Apple is planning a global launch of the Apple Watch on April 10 but Switzerland, the home of luxury watchmakers, might not get the smartwatch until December.

This is due to a trademark patent held by Swiss broadcaster RTS that prevents the word 'Apple' from being used in branding. Since Apple decided against calling it the iWatch, it might force issues with the launch of the smartwatch in the region.

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The patent is set to expire on December 5. It's not clear if the Swiss Federal Institute of Intellectual Property will push to stop the Apple Watch sale in Switzerland, or if RTS will look to combat sales of the Apple Watch in the region.

It's not the first time Apple has struggled to sell its products in a region due to trademarks. When the iPad first launched, several trademarks were granted a few years before, but most of these were marked irrelevant by the country's legal system if the trademark owner couldn't show any reason to hold the trademark.

Considering RTS has shown no real investment in the Apple patent, we doubt it will hold much ground in court. Apple will want to get through this issue peacefully to avoid any unnecessary delays in sale.

Apple might also disregard the patent altogether, which would allow them to start sales on April 10. This might bring even heavily delays to the Apple Watch if Swiss authorities decide that Apple broke the law.

The Apple Watch is one of the first luxury watches to feature a touch-screen and other smart features. Most Android Wear watches are going on sale for less than $400 and have no luxury design to interest luxury buyers.

Apple's own Watch Edition will be on sale for between $10,000 and $17,000, fitted with an 18-karat gold chassis. This should put it up against some of the best in Switzerland like TAG Heuer, Rolex and other luxury watchmakers.

The question is, will the home of luxury watches embrace the Apple Watch?

Most analysts believe it will -- like most of the world. Apple is expected to sell up to 30 million smartwatches with a median estimate at 10 million this year.

That would put sales of smartwatches to 45 million in 2015 if the Apple Watch popularity sparks a new surge in smartwatch interest.

TagsApple Watch, Switzerland, smartwatch, wearable, Swiss Federal Institute