Fossil Officially Bids Farewell to Smartwatch Business – Gen 7 Cancelled

In a strategic move, Fossil Group has officially confirmed its departure from the smartwatch business, bringing an end to the anticipated Gen 7 lineup. The announcement comes after Fossil unveiled the Gen 6 smartwatch lineup in August 2021 and introduced Wellness Edition watches later.

Fossil Officially Bids Farewell to Smartwatch Business

According to Amanda Castelli, Fossil Group’s spokesperson, the decision to exit the smartwatch landscape is driven by the significant evolution in the industry over the past few years. The company is now reallocating resources to focus on core strengths and segments that present robust growth opportunities. This includes the continued design and distribution of traditional watches, jewelry, and leather goods under both proprietary and licensed brand names.

Recent reports had hinted at Fossil’s withdrawal from the Wear OS smartwatch market, and the company had been offering substantial discounts on certain smartwatch models, possibly to clear inventory. The official confirmation of their departure aligns with these speculations.

Despite the exit, Fossil assures existing Wear OS-powered smartwatch users that it will provide updates for these devices “for the next few years.” This commitment aims to ensure users continue to enjoy a seamless experience with their smartwatches, with hopes that updates will be free of bugs.

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Pokdepinion: As the watchmaker bids farewell to the smartwatch realm, users and industry enthusiasts are left to reflect on the company’s role in shaping the Wear OS market and anticipate the future directions in traditional watchmaking, jewelry, and leather goods that they will explore.