A Fossil Clipboard......all aboard for the Time of your life
A Fossil branded clipboard? What an oddity from the late 80’s when Fossil started placing their logo on all sorts of a things, a clipboard has survived into the 21st century.
Remember the days when we used to wield clipboards like medieval knights, ready to joust with paperwork in our padded shoulder work clothes? If you are a certain age, you’re probably saying NO! For the rest of us we’ve traded our trusty clipboards for sleek tablets, and our battle cries have evolved from “For the realm!” to “Did you save that in the cloud?” or in my case “Did you save that in Sharepoint for everyone to view?”
A Fossil branded clipboard? What an oddity from the late 80’s when Fossil started placing their logo on all sorts of a things, a clipboard has survived into the 21st century. I actually forgot I had this because it’s a bit larger than most of my Fossil merch in my collection. The clipboard measures 12.5” x 9.5”
For your enjoyment see the pictures of this rare Fossil merch from a long time ago.
See the Club Fossil post here for other oddball merchandise from this timeframe. What unique Fossil items do you own?
Fossil Blue Cardboard Countertop Stand Up Advertisement
Fossil advertising from the nineties is why I became interested in Fossil watches. There, I said it.
Fossil advertising from the nineties is why I became interested in Fossil watches. There, I said it.
With that statement now floating on the internet, I do occasionally collect advertising pieces. Today I’d like to highlight my recent acquisition because it represents something new for me, but not new for some of our members who have collected quite a few store displays.
I remember these cardboard countertop advertisements in Fossil stores in the nineties and again in the early 2000s. Over the years I’ve seen automobile themed displays usually with a gas pump or a 1957 Chevy and Fossil eyewear had some great ones too. Honestly the more I think about these pieces the more I’m regretting not buying them all…..maybe a new 2024 challenge.
Fossil Blue has a place in all of our hearts and that being said here is a sweet Fossil Blue cardboard countertop stand up advertisement. Item measures about 9 inches tall and had a boat with 2 Blue watches coming out of the display — I love the simplicity of the build and the vibe this is giving. Last picture is a special treat featuring a close up of the boat “captain” that is sure to give you nightmares. Gives me those mannequin vibes from the Twilight Zone "The After Hours" episode.
Fossil Swiss Made Watches – Pictures & Specifications
The one and currently only line of Fossil Swiss Made watches released in 2013. Check out the beautiful artwork and specifications on the entire FSW line.
At this point it should be no secret we’re big fans of the short-lived Fossil Swiss series. Launched in 2013 at an incredibly high price point, the series came and went. In 2015 I saw this catalog at the Fossil headquarters and finally found one on eBay.
Proud to present scans from the Fossil Swiss Made catalog. The scans are also now permanently placed under Galleries in the top navigation.
1997 Fossil Times: European Special Supplement "THE EUROPEAN SPECIAL"
We are delighted to continue our journey in a series we’re calling The European Special introduced in May 2021. Unlike the first issue, the second issue is quite lengthy and for all the number nerds out there, the second issue is mainly a supplement to Volume 4 Issue 1 in 1997 although….
We are delighted to continue our journey in a series we’re calling The European Special introduced in May 2021. Unlike the first issue, the second issue is quite lengthy and for all the number nerds out there, the second issue is mainly a supplement to Volume 4 Issue 1 in 1997 although this newsletter has quite the mix of content from late 1996.
Now let’s get onto some witty commentary on a few topics that stuck out.
Right away on the first page you see the fan favorite the Defender from the DE line. What is interesting is that the 2 automatic versions featured here (DE-1526 and DE-1527) were never mentioned in the US versions of the newsletters AND both watches that reside in my collection were sourced from eBay in Germany….hmm.
A Fossil watch exchange for club members? Ah the 90’s when you could get away with that without signing terms & conditions and recipients wouldn’t scam others. We’ve said it before, but this would be amazing today, but legal departments disagree!
The Collector’s Convention has been covered before, but this time we have photo evidence of Joachim winning that sweet jacket. Where are you Joachim? Anybody out there still have the Collector’s Convention t-shirt in a tin? In all the years collecting Fossil merch, we’ve only ever seen one shirt hit eBay and for $50 it was a great item to take a picture of and move on!
A Fossil congratulations on your birthday? Sign me up – June 26
Similar to a US newsletter this version has some numbers of members, which is GOLD. 1000 members in Germany, 150 in Italy and other members from Norway, Spain, France, Czechoslovakia and 7 more countries not listed. Later in the newsletter we even get the name of the 1000th member in Germany, Utz Bartsch from Berlin. Utz is now 64 years old and I wonder if he still has those 120 watches? Utz where are you?
A rarity from Fossil is such a nice limited-edition list. For long time fans you’ll remember that way back in 2012 we created the ultimate list with the help of an ex-Fossil employee and we’re happy to report our list is still the ultimate and accurate list.
Explore the limited edition checklist here:
http://www.undergroundfossilcollectors.club/blog/2010/4/26/fossil-limited-edition-check-list.html
Way back in 1996 Volume 3 Issue 5 we covered almost verbatim the Beatles pieces along with Fossil 2002 featured here. Same article and content has been recycled – see why we said some old 1996 content made its way to early 1997?
Almost done! Let’s discuss the Oldham pieces. Not much is known on these pieces and that includes the production numbers. The pieces seen over the years don’t have any 1 of 5000 listed on the back of the case, but maybe on the packaging there was some indication of limited numbers. These pieces are rare, but as always rare doesn’t mean valuable and recent sales indicate these didn’t hold up. Fossil collectors enjoy seeing the Fossil logo on things and these pieces were seen as promotional items similar to “Fossil” watches for Universal Studios, Disney, etc.
Last but not least is Heino! He’s made the newsletter and you can guarantee that the towel and sandals pictured here with him, he still has along with the watch he won! Congratulations again!
Fossil: A Great Christmas Present
Christmas in the 90’s Fossil style. Enjoy this 4 page German flyer with all types of Fossil goodness from 1997.
Christmas in the 90’s Fossil style. Enjoy this 4 page German flyer with all types of Fossil goodness from 1997.
Fun Fact - Fossil Steel turned into Arkitekt shortly after 1997. A lot of the early Fossil Arkitekt are rebadged Fossil Steel.
Fossil Notebooks and New Gallery Coming Soon
Somewhere in-between watches and in store displays lies an oddball category of Fossil branded merchandise. Over the years we’ve highlighted and seen everything from popcorn buckets to coffee cups and even school pencils. What goes good with pencils? Notebooks!
Somewhere in-between watches and in store displays lies an oddball category of Fossil branded merchandise. Over the years we’ve highlighted and seen everything from popcorn buckets to coffee cups and even school pencils. What goes good with pencils? Notebooks!
Below are examples of the many notebooks or journals obtained over the years. A few are a certain vintage from 1992 and others were bought from Fossil.com during a pandemic. Enjoy the below pictures and descriptions of what we’re sure is not a complete collection by any means.
Also starting soon will be a new gallery titled Fossil Merchandise and in this gallery we’ll start with the notebooks. With 35+ years of Fossil goodness available this gallery is going to get HUGE. Link coming soon!!!!! Tell your friend(s).
Let’s start with the oldest notebooks in the collection. In total there were 5 available based on the August 1992 catalog. They were also a $1 a piece. I have 4 of them currently and they measure 10.5x8 inches.
Coming up next in no particular order is a Nordstrom/Fossil notebook. I’ve got a few of these and when they come up online I get them — it’s very similar to Mel Gibson purchasing every copy of Catcher in the Rye from the movie Conspiracy Theory. This notebook has a nice hardcover with a very late 90’s logo from Fossil. Measures 8.75 x 6 inches.
Along the same lines as the Nordstrom/Fossil notebook are some that came from the Fossil Company store most likely starting in 1993 with an actual item number of PP-1118. Two variations are pictured here — could there be more? These measure 9.25 x 6.25 inches.
One more hardcover notebook to share and this one is a gold mine of the good old Fossil advertising. No date, no model number and no indication if others exist in a similar look. If you’re down to your last notebook I would rather write on my forehead versus using this one! Measures 8.75 x 5.75 inches.
We’ve covered old & vintage notebooks and spent some time with the hardcovers above. Now here are some typical notebooks that one would use in school. The first batch below are from 2001 based on the I Feel Good tagline. These notebooks are the standard size of 11 x 8.5 inches. One of the notebooks is item #OS8828
Longest post ever……but we’ve got more. The next is a real oddball — it’s a notebook inside a fake book that says Travel Guide from Fossil. Included in the fake book is a very nice postcard set, a Fossil pen, a pack of Fossil playing cards and yes you guessed it! A notebook.
2 more to go. This was a set of 3 Fossil notebooks with graphing/grid paper. Included is a UPC/item number for you collectors - good luck!
Congratulations you’ve made it. If you're reading this, you've gotten out. And if you've read this far, maybe you're willing to read a little further………name that movie quote with some liberties taken.
We have one more notebook set to highlight and then this very long post is complete. Either right before or during the pandemic (remember that?) this set of 3 lined notebooks appeared on Fossil.com for $10. The quality certainly isn’t there like the older notebooks covered, but nonetheless there is a Fossil logo on them
1996 Fossil Times: European Special Supplement "THE EUROPEAN SPECIAL"
In the process of publishing all the Fossil Times newsletters over the years we were informed by our friend Heino that they had special European issues of the Fossil Times. I bet most didn’t know this! We certainly did not!
In the process of publishing all the Fossil Times newsletters over the years (all of them) we were informed by our friend Heino that they had special European supplemental issues of the Fossil Times. Bet most didn’t know this! We certainly did not!
We’ll call this series The European Special and good news for us since we do not speak German, these issues were bilingual! Thank you Fossil.
Now on to some witty commentary.
Fossil’s new 45 Classic Line – we have no earthly idea what this is! No catalogs in our collection have anything related to this Line. Oh, life’s mysteries.
Fossil Blue Line announcement. Apparently by this point it was already announced and they will be very sporty. We know in the US Blue Line launched in August 1996 in the USA, but not until 1997 in Europe.
Fossil Watch Exchange? Something you could do in the 90’s apparently, but not anymore. Unless anyone has a Fossil Compass Limited-Edition LE1027? That is our wish.
More limited editions are covered in this newsletter and what is nice to see is it’s in addition to the international newsletter and references are made assuming you’ve already read the official newsletter before this supplement.
The highlight is the announcement of the Fossil Collectors Club Meeting in Bochum on October 26-27, 1996. It reads:
“Time will stand still at the first international FOSSIL Collectors Clube Meeting and this is for real: European time switches from summer to winter time and we invite you to party the whole day long until this “timeless-hour” together with FOSSIL Collectors”
We could on, but please read it all because there is some poor translations there and many surprises we cannot tell you about now. Do not miss it!
Find the pictures and PDF below – Important to note that this supplement says Volume 2 Issue 2, it really references Volume 3 Issue 3 because of the Betty Boop launch along with Fossil Blue. Another example of the Fossil collector’s lament — volumes and issues were never consistent, until now.
Fossil Times, Fossil Breaks New Ground with Dirt
Even the best curator of all things Fossil makes a mistake every once in a while. In prepping the list of posts and ideas for 2021, I found a mysterious Fossil Times edition that I marked as Q4, but in reality it was Q1 1998. Let’s blame 2020 or let’s blame a certain administration with an orange man – either way it is time dig into the LAST USA Fossil Times edition that I have access to. Volume 5 Issue 1. We do not have access to the Volume 5 Issue 4, which I believe has a pair of glasses on the cover.
Even the best curator of all things Fossil makes a mistake every once in a while. In prepping the list of posts and ideas for 2021, I found a mysterious Fossil Times edition that I marked as Q4, but in reality it was Q1 1998. Let’s blame 2020 or let’s blame a certain administration with an orange man – either way it is time dig into the LAST USA Fossil Times edition that I have access to. Volume 5 Issue 1. We do not have access to the Volume 5 Issue 4, which I believe has a pair of glasses on the cover.
Fossil DRT (Dirt Resistant Technology) watches have always been a meh amongst the collector world. I have a few of them and so do most collectors, but none of them have really stuck out as collectible. The cover image here features the DT4016, the cream colorway in a series that featured green, brown, black, blue and white. DRT was a short-lived series that was all gone by the year 2000 and the coolest item in the line IMO was the DT-4025 which was a combo analog/digital face.
One last call to join the 1998 Fossil Collectors Club shows up in Q1. No mention if 1999 was going to be a thing or not, but in Q1 1998 one could still join the Club and get all the goodies that we expected when we signed up in 1997. AOL Keyword – Fossil
The highlight of this issue in our opinion is the 2-page spread to talk about Fossil in cyberspace. At this point Fossil.com was 2 years old and most companies were just now realizing this internet thing wasn’t going away. The comparison between surfing the ocean and surfing the net is quite hysterical – worth a read! We’ve posted before about the old Fossil site on archive.org, but if you haven’t checked it out ever take a look for all your vintage Fossil pictures, watches and information – your friendly moderator here checks on it often for points of reference.
The big spread in Q1 is I LOVE LUCY and it’s a big spread! Really nice work around the show and the history. No pictures of the limited edition watches are shown, but in April of 1998 you could get the #3 watch in the series in standard or gold.
Wrapping up this issue is the recap of the fifth (and final?) Collector’s Club Breakfast in Nashville, TN on November 22, 1997. Mentioned as well is the Fossil Germany Collector’s Club Breakfast on the same day! Very cool and certainly something Fossil should consider going forward are some events for their fans. Later in 1998 there was a mall tour for Collectors and one was in my own backyard and I missed it by about 23 years! On that bad joke, here is the Q1 1998 Fossil Times – enjoy!
Please forgive the oddball sized scans here — this is one copy I didn’t have the actual tangible copy of. The full pages will appear when you click.
Fossil Times, I Was Abducted by Aliens Volume 5, Issue 3
Let’s end this year with one of the largest issues of the Fossil Times. It just so happens to be next on our mission to publish all the Fossil Times online. No need to buy one on eBay for $40, read away and enjoy the witty commentary on what could be the largest edition (in size): Volume 5, Issue 3 otherwise known as the Pink Panther edition.
Greetings Fossil Fans! Let’s end this year with one of the largest issues of the Fossil Times. It just so happens to be next on our journey to publish all the Fossil Times online. No need to buy one on eBay for $40! Read away and enjoy the witty commentary on what could be the largest edition (in size): Volume 5, Issue 3 otherwise known as the Pink Panther edition.
The cover image is most striking and contrary to popular belief the image and story have nothing to do with a certain limited edition watch and everything to do with the Advance-o-Matic ordering program that was introduced in Q2. In fact, if this issue had a theme it’s Advance-o-Matic which let’s be honest is a letdown considering how good the cover image is. It’s a funny story nonetheless.
We revisit a few watches mentioned last quarter including the LI-2003 Big Date limited edition and a new Snoopy limited-edition Pocket Watch including a dog dish!
Something we never cover are the Beatles limited edition watches and this issue announces the LI-1651 and LI-1650, which are the third releases of Beatles limited edition watches. What is cool about this set was that the watch and packaging looked just like the famous album cover. I honestly see this set from time to time and think it’s much older than September 1998 – another example of Fossil doing vintage right!
Star Wars! I remember being in a Fossil store and seeing this limited edition set during the holidays in 1998, I distinctly remember seeing R2D2’s head being twisted off and seeing the watch and I thought what a great way to use that droid! Going into 2021 this might be the limited edition set I seek out to buy and display. Like most limited edition sets of the time, there were 2 version gold & silver. Gold was LI-1666 and 500 pieces were available and Silver was LI-1665 and 3000 pieces were available.
I lovingly called this newsletter the Pink Panther edition and that’s because 4 of the 8 pages are dedicated to a Pink Panther poster. Not really a desirable or favored limited edition set amongst collectors, this set includes the standing Pink Panther which I always liked. It is one thing to have a cool watch in a collectible tin, but when you add figurines or display pieces that’s when collectors go nuts. There is something for everyone!
Lastly what is missing from this newsletter is calling out of collectors and their collections! Where is the love for the collectors that littered their homes with Fossil wares? Oh well – one more issue to go in our journey!
Fossil Times, Collectors Have A Big Date with Fossil
Greetings Fossil Fans. We’re emerging out of quarantine here and as such have emerged another copy of the Fossil Times….this time it’s the 2nd quarter edition of the 1998 Fossil Times.
Greetings Fossil Fans. We’re emerging out of quarantine here and as such have emerged another copy of the Fossil Times….this time it’s the 2nd quarter edition of the 1998 Fossil Times. We’re missing the 1st quarter edition of the Fossil Times so please reach out if you might have it. Pretty please????
First thing first – this issue is HUGE. I won’t cover everything, but definitely read everything in these images, there is a lot of good content and even some new things that fans might not know.
Okay onto the content. Let’s talk the LE 2003, I have never seen one of these! It was a limited edition just for the Collectors Club members outside of the 1998 Fossil Collectors Club kits – 1998 if you recall had the limited-edition pocket watch, but this 1998 collector’s only watch had the biggest date window yet (as of 1998). Any Fossil fans out there have this piece? Would love to see it - Contact Us
Secondly – in all my years collecting Fossil goodies, I didn’t know they had boxer shorts. 22 years later still seeing new things. Any Fossil underwear collectors out there? A challenge was posted on our Facebook page to see if anyone has any of these boxers…something odd, something fun – living the dream!
I love learning about the Collectors Club Events that I never attended. Looks like by 1998 things were winding down with only a few of these in the diary, but look at that content! Fossil artwork will be up for bid along with snacks, games, prizes and I’m sure much more. Postcards were mailed out; did you get yours?
The Snoopy Collectors Watch is another one of those limited editions that I’m always chasing. Mrs. Underground Fossil Collectors Club is a big time Snoopy fan and this particular Snoopy watch LE1639 or LE1640 is the first and the best Snoopy limited watch from Fossil. Fossil Times really had a nice Snoopy spread in this issue and the watch came with a doghouse bank, that’s swell!
The last item of note I wanted to highlight is Advance-o-Matic. Much like the boxer shorts, I didn’t know about this short-lived program that let Collectors Club members reach out to Fossil to reserve a VERY LOW number of upcoming limited edition watches. Reading the steps for how to reserve your VERY LOW number watch is the most 90’s thing ever because now we would just use an app or even a special email address. Oh those 90’s!
Enjoy Volume 5, Issue 2 of the Fossil Times and as always what happened to Greg Faddis and his three-foot tall Fossil iron globe?
