Brace yourself: Batman is coming

Yes, yes indeed. March 4th is the release of the latest Batman movie, and this Bat-fan is definitely looking forward to it. That also means there will be all manner of movie tie-ins coming, and one that was just announced today comes from Fossil, which is bringing two watches, some jewelry items, and a backpack and waistpack and wallets.

Being as this is WWR, we’re going to focus on the watches. Batman on a watch is a bit of a soft-spot for me, as I think it was about 20 years ago that I picked up a Fossil quartz chronograph that had the Batsymbol subtly hiding on the subdial. These watches, there’s nothing subtle about them. The Batman logo (and the new Batsymbol) feature prominently on one watch, while the other has gone full-on Riddler ($160). The Riddler has never been my favorite (barring John Astin who was a gem), and this watch is just so-so for me. In fact, legibility seems to suffer a bit in favor of the theme.

The Batman watch ($300), though, that one is all about that legibility. The sandwich dial allows for plenty of lume, and the darker monochromatic scheme here still looks plenty legible. And perhaps it’s just me, but that red ring on the crown, that just calls to mind the red accents of the ’66 Batmobile. Or, you know, the red colors we’ve seen in the trailers for the movie so far. Also worth noting that this one features an automatic movement (vs the quartz of the Riddler) and comes with three different straps – kevlar, ballistic nylon, and silicone.

Then, we get into some of the jewelry that’s coming along with the watches. We’ve got a Batman Dog Tag Necklace ($75) that looks to offer a bottle-opener function, Lava Beads Slider Bracelet ($55) that can absorb essential oils, and a Wax Seal Ring ($45) for marking all of your proclamations. In this range, I’d be most likely to get the ring (perhaps even pinky-finger sized for fun), but I’ll admit to being tempted by the bracelet. I’ve toyed with the idea of getting some sort of bracelet for my other wrist (to balance my watch), I’ve just never committed to it yet. Is Batman the way? Time will tell.

Past watches, most folks are probably familiar with Fossil for their bag and wallet offerings. The clear hero of this part of the collection is the backpack ($400), made from black leather, offering 4 exterior pockets (no word on internal laptop storage), and Molle attachment points (and speed clips) so you can customize the external carry capabilities for what you need. Need a smaller pack? Then there’s a waistpack ($200) has the external pockets and Molle attachments, along with the Batsymbols.

Set for your knapsack, but want some Batman carrying in your life? Then you might want the Zipper Card Case ($55) that can carry 3 cards and your ID, or the 2-in-1 billfold ($70). If those don’t do it for you, there’s one more option, and it’s where I’d be looking personally. There’s another stand-alone card case ($55) that has six card slots, a money clip that’s removable, and an inlaid Batsymbol. Not sure that they’d get me to ditch my Ridge wallet, but they’re fun options for the Bat-fan.

So, do you feel your appetite is suitable whetted? Well, just as we have to wait for the movie, you’ll also need to wait to pick up any of these items. Thought they were announced today, you won’t be able to purchase the items until February 28. Once Monday hits, though, head right on over to Fossil and check out all the goodies.

Tech Specs from Fossil

Batman watch – $300
- Ion-plated 42mm case
- Automatic movement with date
- Three interchangeable straps
- Comes with display base/case that has the Batsymbol on it, and storage for the three straps