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Photographs courtesy of Timeshoppe
18K Gold
BULOVA | Phantom- AKA [Signature Series]
ESA 939 262
NONE
$1500
[Leather]
RELEASED | 1979
Think back to the era when LCD (liquid crystal display) technology was new and exciting. Most watches using LCD technology were big and clunky in those days. The Swiss conglomerate Ebauches SA developed an ultra thin movement and sold it to Bulova at a time when Bulova was trying to re-establish their image as an innovative watchmaking company. Bulova introduced the first Phantom in 1979 as the world's thinnest watch at 1.86mm. It was sold as an 18K solid gold model including bracelet at an amazing $5,000! They were reportedly very fragile and of the 28 pieces made, most were returned, non-working. Bulova had the movement reinforced slightly to the ESA 939 362 movement this watch has, and stiffened the bezel with an added thin plate on top, reintroducing the watch in this gold plated version at 3mm thick - still incredibly thin as you can see in the photos. Shortly after the Phantom reintroduction, Seiko introduced a thinner luxury model - only 1.79mm thick, and an inexpensive 4mm model that quickly put an end to Bulova's Phantom experiment.
WATCHES WITH MODULE ESA 939 262
1310872