Skagen is a contemporary watch and accessories brand with design inspiration from Denmark. Its name is taken from Skagen, the northernmost town in Denmark. The company itself was founded in New York in 1989 by the Danish couple Henrik and Charlotte Jorst. Since 2012 the brand has been under Fossil Group. Its product line covers watches and jewelry. From the start, the founders wanted to make watches at more affordable prices. For secondhand buyers, this background helps place Skagen correctly: an affordably priced contemporary brand, not a luxury collector's watch. For that reason, the physical condition and function of the watch are the main things to assess.
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Henrik and Charlotte Jorst moved from Denmark to the United States in 1986, when Henrik was appointed US sales manager for the Carlsberg brewery. After deciding to start their own business, they first became the US representatives for a Danish company's manufacturer of souvenir watches and for watches designed by Jacob Jensen. The wish to offer more affordably priced watches then led them to work with Comtech Watches, a Danish-owned manufacturer with a factory in Hong Kong. They began designing their own watches and introduced them at a corporate souvenir trade show in New York in 1991. After that, the Skagen Denmark brand was born.
The brand name comes from the fishing village of Skagen at the northern tip of the Jutland Peninsula. The company's symbol is a set of angles facing each other, representing the meeting of the Skagerrak and Kattegat seas off the coast of Skagen. In 1992 they began selling watches under their own brand, with annual sales of US$800,000. A year later the business was moved to Lake Tahoe, and then to Reno, Nevada. The department store Bloomingdale's began selling their watches in 1995. In 1998 Skagen opened a European distribution office in Denmark, with annual sales approaching US$30 million.
From the late 1990s into the 2000s, distribution expanded to Europe, the Middle East, and Asia. Annual sales reached US$70 million in 2005, and a regional office in Hong Kong was opened in 2007. Fossil acquired Skagen Designs Ltd. in 2012 for about US$237 million. Its operations were then merged into Fossil's headquarters in Richardson, Texas.
What we check before listing
We start with the outside: scratches on the glass and case, and whether the crown and buttons still work normally. We check the strap and clasp, whatever the type, for cracks, looseness, or worn parts. The logo printing, the text on the dial, and the engraving on the case back should be neat, sharp, and consistent across parts. We confirm that the watch runs and that the date display or any other function, if present, works properly. Signs that the case has been opened or a corroded battery are also noted, because they affect the condition inside the watch.
Caring for it
Wipe the case and glass with a soft, dry cloth. Keep the watch away from water unless the case clearly states it is water resistant, and even then it should not be overused. If the strap is leather, avoid getting it wet and avoid direct heat. Battery replacement should be done at a trusted watchmaker.
FAQ
Is Skagen a Danish or an American brand?
It has ties to both. Its founders, Henrik and Charlotte Jorst, are from Denmark, and the designs are inspired by Danish style. However, the company was founded in New York in 1989 and is now owned by Fossil Group, which is headquartered in Texas.
Where does the name Skagen come from?
From Skagen, a fishing village at the northern tip of the Jutland Peninsula in Denmark. The brand's symbol is a set of angles facing each other, representing the meeting of the Skagerrak and Kattegat seas.
Who owns Skagen now?
Skagen Designs Ltd. was acquired by Fossil in 2012 and is now a subsidiary of Fossil Group.
What should be checked before buying a secondhand Skagen?
Check for scratches on the glass and case, the condition of the strap and clasp, the clarity of the logo and engraving, and make sure the watch runs normally. Also ask when the battery was last replaced, if that information is available.
References
Facts summarised and rewritten from the sources above (CC BY-SA licence).