Fears at Ten: The Story of Rebuilding a Watch Company
Being Fearless: The First 10 Years of Rebuilding a Watch Company is a 176-page book by British watch journalist Chris Hall, published by Bristol Books CIC to mark ten years since Nicholas Bowman-Scargill revived Fears in 2016. Founded in Bristol in 1846, the family company closed in 1976 before Bowman-Scargill, Edwin Fear’s descendant, left his job at Rolex to rebuild it. The modern business has grown from a one-person operation into a 14-person company headquartered in Bristol, with watches designed there and hand-built in Britain. The book traces the people, decisions, setbacks and risks behind Fears’ revival, including periods when the company faced possible bankruptcy. Drawing on conversations and previously unseen behind-the-scenes photography, Hall aims to offer a candid account of the stress, uncertainty, perseverance and hard work involved, rather than a polished corporate retrospective. The book costs £45 and is available from 13 November 2026 through the Fears Boutique, the company website, Amazon and bookstores.
Buying Time Analysis: This story matters because it documents the risks, setbacks, and perseverance behind rebuilding Fears, offering an honest account of how a historic British watchmaker became a modern business.
