Lucerne watch Company

[J.Rogers]

Does anybody know anything about the lucerne watch company. I can find plenty of watches (vintage just nothing on the company or it's history

 

[J.Rogers]

Does anybody know anything about the lucerne watch company. I can find plenty of watches (vintage just nothing on the company or it's history

 

[Claude Girardin]

There has never been a Lucerne Watch Company. Lucerne is the name of a well know touristsl city in the heart of Switzerland. The name had remained unprotected as a TM for watches for ages and been used for many knock-offs made all around the world.

 

[doug sinclair]

If I understand copyright laws correctly, names such as Geneva, Geneve, and Lucerne cannot be copyrighted for use on products of any sort, and in this case, watches. That would seem to mean that anyone could use this name without restrictions. If this is the case, it would not be possible to pin down just who placed the order for your dial with the Lucerne name on it. In short, I know of no actual Swiss manufacturer by that name, so the watch in question is likely a generic Swiss product sold as a private label, or contract watch.

Doug S.

 

[sfarkas]

If I understand copyright laws correctly, names such as Geneva, Geneve, and Lucerne cannot be copyrighted for use on products of any sort, and in this case, watches. That would seem to mean that anyone could use this name without restrictions. If this is the case, it would not be possible to pin down just who placed the order for your dial with the Lucerne name on it. In short, I know of no actual Swiss manufacturer by that name, so the watch in question is likely a generic Swiss product sold as a private label, or contract watch.

Doug S.

Hello,

I just acquired a ladies pendent watch that clearly says "LUCERNO", not "LUCERNE".
Is anyone familiar with this brand, or is this the same issue as stated above.

Thanks,
Steve

 

[doug sinclair]

There is a LOCARNO in Switzerland. Because there are at least four languages spoken in Switerland, Lucerno might be the habitual spelling for Lucerne in one of those languages. If it is, then the name cannot be copyrighted for use on a product (such as a watch). Thereby, anyone who chooses to put the name on a watch can likely do so without infringing on someone else's copyright. This makes uncovering the source next to impossible. Being a generic product, lots could be discovered about the watch, but unfortunately, little or nothing about the source.

 

[rleegabe]

There are plenty of Lucerne watches on Ebay, I have come across a couple and usually throw them in my junk pile of watches. The ones I came across for the most part had one jewel movements in them and the cases were very cheaply made.

 

[Dave Haynes]

They are all over the place as are "Chateau" and the like. Watches made with pin lever movements and cased to mimic quality watches.

 

[harold]

I received a man's wrist watch signed Lucerna. Dial is signed in that manner with 30 jewels and claims to be a Superautomatic movement. The movement is signed as a Eterna 692 movement. Sorry for the quality of pictures.

 

[doug sinclair]

Marked Eterna 692? Could be, but it is actually a FELSA 692.

 

[harold]

Thank you Doug. My old eyes and brain.

 

[doug sinclair]

T'sokay! I suffer from the same malady!

 

[orlimarko]

This in my Lucerna..

 

[McE]

This in my Lucerna..

Here's a Lucerna that I picked up at a watch fair, which seemed like a good idea at the time. Managed to source a printed ring (for a tag heuer) and now to make a bezel ... one day ... maybe

 

[DeeNC]

I just googled a place I worked from 1965 to 1966 and saw this website & thought I could answer some questions about the Lucerne Watch Company.

It was a company in New York City. It was my first job out of secretarial school and I worked in the back office which was in a building on 5th Avenue directly across from Lord & Taylor. I don't remember the address but it was between 39th & 38th Street directly on Fifth Avenue. (419?) It was on an upper flour (5th?) and was divided into 3 section. The front, fancy section was the sales staff. Behind them were all the secretaries, accountants, billing, etc. In the very back was a section where people assembled watches sitting on long benches. The watch parts came from Switzerland. Many assemblers were European immigrants. I used to go back there occasionally, mainly because I was curious.

I left in 1966 when I got married & moved to Boston. I don't know anything else but I had to reply when people here said it never existed!! It certainly did & was a very good brand back then. I had a couple of watches because I got them at a discount. I also don't know what happened to them. It was almost 46 yrs ago!

It was owned & run by a German American family. I don't remember their names, but maybe it will come to me & I will post again.

 

[artbissell]

Dee confirms with the interesting work experience that Lucernes were good products. I guess I have one of their better ones. I will photo tomorrow one that may be from 1950+. Kind of like a better grade Helbros watch and Lucerne seems to be similar in resaling Swiss stuff.

 

[doug sinclair]

In July of 2011, DeeNC posted that she (he?) worked for the Lucerne Watch Co., and was quite specific that the firm existed. In my post earlier in the thread, I mentioned that I knew of no manufacturer by that name. I didn't say that there was no company by that name. Lucerne was an agent and assembler of watches, NOT a manufacturer!

 

[artbissell]

Photos of a small no second hand ~1955 Lucerne with movement like a Helbros but oddly marked Welbro. Swiss FHF source? Looks very nice and much like others of 1955 moderate quality. Water protected not water proof. Dial has luminous dots, hands not. Marked incabloc but not evident on balance cap. A good metal spacer for small movement a little larger diameter than 16mm strap. A low cost one for women?

 

[doug sinclair]

Looks to me like an 8 3/4 ligne AS 987, but I couldn't find a picture of one.

 

[doug sinclair]

The reason I was unable to find a listing for AS 987 is because there isn't one listed! It as actually an AS 970 as shown in Dr. Roland Ranfft's movement archive, here:

http://www.ranfft.de/cgi-bin/bidfun-db.cgi?10&ranfft&&2uswk&Dugena_638

 

[artbissell]

Appreciate the persistant efforts by Doug to identify a decent movement.

 

[Satyricon]

As you can find out from Dr.Ranfft's database, there been made over 16.000.000 AS 970 movements. There´s in my collection about 50 ladies watches and i estimate half of them has AS 970

 

[chufar]

Don't know much about watches but I've got tank (square) watch with a solid silver case that I was told dated to WW1. I'd be interested in learning more.

 

[doug sinclair]

Welcome,

The most recent post to this thread was in May, 2012. That's over three years ago. You have piggy backed your query into that thread where it is unlikely to receive much notice. Your best bet would be to return to the WRIST WATCH forum and look for POST NEW THREAD. Give the thread a meaningful title, and provide photos of the front of the watch, and the insides, once the back has been removed. Pictures should be well lit, with no reflection, well focused, and please provide such information as may be stamped, engraved, or printed on the watch. Ignore hand scribed marks inside the case back as these were done by repair people.