Texas-based Fossil, Inc., known for its range of low-priced, mass market wristwatches and accessories, has launched a new collection of Swiss-made timepieces, the first from the brand to include Swiss movements, including some mechanicals, with prices ranging from $695 to $995.
The new Fossil Swiss collection is comprised of three models, an Automatic with a mechanical movement, and a Chronograph and Day-Date model with Swiss quartz movements. All of the watches have five-piece case constructions and double-domed, scratch-resistant sapphire crystals. The dials are also domed and feature applied numerals at the 12 o’clock and 6 o’clock positions and applied rectangular indices. The hour, minute, and second hands are slightly curved. Each of the watches is offered with either a full-grain genuine leather strap or a stainless steel three-link bracelet; several strap colors as well as dial color options are available. The Automatic models, whose cases measure 38 mm, have sapphire exhibition casebacks that offer a view of the movements (Fossil has not provided the details on the movements other than their Swiss origin.)
The Fossil Swiss Chronograph models (with 45-mm cases) have a tricompax dial design, which includes a center-mounted stop-seconds hand, a minutes-counter subdial at 9 o’clock, an hour counter subdial at 6 o’clock, running seconds on a subdial at 3 o’clock, and a tachymeter scale on the outer edge of the dial. The Day-Date models (no photos available) resemble the automatics, but have 43-mm cases and their dials include an aperture for the day and date at 3 o’clock.
These are almost surely Ronda movements; Fossil’s parent company is launching Shinola (Detroit-assembled watches) in a partnership with Swiss Ronda. Good on ya Fossil. Doing the right thing all around.
do you actually think this will be successful. Fossil already has an established market and “Branding”. They should have did it like citizen when they came out with the “Campanola” collection.