I love the light catcher case. It’s so attractive, wearable, stand-out. A joyous mix of form (beautiful form) and function. As I understand it the name Lightcatcher is trademarked, though possibly difficult to enforce.
So I’m wondering if there are other companies who have named a case design that has become strongly associated with them? I don’t really know anything about this, so I’ll start with Rolex’s Oyster case and leave you all to suggest the rest
Photos would help - I think better in pictures!)
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Tank?? First designed in 1917, the case was modelled on the early WW1 Tanks. The name is now usually taken to refer to the watch as a whole, but I certainly think it’s also the name of the case.
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WW1 Trench watch case, with this being the Borgel style case - the movement, dial, bezel are within an encasement which is then placed into the outer case, by means of a threaded screw action, with several revolutions required to seat the parts into the main case.
I love this watch, and have a few of them, although I passed on the radioactive dial one I had!
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Movement is a Longines 13.34 calibre for those interested.
My watch maker admired the quaility of the movement for such an old one ( 1916).
Makes a lovely, comforting tick-tock sound.
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thomcat00 wrote: ↑Wed Jan 11, 2023 6:00 pm
I think the Rolex “Oyster” case refers to its type rather than a particular designed look. Anyone know definitively?
It is a reference to the construction of the case. There have been and still are a number of slight different shape oyster cases used by Rolex.
thomcat00 wrote: ↑Wed Jan 11, 2023 6:00 pm
I think the Rolex “Oyster” case refers to its type rather than a particular designed look. Anyone know definitively?
It is a reference to the construction of the case. There have been and still are a number of slight different shape oyster cases used by Rolex.
Neil
“Oyster” as a watertight construction is what Rolex advertise. I was wondering if there is a consistent look to the Oyster case much like the Light Catcher has across CW? I don’t know the answer. The very few Rolex watches I’ve seen look somewhat similar. Is a Sub, for instance, in an Oyster case that looks like the Day Date case?
Porsche, in the automotive world, filed suit against other manufacturers for “trade dress” infringement; some cars took on elements of Porsche’s look and design. Their makers had to alter future models as a result. Mazda RX-7 in the later eighties looked remarkably like the 944 in some ways. Jeep sued GM over the Hummer’s grille design.
missF wrote: ↑Wed Jan 11, 2023 6:22 pm
^^ but does that mean that other companies have used the same design and called it an oyster case?
It wouldn’t be advisable to use the name as Rolex owns the trademark and has a team of lawyers ready to stop any infringements. Tudor were allowed to as they share the same parent company but stopped using the Oyster name at the end of the 90’s.
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Porsche, in the automotive world, filed suit against other manufacturers
I believe that when Porsche introduced the 911 model they wanted to call it the 901 (don't ask me why) but Peugeot stopped them from doing so as the "0" in the middle of a number was considered to be their branding. I know, a bit of a digression.
I may be lacking in imagination, but does a Cartier "Tank" really look like Renault FT 17, or was it just cashing in on the popularity of what was seen as exciting new technology?
I started out with nothing and I still have most of it left
