Much like art cars, art watches are often divisive; those who favor function tend to dismiss them as wrist candy, while the stylish or art-forward tend to snap them up as fast as possible. So, when a microbrand with a reputation for both mechanical and design prowess decides to make an art watch—in this case, a watch inspired by a recognizable artist—it gets everyone a little giddy, and a little nervous.
Enter the newest Fears and Ace Jewelers’ collaboration: the Brunswick 38 De Stijl Edition. Put forth as a partnership between Dutch artistry (as represented by the Amsterdam-based Ace Jewelers) and British refinement (courtesy of Bristol’s own Fears), the De Stijl Edition is inspired by the Dutch artistic movement of the same name, and based on the Fears Brunswick 38 platform. The De Stijl movement was founded by Theo van Doesburg in the early twentieth-century, and its most well-known artist is Piet Mondriaan, whose work has clearly played a large role in the conception of the De Stijl Edition; more on that below.
First, though, let’s take a look at the basics of the Brunswick 38. It features a 38mm stainless steel cushion case that Fears fans will recognize instantly, thanks to now-iconic design elements like the onion-shaped crown and lack of flat surfaces. Inside, a manual-winding La Joux-Perret D100 movement provides the mechanical heartbeat of the De Stijl, and ensures the level of functionality and refinement that enthusiasts have come to expect from Fears.
The dial, however, is where the De Stijl Edition shines. Inspired by Mondriaan’s transcendent works that combined primary colors, vertical and horizontal lines, and careful geometric balance, the De Stijl Edition’s face is both enigmatically wild and carefully constrained. With no minute track or indices, time is kept solely by the skeleton hour and minute hands pointing at hidden rectangles at each hour, and the cleverly-located blue square subdial that sits just above 6 o’clock. Hovering neatly at about 11 o’clock, in its own geometric niche, is the Fears logo, providing an off-balance anchor point, mirrored by the word “England” in its own blue quadrant between the 6 and 5 positions. The result is a smorgasbord of blue, white, yellow, red, gray, and black, a criss-cross of bold lines and colors that somehow do not lose themselves in each other. It provides a compelling backdrop for a timepiece, and is elevated by the smart choice to keep the 20mm strap black to highlight the brash and lively colors of the dial.
While I am not an art historian, nor am I particularly schooled in the ways of the De Stijl movement (and its quasi-successor, Bauhaus), it was easy for me to see the inspirations of this particular timepiece clearly. Still, the result is not cloying, or reveling in idolatry. Rather, it shows a distinct appreciation from both Fears and Ace Jewelers for the foundations of an artistic movement that remains as relevant as ever to modern design, while maintaining a level of class and refinement that other art watches tend to eschew.
The Fears x Ace Jewelers Brunswick 38 De Stijl Edition is available now, exclusively through Ace Jeweler’s Amsterdam and London locations, the Fears Watch Company Boutique in Bristol, and www.AceJwelers.com. It retails for 3,400 euros (excluding VAT). Fears
Elodie Townsend
2025-11-25 17:00:00