Homage or Fake?
I knew there would a bit of controversy about these kinds of Chinese watches. I do never wear them if I know I'm visting a jewlery store, but thats about the only time I feel the shame of where a homage. Homage is what I call them, but maybe I call them that to make myself feel better lol. Also the youtube videos where I found these watches make it sound like they're some-what accepted. One of my favorite youtubers, JustOneMoreWatch, seems to respect all watches, and what the Chinese are doing. I will admit I don't find myself wearing them too often. Not sure if it's because the design, or of it's because deep down, I know it's not the real thing. I would like to think that doesn't bother me though. What are the thoughts of the people on watch crunch?
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Its not a fake so theyre ok in my book. I probaby wont get one though because i know ill want the original sooner or later.
Like all things in life, it depends.
I own two San Martin. One of them, the SN007-G-X is excellent. It's basically a truer re-creation of the 1965 Seiko 62MAS than any new model that Seiko made, including the SLA017. Is it a homage? Maybe. It's not a copy of any model that Seiko is currently making that's for sure.
The other San Martin that I own is the SN021 which kinda look like an Explorer if you are not paying attention. It's not as well made as the SN007 for sure. It's also is definitively an attempt to present itself like a current model. Does it matter? Maybe. Do I care? Not really. I wear it when I want an unassuming 3 hand watch with great legibility.
They aren’t fake by law, but I think it’s up to interpretation. If you’re uncomfortable wearing them, then you probably lowkey feel like you’re wearing a fake. If you’re confident, then it’s just an homage. I feel like the watch you’re showing here is better because they don’t make the Black Bay in those dimensions or color. But when it comes to an exact copy, and the only difference is the name. I view it as a fake and nobody can convince me different. But I love homages myself.
Homaging the VC American Historiques 1921
Homaging the GS Snowflake
Homaging the Rolex Pepsi
Coming soon… homaging the Rolex DJ/DD
Coming soon… homaging Movado
Its not a fake so theyre ok in my book. I probaby wont get one though because i know ill want the original sooner or later.
Yeah, I see what you mean. I'd say a positive of trying a homage is to see if you would actually like the real thing. After owning the bb58 homage San Martin, my urge to buy a bb58 has gone down a lot. Partially because I love the San Martin version with the ceramic bezel, and partially because the design doesn't do it for me like I thought it would.
They aren’t fake by law, but I think it’s up to interpretation. If you’re uncomfortable wearing them, then you probably lowkey feel like you’re wearing a fake. If you’re confident, then it’s just an homage. I feel like the watch you’re showing here is better because they don’t make the Black Bay in those dimensions or color. But when it comes to an exact copy, and the only difference is the name. I view it as a fake and nobody can convince me different. But I love homages myself.
Homaging the VC American Historiques 1921
Homaging the GS Snowflake
Homaging the Rolex Pepsi
Coming soon… homaging the Rolex DJ/DD
Coming soon… homaging Movado
I like this way of thinking about it. Never really thought about how Japanese watches do the same thing too. Less blatantly I'd argue though. Yes, San Martin's bb58 homage also has a ceramic bezel which differen't to the original. I actually appreciate that difference.
These are not fakes. But most definitely they aren’t „homages“ either!
Like all things in life, it depends.
I own two San Martin. One of them, the SN007-G-X is excellent. It's basically a truer re-creation of the 1965 Seiko 62MAS than any new model that Seiko made, including the SLA017. Is it a homage? Maybe. It's not a copy of any model that Seiko is currently making that's for sure.
The other San Martin that I own is the SN021 which kinda look like an Explorer if you are not paying attention. It's not as well made as the SN007 for sure. It's also is definitively an attempt to present itself like a current model. Does it matter? Maybe. Do I care? Not really. I wear it when I want an unassuming 3 hand watch with great legibility.
My buddy has the sn007 as well, its probably the best made out of all the San Martin's I've seen in person. My explore like San martin has a qc issue where the crown doesnt screw all the way down just ever so slightly. The other ones are damn near perfect but have maybe a tiny piece of dust on the hands.
There are 3 tiers.
Fake = using the original name on the dial
Copy = same design but different name on the dial (eg Pagani Design Daytona
Homage = taking design cues from an existing watch and making it their own. (Excellent examples in Watch Playboy's post above).
As my late mother would say: “Champagne tastes on a beer budget”.
Yeah, I see what you mean. I'd say a positive of trying a homage is to see if you would actually like the real thing. After owning the bb58 homage San Martin, my urge to buy a bb58 has gone down a lot. Partially because I love the San Martin version with the ceramic bezel, and partially because the design doesn't do it for me like I thought it would.
Yeah it makes sense for just trying on the size and style. But you cant replicate things like crown/bezel action and other attention to details.
Wear what you are comfortable wearing. As pointed out above, homages are not new things. Indeed, the only watch in my collection that ever draws notice from Muggles is my Tudor BB GMT but this is only because people think it's a Rolex (is a homage ok if it is officially sanctioned).
There is very little true originality in the watch world and I think the main point in buying a homage is whether you would feel good wearing it in public because if you would be uncomfortable wearing the watch, what's the point.
Homage - Inspired by and look like (usually) iconic watches, but usually are not direct copies. They are not branded the same as the inspiration pieces.
Fake - Pretty much exactly like the watch they are faking, even down to the branding. Illegal AF.
Clomage - Pretty much exactly like the watch they are "homaging" with the only outward difference being the branding. Typically have movements that are nothing like the inspiration piece, all the way down to the cheapest quartz movements.
Will I buy and own Homages & Clomages? Yep.
Homage - Inspired by and look like (usually) iconic watches, but usually are not direct copies. They are not branded the same as the inspiration pieces.
Fake - Pretty much exactly like the watch they are faking, even down to the branding. Illegal AF.
Clomage - Pretty much exactly like the watch they are "homaging" with the only outward difference being the branding. Typically have movements that are nothing like the inspiration piece, all the way down to the cheapest quartz movements.
Will I buy and own Homages & Clomages? Yep.
Hm, a clomage might be what I San Martin is doing with the watches I own. Had not heard of that one.
Wear what you are comfortable wearing. As pointed out above, homages are not new things. Indeed, the only watch in my collection that ever draws notice from Muggles is my Tudor BB GMT but this is only because people think it's a Rolex (is a homage ok if it is officially sanctioned).
There is very little true originality in the watch world and I think the main point in buying a homage is whether you would feel good wearing it in public because if you would be uncomfortable wearing the watch, what's the point.
Very true. I think I'll draw the line at what San Martin is doing. Probably a clomage.
Jody from 'Just One More Watch' does frequently review ones from China, and he is definitely in your face when the AliExpress big sales are one. They do seem to make a number of robust watches, but I would never buy one unless he had given it the rubber stamp, as it's just hard to be sure when buying from over there! In saying that, and may make you feel a little better, many of our brand names are 'cased in China' so there's that! Oh, and definitely NOT a fake - it is a genuine San Martin. How are they really any different to a Micro-Brand? They have a designer, they develop tooling, and if they have any QC, then they show it some love too. And using a Seiko or other movement means that you get reliability to boot. Like many, many watches on the market, it shares similar traits to watches that have come before it.