Watch Almanac

Fashion brand

Is Fossil a good watch brand?

As a fashion brand, yes; as a watch brand, not really. Fossil makes stylish, inexpensive quartz watches, but you're paying for design, not watchmaking.

Below, the numbers behind that: 7 current Fossil watches we've measured, what they use inside, and what they sell for once they're used.

List prices
$120–$295
median $190
Mechanical
29%
of 7 with a known movement
Sapphire crystal
0%
eBay ask vs list
34%
#18 of 18 brands

What Fossil does well

  • Good-looking designs at low prices
  • Easy to find and frequently on sale

What to watch out for

  • Mostly basic quartz with mineral crystals
  • Little resale value
  • Repairs beyond a battery change can cost more than the watch

Is Fossil a luxury brand?

No. Fossil is a fashion brand from Texas that also makes watches under licence for other fashion labels.

What's inside

Of the 7 Fossil watches we've measured with a known movement: 5 quartz and 2 automatic. The movements are made by Fossil (7).

See every movement on its caliber page.

Do Fossil watches hold their value?

Across the 3 Fossil references we track on eBay every day, the median asking price is 34% of list. That puts Fossil at #18 of 18 brands we track; the typical brand is at 88%. That's weak, which cuts both ways: buying used or on sale is where the value is.

Asking prices, not sold prices, from live eBay listings. See the market tracker for every reference.

Where to start with Fossil

Or see every Fossil watch with its measurements.

Questions

Is Fossil a good watch brand?
As a fashion brand, yes; as a watch brand, not really. Fossil makes stylish, inexpensive quartz watches, but you're paying for design, not watchmaking.
Is Fossil a luxury brand?
No. Fossil is a fashion brand from Texas that also makes watches under licence for other fashion labels.
Do Fossil watches hold their value?
On eBay, Fossil watches are listed at a median 34% of their list price, across the 3 references we track daily. That ranks 18 of 18 brands we track; the median brand is at 88%.
Where are Fossil watches made?
Fossil is based in United States and was founded in 1984, owned by Fossil Group. Of the Fossil watches we've measured, the movements come from Fossil (7).