Have you ever bought a homage to scratch the itch

I thought it would be fun to have a 100k Gardening watch...

..But the combination of wildly inaccurate timekeeping and a screw down crown seemingly lined with sandpaper makes for a truly awful watch.

I did however get a taste of the stress induced from trying to cut a rubber deployant strap to the perfect size.. I'm not sure i'd cope with taking a knife to the $700 Patek strap!

I wish i'd bought a gshock instead.

I think with homages, as discussed by the About Effing Time boys, they are contraversial, but as long as they're worn AS homages, and you're not trying to pass them off as the real thing, it can be OK. It's usually pretty obvious if you're of the high wealth persuasion or not, so trying to pass off fakes or homages as real is generally not a good look.

I haven't but I understand the appeal. I would also rather use an homage than a fake/replica watch

Never did and will not do it but don't judge people who do

I have a thing for fixed lugs. I also like countdown bezels. A watch with both is dreamy. But what I would like even better is a destro variant. Since I'm not special enough for Tudor to do a one off custom, got this and will mod it to make it like I want.

I'm not too big on homages, I've only got 21. On a serious note I think they're good watches in themselves, they just happen to look like more expensive watches. Or sometimes they even improve or change aesthetic choices made by the original design, which is refreshing.

Picked up the Pagani moonwatch last year, I'm not disappointed.

The Longines Spirit is a watch that I really like and might one day manage to save up for. And I bought a homage to see how I like it for size, etc. It was a helpful exercise as it underscored my thinking, I now have an inexpensive automatic beater in the interim, and am keener that I might one day own a Spirit.

To some extent the large majority of watches are derivative so, while I can admire a high degree of originality in designs, there are classic formulas that keep being reworked and I can’t get too upset about homage watches.

I can’t believe that a homage watch stops a customer buying a watch they truly want … unless it evidences that it’s not suitable size-wise, which is a good thing for the customer (and ultimately the brand - as you want delighted enthusiasts and advocates).

I am not aware of the large brands offering “test drives” for their watches, which I would favour before making an expensive (for me) purchase and so the homage is serving its purpose in that regard.

Long story short, yes, and homages have a place. For more exposition, see:

https://www.watchcrunch.com/JBird7986/posts/nwa-the-other-other-moonswatch-alternative-the-speedmaster-homage-by-phylida-20315

I prefer non 1:1 homages:

But generally have no problem with them. (Didn’t even know the Accurist was a speedy date homage) I got this for the Mrs, as she is fond of Starbucks, and looks good in an adventuring watch:

Personally, I don’t like Mercedes hands in general, so I have never borrowed it to wear. If I were to get a sub homage for myself (and money were no object, because even homages are not always cheap) I would be looking at no-date and pencil hands, or the Ginault Silent Service because it actually has most things I don’t like about the sub stripped out, and a lumed bezel.

Yes I have for example this Baltany as I have already too much money according to me currently on expensive watches regarding my income. I do have neo vintage breitling and Omega for over 2k each so I can compare quality. I would not be customer of a new panerai wich I found too expensive for what is. It used to be a toolwatch not anymore. And their is to much horror stories of fakes in second hand panerai that I would be ready to take a chance on one. The quality is definitely worth almost 3 time what you pay for in this baltany. It definitely scratch an itch.

I started my watch collecting journey over 10 years ago by buying an Invicta Pro Diver, which is a very close homage to a Submariner. It was total gateway drug and made me see how I enjoyed mechanical watches and wanted higher quality. So I think homage watches definitely have a place. I agree though with earlier comment that don’t try to “pretend” they are the real thing to other people. That’s where it gets weird.

Yes. It was a that or nothing choice. The real thing was hopelessly out of my range. NH35. Keeps good time.

I have. 3 in fact, San Martin and Pagani design homages to a Speedmaster, Daytona and Royal Oak. They are well made, accurate and look great. Since then, I've bought originals like a GMT Master II.

Now, I probably won't buy another homage (unless it is an in brand homage to a historical piece) as I realised I like the history and provenance more than owning a good, good looking watch. This means the intervals between buying new watches are getting increasingly bigger.

No, but I got a SBGX263 to scratch my 36mm Datejust itch.

I’ve promised myself that if I ever achieve my career grail, then I will mark the achievement with a two tone 36mm Datejust. Because that the “I’m a successful Asian” watch.

Similar dimensions, it’s kida SARBy and Datejusty at the same time. Quartz movement so if I achieve my career goals it’s not that close to a duplicate watch. Besides, 9F movements are awesome and are onlt beat by the super high end Citizen eco drives.

Too bad, I just find Citizen to the Seiko but better specced and uglier.

I’m not wearing an ugly watch no matter how good the guts are.

I do this for sure. I tend to build my own if I can. If I buy one from a 3rd party I'm not a fan of 100% copies more so something similar with a twist.

I actually gifted the Orient and some of these I'm trying to sell. But they were fun to make or mod; except for the Vaer, that one is just perfect as is.

Ha, I'll keep that in mind. Actually, while a few of my girls do indeed wear Apple Watches (or equivalent), my youngest daughter expressed a bit of interest so I'll give her an opportunity to choose among them. My son, however, was the one who introduced me to Vostok and he enjoys timepieces a bit like I do so I'll probably have a few or them go to him first. My nephew is also a watch nut so he'll get a crack at them too. Trust me, If I start to not like or want them any more, and of son, daughter or nephew pass on them, I'll have to take you up on that offer to send 'em to you!!!!!

Yeah I was looking for the ultimate dog walking/Explorer style watch - I’ve ultimately become a GShock guy…. But this is my mechanical beater. It’s a bit of a do all watch, I was gonna sell it because I don’t wear it much now but it’s worth keeping about (just incase the moment arises to wear a reasonably plain smallish mechanical watch(?)) and like I said there’s not many options at that size

I bought an homage watch on the grey market for 50€.

I've bought two steinhart. Not that model. But both are fantastic quality for the money. I wear them constantly.

Bought a Berny compressor style watch from Aliexpress. it was loosely based on the Jaeger Lecoult Polaris, but I wouldn't call it an homage as much as taking inspiration from. Crazy thing is it's my most accurate watch, running less than 1 second per day (time grapher screenshot included).

I think "homage" watches have there place and believe one should wear what looks good to them. For myself, however, would prefer a more original take on a style of watch... not a strict copy.

I'm currently wearing the black dial IXDAO gen 2 Sellita movement right now. It's a great daily beater.

I own the same watch, and from all accounts it's meant to be better than the original. I agree, it is a fantastic bit of kit

Yes, Pagani Design BB GMT, not a satisfying watch, just doesn’t feel that good. But I’ve built a couple, Sub and an Explorer. Somehow these seam better, maybe because I picked the components. (Both have NH35 movements)

I bought a San Martin (1953 Submariner) and a Seestern (Captain Willard). The former I kept for fun as it is easy to go to Mars than finding a real 1953 Sub. The latter I sold and bought the Seiko I should have bought in the first place.

Never. Not that I’m against homage watches (unless it is a 1:1 copycat.)

I’m just afraid having a homage will be a constant reminder of the itch and make it more itchy😂

I bought the San Martin submariner homage as an experiment to see if I liked divers in general. It’s an impressive little watch with great specs and gets more wrist time than I thought it would.

Yeah, sorry, my homage was a cheap lookalike. The Steinhart is definitely not cheap, and I guess that's part of the appeal - with implied quality. But it is also positioned in a very competitive price range.

There are some super cool pre-owned watches which stand up on their own in terms of heritage and design at that price point: Longines, Heuer, Oris, Doxa, Mido, Baltic, Seiko, Hamilton..

Another very important point raised above - you probably won't be able to move on an homage piece like something from a more recognized brand without losing a considerable chunk of change. If you do go homage, buy pre-owned to avoid that sting.

I agree with this wholeheartedly.

Don't buy these thinking you can pass them off as the real thing because:

1. Most importantly, you will know.

2. Anyone who knows about watches will know (and probably question your judgement!)

3. Some who don't know about watches will ask if it's real and you end up looking like your trying to fake it.

The only substitute for the watch you really want, is a different watch you really want. Go find something you can afford and be proud of in it's own right.

I don't know enough about the big boys to know what is and isn't an homage. I usually just buy what I think looks neat. If I do post a photo of one of my watches and it is an homage I wouldn't mind someone telling me though.

Yes. Nothing wrong with an homage watch. I bought the Tisell Explorer 39mm because I wasn't getting a "real" Rolex Explorer anytime soon. The Tisell is a great watch, wore the heck out of it for a couple of years before gifting it to a nephew, who loves it. Now fortunate enough to have the "real" deal on my wrist (36mm) and have no regrets about the Tisell. Have several Steinharts as well, all great watches.

Honestly never understood the fussiness over homage watches. No one, literally no one, has ever asked me if my Tisell or Steinhart or Ginault was a Rolex. And if they did, I'd happily tell them no, it's not.

I look at it this way, nobody complaining about homage blue jeans, cuz let's face it, Levi's are the original riveted denim pants (aka blue jeans). Lee, Wrangler, Carhart, Ralph Lauren, name the brand, it don't matter, it they're selling riveted denim pants/blue jeans they're selling homages. Come to think of it, no one has ever asked me if the Wrangler jeans I was wearing were Levi's either.