Here we have a nice collaboration: in early 2003 Phil Collins teamed up with Swatch to produce this lovely box set. I don’t know how this came to be, but Phil released a song called Wake Up Call as a single in March 2003 which was taken from his 2002 album Testify. Maybe that song sparked the idea?
The box is more or less a big (30x30x8cm/12x12x3″) leather-bound sturdy suitcase displaying plenty of printed stickers, giving the idea that many cities were visited. Each box is numbered at the top near the handle, making this is a limited numbered edition of 9999 copies.
Front of the case
Back of the case
When opening the suitcase, you will be greeted by a CD, two watches and a cardboard insert.
The CD is a one-track release featuring the song Wake Up Call. It is (unfortunately?) the standard album version. Maybe the uncommon radio edit would have been a nice surprise, but at least you get the full 5 minute version on a special disc.
Close-up of the CD
Photo prints
There is no further music to be found. The cardboard insert is a CD sized card sleeve with a gatefold and contains 10 prints featuring images from Phil’s personal collection and were, at the time, unpublished. Each print has a small fact written about Phil on the back.
To top it off you get two watches in this set. They are unisex where the black one is in size XL. The ones in my set have apparently never been worn, as they still have the protective foil on top of the plastic case. The straps feature song titles of his best known hits. I personally don’t see myself wearing these as they look rather cheap and tacky, but they sure are great novelty items for what they are.
For a Collins collector and completionist I think this is a great item to own and one that you don’t see that often for sale.
