Fossil watches company (Fossil Group Inc.) is a US-based watch manufacturer that is specialized in the distribution of fashion goods like jewelry, wallets, perfume, leather goods, and of course, watches. The company was founded in 1985 by the Kartsotis brothers in Richardson, Texas – USA. Their main intention was to import fashion watches from overseas and sell them to the US marketplace, to eventually make a profit from it.
This wonderful idea worked out well as within years, Fossil watches were being sold to millions of people. By the early 90s, the brand introduced a line of leather goods, and the first Fossil watches line – the Relic. We founded this article to let the watch lovers know if are Fossil watches good enough to glow on their wrists. The facts below will put light on your questions.
Fossil Watches Brand Passport
The year of foundation: 1985
Where was it founded: – Texas, USA
Brand founder: Tom Kartsotis
Watch type: Dress Watches
Price range: From $100 up to $1000
Movements: Quartz and Mechanical from Switzerland, Japan, and China
Where are Fossil Watches Manufactured?
As with every gigantic watch manufacturer, Fossil watches have passed the boundaries of countries. Their head offices are in Richardson – Texas, the design studio is located in Biel – Switzerland, and the watches are being manufactured elsewhere, in China. As if it wasn’t enough, some of the watch movements are incorporated from Japan. And all this work is finalized with a smile on the wearer’s wrist.
Fossil watches are good, we will have to admit. And they come with entry-level price tags that can be accessible by anyone. With an average price of $150, expect no Haute Horologie, quality mechanical movements, or precious materials. However, sustainability can always be found on Fossil watches.
As stated by Fossil representatives: Approximately 59% of Fossil watches procured are assembled through two majority-owned entities. The other 41% of the watches from Fossil East are assembled by 40 unrelated factories located in Hong Kong and China. 73% of the jewelry products sold are sourced from one of Fossil’s majority-owned entities. The remaining 27% is manufactured by approximately 20 factories in China”.
With this number of pieces manufactured per year, in a wide network that can almost be uncontrolled, you are right to question if are Fossil watches good enough to pay the money.
Fossil Watches Resale Value
Questioning if are Fossil watches good is not like putting Rolex’s accuracy into doubt. There is a considerable number of watches being manufactured from different watch factories, mostly in China, and there is no surprise if the quality control process might fail every once in a while. However, many reputable watch brands follow the same working path to lower the manufacturing cost and deliver watches to consumers at more reasonable prices.
In terms of resale value, different watch shops or watch dealers will pay different prices. The Fossil watch brand is a good one, but when compared with other watches (Hamilton, Rotary, Orient, Casio, Seiko, Citizen) it is way below average. A pre-owned Fossil watch can be easily found on the grey market for $50 up to $200 depending on the model. Sure, you will have to do your due diligence and check if the watch comes with the box and papers. If not, at least an authentication receipt from a trusted source would save you from purchasing a replica. However, considering that the price range of a new Fossil watch is relatively low, it is not worth taking the risk.
Under the Umbrella of Fossil Group
Today, Fossil watches are a world force. Under the Fossil Group umbrella, you will find watch brands like Skagen Denmark, WSI, Misfit, and eventually Zodiac Watches. The last one was a century-old Swiss watch manufacturer prior to being acquired by Fossil in 2001 for $4.7 million. Later, Skagen Denmark, the Danish watch brand was sold to Fossil Group in 2012 for $225 million and 150.000 Fossil shares the total value of which was approx. $237 million. In addition, licensing agreements have enabled Fossil to manufacture watches for Michael Kors, Adidas, Karl Lagerfeld, Burberry, DKNY, Emporio Armani Watches, Armani Exchange, Emporio Armani Swiss Made, and more.
Fossil Watches Review & Buying Guide in 2021
Fossil The Minimalist Slim
If you are a fan of those classic watches that feature a simple yet fully accomplished design, this Fossil watch is worth taking a look at. The Minimalist Slim from Fossil is a minimalist watch with a 44mm stainless steel case and a genuine brown leather strap. The easy-to-read blue dial houses the luminous hour hands and stick indexes.
Add here the minute markers on the outer rim and we have a perfect watch from Fossil designed with minimalism in mind. Further features include a quartz movement and a 50meters/5ATM water resistance rating. However, we recommend removing the watch from your wrist prior to showering or swimming. Otherwise, irreversible damages can be caused to your precious Fossil.
Townsman Fossil Chronograph Watch
Fossil has something to offer to everyone, and their watches come always with an entry-level price tag without compromising quality. To prove if are Fossil watches good enough to add to your collection, take a look at this chronograph from the giant manufacturer.
If a more functional watch is what you are looking for, Fossil got you covered. Fossil Townsman model FS5522 features a chronograph function that will help you track elapsed time for different activities. You never know when you might need one! Honestly, it is more a matter of design as few of us will need a chronograph watch on our wrists.
However, along with the chronograph, the watch features a classic design with a contemporary touch that will fit your wrist on formal as well as casual occasions.
Fossil Everett Men’s Stainless Steel Watch
Next, on our picks for the best Fossil watches of 2021, comes this timepiece that can be considered as a pearl on a man’s wrist. Fossil Everett watch model FS5821 features robust masculine construction with a 42mm stainless steel case and bracelet with a single pusher foldover clasp closer. The dial is where the manufacturer spent their time the most. It features silver-cut hour markers with luminous material lined up on a blue dial with mosaic motives.
A tiny shy date window is perfectly positioned at the 6 o’clock position. As with the majority of Fossil watches, this one comes with a sustainable quartz movement as well as the default Fossil 50meters/5ATM water resistance rating.
Fossil Square Watch Architect 03
Every Fossil watch is unique and this can be perfectly seen in the variety of colors, designs, concepts, and in this case, the shape of the watch. Fossil Architect 03 is a drees square watch that makes sure to draw attention to your wrist. It comes with a square stainless steel case that counts 40mm in diameter. The silver-toned dial is a work of art itself. It is beautifully adorned with Roman numerals at 3, 6, 9, and 12 o’clock positions, all surrounded by 4 symmetrical frameworks. Add here the classic blue hour hands and here you got one of the best Fossil watches to glow on one’s wrist for life.
The Carlyle HR Gen 5 Fossil Smartwatch
Living in the century of digitalization has affected all aspects of life and types of industries. According to researches, around 30 million smartwatches were sold in 2017 alone and the figures kept growing in the following years. Fossil understands the lucrative business of smartwatches and they decided to step in with a model of their own. Fossil Carlyle HR Gen5 is powered by Google’s Wear OS and is compatible with both: Android 6.0+ and iOS 12.0+.
The watch is a sensors and options depot. Featuring a Compass, Accelerometer, Altimeter, Gyroscope, Ambient Light, Off-body IR, and a PPG Heart Rate monitor, this Fossil smartwatch takes functionality really seriously. Further features include 24+ hours of extended mode battery life, Connectivity with Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, NFC, and GPS.
Processor: Qualcomm Snapdragon Wear 3100
Memory: 1GB RAM, 8GB Storage
Display: 1.28″ AMOLED / 416 x 416 / 328ppi
Townsman Fossil Automatic Watch
Fossil Townsman Automatic is here to answer the question if are Fossil watches good. As you will less often find on Fossil watches, this one comes with a mechanical automatic movement. The watch hands are powered either by the wearer’s wrist kinetic energy or you can also rotate the crown in the anti-clockwise direction about 60 times until you feel a slight resistance.
This way you can create a power reserve for a minimum of 36 hours. What you will love the most is its opened skeleton dial which will allow you to catch a glimpse of the movement. A small sub-dial positioned at 6 o’clock will keep track of seconds. In the outer ring, you will find the silver cut luminous hour markers aligned beautifully in a blue field. In terms of durability, the watch is not created for rugged activity as it is simply a dress-type watch. The 50 meters water resistance rating ensures endurance for daily life use only, but not for showering, nor swimming.
What are people saying about Fossil watches? (Fossil watches Reviews from different sites)
John F. from Quora – “Regarding failures in battery-operated watches, from personal experience, tops them all…Due to this reason, I no longer give Fossil watches as gifts.“
Amazon Customer – “In short, this Fossil watch is f’ing amazing… Stop considering and order it already”
Alex from ProductReview – “In terms of style and quality, Fossil watches are the best… I’ve been buying Fossil watches for the last decade and never had any issue…“
In Conclusion
If you made it up here means you are looking for an honest judgment from us. From our viewpoint, there are countless other watch brands that are worth considering, and even for the same price range. However, Fossil has proven that their watches are decent to be on everyone’s wrist, starting from design to sustainability. And for the price being offered, I personally would not be thinking twice if I would like the watch. Are Fossil watches good? Yes, they are!
