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Draft:Octo (company)

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OCTO
IndustryWatchmaking
Founded1848 Tolck Family
Headquarters
Switzerland
Area served
Worldwide
ProductsWristwatches
Websiteocto-time.com

OCTO is a Swiss watch and clock brand founded in 1848. It underwent various ownership changes and evolved through different paths leading to the Tolck family[1][2]

In 1848, Henri "Ulysse" Tolck Senior established his own watch production, which included an 8-day model. [3] This workshop eventually led to the creation of the Octo Watch Company, also known as Montres Octo SA, by his son, Ernest Tolck[4]

The name "OCTO" was associated with the 8-day clocks produced by watchmaker Charles Couleru-Meuri and first advertised in a 1904 advertisement featuring Couleru-Meuri's 8-day movement, likely using an unofficial patent number.


Key Events in Ownership by Swiss Companies

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In 1910, Marc Dubois purchased the business of Léon N. Robert, transforming it into Marc Dubois & Co. [5] By 1913, he began using the Octo brand name and produced 8-day clocks "pour automobiles et voitures," utilizing movements likely sourced from Couleru-Meuri. Dubois referred to this as "Fabrique d'Horlogerie Octo" in advertisements. Following Dubois's death in 1916, Ernest Tolck acquired his business, inheriting the rights to the Octo brand. In 1923, Eugène Couleru, son of Charles Couleru-Meuri, registered the Octo brand, even though it had been officially used by Dubois since 1913 and later by Tolck, who continued to use it from 1916. Tolck consolidated ownership of the Octo brand in 1927 after Eugène Couleru’s bankruptcy.

Throughout the 1930s, Ernest Tolck’s Fabrique Octo made significant contributions to watchmaking, particularly with its innovative eight-day wristwatch. An extensive advertising campaign promoted the Octo brand and its various models, including the eight-day wristwatch. The name was later registered as Montres Octo. Tolck sold the business to Albert Etienne, who moved the company to Bienne in 1943, maintaining the Octo name while shifting focus away from 8-day wristwatches to mid-priced models. By 1968, Octo SA ceased operations, marking the end of the brand's ownership by Swiss companies.

Key Dates for Octo’s Notable Watch Models

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1958: The Lakemaster, a waterproof model, was inaugurated, marking a significant addition to Octo's portfolio.

1959: The Missilemaster was introduced, featuring an automatic calendar movement.

1963: The Skymaster was launched at the Swiss Watch Fair, likely inspired by achievements in space research at the time, incorporating a miniature rocket that circles the dial every 40 seconds.

Ownership and Development of Octo in Recent Decades

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The Chung Nam Group began distributing Octo watches in Asia during a period of notable growth for the brand in the 1960s. The group acquired Octo in the 1970s and established it as a house brand, with trademark registration noted as early as 1974.

The brand was widely advertised through various media, including neon light boxes, billboards, magazines, trams, radio, and television. A memorable TV commercial featuring Cantopop artist George Lam in the 1980s contributed to its popularity.

However, by the mid-1990s, the brand faced challenges and diminished visibility. In July 2024, Octo was relaunched with a limited collection of three vintage-inspired watches. This launch, celebrated in a pop-up store in Central, Hong Kong, and accompanied by a new website, aims to attract modern watch enthusiasts while honoring the brand's heritage through design elements reminiscent of the 1960s and 1970s.

Robbery

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OCTO's offline sales channels operate through partnerships with lifestyle stores for pop-up spaces. On November 17, 2024, in a pop-up space, a man trespassed into the shop, stealing 13 Octo watches [6] [7]

References

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  1. ^ "OCTO". watch-wiki.net. 2022-07-03.
  2. ^ "Why Didn't This Unusual Watch Catch On" (PDF). American Watchmakers-Clockmakers Institute. 1998-09-01.
  3. ^ An 8-day watch or clock is a manually-wound timepiece that can run for over a week without needing to be wound again. Throughout the 19th century, many firms, especially in La Chaux-de-Fonds, rushed to market their own 8-day designs in the 1890s to compete, including Charles Couleru-Meuri's Octo and Gindrat-Delachaux's Huitaine model
  4. ^ "Eight-day clock; travelling clock; clock-case". British Museum. 1984-07-02.
  5. ^ "Marc_Dubois". wiki.grail-watch.com. 2024-01-11.
  6. ^ "天眼直擊-西營盤打卡勝地藝里坊店舖遇竊-踢拖男掠13隻樂都手錶". hk01.com. 2024-11-17.
  7. ^ "西環工藝品店遭爆竊失$6萬紅酒手錶 警睇CCTV閃電拘54歲男賊". singtaousa.com. 2024-11-17.
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