Swatch Is Suing Samsung for $170 Million Over Omega, Breguet and More Watch Faces
The Swatch Group has just filed a trademark lawsuit against Samsung in a London court.
The Swiss watchmaker, the owner of Omega, Breguet, and more, alleged that the South Korean tech company allowed its smartwatches to showcase digital replicas of dials from its various brands, Reuters reported. Swatch is seeking $170 million in damages, and says the filing is the largest trademark case of this kind ever in U.K, according to the publication.
In particular, 26 digital watch apps are the subject of the suit, the Financial Times reported, which were downloaded around 160,000 times in the U.K. and the E.U. That multimillion-dollar damages figure is drawn from the fees of a potential licensing agreement with Samsung and matches the prestige, reputation, and drawing power” of the brands under its umbrella, according to a June 19 filing from Swatch lawyers.Tissot chief executive Sylvain Dolla said in a witness statement that letting luxuryLuxuryA lifestyle defined by exceptional quality, craftsmanship, exclusivity, and sophistication, encompassing the finest products, services, and experiences that represent the highest standards of refinement and excellence.Go to Luxury Glossary timepieces appear on smartwatches, which he called “commodity” items, “kill[s] the value of the fine Swiss watch,” per the Financial Times.
As for Samsung, the company’s lawyers said Swatch’s demands “depart[ed] from reality,” and were “extraordinary,” the publication reported. The brand says it removed the apps in question as soon as it became aware of the issue. Samsung and Swatch did not immediately respond to Robb Report’s request for comment.
Closing arguments on the trail finished on Friday, with a ruling from Justice Marcus Smith expected at a later time, according to WWD. The results could have a big impact in the European Union, as the lawsuit was filed back in 2019, before Brexit occurred. The findings could also light the path for a potential suit in the U.S. as well.
Samsung had previously been found liable in a similar trademark case in 2022, also filed in London, involving third-party apps on its smartwatches.
Swatch has had a big 2026 in many ways, breaking the internet in May with the launch of its Audemars Piguet x Swatch Royal Pop pocket watches. The launch, causing a frenzy both online and off, consists of eight candy-hued bioceramic timepieces with matching straps that are loosely based on the Ref. 5692, the first pocket watch from Gérald Genta.
Frequently Asked Questions
Swatch Group has filed a trademark lawsuit against Samsung, alleging that Samsung allowed its smartwatches to display digital replicas of watch dials from Swatch Group brands.
The lawsuit was filed in a London court.
Swatch Group owns several major watch brands, including Omega and Breguet, along with other names across the luxury and mainstream watch market.
Swatch Group alleges that Samsung permitted smartwatch faces that copied or closely resembled dials from its watch brands. The case centers on whether those digital designs violated trademark protections.
Based on the report, Swatch Group alleges that Samsung allowed the digital replicas to appear on its smartwatches. The available details do not state that Samsung directly designed all of the watch faces in question.
Watch dials are a major part of a brand’s identity. For companies like Omega and Breguet, dial layouts, logos, design codes, and visual signatures help distinguish their watches from competitors.
Swatch Group may seek to stop the allegedly infringing digital watch faces from appearing on Samsung smartwatches. The company could also pursue damages or other legal remedies, depending on the claims filed in court.
No. A lawsuit is an allegation, not a final ruling. Samsung has not been found liable unless a court reaches that conclusion or the companies resolve the dispute.
The lawsuit highlights a growing tension between traditional watchmakers and technology companies as smartwatch customization becomes more advanced. It also raises questions about how luxury watch design protections apply in digital spaces.
Potentially, but not immediately based on the filing alone. If Swatch Group succeeds, certain digital watch faces could be removed or restricted from Samsung’s smartwatch ecosystem.
This article originally appeared in Robb Report US.