United States v. European Watch & Clock Co.

11 Ct. Cust. 363, 1922 CCPA LEXIS 37
CourtCourt of Customs and Patent Appeals
DecidedJune 6, 1922
DocketNo. 2152
StatusPublished
Cited by16 cases

This text of 11 Ct. Cust. 363 (United States v. European Watch & Clock Co.) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Court of Customs and Patent Appeals primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
United States v. European Watch & Clock Co., 11 Ct. Cust. 363, 1922 CCPA LEXIS 37 (ccpa 1922).

Opinion

Barber, Judge,

delivered tbe opinion of the court:

The merchandise in this case consists of what are commonly known as wrist watches. It also includes a fob watch and an ordinary pocket watch. The wrist watches are referred to by the Govern[364]*364ment as watch bracelets, or bracelet watches, and were so designated by some witnesses For convenience they have been arranged in eight classes, represented by letters of the alphabet. We insert here these classes as they are set forth in the Government’s brief. Substantially the - same description of the merchandise ds contained in the brief of the importer.

A. Watch movement in platinum case set with jewels on moire ribbon, with platinum, gold, and precious-stone snap.
B. Watch movement in platinum case set with jewels on pearl tissue bracelet with platinum, gold, and precious-stone snap.
C. Watch movement in platinum case on moire ribbon with gold and platinum snap.
D. Gold case containing watch movement on leather strap with gold snap.
E. Watch movement in platinum case on platinum tissue bracelet, gold and platinum snap.
F. Watch movement in platinum case set with jewels on platinum and diamond bracelet with platinum snap.
G. Watch movement in gold case (pocket watch).
H. Watch movement in platinum case set with jewels on moire ribbon fob with platinum and precious-stone.ornaments.

All the merchandise, except the watch movements, was assessed for duty as jewelry at 60 per cent ad valorem under paragraph 356 of the act of 1913. The movements were assessed at 30 per cent ad valorem under paragraph 161.

The importer protested the assessment, claiming, among other things, that the watchcases were separable for duty purposes, and should have been classified under paragraph 161 as being denomina-tively therein provided for, and that the wristlets, that is, the devices by which the watches were held upon the wrist, called bracelets by the Government, were classifiable as articles or wares composed wholly or in part of platinum or gold under paragraph 167.

The Board of General Appraisers sustained these claims of the importer, except as to the fob, which was on the fob watch specified in class “H,” above referred to, respecting which the protest was overruled.

The Government only appealed and upon the argument here contends—

I. That the articles represented by the respective classes are en-tireties and all dutiable as jewelry under paragraph 356 at 60 per cent ad valorem, ■

2. That the enumeration in paragraph 356 of “articles valued above 20 cents per dozen pieces designed to be worn on apparel or carried on or about or attached to the person,” should be held to require the classification thereunder of all the merchandise; if not so, that the watch cases and wristlets should be classified thereunder, or, if this be denied, that the wristlets must fall within that classification.

[365]*365The material parts of the respective paragraphs necessary of consideration are as follows:

161. Watch, movements, whether imported in cases or not, watchcases and parts of watches, chronometers, box or ship, and parts thereof, lever clock movements having jewels in the escapement, and clocks containing such movements, all other clocks and parts thereof, not otherwise provided for in this section, whether separately packed or otherwise, not composed wholly or in chief value of china, porcelain, parían, bisque, or earthenware, 30 per centum ad valorem; * * *
167. Articles or wares not specially provided for in this section, if composed wholly or in part of platinum, gold, or silver, and articles or wares plated with gold or silver, and whether partly or wholly manufactured, 50 per centum ad valorem; * * *
356. Jewelry, commonly or 'commercially so known, valued above 20 cents per dozen pieces, 60 per centum ad valorem; * * * and articles valued above 30 cents per dozen pieces designed to be worn on apparel or carried on or about or attached to the person, such as and including buckles, cardcases, chains, cigar cases, cigar cutters, cigar holders, cigarette holders, coin holders, collar, cuff, and dress buttons, combs, matchboxes, mesh bags and purses, millinery, military, and hair ornaments, pins, powder cases, stamp cases, vanity cases, and like articles; all the foregoing and parts thereof, finished or partly finished, composed of metal, whether or not enameled, washed, covered, or plated, including rolled-gold plate, and whether or not set with precious or semiprecious stones or imitation cameos, coral, or amber, or with imitation precious stones or imitation pearls, 60 per centum ad valorem. * * *

As to item “G,” which is an ordinary pocket watch, the Government makes no contention. The protest, so far as relates to the fob in item "H,” having been overruled, no further specific reference thereto is deemed necessary.

It may be conceded that the evidence establishes the -watch movements, watchcases, bracelets, or wristlets of the importations of the remaining classes above described constitute entireties commonly known as wrist watches. They are so sold and so used, and, as we understand, the value of the movement and its case in every instance exceeds the value of the device which holds it upon the wrist.

The board found, and the finding is not challenged, that the watch-cases are not permanently attached to the wristlets or bracelets, except that in some instances it is necessary to remove pins or screws to separate them. It also found that the wristlets or bracelets " are not worn on the person as incidental articles of mere personal comfort, convenience, or adornment, but as a necessary and useful attachment to the watch itself.”

The scheduled list of the merchandise indicates that these wrist watches are costly and beautiful.

We find ourselves unable to agree with the contention of the Government that these wrist watches are classifiable as jewlery under paragraph 356. There is no evidence that they are commercially so known, and we do not think in common understanding they are so regarded. Expensive and bejeweled watches carried in the pocket have, of common knowledge, for a long time been subjects of trade, and as we understand, the movements and cases thereof [366]*366have been classified for tariff purposes under paragraph 161 or earlier statutes of similar import. The fact, if it be so, that such watches are more common now than before the advent of wrist watches, does .not of itself justify any change in their tariff classification. If Congress had intended that an expensive movement or a bejeweled case should pay a rate of duty different from those not of that character, it would undoubtedly have so declared.

As we view the matter, paragraph 161 is an insuperable barrier to the classification of the watch movements and watchcases as jewlery under paragraph 356, because they are eo nomine provided for in paragraph 161 with no limitation except what is in substance known as the n. s. p. f. provision, which is not found in paragraph 356.

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Bluebook (online)
11 Ct. Cust. 363, 1922 CCPA LEXIS 37, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/united-states-v-european-watch-clock-co-ccpa-1922.