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- Fossil has launched its new Swiss-made Signature CS-1 collection in Australia, with seven watches across two designs.
- The 38 mm Three-Hand Date Automatic uses a Swiss Sellita SW200-1 movement and starts at AUD $1,469, while the 42 mm Master Calendar Chronoquartz starts at AUD $1,299.
- This isn’t Fossil’s first attempt at Swiss-made watches. The brand released a Swiss collection in 2013, building on manufacturing operations established in Switzerland in 2002.
I’ve always had a soft spot for Fossil. When I first stepped into the brand’s store, I owned a single Seiko chronograph, gifted to me on my 16th birthday, and a humble Swatch with an exposed quartz battery. Back then, it was one of the first brands I considered paying full price for a new timepiece, before I realised what else was available. Now, to be fair, their watches are often designed as an easy entry point, but they’ve never exactly had me thinking, “I need to have that.” With the launch of the new Signature CS-1 collection, I might have to reconsider.
The American watchmaker has returned to Swiss-made watches with two new models: the 38 mm Three-Hand Date Automatic, starting at AUD $1,469, and the 42 mm Master Calendar Chronoquartz, starting at AUD $1,299. If Fossil’s more affordable watches have left you wanting, the CS-1 brings restrained dials, familiar Swiss movements and more considered details across seven stunning-looking watches.
But Fossil has tried this trick before. Its Swiss history stretches back more than two decades, with Fossil-branded Swiss-made watches arriving in 2013. So what makes the CS-1 different?
1/6Fossil Revives Its Swiss Watches
Fossil’s Swiss watchmaking story goes back to the early 2000s, when the Texas-based company acquired watchmaking businesses in Biel/Bienne, including Montres Antima. If you can’t beat them, buy ’em instead. Those acquisitions gave it Swiss design, assembly, and sourcing capabilities.
In 2013, the brand launched its first Swiss Made collection under its own name, combining a 38 mm automatic watch with quartz chronographs, much like today’s CS-1. It attracted plenty of attention at the time, but Swiss-made watches never became a defining part of the Fossil brand.
More than a decade later, the CS-1 revives the idea under a new premium platform called Signature. Short for Case Study One, the name nods to California’s mid-century Case Study Houses and their purposeful, collaborative design. It could even point to future numbered Case Study collections, though we might be getting a bit ahead of ourselves.
Meet the Fossil Signature CS-1 Collection
Fossil says every element in the Signature CS-1 Collection was “designed with intention,” with Chief Brand Officer Melissa Lowenkron adding, “The collection reflects our belief that exceptional design is found not in excess, but in thoughtful restraint and should be appreciated for years to come.”
Of the two models, the Three-Hand Date Automatic is the one that first caught my eye. Its 38-mm case houses a Swiss Sellita SW200-1 automatic movement with a 41-hour power reserve, visible through an exhibition caseback fitted with a custom Signature rotor. The dial stays relatively simple, with elongated diamond-shaped hour markers, a date window at six o’clock, and a fine, record-inspired texture around the edge.
Three versions are available: a black-dial model on a stainless steel bracelet, plus cream- and green-dial models on leather straps. The bracelet even has self-adjustable links, so you can size it without reaching for a watchmaker’s tools. It’s a nice touch on a watch that’s clearly trying to make an impression beyond the movement inside.
All Signature CS-1 38 mm Three-Hand Date Automatic Prices
- Signature CS-1 38 mm Three-Hand Date Automatic Green Leather Watch: AUD $1,469
- Signature CS-1 38 mm Three-Hand Date Automatic Brown Leather Watch: AUD $1,469
- Signature CS-1 38 mm Three-Hand Date Automatic Stainless Steel Watch: AUD $1,649
1/9The Master Calendar Chronoquartz takes a busier approach. It measures 42 mm and uses a Swiss Ronda 5040.F quartz movement to drive its chronograph and calendar functionality. Day and month windows sit near the top of the dial, while a red-tipped hand points to the date around the outer ring. Recessed subdials, textured detailing and a coloured top pusher bring out even more personality from the Master.
Both feature domed sapphire crystals and come with bracelet or leather strap options. Across the seven available configurations, Fossil hasn’t gone so overboard that the designs start to look gaudy, an impressive level of restraint for a brand that hasn’t always been shy about making a statement.
According to Senior Creative Director Ryan White, “CS-1 came together when we began treating the movement, case, dial, colour and finishing as one cohesive design system.” And it shows.
All Signature CS-1 42 mm Master Calendar Chronoquartz Prices
- Signature CS-1 42 mm Master Calendar Chronoquartz Brown Leather Watch: AUD $1,299
- Signature CS-1 42 mm Master Calendar Chronoquartz Black Leather Watch: AUD $1,299
- Signature CS-1 42 mm Master Calendar Chronoquartz Stainless Steel Watch: AUD $1,469
- Signature CS-1 42 mm Master Calendar Chronoquartz Gold-Tone Stainless Steel Watch: AUD $1,469
1/14How Much Does the Fossil Signature CS-1 Cost?
The Signature CS-1 collection is available now on Fossil’s Australian website and in selected stores.
Fossil Signature CS-1 – Key Specs
| Three-Hand Date Automatic | Master Calendar Chronoquartz | |
|---|---|---|
| Case | 38 mm | 42 mm |
| Movement | Sellita SW200-1 automatic | Ronda 5040.F quartz |
| Functions | Time and date | Chronograph, day, date, month |
| Variations | Three | Four |
| Price Range | AUD $1,469 to AUD $1,649 | AUD $1,299 to AUD $1,469 |
At these prices, Fossil is asking more of its customers than usual. We’ll need a wrist check to see how impressive these watches really are. But for now, Fossil has done something I didn’t expect: making me genuinely curious about its watches again. Whether the Signature platform turns into a genuine resurgence remains to be seen, but the CS-1 is a promising start.
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