Citizen Eco-Drive Chandler vs Fossil Townsman
Buy the Citizen Eco-Drive Chandler for a low-maintenance everyday watch: solar power, no battery changes, 100m water resistance, and a small 37mm case. Buy the Fossil Townsman if you want a dressier 44mm skeleton automatic and don't mind winding it. As of November 4, 2026, the Chandler is $157.94 at eBay and the Townsman is $148.12 at Amazon, so the Fossil is about $10 cheaper.
Today the Fossil Townsman costs $9.82 less at its best price.
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Citizen Eco-Drive Chandler
4.4Choose the Citizen Eco-Drive Chandler if you want a light-powered watch that never needs a battery, survives swimming and rain at 100m, and fits smaller wrists at 37mm.
- Solar Eco-Drive never needs a battery change
- 100m water resistance handles swimming and showers
- Day/date and luminous hands for daily use
- Light 54 g on a nylon strap
What separates them
| Citizen Eco-Drive Chandler | Fossil Townsman | |
|---|---|---|
| Movement | Eco-Drive solar quartz, charged by any light | Automatic multifunction, wound by wrist motion |
| Power | Never needs a battery; at least 8 months standby | About 12 hours reserve from normal wear, around 40 hours fully wound |
| Case size | 37 mm, 9 mm thick, 54 g | 44 mm stainless steel |
| Water resistance | 100 m (10 ATM) | 50 m (5 ATM) |
| Crystal | Mineral | Mineral |
| Strap | Green woven nylon with buckle, 18 mm lugs, interchangeable | Brown leather with buckle, 22 mm lugs, interchangeable |
| Dial and legibility | Black dial, Arabic numerals, luminous hands, day/date | Brown skeleton dial, Roman numerals at 12/3/6/9; buyers say it is hard to read in dim light |
Price history
- Citizen Eco-Drive Chandler: lowest $67.00 on Oct 29; $236.00 on Nov 4.
- Fossil Townsman: lowest $137.56 on Nov 2 at Amazon; $148.12 on Nov 4.
Prices at every store
Citizen Eco-Drive Chandler
- WalmartNew
In stockSold by Inventory AdjustersReturns: Sold by a Walmart Marketplace seller; returns go to the seller under the seller's returns policy.
$215.97Free shippingVerified - PoshmarkNew
In stock
$275.00+ $6.49 shippingObserved at 5:51 AM - eBayNew
Availability unknownSold by leperfect (99.7% positive, 271,100 ratings)Returns: Set by the eBay seller; the eBay Money Back Guarantee covers an item that doesn't arrive or isn't as described.
$157.94Free shippingVerified - AmazonNew
Availability unknown
As an Amazon Associate, Deal.ai earns from qualifying purchases.
$236.00Free shippingObserved at 5:51 AM
Also available at
Fossil Townsman
- eBayNew
In stockSold by cwtime
$213.16Free shippingObserved at 5:52 AM - Macy'sNew
In stock
$238.00Free shippingObserved at 5:52 AM - AmazonNew
Availability unknown
As an Amazon Associate, Deal.ai earns from qualifying purchases.
$148.12Free shippingObserved at 5:52 AM
Also available at
- NordstromCheck price at Nordstrom
Specs compared
| Spec | Citizen Eco-Drive Chandler | Fossil Townsman |
|---|---|---|
| Case Size | 37 mm | 44 mm |
| Movement | Eco-Drive | Automatic Multifunction |
| Case Material | Stainless Steel | — |
| Dial Color | Black | — |
| Band Material | Nylon | — |
| Band Closure | Buckle | — |
| Lug Width | 18 mm | — |
| Crystal | Mineral Crystal | — |
| Water Resistance | WR100/10Bar/333ft | — |
| Weight | 54 g | — |
| Case Thickness |
What reviewers say
Citizen Eco-Drive Chandler
Owners rate it 4.4 out of 5 across 172 ratings. Most praise the light-powered movement, the light weight and the field-watch look, and many wear it daily without issue. Complaints center on the mineral crystal and the small case size.
- Never needs a battery thanks to Eco-Drive
- Comfortable and light on the wrist
- Clean, legible military-style dial
- Holds up to everyday wear and water
- Crystal picks up scratches over time
- Case feels small for larger wrists
- Strap can feel stiff at first and holds moisture
Fossil Townsman
Owners rate it highly, at 4.9 out of 5 from 15 ratings, and most praise the skeleton dial and the comfortable strap. The common complaints are readability and a short power reserve.
Questions and answers
- Which is better for swimming?
- The Citizen Eco-Drive Chandler. It is rated 100m (10 ATM); the Fossil Townsman is rated 50m (5 ATM), which is fine for splashes but not swimming.
- Which lasts longer without service?
- The Citizen. Its solar quartz movement has no battery to replace and few moving parts. The Fossil's automatic movement needs regular wear or winding and eventual servicing.
- Is the Fossil worth the extra?
- It isn't extra right now. The Townsman is $148.12 at Amazon as of November 4, 2026, about $10 less than the Chandler at $157.94 at eBay. Pick it for the skeleton automatic look, not for savings.
- Which is easier to read?
- The Citizen. It has Arabic numerals, luminous hands and a plain black dial. Fossil buyers report the skeleton dial and tinted glass are hard to read in dim light.
- Which fits a small wrist?
- The Citizen at 37mm and 54 g. The Fossil is 44mm, which is large on wrists under about 7 inches.
- Do either need a battery?
- No. The Citizen runs on light through its Eco-Drive cell. The Fossil is mechanical and winds from wrist motion, with about 12 hours of reserve from normal wear.
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