Fossil Tins
Most people when they think of Fossil watches probably think of one thing --- tins. I’ll place money on it. Tin collecting has a life of its own and it’s something I am just now getting started with. Online there are more sites and blogs dedicated to tin collecting than to Fossil watches and memorabilia. It’s pretty amazing the information out there and the passion some of these folks have with tins. I’m hoping to link in with some of those folks later on as I build this site.
Fossil tends to release tins in sets of particular designs. I’ve been finding sets of 4 lately online, meaning 4 of them have the same theme or treatment. Most tins had a numbering scheme with a date, which makes for easier classification. The newer watches I’ve been buying lately do not seem to have any indication of numbering scheme or a specific timeframe, maybe they are bootleg tins or something.
Fossil has released a book called, “Tinspiration” and I’ve tried to order it twice from their corporate site and both times my order is cancelled. So either the book is make believe or they refuse to ship to me anymore, regardless I’ve taken matters in my own hands and bought the book on Amazon for $6.99 with shipping!
I received it the other day and I am spending some time with it before I start posting about tins and tin collecting. It only has the watch tins in the book, so wallet tins and other misc tins are not covered. Pick the book up for yourself -- the back of the book has the most comprehensive and visual guide to tins I've ever seen.
The ultimate Fossil green calendar - Big Date
I used to have a paper calendar at my desk at work. Everyday another piece of paper would hit the recycling bin and ultimately probably in a dump anyways. I'm being more green in owning this Fossil Big Date calendar. Not sure release dates or even the use for these back in the 90's. I have seen other variations.
Fossil Big Date flip calendar
Fossil Counter Advertisement
Here's another oddball Fossil store display piece. It's a classic car paper weight basically that sat on the counter of a Fossil display. I remember items similar like this on the counter from years back. I'm a sucker for automobile advertising and nostalgia and this piece fits right in. It'll make a great piece for my desk and I only paid $34 on eBay for it.
There is no number or information on this piece, but the car swivels around on the 2" dia. base, it measures 4" x 1 3/4" x 1 1/4" and the total height is 3" tall. It's a solid heavy piece.
1996 Fossil Collectors Club Kit
Recently I unearthed a 1996 Fossil Collectors Club kit. Item is completely brand new, but it is missing the Fred Q Fossil bobblehead. I love these kits and I wish Fossil would still do them. I have started a Facebook group called, "Fossil Watch Collectors Club", the link is on the top navigation. The group as is this site are fairly new, so let's get the word out there.
In a later post I'll scan the brochure and paperwork into a slideshow.
All you can eat level was $75 and included:
An exclusive 1996 Fossil Collectors Club limited edition watch - LE-9475
Official membership card
Molded pewter keychain featuring the 1996 Collectors Club logo
Limited edition tin package
Miniature Bobbin' Head Fred
Fossil Airplane Watches
Here's an auction that has peaked my interest. 4 different versions of the Fossil airplane watch. 2 of them are limited edition versions, one being from the Around the World Series (LE-9451) and the other was the first limited edition watch ever done by Fossil in 1992, the gold airplane on a skelton face (SK-5038). This is the last watch on the right. I'll definitely be watching this auction (and I missed it).
The airplane watches on eBay lately have been doing well, much better than Captain Fossil :)
Fossil Appliances Watch
Saw this watch on eBay this week and I fell in love with it. This watch is pretty nifty and I’ve never seen one like it before. The shipping price is a little high ($14 really?), but overall I think it’s worth it for a nice piece if it doesn't go higher than $20 for the watch.
I don’t know much else about it, but it was a limited release at 20,000 pieces. It's amazing how many limited release watches are out there that I am still discovering all these years later.
Fossil TV LE-9450 not 9447 as the tag indicates
Fossil Defender series
Fossil Defender promo shot
Fossil Defender watches were marketed as a top of the line watch styled in classic 1940's style. These watches were available from what I remember in about 1995. It's another truly retro series that only Fossil could pull off. These watches were inspired by the design of a 1940's airplane cockpit and in my opinion are a better representation of the era than Fossil's latest attempts of doing vintage aviation.
Anyone have a great Defender watch you'd like to post?
Fossil store displays
There are some great Fossil store displays out there and over the years, I’ve seen gas pumps, mini buses and random cardboard displays before. Was wondering if anyone has any great pieces they would like to share or talk about? We love the uncommon stuff!
One of my recent finds is a 25 year anniversary banner that was displayed in September 2009 at Fossil’s 25th anniversary celebration in all their stores. It measures about 60 inches long and 24 inches wide and has folds for hanging. It's printed on vinyl and is really a great find.
Fossil 25th Anniversary
Around the World Fossil Clock – my holy grail (for now)
If you haven’t already figured it out, I’m a huge fan of the Around the World series from the early to mid-nineties. As you already know it is the series that started my Fossil collecting bug. The clock was only available via mail order and you had to submit 5 proofs of purchase to Fossil from the 5 watches in the series, they would then mail you this clock. Well I’ve long collected the 5 watches in the series, but I’m guessing the promotion is over and you can’t get this clock anymore from Fossil (it’s 15 years old already). Admittedly I’ve thought about mailing proof that I own these 5 watches to Fossil and see what happens – the clocks are probably in some warehouse in Texas.
This particular clock came on eBay back in December, but the seller had all the watches with the clock and I believe it was pretty expensive for the set. It didn’t sell, so lately she has been selling the set off one item at a time and finally late last week the seller finally listed the clock as a standalone item for $0.99 to start.
I honestly thought more people would be after this item. It’s pretty rare; I can’t imagine that even 1000 of them were mailed out. I could be wrong, but in 4 years of looking on Google and eBay this is the first one that I have come across. The best part is I came across it for $16.50! I fully anticipated spending over $50 on this piece based on the sales of the watches in the series, but $16.50? Makes me wonder am I crazy? Or did this piece fall through the cracks? Here are pictures and paperwork promoting the clock. Enjoy.
What is up with the Captain Fossil Rocket Watches lately?
I’ve noticed a trend on eBay and I can’t find any proof to the inflated prices on the Captain Fossil Rocket watches from the Around the World Series. Within the past few months the asking prices for these watches range from $100-$375. Do they sell? I haven’t seen one sell yet for those prices. On eBay there is always the here’s what I think it’s worth price vs. reality…..and lately it seems with a lot of these Fossil watches from yesteryear it’s a bit of I think it’s worth X.
I bought mine on eBay last year for $22.50. I pity the seller, but I got a great deal. If you are looking for one of these watches be patient. It took me about 2 years to win the auction at a reasonable price in the condition I wanted.
This watch was available in 1994 and it was limited to a 20,000 item run.
Watch details:
Fossil Captain Fossil Rocket Limited Edition Collector's Watch.
Watch #1 in a 5 item set of Around the World Series.
This watch is #9260 of 20000 made
Model #LE-9432
One of the cool parts of this watch is not necessarily the watch itself, but the tin and packaging. It came in a larger rectangle tin that had a 40's/50's guy called Captain Fossil. I love the "official Captain Fossil Cadet Pin" and his quote "This is the real thing cadets". Here's a picture of the inside of the tin with the watch included. The tin came in a cardboard sleeve with a big F on it.
