time-keeper


Fears welcomes new Redcliff family of round watches

February 2024


Fears welcomes new Redcliff family of round watches

Named after the Bristol district where the company was first founded in 1846, the new Redcliff 39.5 Date boasts a slim case inspired by the elegant silhouette of historic Fears models from the 1940s and ’50s. Available in four dial colours, this everyday timepiece embodies modern sophistication.

F

ears re-introduces their Redcliff family of round watches, first seen in 2016 when Fears was re-established. The new mechanical Redcliff 39.5 Date revives the original’s more contemporary interpretation of Fears’ elegant design language with a lume-filled baton dial and matching hands.

Taking its name from the Bristol district where the company was first founded in 1846, the new watch features a slim case that echoes the silhouette of both the original quartz Redcliff and historic Fears models from the 1940s and 50s. Designed to be an elegant and sophisticated everyday timepiece, the new Fears Redcliff is offered in four dial colours.

The latest design features a contemporary round case with integrated lugs and a screw-down case back, bezel and crown that brings its water resistance to 150m (15 ATM). Spanning 39.5mm in diameter with a case thickness of only 9.95mm, this slim case combines a brushed middle-section with the bezel’s graceful profile featuring a polished finish. The proportions of the case and its integrated lugs help ensure the watch will perfectly fit the contours of any wrist.

Fears welcomes new Redcliff family of round watches

Powering the new Redcliff 39.5 Date is a customised La Joux-Perret G100 movement made entirely in Switzerland. The movement features automatic winding, quick-set date and a generous power reserve of 60 hours, while each watch is regulated to 0/+5 seconds per day.

The dial on the Redcliff 39.5 Date features two levels; a lower outer section cut with vinyl-like grooves and a raised central area hand-finished with either a vertically or sunburst brushed pattern. The date is shown at the 3 o’clock position with a colour matched date disc featuring the Fears ‘Edwin’ numerals, designed in-house. The window for the date has a shallow bevel running around its four sides aiding reading of the date disc while giving the optical illusion of the date appearing larger on the dial.

Each dial features hand-applied, diamond-cut indices that are hand-filled with Super-LumiNova in Switzerland. The 12 o’clock index features a subtle reference to Fears’ Bristolian heritage with the applique mirroring the same angles and shape as the towers of the famous Clifton Suspension Bridge – turned upside down. During the day the tri-bevelled indices and hands catch the light brilliantly, allowing time to be read easily. While in low light conditions, the bright lume glows with a strong blue colour, staying charged throughout the night, making the new Redcliff a perfect companion when travelling or flying.

Fears welcomes new Redcliff family of round watches

The hand-finished dials are available in four distinct colours, each giving the new Redcliff a different look and feel:

  • Pewter Grey – a warm, mid grey that complements the tone of the 316L stainless steel case. Sharp black printing contrasted against a soothing cyan for the minute numerals and seconds hand. The baton appliques and hands are plated in Black Gold.
  • Raven Black – Taking its inspiration from the glossy black feathers of a raven bird this dial features a sophisticated black with a sunburst pattern etched on to the dials surface that catches the light beautifully. White and silver printing contrast the darkness of the dial with hands and baton appliques all plated in precious Rhodium.
  • Cherry Red – a bright and eye-catching red that perfectly captures the tones of a punnet of freshly picked red cherries. White printing, a pure white seconds hand and coral pink printed accents complement the richness of the dials finish with baton appliques and hands plated in precious Rhodium.
  • Mallard Green – Exclusive to the Fears Boutique in Bristol (and the next instalment of the Fears ‘Boutique Editions’), this elegant, deep shade of green is reminiscent of the colour of a Drake duck. White and silver printing that contrast brightly against the dial, paired with hands and baton appliques all plated in precious Rhodium.

The new Redcliff is fitted with a bespoke, 3-link bracelet made from solid 316L stainless steel. This new bracelet combines brushed and polished elements that complement the slim case, giving the watch an integrated feel. The bracelet can be easily adjusted for a perfect fit (with both 8mm and 6mm screw links) and a push button micro-adjustment feature located within the trigger-release fold-over clasp allows for ‘on the move’ adjustments to be made.

The bracelet can be easily removed with its quick-release spring bars as the watch can also be worn on the woven textile strap that accompanies each watch. The textile straps are made from a tightly 3D woven nylon material with an Alcantara® lining, quick-release spring bars and a new bespoke pin buckle (featuring the Fears Cipher).

Offering a more contemporary take on the elegant, understated Fears design language, the new Redcliff 39.5 Date is designed and built to be worn at all times and for any occasion. While the watch is easy to dress up on a leather strap when worn on its bracelet this durable timepiece can be enjoyed during more active situations.

Fears welcomes new Redcliff family of round watches

Commenting on the launch of the new Fears Redcliff 39.5 Date collection, Nicholas Bowman-Scargill, (4th) Managing Director of the Fears Watch Company, says, “On the 3rd November 2016, I relaunched my family’s watch company with the first new Fears watch in 40 years – the Redcliff Quartz. This slim, elegant watch was a contemporary take on the classic Fears watch and my interpretation of what I thought the company would be making if it hadn’t become dormant in 1976.

"The Redcliff was discontinued in early 2020 and since then we’ve not had a round-cased Fears watch in our collection - until now. That’s why I’m delighted by the launch of the new Redcliff, which captures the contemporary side of the Fears design language while the Brunswick continues to embody the more classical side of the company. Taking its name from the iconic area of Bristol where my great-great-great-grandfather founded the company in 1846, it’s wonderful to see the Redcliff name back on a Fears watch.”

The new Fears Redcliff 39.5 Date range is available to purchase from today directly from Fears (online and in their Bristol showroom) and via their network of Fears authorised stockists around the world. The Redcliff 39.5 Date retails for £3,150 inc. VAT (£2,625 ex. VAT) on a bespoke 3-link bracelet whilst also including a textile strap. More information can be found at www.fearswatches.com

TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS

SERIAL NUMBER Individually numbered, sequentially
MODEL REFERENCE BS139.500
RETAIL PRICE £3,150 inc. VAT (£2,625 ex. VAT)

CASE

  • 316L Stainless Steel, 39.5mm diameter, 47mm lug-to-lug, 9.95mm thickness.
  • Screw down, signed crown. Closed, screw down caseback.
  • 150m (15ATM) water resistant.
  • Made in Hong Kong

LUG WIDTH 20mm

MOVEMENT

  • Top-grade La Joux-Perret G100, automatic winding, 24 jewels, 28,800vph (4Hz) and 68 hr power reserve.
  • Dial colour-matched date disc featuring Fears’ bespoke ‘Edwin’ numerals.
  • Finished with Côtes de Genève, Rhodium plating 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

  • Pewter Grey in Rhodium coating with clear protective varnish. Hand brushed vertical finish to surface, with lowered chapter ring featuring ‘vinyl’ grooves CNC milled. Two colour printing; Black and Cyan. Diamond cut, Pewter Grey in Rhodium coating with clear protective varnish. Hand brushed vertical finish to surface, with lowered chapter ring featuring ‘vinyl’ grooves CNC milled. Two colour printing; Black and Cyan. Diamond cut, Black Gold coated, tri-bevelled baton indexes featuring Super-LumiNova, hand-applied.
  • Raven Black in Black galvanic coating with clear protective varnish. Hand brushed sunburst finish to surface, with lowered chapter ring featuring ‘vinyl’ grooves CNC milled. Two colour printing; White and Silver. Diamond cut, Rhodium coated, tri-bevelled baton indexes featuring Super-LumiNova, hand-applied.
  • Cherry Red in bespoke red varnish, hand-painted. Hand brushed sunburst finish to surface, with lowered chapter ring featuring ‘vinyl’ grooves CNC milled. Two colour printing; White and Coral Pink. Diamond cut, Rhodium coated, tri-bevelled baton indexes featuring Super-LumiNova, hand-applied.
  • Mallard Green in 99.9% pure silver with bespoke varnish, hand-painted. Hand brushed vertical finish to surface, with lowered chapter ring featuring ‘vinyl’ grooves CNC milled. Two colour printing; White and Silver. Diamond cut, Rhodium coated, tri-bevelled baton indexes featuring Super-LumiNova, hand-applied.
  • Made in Germany

HANDS

  • ‘Fears’ hands – solid, tri-bevelled, diamond polished. Hand-filled with Super-LumiNova.
  • Pewter Grey dial: Black gold plated with cyan blue painted seconds hand
  • Raven Black dial: Rhodium plated with matching seconds hand
  • Cherry Red dial: Rhodium plated with white painted seconds hand
  • Mallard Green dial: Rhodium plated with matching seconds hand
  • Made in Switzerland

FUNCTIONS Time with central seconds, Date

WARRANTY 2 Year guarantee from date of purchase

BRACELET

  • 3-link bracelet in 316L stainless steel, dual finishing with polished and brushed elements.
  • Foldover clasp with push-button micro-adjustment. Quick-release spring bars.
  • Made in Hong Kong

STRAP

  • Accompanying Pewter Grey:
    Pewter Grey in nylon textile, 3D weave, lined in Alcantara®. Fitted with Fears Cipher bespoke pin buckle.
  • Accompanying Raven Black:
    Black in nylon textile, 3D weave, lined in Alcantara®. Fitted with Fears Cipher bespoke pin buckle.
  • Accompanying Cherry Red:
    Pewter Grey in nylon textile, 3D weave, lined in Alcantara®. Fitted with Fears Cipher bespoke pin buckle.
  • Accompanying Mallard Green:
    Indigo in nylon textile, 3D weave, lined in Alcantara®. Fitted with Fears Cipher bespoke pin buckle.
  • Made in Hong Kong

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