Visiting the Watch Department at Kohl's

Kohl's is one of my favorite places to shop for watches.  Over the years, I've gotten some of my favorite watches from Kohl's.  If you haven't visited lately, you don't know what you are missing. [As of 2024, the Kohl's watch department is pretty much gone. Sunglasses and a Sephora makeup section have replaced the freestanding jewelry counter in many locations.]

One of the coolest watches that I ever found at Kohl's is this Relic Moonphase watch.  It's amazing to have moon phase features that you'd normally find on a expensive European watch on a quartz watch that costs less than $100.

 

A Relic Moonphase Watch from Kohl's

I found one of my best diver-style watches at Kohls. It was a Caravelle by Bulova with a rotating bezel. [2025 update: Unfortunately, the strap became brittle quickly and just didn't last long.]

  

Caravelle by Bulova from Kohl's

This Relic Sawyer looks slightly nautical in battleship grey. It looks even better by a Battleship.

 

Relic Watch at Kohl's


As of 2025, you can still find watches at Kohl's.  While the watch department is gone, you can still find off the shelf watches from brands like American Exchange, Caribbean Joe, Geneva, and Timex. This December 2024 visit to Kohls shows what you can expect to find.

 

The Fossil Decker

If you like the look of bronze, Fossil might have the watch for you.  The Fossil Outlet store had the watch for me.  It's called the Fossil Decker and it has a the rich bronze look that you'd associated with fine nautical instruments.  It also has chronometer functions and tachymeter markings on the bezel.  It's a cool looking watch.  Here's my complete review:

 

Wristwatch Review:  Men's Fossil Decker Vintage Bronze Watch

The Fossil Decker

The Square Gauntlet Watch by Mossimo

Here's an interesting looking square watch from Mossimo at Target.  The strap is a wide gauntlet-style construct.

Mossimo Square Watch

Sears is a good place for watch hardware!

As the holiday's approach, it will be time to start shopping for Christmas gifts.  While there are plenty of places to shop for watches online, if you prefer brick'n'mortar experiences, I've found lots of cool watches at an unlikely place:  Sears.

Photo by Gars129 (Own work) [CC-BY-SA-3.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0)], via Wikimedia Commons

If you are looking to expand your personal watch collection or get a gift for a man, you'll find watches that appeal to all ages.  Younger watch afficionadoes might like this watch:

A Structure Watch from Sears

A more fashion forward man might like a square watch that looks a bit like a Bell & Ross:

If mechanical mechanisms and bronze would be more appealing, this Elgin quartz/mechanical watch might be a more dressy alternative:

Finally, if you are shopping for a more business-oriented man, you can't go well with a basic Bulova watch like this one:

All in all, it's a pretty amazing variety of watches to find in one basic department store.  Plus, Sears/Kmart Rewards program is an awesome way to save money.  If you have car repairs or buy tires at a Sears Auto Center, there's a good chance that you'll be able to save big money on a nice watch.

[In 2024, it saddens me that Sears is essentially gone. Only 10 stores remain in the US mainland and 1 in Puerto Rico.  They still sell some interesting watches online through vendors at sears.com.]

Wristwatch Review: The Fossil Ansel Retro-Style Quartz Watch with Stainless Steel Band

From the classic-style of Mad Men to the latest iteration of James Bond, retro-style remains popular today.  There was nothing wrong with the watches of the 1950s, 60s, and 70s.  They were functional and well-designed.  That's why the Fossil Ansel (Model FS4671) never goes out of style.

[In 2024, I'm reworking this post to include my review of the Fossil Ansel that first appeared on Yahoo Voices in 2015.]

Mid-Century Modern Style in a Twenty-first Century Package

If you want a vintage mid-century modern look on the outside and a twenty-first century quartz movement on the inside, check out this review of the Fossil Ansel.  It's got a vintage look in a convenient modern watch.

A Fossil Ansel Watch

The simplicity of a vintage watch design never goes out of style. When you get down to basics, the essential purpose of a watch is to tell time. However, truly vintage watches have their disadvantages. They require winding or maintenance. They may be too valuable to absorb damage. They may show excessive wear and tear from years of use. In addition, the size and dimensions of a classic watch may not match contemporary notions about the size of a watch. Fortunately, there are many contemporary watches with retro styling cues. One such watch is the Fossil Ansel (Model FS4671). I found mine at the Fossil Outlet Store at the North Georgia Premium Outlets in Dawsonville, Georgia.

As much as I love my classic Timex Mercury, the Fossil Ansel makes a great stand-in for a vintage watch for everyday wear. Since it has a quartz movement, I don't have to wind it or spend a few minutes figuring out how to set the date properly. It has a 22-millimeter wide stainless steel band and a perfectly-sized 41-millimeter diameter case. The dimensions just look right on my wrist today. However, other than size, the Fossil looks like a vintage watch in every significant way. For example, it features a bright silver sunray face and a domed crystal. The hours are marked by translucent blue batons and the minutes are noted by simple hashmarks at the edge of the dial. A small date window lies just inboard of the three o'clock marker.

The band was initially too large for my 7 1/2 inch wrists so two links had to be removed. Fortunately, that was done for free at the Fossil Outlet store It's proven to be a comfortable band and is secured by a sturdy foldover clasp with push button. The only drawback thus far is that the clasp was easily scratched while performing office work. After typing for just a couple of hours in a typical office cube, the clasp was was quite scuffed up. However, most Fossil Ansel watches come with a black leather band and may be able to withstand workday wear a little better.

Overall, the Fossil FS4671 Ansel watch has the has looks of a vintage watch from the 1950s or 1960s and the size and heft of a more contemporary watch. It's a no nonsense watch that combines form and function. Overall, I recommend the Fossil Ansel if you want a vintage mid-century modern look on the outside and a twenty-first century quartz movement.

The Watches of Presidential Candidates

Blah-Blah-Blah-Blah-Blah.  The first Presidential debate is running along.  Americans face an important choice in November.  It's a choice that is beyond the scope of this blog.  But, as my mind wanders, I wonder what kind of watches the candidates wear.

According to a blog called Spudland, Mitt Romney has been photographed wearing a non-descript but functional Nixon "Private" watch.

By Gage Skidmore [CC-BY-SA-2.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0)], via Wikimedia Commons

Romney's watch is devoid of subdials and expensive-looking flourishes.

President Obama has been seen wearing a Jorg-Gray 6500 watch that was given to him by his Secret Service detail.

 This enlargement is grainy, but it's a simple black chronometer watch with subdials and a secret service logo.

 

Structure Military-style Watch from Sears

A couple of months ago, I got a really cool watch at Sears. It's a Structure Military-style Watch and costs about $30-$35. A classic military dial looks just and diver-style non-rotating bezel makes for a perfect look. It also has a silicone band that is super comfortable and looks like leather.