Produced briefly during the 1990s, the Exaequo Softwatch Ref. 92008 exists today as a surviving artifact of an intellectual property lawsuit. The distorted case geometry, which openly mimics the melting clocks of Dali's The Persistence of Memory painting, was sued for including a 'Dali' text without license and permission from the Gala-Salvador Dalí Foundation, eventually leading to the manufacturer’s forced closure and liquidation of the company. Consequently, the watches became a permanently capped production run. Sourcing examples in collectible condition has become a significant challenge, as the original gold-plated alloy is susceptible to oxidation and the distinct organic form prohibits standard restoration techniques.
Exaequo was a small watch manufacturer from 1990 to 1998, founded by Philippe Muller and best known for its flagship "Softwatch" collection. The brand gained prominence for producing affordable, surrealist quartz timepieces that mimicked the melting clocks of Salvador Dalí’s The Persistence of Memory, effectively serving as a mass-market alternative to the Cartier Crash.
However, the company operated without official authorization from the Gala-Salvador Dalí Foundation to use the artist's name or imagery. This trademark infringement resulted in a decisive lawsuit that forced Exaequo to cease operations and liquidate in 1998, leaving the original Softwatch as a finite cult classic piece in the vintage market.
Overall Grade: 7 / 10 | Good Condition, Visible Wear Production: est. 1990's Contents: Watch Only Genre: Neo-Vintage Dress Watch
Size: approx. 27x47mm Thickness: approx. 9mm Lug Width: approx. 18mm
Case: Rose gold-plated asymmetrical "melting" case, polished finish, medium Wear Bezel: Rose gold-plated, fixed integrated bezel, polished finish, medium Wear Dial: Salmon dial, printed roman numeral markers, medium wear Hands: Black painted, stick style hands, medium wear
Crown: Gold-tone, pull/push crown, medium Wear Crystal: Domed acrylic (shaped to case), medium Wear Bracelet: Brown leather strap with crocodile pattern, medium Wear Caseback: Stainless steel, solid snap-on, medium Wear Movement: Quartz Caliber: Generic Quartz