FOSSIL TIMES, ISSUE 2, VOLUME 2 - The World Prepares for DEFENDER!

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Continuing our proud tradition of posting Fossil Times newsletters online about 20 years too late, we are pleased to have found a monumental issue -- Issue 2, Volume 2 - The World Prepares for DEFENDER! Some say we post too much about the Defender line on this site and not about other collectibles. Whelp here's our chance to talk more about Defender because it's next in line of a long line of Fossil Times newsletters.

What we like about the launch of the Fossil Defender line (in 1995) was that Fossil already knew that the line was going to be different -- some might say a risk, but deviating from the tins and launching special straps was a nice differentiator and they highlighted it early. Looking for those cardboard boxes and original straps are still something Defender collectors are searching for.

Moving on...other noticeable announcements are the Surfer launch LE-9465 in the custom wooden box. It wasn't until early 2017 where we finally got our hands on one -- 22 years later, sensing a theme here? 

Besides Defender background, the other history lesson here is the tins. Believe it or not there are still tin collectors out there, this article on page 3 outlines a quickie history lesson. If you haven't already look for a book from Fossil called Tinspiration for all your Fossil tin needs -- that book is also becoming rare.  

Now for your enjoyment please find Issue 2, Volume 2 below and as always whatever happened to Gianni Menozzi and his fabulous Fossil collection? Please honor his achievement of collecting 121 Fossils in one year!

Fossil Times, Issue 1, Volume 2 - Marilyn the legend the beauty

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Greetings Fossil friends! Welcome to the latest installment of previous Fossil Times newsletters. Here is where things get a little blurry as far as order. Based on 1994’s issues we posted, one would wager to say that the Fossil Times came out quarterly. We posted 4 issues and they all were numbered accordingly, Volume 1, Issue 1 / Volume 1, Issue 2 and so on. Starting with the 1995 issues, we could go one of 2 ways – Volume 2, Issue 1 or sadly there are some additional Volume 1, Issue 1 newsletters, but FEAR NOT! we’ve spent countless hours reviewing these looking for hints of dates, release information, etc and believe we have the correct order for at least the next few issues.

With Volume 2, Issue 1 we see the start of some limited editions that are still collectible today including the firemen LE-9466 and the policemen LE-9469 watches. Marilyn Monroe and Elvis watches will never be unpopular and there’s an introduction to FSL watches, which were marketed starting in May 1995 as a durable sports watch. Additional scans of FSL launch materials coming in the summer of 2017.

Two things stick out when reading this issue. The mention of the Fossil Antler Watch (DT-3201) comes up. While not valuable, this is one of the first limited edition watches Fossil did way back in January 1992 and it was limited to 5000 pieces. Even in early 1995, it was on the hard to find list. We always liked this watch because it features a 5-legged deer and oddly enough the newsletter mentions that! How about that? Secondly as always we have to ask, where is Dennis Wiens, the Collector of the Month? Stay tuned with news on Dennis – we’ll see him in further issues. Until then enjoy the hits from early 1995!

Fossil Times - Issue 4, Volume 1 - 1995 Sneak Peak

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Ah the 90's! Hard pill to swallow seeing 1995 Sneak Peak in our journey through the Fossil Times newsletters. Oh by the way this issue is 23 years old! On that note of positivity, let's dig in!

This issue isn't too exciting, unless you long for the days of licensed limited edition watches. Two things caught our attention and one is the updated limited edition checklist -- interesting that even at that time Fossil didn't have their facts straight and they admit that right here! I can't tell you how many questions we receive still on limited editions and what's what, who's on first, etc. The second interesting thing is a point we always like to make....where's Elaine Mapes now and how many Fossil goodies does she have?

Fossil Times - Issue 3, Volume 1 - Baseball Cards, Bottle Caps and Fossil Limited Editions

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Continuing on our journey of posting Fossil Times newsletters in order month by month, here is the latest version for your viewing pleasure in 2017. Issue 3, Volume 1 all the way from 1994. We had it is easy this month because if you remember we posted about the importance of a newsletter in a previous post where we highlighted this issue. The question still remains however what happened to Larry Clark?

Fossil Times - Issue 2, Volume 1 - Fossil Takes A Road Trip

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As promised in November 2016 - we are posting Fossil Times newsletters up on the site one at a time. Last month we strolled down memory lane to the year of 1994, when the Fossil shops took flight. Fast forward a few more months (still in 1994) we are pleased to re-introduce you to Fossil Takes A Road Trip, Issue 2, Volume 1.

The main story here is the traveling road show to 60 cities commemorating Fossil's 10 year history. I actually have a few documents and things from this tour, but sadly the 2 versions of this Fossil Times newsletter are equally as bad -- one has notes all over it from the person who attended the December 9 event at Northridge, California which looks like it was changed to Newport Beach, California and the other copy is below. Enjoy!

Fossil Times - Issue 1, Volume 1 - Fossil Shops Take Flight

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What is it about newsletters? We posted about the importance of a newsletter back in 2015 and now we are ready to re-publicize the Fossil Times newsletters, albeit 1 at a time over the course of the next year. We've compiled almost all of them, so start looking for a new issue (in order) every month. We'll even create a special section to house them all! Tell your friend(s).

Without further ado....we are proud to re-submit for your enjoyment Issue 1, Volume 1 circa 1994.

AN ANNUAL REPORT YOU ACTUALLY WANT TO READ - Fossil 2000

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Have you ever been excited to read an annual report? I mean really excited to drill into the numbers, forecasts and stock overviews? No you haven't? I'm not surprised, BUT let me introduce you to an annual report that will actually change your mind.

Introducing Fossil's Annual Report from the year 2000. I heartily advise you however to glaze over the financials and look at just the artwork. I've been looking for this report for years (in paper format) to scan for the site and I recently discovered that it's already posted online on www.fossilgroup.com. I've uploaded the PDF to this post just for you to review and keep in case one day it disappears from Fossil's site. If you look on Page 21 you'll see a certain gentleman that's been part of this site since the very beginning.

I've always called him Ward, but I knew I liked him back in 2010 and apparently he's been a Fossil fan since 2000. Thanks Ward!

Ward says this is amazing.

Ward says this is amazing.

As a bonus I've included a photo of yours truly looking at the paper copy of the Fossil 2000 Annual Report on a recent trip I took to the Fossil World Headquarters near Dallas, Texas. I don't always read annual reports, but when I do it's a Fossil Annual Report from 2000 with stellar artwork and funny little graphics. More on that trip in days to come.

By clicking on the image below you'll be able to download the entire 2000 Annual Report. Enjoy the show!


Fossil Times: the importance of a newsletter

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Back in the 80's my friends and I had a Def Leppard club. We signed our names in a notebook and listened to Hysteria on loop as we swung on the swingset in my friend's backyard. One thing the Def Leppard club didn't have and it led to its demise was a newsletter. Yes a tangible newsletter filled with Def Leppard goodness and mailed to it's members on semi-regular basis -- this would have been key to keeping the club alive!

One of the reasons the Fossil Collectors Club is still around albeit via fans is because of the Fossil Times newsletter that I found a few years ago when I purchased the 1995 Collectors Club kit on eBay. As my family grows and the clutter is creeping like The Blob into every room of our house I almost forgot I had this issue until this past week when I started digging through my collection.

From 1994 to 1998 the Fossil Collectors Club mailed out 3-4 issues a year to it's collectors. The newsletters had all the Fossil goodness you would expect including spotlight characters, limited edition release information, sneak previews and even one that announced the upcoming Defender line - xoxo.

Any good collectors newsletter should feature the collector of the month and the Fossil Times did that too. We should start one here. Our Facebook group is growing and some of the members have more watches than I do! Something to consider....

For your visual enjoyment I have scanned this issue of the Fossil Times that started it all. Volume 1 Issue 3 circa 1994. My only question is what happened to Larry Clark?