The Phantom

[abem]

Greetings,

This afternoon, the postman (postperson?) delivered a very light package. Very light. No, it wasn't empty (thank goodness), it contained... the Phantom!

The Phantom was created in 1979 for bragging rights for the thinnest watch (<3mm) and to prove that Bulova hadn't lost its Mojo. Did it succeed? You be the judge...

Front view:
Enlarge (1800x1200): http://img146.imageshack.us/img146/7327 ... 0x1200.jpg


Back view:
Enlarge (1800x1200): http://img14.imageshack.us/img14/4374/d ... 0x1200.jpg


Side view:
Enlarge (1800x1200): http://img80.imageshack.us/img80/8529/d ... 0x1200.jpg


Compared with a not-so-svelte Bulova digital:
Enlarge (1800x1200): http://img717.imageshack.us/img717/6774 ... 0x1200.jpg


I don't know much about the Phantom other than what can be gleaned from a quick web search. Only 28 of the solid gold ones were made (for $5000 each). The gold plated ones like this one sold for $500 in 1979 and I have no idea how many were built. They were surpassed in thinness a year later by a Seiko that shaved off 1mm followed by a somewhat ridiculous (but cool) unwearably fragile analog from Concord called the Delerium IV (at .98mm thick). However, the Phantom still has style AND you can actually wear it (it even has the date, seconds and a stopwatch!)

If anyone knows more (or perhaps, only the shadow knows!), then please post what you've got.

-abe.

[LEDluvr]

Facinating catch there Abe!
Nice design and the thinness is impressive. It looks like the surface area of the watch is pretty small..... how large (or not) is it?

[abem]

It's pretty small in all dimensions: about 29mm wide by 31mm tall by 3mm thick and about 30 grams in weight including the band (the weight of about 10 pennies).

You don't really feel it on the wrist - it feels kind of like one of those paper wristbands that they make you wear when you go to a concert.

-abe.

[LEDluvr]

You don't really feel it on the wrist - it feels kind of like one of those paper wristbands that they make you wear when you go to a concert.

I guess that is why call it the Phantom.

[retroleds]

Wow, that really IS thin. A Casio Film watch, at 6 mm is fat compared to that. Wonder what battery it uses.

[Adam]

The 18kt bulova phantom is on my library

http://www.digitalwatchlibrary.com/DWL/ ... lova-18kt/

There is a photo of the caseback that states Cell Renata 33. If it is the 18kt version I think the price is incorrect on the site should it be $1500?

Adam

[abem]

Adam,

Yes, that's right. From the article below,

"Figure 1 is a phtograph of the 'Phantom'. The high end model, retailing for $5000, has an 18K gold case and integral gracelet. The two pushbuttons on the lower end of the bezel-top which activate the various functions are gold. The same watch with a strap instead of the gold bracelet retails for $1500, while another model with 18K electroplated bezel with stainless steel back and strap sells for $500."



From:
http://www.dwf.cc/viewtopic.php?f=24&t= ... st+LCD#p18

-abe.

p.s. The Digital Watch Library is a most exellent web site. Contrats. How long have you been working on it? Also, are most of the watches loaners or from your personal collection?

[Adam]

Abem

I think its the $1500 version. I also have your watch I think. I mailed and asked for permission to use the images when it was listed although I'd love to use yours now as they are a lot better if I could have permission.
The watches on the site are a mix, a lot of mine or used to be mine, some members collections, a lot from ebay when I could get permission and also quite a few donations when people have found the site and realized their watch wasnt in it.
Its taken a couple of years so far, I started to learn a Content Mangement System software but its kind of taken over.
Thank you for your kind remarks

Adam

[abem]

Adam,

Hi, yes the photos on your site are of my watch. The history of my watch from the seller is as follows:

"This watch came from the collection of noted Accutron collector and expert, Harry Blair. He thought it might have a value in the thousands of dollars, because they're nearly legend. After it didn't meet the reserve several times on ebay, he told me to just sell it with no reserve. I have a friend trying to find information at Bulova, but after two months nobody has come up with anything. The company changed hands a couple of times since this watch was made, and a lot of old records are lost or unavailable. Good luck with your website. The only pictures of the watch currently on the internet are some I sent at the request of a guy who rund another LED/LCD watch website."

Please, feel free to use these photos on the Digital Watch Library. I took these right after I got the watch and they could be a bit better. The lighting could be better on the top one, the focus could be better on the back view and the edge on view is sort of ruined by all of the dust. When shooting macro against a dark background, dust is a perpetual struggle. If I get some better photos, I'll send 'em along to you, but in the mean time feel free to use these.

-abe.

p.s. What content management system are you using? I've started putting together a little photo / information gallery and was wondering about using a CMS (not convinced that I need one, though).

[BENRUS]

http://www.ebay.com/itm/70s-Vintage-ad- ... 43b6a93f65

Bulova18kthinLCD1.JPG

Anyone have this watch, or is it as rare as the advert says?

[abem]

Neat ad!

I can't imagine that there are many of these around, given how pricey and fragile they were. The only one that I've even seen photographed is on Adam's digital watch library site. I don't know who owned it or how he got the photos.
http://www.digitalwatchlibrary.com/DWL/ ... lova-18kt/

My Phantom is the budget-minded gold plated version, which sold for the bargain basement price of only $500 in 1980. :)

-abe.

[Adam]

Really cool ad, love the abundance of white space, So decadent. The photos on the site came from an Ebay advert a year or so ago. I should put a date entered on the library.


Adam