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Thread: More bad watch brand names...

  1. #1
    Grand Master TheFlyingBanana's Avatar
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    More bad watch brand names...

    I know they crop up from time to time, and there have been some cracking vintage ones posted in the past, but it feels like the world might now be ready for the Reginald Submariner.

    https://www.amazon.co.uk/Reginald-Ro...800159&sr=8-52


    Available on Amazon, and it's in stock now, although I expect after this post there won't be many hanging around for long...




    Got any more?
    So clever my foot fell off.

  2. #2
    About 12 years ago went on a Med cruise, gave the kids some money to spend during the holiday.
    My Son who was 10 returned to the cabin with a very nice ‘Suisse Ralph’ all gold with a nice golden
    dollar for the dial, think it cost him $8.00.
    He still has it somewhere. It’s become a a bit of a family joke to say ‘Suisse Ralph’ when we see something rather tacky.

    Could have been worse, could have been a Swiss Tony...

  3. #3
    Ming

    I mean, lovely watches, but who wants to be a minger?
    Andy

    Wanted - Damasko DC57

  4. #4
    oh, and whilst the brand name is not terrible, the Ball SkinDiver always make me laugh.
    Andy

    Wanted - Damasko DC57

  5. #5
    Ming is a terrible name on a watch dial (Sorry)

    Nothing however beats the Muff Diver (You can also buy a Brazilian muff, ginger muff and various other types of muff should you so choose)

    Then of course there is the Sid James of the watch world Ball.

    You have the ball skin diver and the ball deep diver.

  6. #6
    Craftsman Ax's Avatar
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    Your only a non native speaker away from Bell end Ross.

  7. #7
    Master earlofsodbury's Avatar
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    White bread seems a pretty lame name, only slightly better in French...


  8. #8
    Master Lampoc's Avatar
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    So this is what the Steeldive factory is up to this week! All credit to Reg though - that's a great price for an officially certified chronometer.

  9. #9
    Master earlofsodbury's Avatar
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    Curious that "Bombfrog" has yet to become a household name...




    Genius. No. It isn't.












    Gorilla. Really? That was the best you could come up with...?








    Shinola. Why revive a defunct watch brand when you can revive a defunct shoe polish brand remembered only for the epithet "can't tell sh*t from Shinola"? Hard to see how that could ever go wrong...


  10. #10
    Another vote for Ball.

    I like some of their watches (and yes the Skin Diver) but no way I am walking around with Ball on the dial.

  11. #11
    Grand Master magirus's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by earlofsodbury View Post
    White bread seems a pretty lame name, only slightly better in French...


    Perhaps Eddie should buy the Whitebread name given that he's in Yorkshire? Whitebread has all the required associations for a Yorkshire watch. ;-)
    F.T.F.A.

  12. #12
    Master
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    Bad name but love the idea...


  13. #13
    Grand Master JasonM's Avatar
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    Ive got a Clyda, which always sounds a bit like a STD abbreviation to me.

    Cheers..
    Jase

  14. #14
    Craftsman
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    Quote Originally Posted by TheFlyingBanana View Post
    I know they crop up from time to time, and there have been some cracking vintage ones posted in the past, but it feels like the world might now be ready for the Reginald Submariner.

    https://www.amazon.co.uk/Reginald-Ro...800159&sr=8-52


    Available on Amazon, and it's in stock now, although I expect after this post there won't be many hanging around for long...




    Got any more?
    Where else can you get a ‘Superlative chronometer’ for that sort of money? A bargain.

  15. #15
    Master Caruso's Avatar
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    In fairness this watch brand was using the Durex name 7 years before it was first used by the English Rubber Co in 1929.

  16. #16
    Quote Originally Posted by proby24 View Post
    Another vote for Ball.

    I like some of their watches (and yes the Skin Diver) but no way I am walking around with Ball on the dial.
    Not got the balls for it?

  17. #17
    Master
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    On a tangent, this is the most ridiculous watch width/ strap width disparity I have eve seen.


  18. #18
    Master
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    Quote Originally Posted by TheFlyingBanana View Post
    I know they crop up from time to time, and there have been some cracking vintage ones posted in the past, but it feels like the world might now be ready for the Reginald Submariner.
    I think that might be a rare flatcap 4 variant

  19. #19
    Master
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    Maximum irony points for the Ben Nevis divers watch.



  20. #20
    Master
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    I'm put off by "PomPeak"...

  21. #21
    Master bond's Avatar
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    Spaghetti Scametti

    Sent from my ANE-LX1 using Tapatalk

  22. #22
    Master
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    Quote Originally Posted by robert75 View Post
    Ming is a terrible name on a watch dial (Sorry)
    Ming Thein was a valuable member of TZ-UK, who contributed knowledgeable, informative and interesting posts to Watch Talk before you joined.

    https://watchesbysjx.com/2019/03/min...i-started.html

  23. #23
    Master
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    Quote Originally Posted by earlofsodbury View Post

    Shinola. Why revive a defunct watch brand when you can revive a defunct shoe polish brand remembered only for the epithet "can't tell sh*t from Shinola"? Hard to see how that could ever go wrong...
    Thanks for that, there's a John Scofield live album of that name. Never knew where the title came from until now.

  24. #24
    Master geordie's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by mjc1216 View Post
    Bad name but love the idea...

    I actually bought one of these a few years ago when they were being discussed on here, still got it NOS in its box in the loft

  25. #25
    Grand Master Sinnlover's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Tinker View Post
    Ming Thein was a valuable member of TZ-UK, who contributed knowledgeable, informative and interesting posts to Watch Talk before you joined.

    https://watchesbysjx.com/2019/03/min...i-started.html
    You have a valid point and I am sure no offence was meant but I do agree that the name is not really suitable for a watch brand in an English speaking market.
    When naming a product or brand you have to keep this in mind. Car companies spend a fortune on making sure the model names don’t offend various markets or sound silly, if they do they change the name (e.g. Shogun / Pajero, the Minca Winky or my personal favourite the Great Wall Wingle)
    Ming whilst being the founders name (and he is right to be proud of his work) does not really work here in the UK.
    It’s not just translation that can cause an issue
    The Reginald in the OP is equally poor as a name as is calling a watch brand Colin or Nigel.
    Last edited by Sinnlover; 24th May 2021 at 11:15.

  26. #26
    Master earlofsodbury's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by apm101 View Post
    On a tangent, this is the most ridiculous watch width/ strap width disparity I have eve seen.
    Isn't it absolutely mingin... er... awful...?

    __________________________________________________ ___________

    Quote Originally Posted by gcleminson View Post
    Maximum irony points for the Ben Nevis divers watch.
    Our very own Eddie has knocked that from its lowly perch -


  27. #27
    Quote Originally Posted by mjc1216 View Post
    Bad name but love the idea...

    Winner.

    Kicking myself for not remembering that one.
    Andy

    Wanted - Damasko DC57

  28. #28
    Quote Originally Posted by Tinker View Post
    Ming Thein was a valuable member of TZ-UK, who contributed knowledgeable, informative and interesting posts to Watch Talk before you joined.

    https://watchesbysjx.com/2019/03/min...i-started.html
    Quote Originally Posted by Sinnlover View Post
    You have a valid point and I am sure no offence was meant but I do agree that the name is not really suitable for a watch brand in an English speaking market.
    When naming a product or brand you have to keep this in mind. Car companies spend a fortune on making sure the model names don’t offend various markets or sound silly, if they do they change the name (e.g. Shogun / Pajero, the Minca Winky or my personal favourite the Great Wall Wingle)
    Ming whilst being the founders name (and he is right to be proud of his work) does not really work here in the UK.
    It’s not just translation that can cause an issue
    The Reginald in the OP is equally poor as a name as is calling a watch brand Colin or Nigel.
    He was a member before me too, but that doesn't excuse the branding oversight.
    Andy

    Wanted - Damasko DC57

  29. #29
    Grand Master Sinnlover's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by andy tims View Post
    He was a member before me too, but that doesn't excuse the branding oversight.
    Agreed, it just does not work. Use of a surname seems to work better in my opinion.

  30. #30
    Master
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    Quote Originally Posted by Sinnlover View Post
    Car companies spend a fortune on making sure the model names don’t offend various markets or sound silly, if they do they change the name ...

    Well, not everyone is equally effective in doing this.

    In my country Ford markets a car called Kuga (Kuga = Plague in Slovenian).

  31. #31
    Grand Master Saint-Just's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by matt View Post
    Well, not everyone is equally effective in doing this.

    In my country Ford markets a car called Kuga (Kuga = Plague in Slovenian).
    Thanks for this, I'll add it to the list of Pajero, Nova, MR2, etc. of really inappropriate car names
    'Against stupidity, the gods themselves struggle in vain' - Schiller.

  32. #32
    Grand Master Sinnlover's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Saint-Just View Post
    Thanks for this, I'll add it to the list of Pajero, Nova, MR2, etc. of really inappropriate car names
    The La Punta is another for the list. As is the humble Escort

    Back on to watches a Gay Frères bracelet always makes me chuckle
    Last edited by Sinnlover; 25th May 2021 at 08:37.

  33. #33
    Master
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    I've always laughed at Marcello C as a brand name, although I understand the watches are ok.

    Puts me in mind of a hairdresser, or a 1990s Italian Piano House outfit.

  34. #34
    Grand Master Saint-Just's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Sinnlover View Post
    The La Punta is another for the list. As is the humble Escort

    Back on to watches a Gay Frères bracelet always makes me chuckle
    What is wrong with Punta?
    ISTR there was one that did not translate well in a Scandinavian language (Swedish?)
    'Against stupidity, the gods themselves struggle in vain' - Schiller.

  35. #35
    Master earlofsodbury's Avatar
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    "Ming" means different things to different people - sure, "minging" is one, and "minge" perhaps, for others, dragging their minds along the gutter ... ... but also "Ming dynasty", and ever-popular watchco CEO role-model "Ming the Merciless"... It certainly carries some distinctly varied baggage! All of which forgets how utterly trivial the UK market is to such companies: home market, PRC, US, Germany, Japan, &c &c - those are the ones that actually matter.

    I suppose we're also forgetting the value of a memorable brand name - here we all are, discussing it, free promotion, "no such thing as bad publicity" &c!

  36. #36
    Grand Master Sinnlover's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Saint-Just View Post
    What is wrong with Punta?
    ISTR there was one that did not translate well in a Scandinavian language (Swedish?)
    In some South American countries it’s slang for a lady of the night.

  37. #37
    Grand Master Saint-Just's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Sinnlover View Post
    In some South American countries it’s slang for a lady of the night.
    That's puta rather than Punta, isn't it?
    'Against stupidity, the gods themselves struggle in vain' - Schiller.

  38. #38
    Journeyman elmero's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Sinnlover View Post
    In some South American countries it’s slang for a lady of the night.
    Hahahaha!! As said before me, that's "puta"... Punta means tip (as in tip of the arrow) in Spanish.

  39. #39
    Grand Master Sinnlover's Avatar
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    You are both correct I am wrong (I vaguely remember reading about it ages ago and I don’t speak Spanish)
    https://www.carthrottle.com/post/49rx9gg/
    Googled it. It’s because it sounds similar.
    Uno is fool, in Finnish according to the same site.

  40. #40
    Grand Master Saint-Just's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Sinnlover View Post
    Uno is fool, in Finnish according to the same site.
    That's the one!
    'Against stupidity, the gods themselves struggle in vain' - Schiller.

  41. #41
    Journeyman elmero's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Sinnlover View Post
    "Mitsubishi Pajero" LOL!!

  42. #42
    Grand Master Saint-Just's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Sinnlover View Post
    You are both correct I am wrong (I vaguely remember reading about it ages ago and I don’t speak Spanish)
    https://www.carthrottle.com/post/49rx9gg/
    Googled it. It’s because it sounds similar.
    Uno is fool, in Finnish according to the same site.
    Actually, you had it almost right, as there is a car that matches that description, the Mazda Laputa (thanks to Elmero for his link)
    'Against stupidity, the gods themselves struggle in vain' - Schiller.

  43. #43
    Journeyman elmero's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Saint-Just View Post
    Actually, you had it almost right, as there is a car that matches that description, the Mazda Laputa (thanks to Elmero for his link)
    That's @Sinnlover's link. And, yes, that Mazda is just perfect.

  44. #44
    Grand Master jwg663's Avatar
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    Surely the worst watch company name ever is...

    ______

    ​Jim.

  45. #45
    Grand Master Carlton-Browne's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Saint-Just View Post
    ISTR there was one that did not translate well in a Scandinavian language (Swedish?)

    I believe that fitta is quite a rude word in Swedish and I wonder if it's a coincidence that http://www.fiyta.se doesn't seem to work.
    In the Sotadic Zone, apparently.

  46. #46
    Master
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    On a less scatological note, I always misread 'Certina' as 'Cretina'. Having a watch announce that either you or it is a deformed idiot would somehow take the shine off the purchase.

  47. #47
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    Quote Originally Posted by TheFlyingBanana View Post
    I know they crop up from time to time, and there have been some cracking vintage ones posted in the past, but it feels like the world might now be ready for the Reginald Submariner.

    https://www.amazon.co.uk/Reginald-Ro...800159&sr=8-52


    Available on Amazon, and it's in stock now, although I expect after this post there won't be many hanging around for long...




    Got any more?
    Known to the discerning as the Elton...

  48. #48
    Grand Master AlphaOmega's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Carlton-Browne View Post
    I believe that fitta is quite a rude word in Swedish and I wonder if it's a coincidence that http://www.fiyta.se doesn't seem to work.
    Yes, Honda was going to launch the Fitta. Then thought better of it.

  49. #49
    Quote Originally Posted by earlofsodbury View Post
    White bread seems a pretty lame name, only slightly better in French...

    I cannot believe the translation has never occurred to me before. I actually think I've gone off my gorgeous Bathyscaphe now. Absolutely gutted.

  50. #50
    Master earlofsodbury's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by tobywatches View Post
    I cannot believe the translation has never occurred to me before. I actually think I've gone off my gorgeous Bathyscaphe now. Absolutely gutted.

    Not sure whether to apologise or make a cheeky lowball offer ... what's the forum etiquette in these situations?




    [...and white bread or no white bread, if I had the £readies, I'd buy a Bathyscaphe "Mokarran" tomorrow ]

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