I bought a wristwatch called the GRANT from Fossil.
Fossil is an American fashion brand centered around watches,
and besides timepieces, they handle leather bags and wallets.
When starting a fashion brand centered on watches,
leather accessories seem to pair well,
and Skagen from Denmark follows a similar approach (in their home country).
To be precise, what I bought was the chronograph model of the GRANT.
A quartz chronograph with a non-date (no date window) model is
actually quite rare.
As for the GRANT, of the three subdials,
the one at 3 o'clock is a 24-hour counter. It's essentially just decorative.
(I thought I'd found a non-date chronograph!
but there were several examples where this was actually a 31-day date display)
At 6 o'clock there's a 60-second counter, and at 9 o'clock a 30-minute counter.
Once the chronograph runs for 30 minutes,
it stops rather than continuing to time.
This is partly a safety measure to prevent leaving the chronograph running continuously.
↑The dial uses Roman numerals, but following watch tradition,
the 4 o'clock position reads "IIII" rather than "IV".
The hour and minute hands have luminous paint on their tips,
but whether the quality is poor or it's applied too thinly, in dark places it fades quickly.
The 30-minute subdial markings are in 2.5-minute increments, making readability extremely poor—
for instance, distinguishing between 16 and 17 minutes is difficult.
The chronograph button felt more satisfying than I expected.
If it had been mushy, I probably wouldn't have bought it.
Also, there are both metal band and leather band models, but
this metal band has loose link tolerances with noticeable looseness.
You barely notice it on your wrist, but if you lift the watch alone and
gently shake it side to side, it's very apparent.
It seems odd to criticize a watch I bought for 16,000 yen,
but when you own various watches and have comparisons, these things stand out.
The metal band can only be adjusted by adding or removing links, and
at a certain link count it happened to fit me perfectly—not too tight and no slipping at all—
so I'm very pleased with that aspect.
The general trend of Fossil's casual watch models is "big watches."
Many models have 44mm cases,
but I'm not a fan of anything too large.
There are many models quite similar to Diesel,
but since Diesel watches are apparently made by Fossil,
it makes sense that some have similar aesthetics.
↑The three-hand, small seconds GRANT model.
Case diameter is 44mm.
↑And its chronograph model.
Case diameter is also 44mm.
↑This is the 38mm GRANT model.
It's a minor option, but they do offer a 38mm version in the lineup.
You can clearly see the size difference by looking at how the III and XI numerals overlap the subdials.
Fossil's product offerings differ between their domestic and Japanese sites,
and this black 38mm GRANT is not available in Japan.
There's a Fossil brand shop within walking distance of my area,
but they don't stock the 38mm GRANT either.
The GRANT I bought this time is the 38mm model,
but it's a special order model from a watch retailer called Tick Tack.
But then I got to thinking...
If the distance between subdial centers changes, the movement can't be shared,
so shouldn't the 44mm and 38mm models use the same movement
and therefore have different dial designs?
This question started nagging at me.
So I measured my supposedly 38mm GRANT to see what was actually 38mm,
and discovered it's the case diameter excluding the crown (which is standard, of course).
Since manufacturer images aren't actual size,
I adjusted the images so the 38mm case was 380 pixels
and the 44mm case was 440 pixels,
then overlaid them...
The subdial distances matched perfectly. Talk about cutting corners!
Well, it doesn't really bother me anyway.
Another thing that bothered me was poor legibility from an angle.
Whether it's because of the convex lens—not a true domed crystal like luxury watches—
even from a slight angle the dial becomes unreadable.
I own other watches with even sharper lens curves that
display clearly readable dials from angles,
so this isn't inherent to this type of lens.
Fossil's website is split into English and Japanese versions by
adding either .com or .co.jp after www.fossil,
but for example, the metal band chronograph GRANT model
costs 125 dollars in the US and 20,520 yen (19,000 yen before tax) in Japan—
the difference is easy to spot, so it might be painful for those concerned about international price differences.
All that said, though this might read like I'm tearing it apart,
I actually really like it.
At least in my search for a non-date chronograph,
this was the best option for me.
A watch isn't just about price.
You should buy something you like.
In the comments last time, someone recommended Sinn watches, and
you're right—they do look cool!
I'm not usually a fan of left-crown watches, but the EZM really caught my eye.
A Milgauss? Hmm, what could that be?
I took photos making sure the lightning seconds hand was visible,
so it's a bit much to play dumb, but I will anyway.
The biased image of Rolex in Japan is truly overwhelming.
As for the Ventura, the chronograph "chrono" and automatic "auto" versions
are far removed from the original Ventura's design, so
I prefer the regular Ventura.
There's also a Ventura XXVL, which is a seriously large watch.
I was shocked the first time I saw the real thing.
The current Ventura model is quartz rather than the original electric movement,
but the appearance is almost identical.
Hard to believe it's a design from about 60 years ago.
Among watches where people familiar with watches call them by model name alone without the manufacturer "Hamilton" prefix,
it's probably one of the most affordable to acquire.
What's been nagging me is that mine is the current model, but
in the previous version there was "SWISS MADE" text on the dial
positioned to cross the 6 o'clock marking.
The current model has SWISS MADE on the caseback,
but I'm still torn over whether the simpler dial was better.
(I was able to choose since the previous model was also right in front of me when I bought it)
Recently I've been eyeing Tudor's Heritage Black Bay.
Though I probably won't buy it.
Fossil is an American fashion brand centered around watches,
and besides timepieces, they handle leather bags and wallets.
When starting a fashion brand centered on watches,
leather accessories seem to pair well,
and Skagen from Denmark follows a similar approach (in their home country).
To be precise, what I bought was the chronograph model of the GRANT.
A quartz chronograph with a non-date (no date window) model is
actually quite rare.
As for the GRANT, of the three subdials,
the one at 3 o'clock is a 24-hour counter. It's essentially just decorative.
(I thought I'd found a non-date chronograph!
but there were several examples where this was actually a 31-day date display)
At 6 o'clock there's a 60-second counter, and at 9 o'clock a 30-minute counter.
Once the chronograph runs for 30 minutes,
it stops rather than continuing to time.
This is partly a safety measure to prevent leaving the chronograph running continuously.
↑The dial uses Roman numerals, but following watch tradition,
the 4 o'clock position reads "IIII" rather than "IV".
The hour and minute hands have luminous paint on their tips,
but whether the quality is poor or it's applied too thinly, in dark places it fades quickly.
The 30-minute subdial markings are in 2.5-minute increments, making readability extremely poor—
for instance, distinguishing between 16 and 17 minutes is difficult.
The chronograph button felt more satisfying than I expected.
If it had been mushy, I probably wouldn't have bought it.
Also, there are both metal band and leather band models, but
this metal band has loose link tolerances with noticeable looseness.
You barely notice it on your wrist, but if you lift the watch alone and
gently shake it side to side, it's very apparent.
It seems odd to criticize a watch I bought for 16,000 yen,
but when you own various watches and have comparisons, these things stand out.
The metal band can only be adjusted by adding or removing links, and
at a certain link count it happened to fit me perfectly—not too tight and no slipping at all—
so I'm very pleased with that aspect.
The general trend of Fossil's casual watch models is "big watches."
Many models have 44mm cases,
but I'm not a fan of anything too large.
There are many models quite similar to Diesel,
but since Diesel watches are apparently made by Fossil,
it makes sense that some have similar aesthetics.
↑The three-hand, small seconds GRANT model.
Case diameter is 44mm.
↑And its chronograph model.
Case diameter is also 44mm.
↑This is the 38mm GRANT model.
It's a minor option, but they do offer a 38mm version in the lineup.
You can clearly see the size difference by looking at how the III and XI numerals overlap the subdials.
Fossil's product offerings differ between their domestic and Japanese sites,
and this black 38mm GRANT is not available in Japan.
There's a Fossil brand shop within walking distance of my area,
but they don't stock the 38mm GRANT either.
The GRANT I bought this time is the 38mm model,
but it's a special order model from a watch retailer called Tick Tack.
But then I got to thinking...
If the distance between subdial centers changes, the movement can't be shared,
so shouldn't the 44mm and 38mm models use the same movement
and therefore have different dial designs?
This question started nagging at me.
So I measured my supposedly 38mm GRANT to see what was actually 38mm,
and discovered it's the case diameter excluding the crown (which is standard, of course).
Since manufacturer images aren't actual size,
I adjusted the images so the 38mm case was 380 pixels
and the 44mm case was 440 pixels,
then overlaid them...
The subdial distances matched perfectly. Talk about cutting corners!
Well, it doesn't really bother me anyway.
Another thing that bothered me was poor legibility from an angle.
Whether it's because of the convex lens—not a true domed crystal like luxury watches—
even from a slight angle the dial becomes unreadable.
I own other watches with even sharper lens curves that
display clearly readable dials from angles,
so this isn't inherent to this type of lens.
Fossil's website is split into English and Japanese versions by
adding either .com or .co.jp after www.fossil,
but for example, the metal band chronograph GRANT model
costs 125 dollars in the US and 20,520 yen (19,000 yen before tax) in Japan—
the difference is easy to spot, so it might be painful for those concerned about international price differences.
All that said, though this might read like I'm tearing it apart,
I actually really like it.
At least in my search for a non-date chronograph,
this was the best option for me.
A watch isn't just about price.
You should buy something you like.
In the comments last time, someone recommended Sinn watches, and
you're right—they do look cool!
I'm not usually a fan of left-crown watches, but the EZM really caught my eye.
A Milgauss? Hmm, what could that be?
I took photos making sure the lightning seconds hand was visible,
so it's a bit much to play dumb, but I will anyway.
The biased image of Rolex in Japan is truly overwhelming.
As for the Ventura, the chronograph "chrono" and automatic "auto" versions
are far removed from the original Ventura's design, so
I prefer the regular Ventura.
There's also a Ventura XXVL, which is a seriously large watch.
I was shocked the first time I saw the real thing.
The current Ventura model is quartz rather than the original electric movement,
but the appearance is almost identical.
Hard to believe it's a design from about 60 years ago.
Among watches where people familiar with watches call them by model name alone without the manufacturer "Hamilton" prefix,
it's probably one of the most affordable to acquire.
What's been nagging me is that mine is the current model, but
in the previous version there was "SWISS MADE" text on the dial
positioned to cross the 6 o'clock marking.
The current model has SWISS MADE on the caseback,
but I'm still torn over whether the simpler dial was better.
(I was able to choose since the previous model was also right in front of me when I bought it)
Recently I've been eyeing Tudor's Heritage Black Bay.
Though I probably won't buy it.