Surprising Allure
How do I classify this piece?
Is it an homage? I'm not sure a 1:1 copy is an homage. They even included the dumb little gem in the crown.
If I search with Google lens, Google tells me it's a Santos hahaha. Should I call it copy maybe?
And homage generally has at least a small twist. Something a little different. This is almost a straight up replica. Well... On second thought, it does have one small twist. It has a Seiko logo of sorts. Though I'm pretty confident that Seiko didn't have anything to do with this watch, it's name is proudly displayed across the dial.
Is it a counterfeit? And if it's a counterfeit, is it a Seiko counterfeit, or a Cartier counterfeit?
I ordered this watch on a whim. I wrote a post recently about the rise of angular watches. I felt like angular watches were becoming more popular again. Like we are on the precipice of a trend. I wanted to check out a more angular watch. But not just any angular watch, one that I might enjoy. So, on a whim, I bought this. I would have bought a genuine Santos if I had an extra $7K laying around. But a Cartier is not in my future. Well, unless I become YouTube famous and companies are giving me pieces for endorsements. On a side note, how do you start a YouTube channel? Ahhh never mind, back to the thoughts at hand. At $100USD it didn't feel like there was much risk. To be honest, my expectations were low. I figured I'd wear it a few times, have a few laughs, and give it away.
That's where my problem begins. I love this watch!
It's build quality is as good as any watch I own. The bracelet is better than most of the watches I own.
The links are small, like half links, so I get a great fit.
It's got a thick milled clasp.
It goes with anything. It's NH35 is running at about -3 sec/day. And it's super comfortable. On the downside, the crown sucks. It's hard to grip. It's hard to pull out. I usually end up fumbling around with it for several minutes. But it's not enough to stop me from wearing it.
I usually wear a different watch every day. At last count I had about 15 watches. So I pick one out each morning, fairly randomly, whatever speaks to me. I usually rotate through all or most of them, then start again. And I generally do it without a desire to repeat a watch before I've rotated through them. But I find myself drawn to this Faux Santos (Fantos?) a couple of times a week. I don't know what it is. I have much more expensive watches, and they don't come with the guilt of wearing a replica lol. I can't explain it. I should be embarrassed or ashamed. But I'm not.
Eh... whatever I guess. My wrist my rules. But you can probably expect to see it fairly regularly on WRUW.
What do you think? Do you love it? Do you hate it?
Should I feel guilty about stolen IP?
Have you ever been caught by surprise, and liked something you didn't expect?
I'd love to hear your thoughts.
Edit/Update:
Classification - Abomination
Thank you @skyblue
Just a watch dumi hoping to learn stuff
Beautiful!
I ordered a clomage Santos medium for my wife. Because I think all Cartiers look absolutely stunning on women's wrists. Unfortunately, my wife's favorite watch is her Daniel Wellington homage, and she won't wear the Grand Seiko SBGW289 I got for her, so a Santos clomage is the best I can hope for.
And, based on how awesome it looks, I went ahead and ordered 2 Specht & Sohne Aviator clomages for myself - the green dial and the blue dial! Can't wait for them to arrive!!!
Beautiful!
I ordered a clomage Santos medium for my wife. Because I think all Cartiers look absolutely stunning on women's wrists. Unfortunately, my wife's favorite watch is her Daniel Wellington homage, and she won't wear the Grand Seiko SBGW289 I got for her, so a Santos clomage is the best I can hope for.
And, based on how awesome it looks, I went ahead and ordered 2 Specht & Sohne Aviator clomages for myself - the green dial and the blue dial! Can't wait for them to arrive!!!
Hahaha! She has a GS but prefers her homage watch. That's awesome. I like this Fantos but I'll trade her for the GS any time lol.
Enjoy those clomages!
I mean it a homage but who the **** cares?! It looks cool wear it man.
I mean it a homage but who the **** cares?! It looks cool wear it man.
I hear you! And I agree. I like so I'm sweating it.
Not sure what it is.
Not a Cartier.
Not a Seiko.
Not for me.
It's called a cabachon.
I'd be mortified that someone I meet who's wearing a genuine Santos while I had that abomination on my wrist would think that I didn't even have enough imagination to pick a pick a watch that was just as interesting and instead chose a complete ripoff.
I'd be mortified that someone I meet who's wearing a genuine Santos while I had that abomination on my wrist would think that I didn't even have enough imagination to pick a pick a watch that was just as interesting and instead chose a complete ripoff.
That's fair. I think a lot of people would agree with you.
Oddly enough, I see a guy at work about 3 times a week, who wears a genuine Santos. And he's always happy to show me all the reasons his watch is nicer than mine.
Not sure what it is.
Not a Cartier.
Not a Seiko.
Not for me.
It's called a cabachon.
You lost me....
cabachon?
You know, typically, I try to ignore threads and comments where people dunk on homages and clomages. Because, I try to stay really positive and don't like to start flame wars. But, man, I grew up really poor - a first generation immigrant, from a family that had everything they owned confiscated from them and nearly starved to death in Mao's Great Leap Forward - and the kind of elitism that I experienced growing up when my family was penniless, apparently, still really grates on me.
Nowadays, I'm EFF'ing rich. I mean, I got money ebola - it's coming out of every orifice. And, still, I LOVE homages and clomages, and here's what I have said and always will say to all the folks who dunk on people who buy homages and clomages...
Dude, I love your "Feiko / Seintos." It's beautiful. And you should ignore the haters.
I’ve been looking for a square dress watch myself. Missed out on this absolute gem on eBay.
You know, typically, I try to ignore threads and comments where people dunk on homages and clomages. Because, I try to stay really positive and don't like to start flame wars. But, man, I grew up really poor - a first generation immigrant, from a family that had everything they owned confiscated from them and nearly starved to death in Mao's Great Leap Forward - and the kind of elitism that I experienced growing up when my family was penniless, apparently, still really grates on me.
Nowadays, I'm EFF'ing rich. I mean, I got money ebola - it's coming out of every orifice. And, still, I LOVE homages and clomages, and here's what I have said and always will say to all the folks who dunk on people who buy homages and clomages...
Dude, I love your "Feiko / Seintos." It's beautiful. And you should ignore the haters.
Wow! That was a super well thought out and passionate comment. Excellent points.
I'm okay with the haters. They are allowed their opinion just as much as I am. I'm not hiding from them or changing my behavior for them. But I'm okay with them having a different opinion.
Although it's hard to argue with logic like that. Feel free to drop in on any of my posts.
I’ve been looking for a square dress watch myself. Missed out on this absolute gem on eBay.
That a fantastic find! Sucks you missed out. Just keep at it. Determination trumps everything.
That's really sharp! I'd wear that all the time
That's really sharp! I'd wear that all the time
Thank you! I'll let you borrow it sometime. Maybe when you have an import job interview or a friends wedding. 😜
I guess it's a counterfeit of both brands technically speaking. Seiko never produced this exact dial so it's a Cartier "copy" with a random Seiko branding on it.
But no matter. It looks great and you seem to enjoy it, so it sounds like a good value watch and a worthy purchase that brings enjoyment. 👏
Not sure what it is.
Not a Cartier.
Not a Seiko.
Not for me.
It's called a cabachon.
It's actually called a cabOchon. You gotta study your snob 101 lesson better. 😉
Yes "abomination" is appropriate
But if you like it, wear it.
Life's too short!
Id call it the "Funtos"
I like to think of them as “Cover Versions”!
It's actually called a cabOchon. You gotta study your snob 101 lesson better. 😉
I think I'm going to need to visit Google again LOL
Yes "abomination" is appropriate
But if you like it, wear it.
Life's too short!
Id call it the "Funtos"
Funtos is awesome! That's totally what I'm going to call it.
I like to think of them as “Cover Versions”!
Like the local bar band doing your favorite Zeppelin song. It's not likely to be nearly as good but your probably going to sing along and have a good time.
Great thought. I like it!
Beautiful!
I ordered a clomage Santos medium for my wife. Because I think all Cartiers look absolutely stunning on women's wrists. Unfortunately, my wife's favorite watch is her Daniel Wellington homage, and she won't wear the Grand Seiko SBGW289 I got for her, so a Santos clomage is the best I can hope for.
And, based on how awesome it looks, I went ahead and ordered 2 Specht & Sohne Aviator clomages for myself - the green dial and the blue dial! Can't wait for them to arrive!!!
I ordered the Specht & Sohne green Santos homage last week! It has the Miyota 8215. I also have their Speedy homage on the way too.
I ordered the Specht & Sohne green Santos homage last week! It has the Miyota 8215. I also have their Speedy homage on the way too.
We can be twinsies!
I love the Santos, and your Seiko mod is cool!
It certainly takes the sting out of wearing a replica as it’s not posing as one. Sure we can recognize what it is but, this grey area we are in today has layers to it, and different shades of grey.
It’s a passionate discussion for most, for me … I don’t care it looks good you like it that’s all that matters.
Enjoy in good health!🤝