Background
Armando Legin is a high-end watch brand. The brainchild of the entrepreneur that gave the company its name, Armando Legin, the brand’s flagship product is their “Inveniō” watch, which has a unique design and approach to displaying the time.
As a watch collector, Armando often thought about watchmaking concepts. In 2019, he set out to create a brand new idea for a wristwatch; the watch face would have a single hand, and would be designed to obscure any unnecessary information, with the intention of making the current time easier to read. Armando set out to make his concept a reality, with the help of industry veteran Vicente Mafe and independent watchmaker Marc Jenni.
Challenge
Armando recognised the value of his unique invention, and wanted to ensure he had the proper safeguards in place to prevent misuse by competitors and strengthen his brand’s commercial viability. Armando contacted Forresters for advice and assistance with applying for patents.
Action taken
Forresters Partner Alex Beattie worked closely with Armando to identify the inventive steps taken to produce the Inveniō concept. A number of patent applications were submitted, covering the way the watch’s single hand displayed both minute and hour information, as well as the manner in which the watch’s dials rotated to obscure information that did not relate to the current time.
Forresters has also obtained design registrations throughout Europe, to cover different aspects of the striking and distinctive appearance of the watch.
When we caught up with Armando about the process of working with Forresters, he spoke highly of Alex’s work, telling us: “After being referred to Forresters by a colleague I’ve begun the patent process for the Inveniō watch with Mr. Alex Beattie. Those who are familiar with the process understand just how nuanced and difficult it is, however since this was all new to me I couldn’t have imagined a better partner to do this with than Alex. His technical background and deep patent law understanding was crucial to us being able to submit all the documents to properly protect our intellectual property.
“Alex’s involvement went beyond mere professional assistance; he truly immersed himself in the unique way the watch operates, showing a genuine interest and understanding of its specific workings. His responsiveness was remarkable and he was always prepared to engage in detailed discussions, which made the entire process not just efficient but also highly collaborative.”
Result
Armando Legin’s Inveniō watch has now reached the watch collector market. The transversal indicator- the part of the watch face that rotates to display time information- reads “patent pending,” in anticipation of the patents relating to the watch being granted in the future.
By applying for a patent, Armando has signified his company’s commitment to protecting intellectual property, giving their customers peace of mind that they are purchasing a truly unique product that is protected from imitation.
The design registrations also provide immediate protection covering the appearance of the watch, to provide an additional layer of protection against any copy products that might appear.
