Time for a relaunch?
How do you relaunch a watch company that’s been dormant since 1976? For Nicholas Bowman-Scargill, the answer lay not just in heritage, but in hustle. When he discovered that his great-great-great-grandfather once ran one of Britain’s oldest watch firms, he left his job at Rolex, sold nearly everything he owned, and set out to bring Fears Watches back to life.
In this episode of Visionary, recorded on campus at Here East, Nicholas joins Georgina Godwin to share how he built a brand that’s as comfortable in the 21st century as it was in the 19th — with a strong sense of identity, quiet confidence, and a modern take on craftsmanship.
From learning Illustrator at night school to navigating the secretive Swiss watchmaking world, Nicholas reveals the practical steps (and personal sacrifices) behind turning a family legacy into a thriving modern company.
What you’ll learn in this episode:
How to fuse history with relevance — and avoid turning heritage into a museum piece.
Why modern luxury is about joy, honesty, and the power of doing things properly.
What it takes to bootstrap a business from scratch — including selling everything except the furniture.
Watch the episode on YouTube below, or listen via your preferred podcast app.
