Vintage Apple Macintosh Watch

hi all,

new here and just want to find out more about my recent flea market acquisition.

it's a stainless steel watch with the rainbow-colored apple logo, funky hour and minute hands and hour markers that change colors with each second.

it's got the apple registered trademark logo on the back and is powered by a good quality quartz movement that says Swiss parts assembled China ISA 1198. Runs and keeps time beautifully.

Anyone knows if this was official Apple merchandise, perhaps given out free with the purchase of a Mac, or maybe given out as gifts to Apple staff? Any idea what it's worth (if it's worth anything)? From what I've read on Wikipedia, it'll be pre-1998 (assuming it is official Apple merchandise).

Pictures are below:

Wow, Funky!
I'm betting it's a promo item for staff, but could be wrong. Never seen or heard of it personally.
Nice find, how much did you pay (if you don't mind sharing)?

Oooo pretty colors.

that is quite interesting. i did a google search and came up with nothing even close.

Offer it to Steve J for a couple of hundred thou - additional cost for a warranty of course

I believe the ISA 1198 is a quartz movement? Relatively inexpensive.

Gold find!! Never ever sell that or lose it.


P.S. I love watches! Have Seiko 5 Speed Racer with a 7S26A movement. Love that watch.

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Here's the watch in action:

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Interesting find. There's a lot of detail there that would make it more expensive than your average promotional product, particularly the cut-out for the logo in the bezel and the etching on the back. Just based on the style of the watch overall, my guess would be that it was made in the late 80's, early 90's. Having done a bit of searching, I can't find another like it, so it's hard to place a value.

If you don't intend to keep it, I'd let the market decide it's value and put it up on eBay. It's bound to get a lot of interest as there are more than a few Apple zealots out there that would love to own (and wear) something like that. If it were me, I'd put it out for auction with a $100 reserve (not sure how much you paid, but I'd imagine it's less than $100 at a flea market) and see where it ends up.

Have to say that's pretty cool. Think I'd put $1,000 reserve. There's a fanboy out there that'd pay it.

Apple had lots of promotional items in the '90s, just like every other company. They were gifts to dealers, employees, and giveaways or prizes at trade shows.

Looks kind of like this one:
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bobtomay said:

Have to say that's pretty cool. Think I'd put $1,000 reserve. There's a fanboy out there that'd pay it.

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Not wrong at all. It has to be pretty rare, no google search finds any mention of it whatsoever, and it looks like it would be an Apple staff item only.
It's a stellar find for sure.

Have you emailed a photo to Apple and asked them about it? Might get a response. Can't hurt to try.

MYmacROX said:

Have you emailed a photo to Apple and asked them about it? Might get a response. Can't hurt to try.

Click to expand...

i might try that. anyone knows which email address i should use?