Fossil GMT Watches – they do exist!
/Let me be the first to tell you that Fossil GMT watches do exist and currently there are 2 of them for sale on Fossil.com in limited quantities. In the past 20 years or so there have been at least 2 others in the Fossil catalog available to all. We can’t wait to uncover these other 2 older GMT models and show what series they were a part of, but first we must discuss the latest ones!
Before we dive in, if you don’t know what a GMT movement it’s okay. I won’t go into details on this post because we normally don’t go into watch nerd stuff around movements & accuracy like other watch sites. Below find a few links on the GMT movement put in plain English that allows you to learn - I always thought the history and use case was fascinating and would have loved to use them as a pilot on Pan Am in a different life and to have Fossil offer a GMT options brings a smile to my face.
Fossil FB series is really, really and okay one more time really growing on us. FB for those who haven’t figured it out yet stands for Fossil Blue (yeah!) The FB series is really encapsulating the vintage 60’s/70’s diver vibe and as such have released 2 GMT diver watches rated at 200M and both are limited editions. Fossil FB-GMT Silicone LE1107 and Fossil FB-GMT Titanium LE1100 are currently for sale on Fossil.com.
I’ve been road testing the silicone model LE1107 for almost 2 months now and it’s been camping, canoeing, mountain biking, swimming and surfing (or trying to surf) in the ocean. It’s durable, it’s light and comfortable. All these extracurricular activities haven’t affected the crystal or the case at all, everything is clear and no markings or scratches – a great watch for those of us who enjoy being active. The silicone strap however does attract sunscreen and after 2 months it’s got white spots that do come off with some scrubbing – but I’m a weird and like the patina on the strap.
The Titanium LE1100 model was quite a surprise when I received it. Harkening to the titanium watches from Fossil in the past, which I never owned I was shocked at how light this model is and even more shocked that his silicone brother is actually lighter (by .4 ounces!). The LE1100 is quite a dressier piece – you really could wear it work every day and then in the evenings party with its active brother the silicone LE1107. The color of the blue on the bottom half of the dial really stands out with the titanium color of the bracelet – the few times I’ve worn this watch you can see people’s eyes go right to it and since all we can see is people’s eyes in 2020 (thanks COVID), it made an impression on me that people do notice watches…which means I need more!
You can’t see it, but I’m wearing a suit in my home office with this piece!
When we discuss limited editions we always have to talk about the packaging. The FB-GMTs are no exception, both have similar packaging with only a slight variation to match the colors of the LE1100. The Pelican style case is a nice touch and similar to some limited editions of the past.
Okay let’s get into some history!
Series of watches are fun to collect and be a part of…… Defenders obviously have been our favorites for years, but there also lives many others in the Fossil world including Road Trip, Airmaster, Curator, Speedway and others. It’s no coincidence that the latest GMT watches are found in the newly revived Fossil Blue series and the earlier models were found in the DF Defender line and the short-lived Swiss line…..3 of our favorite series past and present!
The DF-5002 is the first 24-hour movement watch that I could find in the Fossil archives. It was part of the Starboard series in the DF line. Other models in this line retailed for $350USD, not quite sure what the original price was, but know it was high! The 24-hour movement is unique because you can’t adjust it, you adjust the hour hand of the movement to go back or ahead of what GMT is set at. Unique compared to any other GMT watches I own.
The FSW7006 Swiss FS-5 is the other previous GMT watch from Fossil. This is one of the few Fossil Swiss not in my personal collection because it was very limited and expensive $895 at its release. Either way it’s part of an exclusive GMT club within the Fossil world.
Welcome to the exclusive club of Fossil GMT watches, LE1100 and LE1107! I know all of you like clubs and limited editions, feel free to join us!
Limited Edition FB-GMT Dual Time Titanium Watch LE1100 - 954 produced
Limited Edition FB-GMT Dual-Time Black Silicone Watch LE1107