Discussed here, following a Times article.

https://www.christopherwardforum.com/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=50433&hilit=Jaguar

 

Well I have only the merest passing interest in the ways that barristers earn their corn but I just searched EBay for "D type" and "D-type" and in both cases got about 130,000 results; someone's going to be busy.

Maybe if a watchmaker, any watchmaker, brings out a model called "tikkathree's" chronometer I'll sit up and agree to settle out of court.

 

Good advertising for CW Now everyone will want one

 

Wow, I'm somewhat surprised at how many CW enthusiasts there are. I knew it was popular but that's kinda neat .

 

Here's an extract from the watch manual - few partially correct facts and a picture of 774RW, the '55 Le Mans winner. I'm no copyright lawyer but this is clearly trying to be associated with the Jaguar D-Type and not just any D-Type.


Bearing in mind the relationship between Bremont and Jaguar, I would feel they are in the wrong. First picture on the Bremont link is a lightweight E-Type and the Mk 1 is meant to represent the Rev counter on those race cars, I suspect.


Note the similarities to the rev counter in my road E-Type. with the red line (band), fonts, hands and markers.


You could make a far better watch based on this design (in my opinion) with a sub seconds dial at 6 O'clock where the clock is above. I even started to design one but eventually figured out that I couldn't sell it as Jaguar (and probably the guy who owns the Smiths trademark) would hit me hard.

Cheers, Chris

 

Remember part of keeping a copyright is protecting it. Even if you don’t really care.

 

CW have been naughty before about copywrite. .. this could be interesting.

 

Typically, when you're talking cross-industry trademark infringements it's a tough sell for the plaintiff to prove monetary damages. Nobody confuses a D-Type Jaguar automobile with a D-Type wristwatch. I suspect CW will receive a cease and desist order and no monetary penalty. CW didn't use the actual Jaguar logo or any likeness. Just the model name. Did Jaguar ever actually trademark "D-Type"?

 

Honestly, I wonder if Bremont applied the pressure for them to pursue litigation in this. Bremont has far more to lose from a brand like CW creeping on their exclusive partnership with Jaguar, which, as far as I know from speaking to Nick and Giles, is actually a lot more official.

 

That’s what was bugging me... I knew there was something else but I couldn’t remember it.

 

That's just how rev-counters and other dials British-made cars were back then. Check any contemporary sportscar or roadster, they all looked the same . Smiths Instruments probably had a lot to answer for.
I have to say that to fashion a two- or three-handed watch around the look of a single hand meter is ridiculous to my eyes.

 

They all look similar to some degree but they are not the same. It would make very good marketing sense that Jaguar/MG/AH/Lotus demanded an individual dial from Smiths, which they appear to have.

Perhaps you know of an identical one but apart from early E-Types (and possibly Mk 9s) I haven't seen one with the same: fonts; railtrack; red zone that only goes to half the O.D.; raised central area. Always happy to be corrected though.

I'm on the fence myself but, this sort of thing does sell. A lot of those Bremont watches in the link look inspired by such meters. Smiths (modern incarnation) do a Speedometer styled watch as well.

Cheers, Chris

 

Seems lame, but what do I know?

*This message was typed on a D-Type laptop.

 

They should get sued for for the finishing of the watch never mind copyright infrigement, looks like a blind person has taken an angle grinder to it.

 

Looking at the shite quality of that rotor, I'd say Jag wants to protect itself from being associated with cheap looking crap.

I am conveniently forgetting the quality of my friend's 1975 XJ6...

 

That's not the rotor. The rotor is under that piece. That's a piece of a D-type piston that has been laser cut into the shape of a wheel lug. The finishing is certainly a stylistic choice rather than just being "shite".

"For the Christopher Ward C9 D-Type watch, on the other hand, a piece of the car’s 3.4L piston (sourced with the assistance of metal specialists TMB Art Metal) has been laser-cut into the shape of a D-Type’s wheel alloy – which you can see through the display caseback over the movement. The shade of green used on the rotor’s logo is meant to match the color of the 1955 winning car."

 

I've got a 60s Honda piston on my desk that's finished way better, I guess that's why Honda is the size it is and Jag is, well, a shadow,,,

anyway, be that as it may... that's shite... I had a Soviet block made car back in college as well as an early 60s BMW, so I figure I'm an expert in spotting the difference between good and bad metal work and I'd be pretty POed if my expensive new watch had that quality of finish on it.