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i came across this post,looking for something else..gruen, i don't think looks like anyother watch out there..as a matter of fact..gruen came out with the curvex and everyother company copied off of them..early gruens are very very nice...gruen also made thier own movments..also i see more cases shared with bulova then i do gruen..i am sure i can can show many examples of a bulova having the same case as say a benrus or elgin and many many others of the era...
I have no problem with the idea that Bulova "borrowed" ideas from other companies. I have seen watches made by other companies that looked virtually indistinguishable from well known Bulovas. However, I am curious to know how, in looking at the Sears catalog you mentioned, you were able to determine that Bulova used designs from other companies as opposed to the other companies used Bulova's designs?
As a practical matter, I don't think there's any product in any arena that is unaffected by similar products offered by other companies. That's what design styles and trends and competition are all about. My guess is that other watch companies were just as influenced by successful Bulova designs as Bulova was influenced by the designs of others. That's just how it works.