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Skagen Falster

Skagen Vs Fossil – Which Brand Comes Out On Top?

Fossil vs Skagen

The battle of the brands Fossil vs Skagen….

Watches are still big business despite more of us using our mobile phones to tell the time. The sector has responded to the trend in smartphones and the move to a more digitised way of living. Introducing the smartwatch.

Some of us are probably more familiar with the likes of Apple Watch and Samsung. However, there are other players on the market offering competitive options, such as Skagen and Fossil.  Unlike the smartphone giants, Skagen and Fossil started off as traditional watch brands that have diversified into the smartwatch market. Skagen is actually a subsidiary of Fossil and has been since 2012.

We take a closer look at both these brands and try to conclude if one is actually better than the other.

Fossil Women's 42MM Charter HR Heart Rate Stainless Steel and Silicone Hybrid HR Smart Watch, Color: Rose...
Fossil Women's 42MM Charter HR Heart Rate Stainless Steel and Silicone Hybrid HR Smart Watch, Color: Rose...
  • Hybrid Smartwatch HR (Heart Rate) works with iPhone and Android Phones
  • Enjoy long lasting battery. This is a smart watch that can last up to 2+ weeks on a single charge....
  • Equipped with Heart rate sensor for in-depth wellness tracking. Keep track of your steps, active...
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Fossil’s Background

Fossil Watch face with Roman numerals

Fossil is not just known for its watches. It is a fashion brand with a range of products that bear the Fossil logo. The company, however, has earned itself an excellent reputation for watches that are both stylish and functional. The likes of Michael Kors, Diesel and BMW have worked with Fossil to develop their own distinct timepieces.

Fossil was founded by Tom Kartosis in 1984 to try and take advantage of the burgeoning fashion watch market. He built his empire based on a business model his brother had bought to his attention; the increasing trend around importing goods from the Far East, in particular watches.

Fossil’s initial offering to the watch trade was a range of fashion watches with a retro look and feel. These days, Fossil’s watch business includes both fashion and wearable items. In the main, its watches operate on a Japanese quartz movement with some Swiss quartz exceptions.

Skagen’s Background

Skagen Falster 3 versions

Skagen is the brainchild of husband and wife, Henrik and Charlotte Jorst. Who, although Danish, didn’t actually start the company till they moved to the US in 1987. Skagen started production in 1989, but it wasn’t until it showed some watches at a corporate fair in 1991 that their talent was recognised. Spurred on by the positive reception their watches had received, the husband and wife team introduced their goods to the broader market and thus Skagen-Denmark was now an up and coming watch brand.

The 90s saw Skagen build its brand reputation. They increased market share across Europe, and in 2007 opened a distribution office in Hong Kong.

Fossil bought Skagen Designs Ltd in 2012, and the company has continued to develop the brand. The minimalist design has become a popular brand with young people. 

Skagen Connected Falster 2 Stainless Steel and Silicone Touchscreen Smartwatch, Color: Red (Model: SKT5113)
Skagen Connected Falster 2 Stainless Steel and Silicone Touchscreen Smartwatch, Color: Red (Model: SKT5113)
  • Smartwatches powered with Wear OS by Google work with iPhone and Android Phones
  • Heart Rate & Activity Tracking using Google Fit; Built-in GPS for distance tracking; Swimproof...
  • This is one smart watch - receive smartphone notifications and app alerts, manage your calendar,...
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Wearable Technology

Alongside their traditional watch ranges, both Skagen and Fossil have a line of wearable technology in the form of smartwatches. Each company offers the consumer a choice between an all-out smartwatch and a hybrid smartwatch.

A smartwatch is a digital watch with added features, including a touchscreen. In many ways, a smartwatch is like having a mini-computer on your wrist. Smartwatches on the market today can do a number of things. These include tracking your physical activity and connecting to your smartphone, so you never miss communication. Some let you customise your experience on a daily basis with personalised dials and interchangeable straps. Smartwatches require an app to allow management and telemetry (i.e. sensor readings).

A hybrid smartwatch is ideal if you like your watches to look like a watch i.e. with the traditional dial and arms. Some features of a hybrid smartwatch are ‘smart’. However, in the main, these devices don’t look very techy and don’t require charging on a daily basis.

Fossil’s current smartwatch portfolio includes:

  • Q Explorist (Gen 4)
  • Gen 5
  • Gen 5E
  • Sport
  • Hybrid HR
  • Hybrid
Fossile Gen 4 and 5 at a glance
ModelGen 4Gen 5
Memory4GB8GB
NFCYesYes
Waterproof50m30m
Built-In GPSYesYes
Battery Life1 day1 day
ChipsetSnapdragon
Wear 3100
Snapdragon
Wear 3100
New Fossil Men's 44MM Gen 5E Stainless Steel Touchscreen Smart Watch, Color Black with Fossil Unisex 22mm...
New Fossil Men's 44MM Gen 5E Stainless Steel Touchscreen Smart Watch, Color Black with Fossil Unisex 22mm...
  • Use the WearOS by Google app on your phone with Android 6.0+ (excluding Go edition) or iOS 12.0+
  • 24 Hr + multi-day Extended Battery Mode **Varies based on usage and after updates install**. USB...
  • Lifestyle: This is one smart watch with always-On Display with thousands of watch faces to...
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Skagen’s smartwatches range is currently comprised of

  • Falster 2
  • Falster 3
  • Hybrid Smartwatch Hagen
  • Connected
Skagen Flaster 2 and 3 at a glance
ModelFalster 2Falster 3
Memory4GB8GB
NFCYesYes
Waterproof30m30m
Built-in GPSYesYes
Battery Life1 day1 day
ChipsetSnapdragon
Wear 2100
Snapdragon
Wear 3100
Skagen Connected Falster 2 Stainless Steel Magnetic Mesh Touchscreen Smartwatch, Color: Silver (Model:...
Skagen Connected Falster 2 Stainless Steel Magnetic Mesh Touchscreen Smartwatch, Color: Silver (Model:...
  • Smartwatches powered with Wear OS by Google work with iPhone and Android Phones
  • Heart Rate & Activity Tracking using Google Fit; Built in GPS for distance tracking; Swimproof...
  • This is one smart watch receive smartphone notifications and app alerts, manage your calendar,...
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Skagen’s Falster Smartwatches

It seems Skagen learnt a few things from releasing its Falster 2 model. The Falster 3 is a much better wearable in terms of performance and use. The key difference between the two is in the type of processor used and the display type. The Falster 3 benefits from a speedy Snapdragon Wear 3100 processor and an increase in RAM and storage (1GB memory and 8GB of storage), rendering issues with Falster 2 and lag a distant memory. The screen on the Falster 3 is also slightly bigger. The display is much improved, thanks to the AMOLED display as opposed to the Falster 2′ OLED. 

Both watches are similar in design except that the Falster 2 is the slimmer and smaller of the two. The Falster 3 comes in at a respectable 42mm. It sits nicely on the wrist and the wearer is able to choose from a number of colour options. These include gunmetal mesh, brown leather and blue silicone mesh. The straps are 22mm and can be swapped as desired.

The features on both of Skagen’s watches are very similar. Both models are equipped with built-in GPS, heart rate monitoring, fitness tracking and are water-resistant. The big news here is that the Falster 3 has a loudspeaker. Consequently, making it easier to play your music wherever you like without a headset. Furthermore, you can hear the Google Assistant responses too. The Falster 3 can also make and receive Bluetooth calls. And, good news for iPhone users who can Bluetooth call through iOS as well.

The battery life of the Falster 3 has seen an upgrade too – there are now multiple modes that can be turned on and off as needed in line with when the wearer wants to charge the watch next. You can choose from a completely stripped down version where everything bar the time functionality is switched off (time only), or you can pick and choose what stays on (customer mode).

So, if you really want a Skagen watch, it has to be the Falster 3, especially if you want better performance and battery life. Of course, if you want to pay less and can handle the lacklustre performance on the Falster 2, you’d still be getting a decent smartwatch that looks good.

For those of us who like something different, the Falster 3 can also be purchased as a special edition model, which Skagen has designed in collaboration with DJ Kygo’s lifestyle brand X by Kygo.

Reduced Price
Fossil Unisex 44MM Gen 5 Julianna HR Heart Rate Stainless Steel Mesh Touchscreen Smart Watch, Color: Rose...
Fossil Unisex 44MM Gen 5 Julianna HR Heart Rate Stainless Steel Mesh Touchscreen Smart Watch, Color: Rose...
  • Smartwatches powered with Wear OS by Google work with iPhone and Android Phones. Case size: 44...
  • Battery: 24 Hr+ multi day extended mode. Varies based on usage and after updates install. USB cable...
  • Health and fitness: Heart Rate & Activity Tracking using Google Fit; Built-in GPS for distance...
Check Amazon Price

Fossil’s Gen and Sport ranges smartwatches

The Gen 5 is the latest offering from Fossil and is a beautiful watch. Fossil has created a premium watch that would look good on any fashion-conscious wrist. Like Skagen, Fossil has sought to fix the issues with its predecessors in the release of the Gen 5, including battery life and performance.  Similarly, the Gen 5 has the same battery modes menu as the Falster 3.

In terms of design, the Sport is the lightest of all Fossil’s offerings, with the Gen 5 and Gen 4 being a little weightier because of the stainless steel casing. The Sport model boasts some funky colours with a variety of silicone straps, while the Gen 4 and Gen 5 have a number of leather and silicone strap options.  The Gen 5 is not quite Fossil’s biggest watch – that accolade goes to the Gen 4 (45mm), but the Gen 5 is bigger than the Sport at 44mm.

If money is not an issue and you like your smartwatch to be smooth and zippy, the Gen 5 is the one to choose. Like Skagen’s Falster 3, the Gen 5 has seen a doubling of the storage and RAM as well as running on the latest Snapdragon 3100 wear processor.  The Gen 5 boasts all of the health sensors and fitness tracking options as its predecessors, with some functionality being improved, such as the heart monitor. 

Hybrid Comparison

Fossil’s Hybrid smartwatch is undoubtedly the more smartwatch-like option compared to Skagen’s model. The Hybrid Hagen has limited notification capability and does not include a heart rate monitor, while Fossil has all that and more, including for those who like flexibility, a complete set of customisable features.  Though, the Skagen Connected is the better looking of the two. A stainless steel case with mesh bracelet. It can delivery smartphone notifications, monitor sleep and track activities.

Skagen Connected Men's Hagen Stainless Steel Hybrid Smartwatch, Color: Silver-Tone (Model: SKT1100)
Skagen Connected Men's Hagen Stainless Steel Hybrid Smartwatch, Color: Silver-Tone (Model: SKT1100)
  • Looks like a watch, acts like a smartwatch. Smartphone notifications, activity tracking, custom goal...
  • Charging not required, estimated 6 months battery life based on usage; a gentle buzz lets you know...
  • Case size: 42mm; Band size: 20mm; imported; water resistant to 100ft (30m); stainless steel case and...
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Conclusion – Skagen vs Fossil

who is the winner?

If the decision was solely on watch specification, there is very little separating the two brands, especially with both their latest models matching up exactly in performance, storage and battery life. Fossil, of course, has the slightly larger range of smartwatches, with the Sport marketed towards those of us that are more fitness conscious.

 A quick price check reveals that at present Skagen’s Falster 3 works out to be slightly more expensive than the Gen 5 but given that the inside of both watches is relatively the same, we look to the outside to make a decision and on that front, the Gen 5 is a clear winner. Sleek, stylish and sophisticated, the Gen 5 is a fashion smartwatch – in our opinion – to be proud of.


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Joanne Jeffries

A highly motivated all-round writing professional with experience in writing about modern technology.

November 25, 2020 By Joanne Jeffries 1 Comment Filed Under: Buying Guides, Reviews Tagged With: Fossil, Fossil smartwatch, Fossil Sport, Skagen, Skagen Falster, Skagen Falster Review, smartwatch reviews

Skagen Falster 3 Review

Skagen Falster 3

It’s time to get seriously excited – the newly-released Skagen Falster 3 is nothing like its predecessors! Skagen has understood that this model needed to convince consumers that it has a lot to offer the smartwatch market. Read on to find out what it was that convinced us.

Who is the Skagen Falster 3 for?

If you are on a tight budget this is not the watch for you. This is a smartwatch for anyone that loves combining style with hardworking tech and wants to get the best that money can buy.

We think the Danish manufacturer has finally nailed it by resolving some of the longstanding issues people had with Skagen smartwatches. It appeals to a wide range of people. Furthermore, it comes in a selection of different styles to suit a whole range of different tastes.

What is the Skagen Falster 3 Design Like?

The Falster 3 doesn’t pretend to be something it isn’t. When it’s on your wrist it will be noticed and envied by others. It offers a design that is clean, fresh and minimalist. And you can access all you need at a touch, tap or swipe.

The watch is 42mm in size and has three buttons on the right hand side that aid navigation. It has a large 1.3-inch colour screen that is easy to read when working out. You can choose between a range of different colours and finishes. Furthermore, the straps can be changed to suit your own personal style. It’s a stunning smartwatch that looks and feels great regardless of how long it has been on your wrist.

How Well Does the Skagen Falster 3 Perform?

The performance is in keeping with the design. It runs on Wear OS and though this can make it a bit laggy don’t let this put you off as software updates will probably iron out any wrinkles.

It has a range of battery modes to suit your needs; daily mode that keeps everything running all the time, time-only mode when you don’t want anything other than the watch face, extended mode that allows you to use all the features but only when you really need to, and custom mode that allows you to decide what you want on and what you want off.

With the in-built speaker, you can make calls when connected to your phone via Bluetooth. The sound quality is good because the speaker module is attached to the side of the smartwatch. You can also use the speaker to talk to the in-built Google Assistant.

What Features Come with the Skagen Falster 3?

There are so many great features that we are not sure where to start! In terms of design features, you can enjoy over ten pre-installed watch faces and even customise your own if none of the stock versions take your fancy.

There is a heart rate sensor as standard and the watch can track activity so that you will know how many steps you have taken each day, how many calories you have burned and even count reps if you use it with your phone. There are many fitness apps that will work with the watch, so whatever your fitness niche is you can explore and track it well with the Falster 3.

What are the Pros and Cons of the Skagen Falster 3?

It’s clear that the pros far outweigh the cons with this beautiful watch but there are a couple of issues that we’d ought to mention:
  • It’s incredibly expensive when you consider that there are many other watches on the market that can do the same things for less.
  • The Wear OS can cause some issues and when you are paying a lot for a smartwatch like this you’d be within your rights to expect seamless service.
There are a huge amount of positives when buying this smartwatch:
  • It’s flawlessly designed and looks amazing.
  • The in-built speaker is great for making calls.
  • It’s a thousand times better than its predecessors.
  • Its all-day battery life is good and it also offers custom battery settings to maximise performance.

Should I Buy the Skagen Falster 3?

In a nutshell: yes! This smartwatch is a huge improvement on previous models and offers so much more than you’d expect. It may be pricey but you are getting access to an awesome smartwatch that will meet your requirements for years to come.

You will need to bear in mind that the operating system is not of the same quality as the smartwatch itself but we are pretty sure that this will be worked out long before you are due to get a new model.

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Emma Morris
Emma Morris

Emma is an experienced Virtual Assistant and is our Copy and Visual Editor and Social Media Manager. When not working, Emma enjoys life with her little girl, partner and Jack Russell Terrier in the lovely countryside of the South West UK.

March 3, 2020 By Emma Morris Leave a Comment Filed Under: Fitness & Sports Watches, Reviews Tagged With: Skagen Falster, Skagen Falster 3, Skagen Falster 3 Review, Skagen Falster Review, smartwatch reviews

Designer Smartwatches – Brains and Beauty

Designer Watch

When smartwatches first started appearing there was a serious lack of designer smartwatches and definitely a focus on substance over style. The emergence of a wristwatch that could tell you that someone was calling, or enable you to reply to a message without having to get your phone out of your pocket was the most important thing. Fortunately, the brands we know and love have caught on and started producing some sleek-looking designs. We take a look at two for women and two for men.

1. Kate Spade Scallop 2

$319 / £239

This offering from Kate Spade is the first of its kind for the brand, with a touchscreen running on Google Wear OS. It has some features that make it a wonderful everyday watch and thanks to the interchangeable straps, you can customise it to match the occasion. 

Those features include activity tracking, a heart rate monitor, contactless payments personal goal setting and even access to Google assistant. It’s voice-activated and you can pair it with either Android or Apple smartphones. 

Kate Spade Designer Watch

It also has the smart features you’d expect, such as notifications for calls, messages and other apps, as well as 4GB of storage for music. Scrolling through the menus is easy and responsive and the face itself offers 390 x 390-pixel resolution.

The battery life is a little disappointing; if you keep your notifications on you can expect to have to put this on charge every night.

Advantages

  • Sleek, feminine design
  • Customisable watch straps
  • Large screen
  • Reasonably rugged given the lightweight design

Disadvantages

  • Works better with Android
  • Disappointing battery life
  • No GPS

2. Fossil Women’s Gen 5 smartwatch

$270 / £205

Without a doubt, this is the best smartwatch Fossil has ever produced with Google’s Wear OS at the core.

They’ve put a lot of features into the Gen 5. It holds an altimeter, an ambient light sensor, a gyroscope, an accelerometer, optical heart rate monitor, GPS and NFC. This doesn’t slow it down any; movement through apps and menus is smooth (though not as smooth as an Apple Watch). It’s compatible with Android and iOS, although it’s better with the former. You can download third-party apps like Uber and it has Google assistant for ease of use. It will display notifications like calls, text, email, calendar alerts and various social media. 

Fossil Designer Watches

The women’s version, the Julianna, comes with a stainless steel case in rose gold with a band to match or a blush leather band. There’s also a stainless steel option that comes in black, with a matching mesh band. Bands are 22mm and interchangeable. The overall look is subtle but beautiful, and it’s waterproof to 3m so there’s no fear about wearing it whilst you shower or swim.

Advantages

  • Good battery life
  • Subtle design
  • Responsive and intuitive

Disadvantages

  • Speaker quality isn’t great
  • No ECG function

3. Skagen Falster 2 Smartwatch

$350 / £239

Another Wear OS watch, the Skagen Falster 2 is incredibly subtle and uber-stylish with its minimalist look. Great for anyone looking for something low-key.

There are four navigation directions to swipe on the screen that give access to Google Assistant, notifications, settings and Google Fit. 

It monitors your heart rate which you can track with Google Fit which it monitors automatically every 20 minutes, but as with the GPS function, can drain the battery pretty quickly if left on. It has NFP so Google Pay is a quick option. 

The Skagen Falster 2 can join you in water up to 30m deep and the silicon strap is good for swimmers as it’s light and quick drying.

It has 4GB memory for songs and 512MB RAM for speed. The band is 11mm thick and replaceable and the case is 40mm.

The only real downside to this beautiful timepiece is that you’ll need to charge it every day.

Advantages

  • Truly unique minimalist design
  • Lots of convenient smart features
  • Robust to withstand activity

Disadvantages

  • Terrible battery life

4. Armani Exchange Connected Smartwatch

$175 / £119

If you find this watch at this price, don’t think you’ve found a bargain by confusing it with the Emporio Armani Connected (typically over £350). While both operate on Wear OS and have some shared features, the design and hardware are different. Both are great looking, but the Armarni Exchange Connected is a smartwatch in disguise – you’d never know it wasn’t a dress watch.

Emporio Armani shop

This monster comes with an above-average case size, 48mm compared to the typical 42mm. You can choose between black, blue, gold or silver. The case matches the link strap and it has 22mm lugs. It has a 1.2-inch screen boasting 380 x 390 pixel resolution.

There are no surprises when it comes to features. The Connected offers activity tracking via GPS so you can enjoy an outdoor run without your phone weighing you own. You can go swimming as it’s waterproof to 50m deep. All your activity is captured via the heart rate monitor which talks to Google Fit. There’s also NFP for using Google Pay and it’s Android and iOS compatible.

Anyone who’s used a Wear OS device before will instantly be familiar with how The Connected operates, but the good thing is you can customise it to your style with multiple watch face options. It’ll show you the usual notifications like calls, text, email, social media and other apps.

There’s a fitness tracking element by taking advantage of Google Fit, whether you’re a runner or into yoga, the Connected can offer some valuable insights.

The official line is that the Connected will give you two days of battery life, but the reality is closer to 36 hours.

Advantages

  • Very high-quality look and feel
  • Accurate heart rate monitor and GPS
  • Contactless payment feature

Disadvantages

  • Disappointing battery life
  • Chunky design, might not be to everyone’s taste
  • Performance can sometimes be slow

Summary 

The introduction of designer brands producing smartwatches has really upped the ante – long gone are the days of heavy, rubber-clad cases with silicon straps. But designer brands come at a premium price, so don’t let a price tag fool you into thinking it comes with all the bells and whistles. Be sure to check out the features!

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Maygen
Maygen

Maygen is a multifaceted writer, proofreader and an experienced smartwatch industry writing and editing professional.

December 13, 2020 By Maygen 1 Comment Filed Under: Buying Guides Tagged With: Armani, designer smartwatches, designer watches, Fossil smartwatch, Kate Spade Smartwatch, Skagen Falster, smartwatches for women

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