Catan Watermarks

16 November 2021

To identify which set a hex has come from Catan uses a small pale grey watermark on the hexes. There help people sort out sets after playing larger games using different expansions and extensions.

Each major release has a unique watermark, apart from the base set which has none. There is no watermark for the Cities & Knights 5/6 player extension as it has no hexes included.

Special hex sets such as Autumn 2018 and Summer 2019 do not have a watermark as they are classified as an accessory and in reality the design is enough to differentiate them. Equally as far as I can tell the one-off promotional hexes, such as Durango, Santa Claus, Nashville etc also do not have individual watermarks.

Below are the watermarks from the current editions.

Catan Standard base set

Symbol: There is no watermark shown on the base set

Catan 5/6 player extension

Symbol: City/Sun with a "+" symbol underneath

Catan Cites & Knights Expansion

Symbol: Cathedral
There are no hexes in the C&K expansion, however the hex is shown on the included Barbarian Attack tile.

Catan Cities & Knights 5/6 player extension

There are no hexes in this set and no items that feature a watermark.

Catan Seafarers expansion

Symbol: Viking Ship

Catan Seafarers 5/6 player extension

Symbol: Viking Ship with a "+" symbol underneath

Catan Traders & Barbarians expansion

Symbol: Wagon

Catan Traders & Barbarians 5/6 player extension

Symbol: Wagon with a "+" symbol underneath

Catan Explorers & Pirates expansion

Symbol: Telescope

Catan Explorers & Pirates 5/6 player extension

Symbol: Telescope with a "+" symbol underneath

Legends of the Conquerors

Symbol: Pennant

Legends of the Sea Robbers

Symbol: Sea Monster

Crop Trust

Symbol: Test Tube

Treasures, Dragons & Adventurers

Symbol: Dragon

I welcome any alterations, additions or corrections.