Do you find value in high quality homages?

Do we mean homage as in fake with a different logo or homage as in inspired

Define value? I think they bring value for those who want the aesthetic but are not able or willing to spend excessive money on essentially jewelry - and for those looking to try on a look before outlaying the big money for the name brand. But, do I find value in the sense of "Bang for Buck" - not really. CnC tech makes manufacturing top notch homages easier every year - and these brands have no innovation, design chops or ethos, nor brand history/cache. Homages are now almost commoditized products within the watch market - interchangeable. Hope this makes sense.

As long as it resembles almost 100% the looks of another watch we can consider it an homage.

Value = worth buying it for some reason

Would for example the mido tv big date be a homage to an aquanaut or nautilus. Similar bezel, similar case shape, similar bracelet

Mido yes. Brilliant watch has it's own take on the look. Pagani, or any number of Ali Express watches that are a label short of being replicas? no.

My definition of homage is a watch that tries to give the impression that you are wearing another one (usually more expensive). It is when you look it in more detail that you realize is another brand. So in my opinion the Mido is not an homage, it is a watch with a similar design but a personality of its own that someone might like even more.

It comes down to the sum of the parts. Good parts makes for good quality whatever it resembles.

Exactly

For some, their grail watch will always a dream that never comes true and remains unattainable. When the unattainable is 10 -15 times the price of a homage, I don’t see a problem with it. I would love an Explorer but for more than a tenth of the price I got a Stienhart. To each their own

In my opinion Mido TV follows a design trend …but definitively not an homage.

I'm too old, too poor, too cheap, and too late to pay too much for a watch. Having said all that, I'm determined to experience and enjoy interesting watches.

That's a copy. A homage is something different. Like the Christopher Ward C63 GMT.

I really like what Baltany are doing and I loved my San Martin 6200 and I don't see an issue with "replica's" of long forgotten vintage watches you can't buy.

I know that the term “homage“ is usually used in this way on WC, but this is simply not what the word means. Homage means paying respect to something (the original) and honouring it. Copying a design completely is not respectful if you ask me.

So: “homage“ = using some design elements of an existing watch (usually an icon) that you respect the design of. What you are referring to is just a copy with a different logo.

From my perspective, a Seestern S434 is certainly "worth" more than its 1/70th of the price of the GO SeaQ it homages (unattainable to me).

Homages to rare vintage watches such as the Furlan Marri Sector may be attainable grail watches themselves.

"Homage" seems to be a word uniquely adopted by the watch community as a stand-in for "design-copy".

I don't think I've seen this in any other area. Does the sneaker community talk about Nike Air Jordon 'homages'? Does the guitar world talk about Gibson Les Paul 'homages'? Does the luggage community (I'm assuming it must exist!) talk about Louis Vuitton 'homages'?

I'm sure some of this comes from the inherent snobbery in watch collecting. Most people who buy a San Martin or Pagani design but it precisely because it is a copy of a more expensive brand, but they want to somehow elevate their decision by (incorrectly) using a more-pretentious word - "Oh it's not a copy, it's an homage" - as if, somehow, this elevates the watch (and the wearer).

I've got no problem with anyone buying a design-copy watch. It's not like its a new thing, or unique to the watch world. Companies and craftsmen have been copying successful and famous designs as far back as we've been manufacturing stuff.

Just drop the aggrandizing and call it what it is: a copy of a more-famous design. There should be no shame attached to using "design-copy" as a description.