[Neopras]

Hello everybody!
I'm very new to this forum and a total newbie to watches in general. (Keep that in mind as you read )
I'm currently looking for my first watch. I've had a digital Casio for a bunch of years now and want to get something more... traditionnal (Analog, if you want)
So as i've been looking around, i have ran across "skeleton" watches a few times and instantly fell in love with this type of design. But, a few google searches later, i noticed that my wallet probably wouldn't have enough money in it to finance a true Swiss-made Skeleton watch. But on the other hand, i didn't want to buy some chinese-amazon brand either... But then i discovered a watch that seemed to just fit perfectly in my price range (200-300$), taste and quality expectations;
The Fossil Townsman.
Here's a look on the piece itself:
https://www.fossil.com/us/en/men/wa...utomatic-brown-leather-watch-sku-me3043p.html
if the link doesn't work, here are some images:

So, while looking around on this forum, i found out that Fossil was considered to be a "Fashion" brand, and not as a serious watch brand.
My question now is: As an amateur not very interested in having the best possible mechanical movement and who wants mostly just have a beautiful watch that yet has a respectable quality, is my choice good?
And how is fossil in general quality terms?

Note: I've also took a look on the Swatch Body&Soul, and it's nice too. Yet, i'm looking for a watch with a band, and not a bracelet, so that one doesn't suit me very well.

Hoping to find somebody who can help me!
PS: I'm Swiss (Yes a swiss person who buys chinese watches... what a sacrilege :think so excuse any english mistakes

 

[yongsoo1982]

Welcome to the addictive world of watches. Just a quick FYI, I tend to type "[search inquiry] watchuseek" into google as a first round of info gathering to see what's been discussed. For example:
https://www.watchuseek.com/f71/fossil-watches-342468.html
https://www.watchuseek.com/f71/fossil-quality-314238.html
https://www.watchuseek.com/f2/can-we-talk-fossil-moment-948797.html
https://www.watchuseek.com/f386/advice-buying-fossil-diverting-different-brand-682606.html
https://www.watchuseek.com/f71/fossil-watches-who-makes-them-what-movements-etc-644453.html

Anywho,yes, Fossil watches amount to "Fashion watches." Fossil also happens to be responsible for many other fashion brands including Burberry, DKNY, Emporio Armani, Armani Exchange, Columbia Sportswear, Diesel, Frank Gehry, Karl Lagerfeld, Tory Burch, Kate Spade, Michael Kors, Callaway Golf, Davis Cup, Marc by Marc Jacobs, Skagen Designs, Michele and Adidas.

For about the same price, you can get a forum-vetted Sea-Gull Skeleton watch. It is a Chinese watch company but it is a Chinese watch company that isn't pretending to be Swiss and is actually producing quality pieces.

not my pic

 

[wsfarrell]

+1 on the Seagull----beautiful watch.

 

[rappasol]

Fossil are very good watches. They are a fashion brand but also a real watch manufacturer which, as stated in a previous post, manufactures for many of the large well known fashion brands.
If you like the Fossil, it will be a good reliable watch. In fact, Fossil offers an 11 years warranty on their watches in the US.

having said that, between the two watches above, I would myself go for the Sea-gull which I think looks much nicer.

 

[Neopras]

Thank you all for the quick replies!
The Sea-gull does look pretty good in fact... I'll make my decision between these two i think.
Thanks for the help and have a nice day!

 

[Neopras]

Unfortunately, the sea-gull seems to not be available in europe, so i'll probably go with the Fossil.

 

[watch_hor]

The whole Fossil thing aside, I'm turned off by all that dead space around the movement. If it's a skeleton I want to see the beautiful movement not a window to my wrist skin.


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[black watch]

I think the old Fossil watch tins are more collectable than the watches.

 

[Pride]

I would go for the Seagull instead too, though I'm not a big fan of skeleton watches.

 

[mpalmer]

There are much better options in that price range. Seiko, Orient, and Sea-Gull would be great shouts. If you must have a skeleton watch, you would be better off with this: Sea-Gull M182SK skeleton watch, the best combination of price, fashion design, quality in terms of reliability and accuracy

Instead of a mystery Chinese movement of unknown source, grade, or accuracy, you will be getting a Sea-Gull movement directly from the manufacturer, which has a reputation for placing very accurate movements in their own branded watches. It's also cheaper.

 

[Watch Fan in Beijing]

Used to wear fossils in college, which was when it was either that or Swatch, if you wanted something "fashionable" and cheap. Nothing wrong with them. They survived some serious abuse and I would wear them until the battery would die and then buy a new one (never bothered getting a new battery for some reason). And I bought their first automatic watch which had a Miyota movt in it.

However, these days, there are so many other options to consider especially when Fossil goes for 150, 200 bucks. When I wore them, they were like 40 bucks. But in the end, if you like the look I think it's a totally okay buy. Fossil is a so-called "fashion watch" brand, but that doesn't mean anything in terms of its reliability.

 

[luth_ukail]

U know, i'd rather go with Swatch system 51 kind of watch than the skeleton fossil I've shown.

sent from moto x

 

[DrTandoori]

I'd get a sea gull m182. I bought my sister one for her birthday a year ago, she's wasn't into watches but this watch stirred her interest into watches.

The watch looks great. It runs +8s/day after 1 year. I do think that there's a difference in quality between Fossil and Sea-gull. If you plan on using the watch for a year or so, and don't care about if it breaks, get the Fossil. If you think you want to keep it for a slightly longer time and be sure you get a quality timepiece for that money, get the sea-gull. There are a lot of topics about their quality, so you will not be disappointed!

If you think it's not available in europe, you're right and wrong. You're right about the fact that there is no sea-gull store in europe. But Sea-gull does send the watches with DHL worldwide express to europe. I had to pay about 50 euro's in import duties (Netherlands). No idea what it will be for you in Switzerland.

Hope to see a pic of the M182SK soon! Good luck!

 

[Lcoopie]

I would think those complete skeletons are hard to see the time.

 

[Neopras]

I'd get a sea gull m182. I bought my sister one for her birthday a year ago, she's wasn't into watches but this watch stirred her interest into watches.

The watch looks great. It runs +8s/day after 1 year. I do think that there's a difference in quality between Fossil and Sea-gull. If you plan on using the watch for a year or so, and don't care about if it breaks, get the Fossil. If you think you want to keep it for a slightly longer time and be sure you get a quality timepiece for that money, get the sea-gull. There are a lot of topics about their quality, so you will not be disappointed!

If you think it's not available in europe, you're right and wrong. You're right about the fact that there is no sea-gull store in europe. But Sea-gull does send the watches with DHL worldwide express to europe. I had to pay about 50 euro's in import duties (Netherlands). No idea what it will be for you in Switzerland.

Hope to see a pic of the M182SK soon! Good luck!

You're right, i didn't see there was an official online store of sea-gull. At first i only found some untrustworthy sites wich i didn't want to buy from. Anyway, after some thinking, i'll probably go with the Sea-Gull M182GK (the golden version of the M182SK, i much prefer that one). If the import fees were 50 bucks for you, i don't think it will be much different for me. Thank you all for your good suggestions! This is a nice forum

 

[rfortson]

I'd vote Sea-Gull or Swatch Body and Soul. You can find the Sea-Gull via the internet.

Though, in Fossil's defense, they have purchased/revived Zodiac and even post links to refurbished vintage Zodiacs on their website, so they are trying to be a little more serious about their watches.

 

[Ace McLoud]

This site is trustworthy, I've bought from it before:

Sea-Gull M182SK skeleton watch, the best combination of price, fashion design, quality in terms of reliability and accuracy

As for Fossil, they are a brand to watch (pun intended) in the future. I like what they have done with the Zodiac brand. I think the possible threat from smart watches has caused them to look towards watch enthusiasts as a more reliable source of income.

I don't partiularly care for skeleton watches though.

 

[Jabar Braverman]

If you really want a skeleton watch (don't like them myself), then get the Seagull.

I have owned Fossil watches before I got really into watches, and they are not good quality, even for the price. In that price range, just about every Seiko or Orient is better than any Fossil.

If you'd be satisfied with a semi-skeleton, Orient makes some good ones in your price range. I can almost guarantee you that the quality will be superior to that Fossil.


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[1220]

Agreed.... Although I've seen some Fossils whose style I liked from a distance, the moment you hold them you realize its not a serious piece.

If you really want a skeleton watch (don't like them myself), then get the Seagull.

I have owned Fossil watches before I got really into watches, and they are not good quality, even for the price. In that price range, just about every Seiko or Orient is better than any Fossil.

If you'd be satisfied with a semi-skeleton, Orient makes some good ones in your price range. I can almost guarantee you that the quality will be superior to that Fossil.

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[ed21x]

that movement is a Hangzhou 2189 movement, which has that distinct 'finger' over the stem. It's a rock solid movement, hand winding, non-hacking, 21600 bph, skeletonized, so somewhat like having a power reserve because you can see the mainspring. In this price range, you can actually find tons of skeletons using this same exact movement, as hangzhou tends to produce this movement expressly in its skeleton form.