Fossil Townsman Chronograph – $125.00
NOTE: There are plenty of the Fossil “Townsman” model available on Amazon for less
UPDATE: Looks like Amazon got these in a few days after the post fired off. $92.99 and fulfilled by Amazon
First, a question: Would you find this watch more appealing if say, it said “Citizen” or even “Timex” on the dial instead of Fossil?
Meanwhile, it’s a real nice feeling watch for the low $100’s. Specs are about what you’d expect for a department store watch in this price range. Mineral crystal, Japanese quartz movement, and 50 m worth of water resistance.
Yo Fossil (& Timex, & Seiko, & Citizen) make more clean, classic dials like this please…
For the looks, it’s as clean as a Fossil gets. It’s an IWC Portugese homage with hints of 60s & 70s color (like the not quite navy watch band, cream dial, & orange second hand). The chronograph pushers aren’t just forgotten flush buttons, but instead have a piston/mushroom top. The leather for the band is a decent thickness, is plenty pliable, and the rectangular holes for the tang buckle are a nice, subtle detail. It’s a quartz, but still feels decently substantial. It doesn’t suffer from flimsy-quartz-itus.
The orange second hand is in constant movement and not controlled by the chronograph function (seconds are ticked off by the subdial at 12 when the chronograph is activated). There’s no date or day window on this thing, which is either an omission to some, or, a welcome decision that keeps the face extra clean.
Color scheme isn’t classic, and some might like that.
But… and it shouldn’t necessarily make a difference… the name. “Fossil”, as a brand, can make some great stuff. But it certainly seems to project “youth”, and youth can sometimes (unfairly) project inexperience. Fair? Unfair? Cast a vote and leave it all below.
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there’s not a lot of pride of ownership for a fossil brand watch. but it certainly is a handsome piece.
About 14 or so years ago I had quite a few Fossils, back when they cost between $60 and $100, and liked each of them. This one looks like it could be considered to be in their top line models and a $20 increase in their top line range over that many years is reasonable.
If I needed it (and wanted it) I’d have no qualms paying $120 for it. If I just wanted it I’d have to think about it a little more though.
If they would drop the secondary dials I would consider it but I like my watches with a clean face
I think Fossil should diversify watches like this into a different, more upscale brand. I can’t see a teenager wearing this watch, but I’d have it on my wrist if not for the name. Sorry, Fossil, it’s true. No hard feelings. I’ll still keep using your wallets.
You can get a lightly used Orient automatic on eBay or a new Chinese movement sapphire crystal automatic watch (see Parnis watches) for that money.
I have had exactly two fossil watches (I learn slowly). They both looked really nice. First one just stopped working.
Second one failed in the shower. That is unacceptable in my mind.
(now I wear a hamilton khaki chrono auto….much nicer, still failed once, but Hamilton took care of it)
Never had an issue with fossil. I had a very nice one for several years that has garnered me plenty of complements. That said I don’t spend 100+ on watches. If I can get a great look at a better price I will go for that.
Looks fantastic. Don’t care about the branding; it’s tasteful enough. Reservations about the movement (I prefer my quartz to be solar-powered) but for this price I could overlook that. I need something to wear in the summer with navy boat shoes and this would jump to the top of the list…
Except anything bigger than 42mm just feels too large. Sorry, Fossil.
I have a fossil and I love this one. I’m not a watch type of guy though.
I don’t see anything wrong with the Fossil name, it’s not like this is the Wal-Mart Townsman or the New Coke Townsman.
I like the way it looks, and coldn’t give a damn whether it’s a Fossil or some other brand, but when it comes to quartz movements I’m all in for solar powered versions like the Citizen Eco-drives. Not having to ever replace the battery is really nice, so…if this had a rechargeable solar battery I’d consider it.
Seems kinda vain that so many people outright disqualify it for the logo.
Agreed. The sort of vintage casual feel makes me with it were more like 40mm. At that size I would have probably already ordered one.
48MM wide is just a little too big of a face for me. Good design though.
I dig it y’all. This is around the maximum I’d spend for a watch. I would however go the extra money for a Daniel Wellington watch. I LOVE those.
considering it looks almost identical to my timex easy reader, i’d probably pay no more than $30 for this watch.
That’s a very good-looking chrono. I think my hesitation lies in the quality (e.g. water resistance, movement, band quality, etc…). What Fossil lacks in quality, it makes up in style.
FWIW, my Omega Seamaster, new in 2007, had to go back to Omega twice for repairs. Both failures were fixed under warranty and it has been bulletproof since 2009, but even the Swiss have failures from time to time.
Heck, my Seiko orange monster has failed twice as well, though the first time was shock trauma from a water skiing fall…
I just accept occasional failures as the cost of owning automatics.
I wouldn’t buy it. I have enough watches (I know, I know…. there’s never ENOUGH watches) but I have an ORIS that would look lovely with that band.
I dig it.
Wait, you’ll buy their cheap leather wallets but won’t buy their cheap quartz watch?
Agreed. I had a sweet Fossil titanium chrono in high school.
I like Fossil – they’re innovative (with style), and make a TON of watches for other high end luxury brands.
This. Pretty sure that’s their whole market strategy though. Style over substance.
To me, having a watch that breaks three times within a two year period in the exact same way (both the second and minute hands becoming disconnected) is not worth owning. Especially given that I never put the watch through any kind of real abuse (never swam or showered with it, banged it against anything, etc.). If a watch can’t do, with any kind of dependability, the one thing it was created to do, it has ceased to be useful to me (no matter how good it looks).
Too big. But I do own a Fossil chrono that I LOVE. Ignore that this is a crappy Google Images result with the date bezel floating in there. Put this thing on a nice colorful NATO and bingo.
I think 48mm is too big. But I have one Fossil chrono that I love. Ignore that this crappy Google Images result has the date window bezel floating inside the face. http://f.cl.ly/items/0U2I3n0Z0w1H1H0X0u2n/$_35.JPG
Looks decent, but with $125 being the low end of Orient watches I would never play close to full price for it.
Yes, it’s called a double standard. Branding on my Fossil wallet is virtually nonexistent, and my last wallet did me well for 8 years. My new one feels even more substantial and looks nice. Wallets just aren’t a luxury item for me. Watches on the other hand… (no pun intended)
You wear your watch into the shower?
And ultimately, like Shakespeare said, what’s in a name? The whole point of Dappered is looking good for less money, even if the item that “looks good” is from Target or Fossil.
Good looks, but the brand yells low quality and cheap construction. Until Fossil starts using sapphire crystal, improves water resistance, and implements other finishes expected of quality watch construction, I’m not considering buying their watches. Durability means more to me than the looks.
I wore watch to beach, got sand all over and showered off before getting in car. Watch never went in ocean, watch had canvas strap.
It’s a great looking piece. Admittedly there are many great looking, non-gaudy designs from Fossil. Many of which are similar to classic designs from the past, but nonetheless well executed. I’ve got a pilot chrono that is fantastic looking, and I can’t help but wish it were automatic, even if it were a cheaper miyota or even seagull…
I like the style, but I’m not impressed with the quality of the one fossil I own. This would have to be in the $65 range for me to buy it. The blue band is also dealbreker
I agree. I’m still looking for 2 nice moderately priced (sub $300) plain faced watches. One black for work and one more casual. This would be perfect for the causal watch if it didn’t have the two little dials.
Very nice watch. I love watches without the day/date/both box. Japanese quartz movement is alright in my book. Would pay (close to) the full price for it. (Can’t pay that much if it’s Chinese/3rd World-assembled though.)
The cut 12 and 6 sort of bug me but other than that it’s nice.
As Fossils go, this is easily one of the better pieces that I’ve seen. That being said, I’m not too hot on them personally. (Not to say that I’m a watch snob- far from it, they just don’t rock my boat.)
I really like the color of the band, though, and it’s stitching.
There is a major quality difference between a Fossil and either a Citizen or Timex. It’s not just about the name keeping me from buying it, its about the product itself.
Wearing a Fossil is like wearing Axe bodyspray. If you’re over 25, you’re making an ass of yourself.
I’m not a watch guy, so $90 is the mark for me. I just can’t justify spending over $100 on a watch in general. I’m 100% okay with quartz, because it works better (except in a zombie apocalypse, when the amount of cardio you get is going to provide eternal power for the watch), and I’m not really concerned with the cachet that comes with a mechanical movement. A watch is almost purely an accessory for me, with very little function, so I’m damned sure not going to pay more for it than my shoes (hell, excluding my shoes, $125 is more than I spent on all of my clothes combined today).
It takes five minutes to change a battery, and you only have to do it once every three years or so. IMO, a lot of people give too much weight to the “no battery changes EVAR!” argument in favor of solar and mechanical watches.
I think that’s true in an ideal world But, would you wear a nice fitting polo if it had a target logo on the chest instead of something else (or nothing)? Most of the stuff the site promotes is fine precisely because there’s no logos, it’s just a polo or suit or pants that fits well. But adding logo or brands adds complications.
Your entire wardrobe costs less than $125 and you’re on a menswear site. :-/
(1) It’s not a real chronograph. You can’t set the seconds hand. (2) This faux thing is why Fossil are so universally treated as garbage. It would have cost them $.75 more per watch at their volume to make an actual chronograph.
…I meant all of the clothes that I was wearing. Thus the “today.” Unless you were criticizing the idea that my clothes for a given day were less than $125 combined, sans shoes? That would just be silly — it was in the lower 70s and sunny yesterday. I wore Levi’s and a Henley from Target. Tough to top $125 with that outfit.
t was a gift from my Cousin, the look is so very classy and elegant. I have already got a lot of compliments on the same and I hope will get more!! 🙂 http://bit.ly/1gY5kQp
It’s sold at 92.99 on Amazon. http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00HG09CS8/ref=ox_sc_act_title_1?ie=UTF8&psc=1&smid=A3EWZRZ6NN9VVA
It’s a poor man’s Shinola! I like it but generally wouldn’t consider a quartz for over $100
Nice! They didn’t have any at post time. Good to see that Amazon is fulfilling as well. Makes returns that much easier.