Hampden Watch Patents
A Century of Watchmaking Innovation
Patented Innovation in Personalized Watch Design
Patented Innovation in Personalized Watch Design
At Hampden Watch, personalization is more than a feature — it’s a foundation. Our patented casecap® system reflects over 100 years of craftsmanship and our ongoing mission to reinvent what a timepiece can mean.
This page documents the watch patents that protect our signature innovation: a removable, engraved watch case back designed for easy personalization. Our patented personalization platform makes every Hampden timepiece a wearable story — engineered for emotion, designed for generations.
Active Patents
U.S. Patent No. 12,449,770
Case Cap Retainer for a Watch Having a Case Cap
Issued October 21, 2025
Patent Type: Utility
This patent protects the functional mechanics of Hampden’s interchangeable casecap® system. Specifically, it covers the internal retainer structure and rotational locking mechanism that allow the engraved case back to be securely attached and easily removed from the watch housing. This innovation enables meaningful personalization without compromising durability or user experience.
U.S. Design Patent No. USD1072657S1
Case Cap Retainer for a Watch Having a Case Cap
Issued April 4, 2025
Patent Type: Design
This design patent protects the ornamental appearance of Hampden’s casecap® — the visual styling of the interchangeable watch case back. While it does not cover mechanical function, it ensures that the distinctive aesthetic of the casecap remains unique to Hampden, supporting both brand identity and product authenticity.
A Heritage of Innovation
A Heritage of Innovation
These recent patents are part of a much longer story.
For nearly a century, Hampden engineers and watchmakers have pioneered breakthroughs in movement design, shock protection, calendar complications, and personalized jewelry setting. Past patents include:
- A 1930 automatic watch movement by Ralph Wein that simplified power transmission through the gear train
- A 1970s Month Minder series of modular calendar mechanisms by Irving Wein
- Multiple Touch Setting jewelry patents from the 2000s, enabling seamless gemstone arrays with no visible metal, by Joseph Wein
- Early 2000s breakthroughs in laser engraving and real-time personalization, also by Joseph Wein—technologies that continue to inform Hampden’s approach today.
In the months ahead, we’ll be publishing these stories in full—starting with behind-the-scenes insights into how our modern Caseback Personalization System came to life.