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!
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?
Fossil Times – Shaken Not Stirred
We’re winding down 1997 with a timely throwback to the last Fossil Times of 1997 Volume 4 Issue 4 and yes, we are still waiting on Issue 2 to magically appear. Bathroom monkeys get on it!
We’re winding down 1997 with a timely throwback to the last Fossil Times of 1997 Volume 4 Issue 4 and yes, we are still waiting on Issue 2 to magically appear. Bathroom monkeys get on it!
Cover image is part one in the James Bond 007 Series with part two coming in 1998. The article here officially launching LI-1623 and LI-1624 is one of the more stranger articles found in the Fossil Times archives so please do enjoy! The LI-1623 and LI-1624 in recent months has really skyrocketed in value with some crazy eBay sellers asking $500, but more completed sales are seeing them in the $150-$250 range, wow!
The next 2 pages are really unique and help solidify the fun & uniqueness of collecting Fossil advertising merch. Recognition is given here for awards won for some of the iconic Fossil pieces including those oil can tins and that Fossil wrapped bus from 1997 – yes we posted about our love for that bus almost 10 years ago! We would love some pictures.
The 1998 Collectors Club Kit was also announced…did Fossil know 1998 would be the last year? Sad to see it announced knowing what we know now, but fear not we still have 3-4 Fossil Times left to post and at the rate we’re going we’ll have them posted by 2022.
The last 2 things worth highlighting are the lost Starmaster with the barnacles on it. Reminds us of the GameBoy on display at the Nintendo World Store in NYC. These older Fossil are amazing – most of the ones I have from the time period still work, so it’s no wonder this Starmaster went through hell and still works!
Enjoy the last of 1997 and get ready for 1998 and as always, Mr. Kikuchi where are you and congrats btw!
Fossil Times: It's Toy Time
Collaborations are no doubt something you’ve seen with Fossil lately – all these collaborations in 2019 with Crosley, Pride, etc and way back in 1997 Fossil collaborated or teamed up with T.K. Toys of Japan to come up with some limited-edition pieces that came with tin toys.
In our never ending series of posting Fossil Times newsletters we are proud to post Volume 4, Issue 3. Now you maybe wondering it’s been so long since you posted any of these and last post was Volume 4, Issue 1……so where is Issue 2? Sadly….very sadly Fossil fans we no record of this issue exists and we do have our bathroom monkeys actively searching for any signs of Issue 2, but until then please accept Issue 3.
Not all newsletters can be winners and Issue 3 isn’t one of the greats. There are a few highlights and we’ll review
Collaborations are no doubt something you’ve seen with Fossil lately – all these collaborations in 2019 with Crosley, Pride, etc and way back in 1997 Fossil collaborated or teamed up with T.K. Toys of Japan to come up with some limited-edition pieces that came with tin toys. These toys launched at $150 each and they definitely haven’t retained their value over the years, but with a run of 5000 pieces each – they are one of the rarer LE’s.
The second page is 100% dedicated to the Collectors Breakfasts that we have discussed before. We are still looking for anyone with photos or exclusive merchandise that was available at either of these 3 locations.
The Sneak Preview is well stocked this time with 2 Mickey Mouse pieces,1 James Bond watch…. including the gold one that was limited to 1000 pieces and finally the infamous Boba Fett LI-1619 and 1620 – the Boba Fett is one that I’ve always liked and I do go back and forth on getting one on eBay. Christmas 2019 here we come!
Not much else to highlight as we wind down 1997 and start moving towards 1998. Volume 4, Issue 4 coming up next!
Fossil Times Reaches 1997 – Pop Quiz Hot Shot!
And then it was 1997. Welcome to our ongoing series of bringing back to life Fossil Times from the Collector’s Club era. Up for your consideration today is Volume 4, Issue 1. The newsletters from 1997 & 1998 were the first ones in a different size at 10.5 inches wide and 16.5 inches tall (ie..very hard to scan in)
Let’s start with missing socks. Remember those from last time? In this day and age, it’s hard to imagine a major company (or any company) announcing that they received a sock and have a hard time identifying the sender! 22 years later did anyone ever claim that sock and what was the reward?
The highlight of this newsletter and the reason why this site was created was for the collectors. On Page 3 we find an article called, “C’mon in Collectors” and wow it really made me long for the retail days where you had to go to the stores to get your goods and talk with salespeople. I had a good relationship with the salespeople at 2 of my local Fossil stores and they would call me when the good stuff came in! Like my own personal Cheers Bar minus the drinks. Those Fossil stores in the 90’s were magical and I can attest that they were designed to keep us coming back for more.
Further inside in the newsletter we learn about the international presence of the Fossil Collectors Club – 1500 members internationally! Suspicions confirmed that the retro-American style was loved internationally just as much as here in the good old USA. Little known fact that has been forgotten was Fossil Collectors had their own inbox direct to Fossil HQ: COLLECT.FOSSIL@FOSL.COM
Other points of interest are always Star Wars watches (how many did they make?), information on the 1997 Collector’s Club option and always a highlight for Collector of the Quarter – where are you Matthew Martin?
Enjoy the first issue of Fossil Times from 1997 – it was a good year!
Join the 1997 Fossil Collectors Club
Just in time for the holidays, join the 1997 Fossil Collectors Club today! Ahh…wouldn’t that be nice? In our own humble opinion this is the peak of the design phase for that 50’s American style we all love and miss. The front cover really says it all, but an exclusive fossil frame is something that our bathroom monkeys must have missed and now they are searching the halls of the interwebs for one! Without further ado let’s dig into Volume 3, Issue 5!
Fossil 2002! If only we knew to save these or remove the batteries immediately. I can’t tell you how many collectors (or eBay scalpers) email us asking to fix these LCD 2002 watches. The LCD watches take 2 batteries and besides replacing the movement entirely we haven’t found a way to fix them. These watches when working selling for good money online, but honestly, they are way too cool to sell.
The Fossil cups are of interest and we haven’t seen these since going to see Beavis and Butt-Head Do America in late 1996 in the theaters. These cups are one thing we would love in our collection – over 4 million produced, are any left?
Moving onto Collector’s Club news…the Fossil Europe page is very meaty. Details of the previously mentioned European Collectors Club Meeting sound amazing and please send pictures!
Wrapping up the “Fossil Missing Sock Drive” is something Fossil probably regrets. How many socks were mailed and how many of them were not cleaned prior to sending? The world may never know, but take comfort knowing this was a one-time deal and you weren’t involved in opening those stinky packages.
All-righty onto the newsletter!
It’s Mod Time, but let’s pick another name.
Welcome to another installment of the Fossil Times circa 1996. Unlike previous years and future years the 1996 year saw five (5) Collector’s Club newsletters. We’ve reviewed a few stinkers in the past, but this one is one of the better ones for the Fossil Collector. Ignore as always the Issue/Volume numbers on the top and pretend that you see Volume 3, Issue 4. Let’s begin.
The Mod Time was a bust wasn’t it? 22 years later we never see these come up. Of all the options to put on the front cover in 1996 and this was the selection. No more bashing let’s continue onto the Limited Edition Preview and we start with Star Trek. The LI-1435 is okay if you like that sort of thing, but the takeaway is the LI-1436 where only 1000 were produced and these were in special gold. That’s stuff of dreams for the collector imagine the conversations you could have with all your Fossil Collector’s Club colleagues:
Friend: “Well I finally found the LI-1435 and it comes in a lovely black box”
You: (while polishing your LI-1436 to really make that gold stand out) “congratulations you are 1 of 10,000 other collectors who have the same piece”
Friend: “I want your life”
What’s interesting about all these Limited Editions is the regional distribution. In modern times it’s probably impossible (fiscally & legally) to get such a deal, but Fossil managed to release Star Trek, The Beatles, Mickey Mouse and Toy Story all in this newsletter. Some of these 1000 released pieces are some of the more valuable Fossil watches today. The Mickey ones especially with the wooden toys seems to command a premium along with the gold pocket watch LI-1457.
The rest of the newsletter is dedicated entirely to the Collector’s Club and this is why it ranks high on our list. 22 years later there isn’t a lot of information around our club out there and our bathroom monkeys are continuously searching the interwebs for every piece of information they can find. A few takeaways:
Germany (no surprise) had the highest amount of Collector’s Club members outside of the USA
Like the USA, there was a European Collectors Club Meeting along with an Limited Edition Auction on October 26-27, 1996! Pictures please send!
Fossil Pen Pals was marketed as a way for non-USA members to get limited edition pieces not widely distributed.
The winners of the jacket from the previous newsletter was announced. Fred Heedt and Julie Kodama where are you and can we have the jackets back?
The 1996 Fossil Collector’s Convention was a 6 city tour. Where’s that bus?
Okay onto the show. Sorry for the long post, but this is a good newsletter! Ironic isn’t it that in 1996 a print newsletter was used to announce an upcoming web page and now in 2018 we are using “the internet” to broadcast a print newsletter.
