Modding and Style-theft

Yea I missed the boat for when the seiko sarb017 back when it was at it regularl price. So I build a watch that gave me the same feel but was different. You can see it in my profile background picture first one bottom right corner.

As far as you buillding a fake/homage

A fake is only classified if you where trying to pass it off as the real thing so if the dial doesn’t say Rolex then it can’t be considered a fake.

Homage yea maybe there are a lot of design similarities but who the hell cares?!

If someone ask if that’s a Rolex?

You get to say definitely not a Rolex but I built this my self!

If you run a Google Lens search on your picture, Rolex isn't in the first half dozen results, so I think you're safe😉

Thanks! Just what I wanted to hear 😍 I really wouldn’t even want the dial to say Rolex.. I mean, there are millions of Rolexes.. but my watch is a one of a kind 😉 and I’m proud I built it.

I really like your SARBalike. Looks really interesting and special. Especially the case looks really cool and rugged👍🏻

It’s cool to make what you like instead of just buying a homage watch. It is a very good looking watch. Wear it well and enjoy

Nice 🤩👍🏻😂

Thanks! I surely will :)

Cool mod project, frend. 😎 Glad you're happy how it turned out. Building a watch for yourself is surely gratifying. 🍻

There's one beautiful watch that many a YTer watch enthusiast describe as the "Best Rolex Datejust Alternative". I heartily recommend it. It's the Seiko 5 SNXS7x line. The one I have is the SNXS79.

With all due respect, I beg to differ with all these YTers because this watch is unique unto itself, and its beauty stands on its own given Seiko's long history of watchmaking, and distinctive design DNA. I don't blame them for linking it to the Datejust, especially if their only reference point for good click bait, and all things watches, is a Rolex. But I digress.

The case design of the SNXS7x line is unique from the Dj, as it follows a long line of predecessors with similar aesthetic from the 70's and 80s.

The crown at 4 is a well-known Seiko style.

And, it's sunburst dial is simply mesmerizing, changing color ever so slightly depending on the angle of the light source.

Finally, as demonstrated above and below, putting it on different bracelets and straps gives it a whole new look and vibe, displaying its versatility.

I recently wrote a post about this versatility from bracelets and straps.

You might want to add one to your collection, if you haven't already. Prost! 🍻

I find this way cooler than the DJ.

The Datejust has a "Calatrava" style dial. What we think of as original design is often just borrowing a very long time ago.

I find myself in the same scenario as you, liking a lot of watches that are out of my financial reach, so I too started collecting mod watches. Funny enough I had a modder create something similar to yours. What you think?

Well, here is the thing.

Let's break up a Rolex design a bit. It's not a deep analytics and I'm sure a proper product designer will laugh at this, but whatever.

What is about the Rolex design, if we take out the Rolex branding and fonts (which is a crucial part of a Rolex identity)? Well, I definitely gonna say Oyster case. Rolex effectively has 1 case design, and this design is used over the whole lineup. Basically their design concept is "do one thing and do it extremely good". But here's the thing. Oyster Case is basically a default round shape of a watch. Nothing that special about it. Like, take a look on some other iconic round case shapes. Take a 44GS Grand Seiko case, or asymmetric Speedmaster case, or super chunky Seamaster Professional case, or one of my personal favourites - angular, really brutal King Seiko case. Oyster case seems default, generic and sterile in comparison. In my personal opinion, this is a big part of a Rolex charm, it's a luxury watch for sure, but it still has this tough, tool vibes in this simplicity. A "proper" watch. A "standard".

Which means that there's a ton of other watches with a very similar design. Because it's a basic round case.

Now, we also have a details - hands, hour markers and cyclops. Hour markers are simple, also generic rectangles. Hands are simple and basic rectangles. If you didn't have a cyclops it would be a Tissot Gentleman homage, or a Seiko SNXS79/SARB033 homage (except those are actually a bit different and have a design queues from a 44GS case), or like Monta Atlas homage.

Without the fluted bezel it's just a nice looking round watch. Even the original Datejust with a smooth bezel looks like an homage)

So don't worry about it, if you are not trying to pass it as a Rolex, it's not a fake.) It's a nice watch, and it's cool you've built it yourself)

As others have said, while you may have drawn inspiration from a Rolex, you know it's not one. It's better. It's a unique piece you made. Wear it with pride and if people ask, be proud you made it.

I think you nailed it when you mentioned Influencers comparing everything to Rolex. They call everything a Rolex homage because it's a known/common comparison point, not because Rolex owns every watch design element...

It also drives clicks because you get three groups to watch;

1. The people who know the Rolex name, but little else about watches.

2. Rolex fanboys who want to watch so they can crap on the watch because it's "just a homage".

3. Rolex haters, so they can point out how dumb the comparison is.

Yours looks great too! I like the Arabic numerals in combination with the blued hands! Looks great!

I love this watch, and you should be so proud that you made this! 😀 At first glance it does look like a Rolex, but once you get a close look at the dial, and its total lack of any Rolex branding, you think, "Oh, this isn't a Rolex." Long Story Short: People will realize it's not a Rolex very quickly (even novices!) and that will be the segway into telling them the fascinating story about how you made this watch yourself! 😎

If you like it and enjoy wearing it, that is all that matters. No one except us nerdy 1%ers (watch collectors not wealth) will notice and most (if not all) of us will just be impressed and curious about the build. Also, as many like @Aurelian noted, everyone takes inspiration and homages everyone else. If the big brands like Seiko (and Rolex) can homage or take inspiration from others, we shouldn't doubt ourselves.

Plus, you built it yourself. Looks great.

I think it looks tremendous! Good work! And for minimal outlay!

Good job on that one! Sure, there is noth8ng wrong with modding and that even takes more effort and skill than just buying and rewarding if well done! And this is coming from someone who just loves and has the rolex op dj