Court ruling favors tiny Fort Collins watch maker over industry giant Swatch
Pat Ferrier, Fort Collins Coloradoan
Fort Collins-based Vortic Watch Co. has won a prolonged trademark infringement case filed against it by Hamilton Watch Co., a brand owned by one of the largest watch manufacturers in the world.
Following a one-day bench trial in the Southern District of New York court, federal Judge Alison Nathan ruled Vortic has the legal right to salvage antique pocket watches and convert them into wristwatches, including parts produced by the Hamilton Watch Co.
Hamilton today is among 20 brands in the Swatch Group, the world’s largest watch manufacturer and marketer.
The case centers around The Lancaster, a watch Vortic sold between 2014 and 2016 that is named after Lancaster, Pennsylvania, where the Hamilton Watch Co. was originally located. It was made with a historic, restored “railroad-era” movement produced by the Hamilton Watch Co., according to court documents.
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