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Fossil ES5437 Raquel Black Velvet Strap Watch - W10461
Ref. ES5437
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Stepping up in the same colour and case shape
The Raquel line is Fossil's nod to a particular tradition in women's dress watches — the rectangular case, the pavé-trimmed bezel, the velvet strap — that draws more from fine jewellery than from watchmaking. At 18mm wide and just 7mm deep, and weighing 16 grams complete, it barely registers on the wrist, sitting flush rather than proud of the skin. The silver sunray dial catches light with enough movement to give the piece life without drawing attention to itself, and the pavé crystals around the bezel do the same job at close range. The black velvet strap, backed in leather, is the detail that holds the whole thing together: it keeps the gold case from reading as costume and gives the watch a reason to exist alongside a formal sleeve.
- Reference
- ES5437
- Brand
- Fossil
- Collection
- Raquel
- Case size
- 18mm
- Case thickness
- 7mm
- Lug width
- 10mm
- Case material
- Gold PVD
- Case shape
- Rectangular
- Dial
- Silver
- Crystal
- Mineral
- Movement
- Quartz
- Calibre
- Seiko VC00
- Water resistance
- 30m
- Bracelet / strap
- Fabric strap
- Strap colour
- Black
- Clasp
- Buckle
- Lume
- Luminous
- Retailer
- F.Hinds
Additional specifications
- Warranty
- 2 years
- Gem set
- Yes
Learn more about Fossil
Tom Kartsotis founded Fossil in Texas in 1984 after noticing that fashion watches manufactured in Hong Kong could be produced far more cheaply than the market assumed. The name came from his brother's nickname.
The company's insight was presentation. Fossil watches were designed with a deliberately retro American aesthetic and sold in collectable tin boxes, which made an inexpensive quartz watch feel like an object worth keeping. It worked at scale, and Fossil became one of the largest watch companies in the world by unit volume.
The business then grew primarily by acquisition and licensing. Fossil owns Zodiac, Misfit, and the leather goods brand Skagen, and manufactures watches under licence for a long list of fashion houses — Michael Kors, Armani Exchange, Diesel, Kate Spade, and others. For much of the 2010s Fossil produced a substantial share of all branded fashion watches sold globally.
It was also an early and significant player in smartwatches, launching Android Wear devices from 2015 and becoming the largest maker of Google-powered watches, before that market consolidated around Apple, Samsung, and Google itself.
Fossil remains a public company headquartered in Richardson, Texas, and continues to produce its own mechanical and automatic lines alongside the quartz and connected ranges.
- 1984
- Tom Kartsotis founds Fossil in Texas.
- 1990
- The tin-box packaging becomes a signature.
- 2001
- Acquires Zodiac.
- 2015
- Launches its first Android Wear smartwatches.
Also in 7 collections
This watch appears in the Fossil Raquel range (10), Back in Stock (4,792), Watches Under 37mm (1,682), Women's Watches (1,610), Silver Dial Watches (713), Gold Watches (689) and Rectangular & Square Watches (443).
Manufacturer’s guarantee
What the specifications mean
Strengths
- 18mm wears small and slips under any cuff
- Luminous hands and markers for low light
- Sits in the lower half of Fossil's range as we list it
Worth knowing
- 30m means keeping it away from water
Fossil ES5437 Raquel Black Velvet alternatives
Watches from other brands at a similar price, style and size, so you can see what else your budget can buy.
| Specification | ES5437 | LB00290/11 | 24000279 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | £139 | £129 | £139 |
| Case size | 18mm | 18mm | 20mm |
| Water resistance | 30m | 50m | 30m |
| Movement | Quartz | Quartz | Quartz |
| Strap | Fabric strap | Stainless steel bracelet | Mesh bracelet |
| This watch |
|
|
Your new watch
Frequently asked questions, and things you should know about this watch
Can I swim with it?
No. At 30m it will survive rain and handwashing, but not submersion of any kind.
Water resistance explainedWill the glass scratch?
It can, over time. Mineral glass handles daily wear but will pick up fine scratches that sapphire would not.
Sapphire, mineral and acrylic comparedDoes it need a battery?
Yes. It is quartz, so expect a battery change every two to three years at a jeweller.
Quartz, automatic and solar comparedWhat size strap does it take?
10mm. Any strap of that width will fit, and on most modern watches quick-release bars make the swap a two-minute job with no tools.
Is it a men's or women's watch?
Listed as women's.
Cheapest place to buy
F.Hinds is the only UK retailer we track stocking this reference, so there is nothing to compare it against today.
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