Homages vs. Redials: Which is Your Biggest Ethical Gear Grinder?

I have no problem with either.

An exact copy is not a homage. To me it's a fake.

No problem with a homage.

Redial? Depends if it's marketed as such or passed off as original.

After learning a lot of popular entry level luxury to luxury watches were heavily inspired by or copied everything from another design, I realized people's beef and irritation with homages is ridiculous. Seiko's 62MAS, for example, nothing original about the design. I would never put in a new dial in a vintage Rolex or Tudor, unless the damage is so great that you can't read the time (it happens).

When I think of homage, I think of an original design which takes inspiration and cues from other watch(es).

What I dislike are the 1-1 copies with a different logo e.g. Pagani design. It’s just a rip off of another brands work.

That’s just me tho. If you like them then please carry on, it’s nothing personal.

Agree with your take about redials. For me, as long as they're done well and are respectful of the original dial - and people are upfront when they sell it - I am fine with it. Thanks for your comment!

Not a fan of redials at all. I’d take heavy patina any day.

My only complaint with redial is quality, which is often not up to OEM level. Homages and fakes are fine with me.

I appreciate homages for watches that are no longer made anymore. @Ichibunz is going to make me a Seiko Pogue inspired diver. I don’t need a chronograph like the original, but love the colorway!

What @Cantaloop said. Can you add a 3rd option to the poll?

Show me a current watch release that doesn’t pay homage or channel design cues from its countless predecessors, but as long as it’s not a blatant copy and crosses into counterfeit territory - then fair game!

As for redials, it’s super circumstantial and comes down to transparency at the purchase level. Great interesting poll, buddy!🤙❤️

Good feedback. Thank you. 👍 I just added a third choice to the poll.

Homages are getting more and more brazen with 1 to 1 copies I fear - not a fan but I don’t care if others are just not for me

I detest fakes, as I view them as blatant attempts to deceive, and see them as being no different than counterfeit money. I don't believe in supporting the criminal element that is involved in creating and selling them.

I have no issue with true homages, but they are few and far between. I view watches like Pagani Design as being copies rather than homages, since little to no original design is involved. Those lazy copies aren't for me, but I can understand why some people may like them and buy them. The fact that they include branding that clearly identifies them as not being the "real deal" is what makes them acceptable in my eyes, but they simply don't appeal to me. I don't have an issue with watches that borrow from other designs, but which also incorporate some meaningful degree of originality - those are the ones that I view as true homages, and would consider having in my own collection.

As far as redials are concerned, I think a lot depends on the quality of the redial as well as the transparency involved. I have a vintage Wakmann Chrono which I purchased from a member of our local watch enthusiasts group. The main appeal to me was the dial color, which I had assumed to be original. I was fairly new to the hobby at the time, but since the seller was a trusted member of the group, with a knowledge of vintage watches, I felt comfortable about the deal. After buying the watch, I posted on another forum asking for help in identifying the model number based on the dial, and quickly discovered that it was a redial, and a bad one at that. My aging eyes hadn't looked closely enough at the watch to notice that the sub-dial printing was offset, and bled into the dial. I still love the look of the watch, and probably would have purchased it regardless, although I might not have paid as much as I did had I realized it was a poorly done redial. I like to think that the seller may have simply missed that as well, but have nagging doubts as to whether or not that was the case. If I were to ever decide to sell that watch, I would make sure to point out to any prospective purchaser that is was a redial, and a bad one at that. That may make it harder for me to sell, but at least I can sleep well knowing that I hadn't deceived the buyer.

I don’t mind either and I would prefer B where the alternative is a destroyed dial. A bad redial is a shame though.

I’m not really interested in homages but I have no opposition to them. I had a Bulova Super Seville for a while which was a fun watch

Hi Tom. How's it going? Good topic. I think you should buy what you like is the real answer. No body else matters. However, I don't own either. I don't think a homage watch will fix the itch as a replacement to the real thing and besides there are a lot of watches out there to choose from that are close to what you want with an original design. I'd buy those instead. As far as a redial, I've never had any experience with them but I think if you know upfront what you're buying and you don't have an issue with it. Buy it. Thanks Tom

Hey Craig, thanks for weighing in! Hope all is well. Full disclosure: a redial of a vintage 60s-era Tudor Ranger that I landed at the well known Jack Road shop in Tokyo four years ago is what motivated this poll. The salesperson was completely transparent about it but I was so taken - and still am - by the look of the watch I happily bought it anyway. It is definitely a looker and I wear it proudly.

Your point absolutely nails it: buy what you like and don't worry about what anyone else thinks. I wholeheartedly agree! 💯

Hope to see you again soon at one of our next meetups!

Buy it! I can tell it makes you smile.

Homages are ok if made by the original manufacturer, or if it's a discontinued model.

A redial wouldn't bother me as long as I'm aware of that when buying.