MOVEMENT

• Top-Grade La Joux-Perret G101 automatic winding, 24 jewels, 28,800vph (4Hz) and 68 hr power reserve. Finished with Côtes de Genève and blued screws. Custom decorated rotor featuring the ‘Bristol Flower’.
• Made in Switzerland

GLASS

• Sapphire Crystal with ARdur® Swiss anti-reflective coating on inside and outside.
• Crystal made in Hong Kong
• Anti-reflective coating applied in Switzerland

DIAL

• Bright White
• Textured surface, coated in matte white lacquer with blue printing. Applied Marine Blue chapter ring with white printing. Applied indices, diamond polished, PVD blue. Filled with Grade A BGW9 Super-LumiNova.
• Made in Asia (India)

HANDS

• Fears ‘pipette’ hands, diamond polished, PVD blue. Filled with Grade A BGW9 Super-LumiNova®, paired with a diamond polished, PVD blue seconds hand.
• Made in Asia (India)

FUNCTIONS

• Hours, minutes and central seconds

WARRANTY

• 2 Year guarantee from date of purchase

STRAP

• Bright White textured FKM rubber with contrasting Marine Blue stitching, lined in black FKM rubber. All brushed pin buckle.
• Made in Belgium

SERIAL NUMBER

• Individually numbered, sequentially

MODEL REFERENCE

• BS240.000

RETAIL PRICE

• £3,450 inc. VAT (£2,875 ex. VAT)