Thank you very much for your comments and for the different opinions present here in the comment section - I'm very grateful to hear all the different perspectives. However, I would like to clarify a couple of things which I perhaps wasn't too clear about. 1. I couldn't agree more with the fact that the Alpha Daytona is a poorly made watch. I own one and it is, make no mistake, cheaply produced and seriously unreliable. It isn't a good watch but is, instead, an experience akin to actually owning an older watch. 2. I have no doubt that Steinhart watches are well made. I have owned a Steinhart and, aside from an issue which was resolved under warranty, it was excellent. My criticism of the brand was not directed at the products it produces but, instead, at the fact that they haven't (in my opinion) moved with the times. It is precisely because they make a good quality watch that I wish they would be more confident to break with the easily-sold Submariner format. 3. To address criticism of the Aquastar advert, please bear in mind that, when the review was produced, no money had changed hands or had even been discussed for advertising. That was organised and negotiated with Aquastar as a result of how well received the review was, and not the other way around. I hope that these points clarify my stance.
Several watches are better than the watches they homage. Chinese brands are producing Seiko models far better than the originals at a fraction of the price. I own two Steinharts far better than the old Rolex's they homage to. Homage watches give people without pots of a money, the opportunity to experience nice watches. It's only watch snobs that have an issue with them
@@justmeeagainn I own a Rolex, a Tudor, 4 Chris Wards, a Glycine, and various micro brand watches costing between £400 and £1000. I also own the one Seiko, which is an Alpinist with ab glacier blue dial. It's gorgeous, but compared with the others I have mentioned is poor by comparison.
I seem to remember that Squale have been making dive watches for as least as, long as Rolex. Homage watches are for people who cannot afford to sponsor F1, Tennis, Yacht racing and golf etc etc. There was a time when all these "Luxury Brands" were just ordinary watches which were supplied to the military and the general public in their thousands, cheap and reliable. "Luxury brands are just smoke and mirrors with many other watch brands giving equal quality at a fraction of the price viz a viz Steinhart!!
Spot on. People also seem to forget that Rolex mass produces around a million watches each year, exclusivity is a myth and I suspect that they may be complicit in this after market hype where a $10k watch become $25k.
Squale has been making dive watches since 1950. Often lost on blog sites that fawn over the 50 fathoms is the fact that when the contract from the French government came in, Squale ghost built the first batch of 50 Fathom's for Blancpain. Blancpain didn't have the first idea about how to make a dive watch. I love the idea of snooty collectors not knowing that their uber-expensive grail watch was made by a 'pokey little skin-diving company'. Underrated brand that still make functional dive watches.
@@jacobygulsten1103 Squale make tools. Rolex make jewelry. A Prada handbag is not a substitute for a Crye Precision Backpack. Squale watches are still used by military's in Europe. Rolex's are sold to Chinese nouveau riche and "flippers" trying to make quick money on the used market.
@@jacobygulsten1103 You have no idea what you are talking about, and I'm not interested in your BS. So cut the internet tough guy routine, no one believes you. It's insulting to those who are. I've handled many Rolex's and Squale's over my years. The fact that the Rolex's use very soft stainless steel instantly rules them out for serious work, they dent and bend too easily. As I said before, Squale have contracts with several countries military's. Rolex don't, because even stupid government's know they are overpriced.
Thank you! 🙌 The additional point I'd like to make is: how likely is it that sub-£2k mechanical watches will be available in 15 years if quality affordable homages for the under 30's are not accepted by the watch community. Rolex will not go under due to AliExpress, but apple watches will be the only things on peoples wrists by then if we do not make it ok to rock an Invicta or a SanMartin. If they are not your thing, you do not have to wear them 👍
I bought an Alpha Explorer homage for about $125 (USD). It looked nice but the movement was garbage. I threw it in the rubbish and moved on. I also own a Steinhart 39 GMT and it runs perfectly with its ETA 2893-2 movement. How you can rip Steinhart and praise Alpha is incredible.
Call me crazy but I think that the Daytona situation also applies to the Submariner made popular by Sean Connery, Ref.6538. Out of all the "vintage sub homage" I have seen the best by far goes to the Chinese - San Martin SN004-G. Yes, it is made in china. Yes, it has a NH35. It redeems itself with a 38mm case size as opposed to the more modern 40-42mm, while still having modern features like sapphire crystal and a ceramic bezel insert. This is all for a price of less than $250 USD.
Chinese homage watches were made to slap us and give a reality check that the other watch industries have been ripping us off from day one. But, when you are rich, money don't matter. A 1 million dollar watch is like a 1 dollar watch.
what I found interesting is that Breitling used the Venus chronograph movement in their original 1954 Navitimer. Its kind of cool owning a current Seagull 1963 chronograph and learning more about how far back that lineage goes. Thanks for the video!
Ah, the good old days when a Rolex Daytona was “profoundly undesirable”. Great video, keep going with the bold and challenging opinions, really refreshing, thank you 🙏
I made the mistake of purchasing a steinhart, never again. Firstly the build quality was very poor for the cost and secondly the customer service was awful. I sold my ocean one titanium within a month and replaced it with a Certina such is far superior.
the Daytona was NOT a "cornerstone of the chronograph market". the ONLY reason it became popular is because of the hype DECADES LATER because it was worn by a celebrity (who didn't even choose it, but it was gifted to him by his wife, lol). as an actual chronograph watch, it's about as irrelevant as it gets
@@stewester I did some minor racing in the sports car arena in the '70s and wore a Speedmaster. By the 80's I had 3 Omega chronographs, a Heuer and an early manual wind Rolex Daytona. I liked the fact it was a Rolex and not much else. It had stainless applied markers and stainless hands on a black face (oyster subdials) and in low light levels, the hands disappeared and were hard to read. I also had developed the habit of winding the Omega unconsciously and I had to remind myself to wind the Rolex (screw-down crown). It ran down on a regular basis. There wasn't much status owning it as a Rolex either since it was a model no one recognized so I sold it. I wish I had it back now!
@@rvb8093 excellent insight! It's a real puzzle how the Daytona has become to be seen as so significant, especially in terms of historic impact, as its achievements are fairly modest.
@@stewester With better advertising and more availability, it has now become a status symbol. The only people I have known in the past 30 years who actually owned a Daytona wore it for status. (My Daytona cost more than your Datejust and is bigger). It was just a piece of jewelry. I do know a Rolex collector who owns one, but it sits in the safe and he wears a Submariner.
...can't understand why you treat steinhart with contempt only to spend at least two min of your vid to advertise an insignificant replica of a defunct (no wonder) watch brand as the aquastar
You heard who sponsored this video, right? It wasn't Steinhart... although I can appreciate the honesty disclosing that, it leaves me a little disppointed. That makes this vid not a review or opinion but just an obvious advertising.
Actually except for some unique models I am off of Seiko. Seiko has not improved their QC or specs but have significantly bumped up their prices. Many homages imitate (especially former great value for money) Seiko models as much as Rolex or Omega. Often these Seiko homages offer better QC and better specs than the Seiko. In my opinion Orient is now what Seiko used to be. As for homages of more expensive Swiss brands you will not get the return on investment or the level of finishing or even some of the higher end swiss movements but you will get the same LOOK of the watch with reliable movements and often very decent finishing with decent value for money specs - for significantly less ... especially great if the original is significantly out of reach (I'm talking having to save many many many years if not a lifetime to afford a multi-thousand dollar watch) price or availability wise.
I would argue that Steeldive is now what Seiko used to be: reliable, well executed and cheap as dirt productions suitable for kicking the living shit out of them on a tropical battlefield as much at home or in the office.
@@denisdes7 I do have two Steeldive watches and am getting a third. There are a number of Aliexpress brands that together have taken much of what Seiko used to offer; Pagani (twice my Pagani Daytona was mistaken for the real thing by Rolex wearers - in polite fairness I did explain that it was not the Rolex ... I like the look of homages but not the idea of trying to pass them off as the real thing - which is why I never get the sterile no logo dial), Parnis, Cadisen, Seagull, San Martin, Corgeut, Phylida, Steeldive/Addies etc. You could even argue for micro-brands like Helm, Zelos even Long Island Watch with Seiko designs but much better specs.
Without a doubt, GINAULT is the best hommage maker. The quality of the watches is on par with Rolex. I own two of them and they wear great! I even like them more than my rolex submariner (because it has too big lugs). Steinhart is also great! I especially like their explorer hommage. Just a stunning watch! I have to admit I even have 11 steinharts in my collection.
The idea for getting a Dayton homage which basically mimics the movement sounds interesting. Would it actually even be a better watch than an original Daytona? In terms of accuracy?
I only buy homage watches and could stare at them for hours. I'm alone in my enthusiasm, so no in-person watch people to impress. I love to do my own refinements, mix and match parts, get into the 'watch-making' aspect. Buying homages with potential isn't easy and I've learned to really appreciate details. Seems like cheap homages done well are a kind of cheat and something that shouldn't exist, but they hold my interest a long time. Through my cheap hobby, I learned I'm an Omega guy. Also learned I love Tudor a lot and have different iterations of BlackBay homages.
I own and personally prefer the Oris X1 over the Sinn or Navitimer. Dial and font size matters when rapidly glancing at your watch or looking at it through aging eyes.
Good video. I picked up an Alpha Explorer to see if I really wanted to own a Rolex Explorer. Given the sheer difficulty of getting a Rolex and the high price, I wanted to sure. As it turned out, I really do like the little Alpha. It is in no way near as nice as the Rolex,;but I am certain I will buy one for even the MSRP of $6,500, much less the grey market price. I am so glad that I did. Because, I know now that I would have regretted spending so much on a stainless steel three-hander. This is video affirms my decision. Well done.
Odd video - not sure what the point was. I used to own Rolexes. I sold them when the prices got just plain stupid, pocketed tens of thousands of dollars, AFTER replacing them with Steinharts. I don't miss them in the least and I love, LOVE the Steinharts.
The Sinn ‘Homage’ of the Breitling Navitimer comes by way of its deserved status as a genuine improvement on the original through the tribulations of economic crisis. Both watchhouses mutually benefited from the deal.Ultimately we ,the end user can now get our hands on a superior iteration of the original and in some ways the equal of its contemporary for a lot less money. As for the rest of the bunch a doubtful downward glance is all I can offer.
So…with all the snobbery removed what dive watches are true effective dive watch tools for $600-$1000? I only care about the most quality and best aesthetics which are completely subject to opinion but… with my feeling your reviews are well thought out, researched and presented, I would like to hear what you feel are great options in this price point.
I bought two homage watches on Amazon, one Omega-based and one Rolex-based, being leery of buying direct from China. Even with the Amazon premium, neither cost me over $150. They're great fun to wear and so far reliably accurate, as accurate as entry-level mechanical movements can be expected to be, anyway. I have a Laco Flieger homage inbound from China currently. In my mind, such pieces represent great value for those of us who decline to spend new car money on a watch but want to enjoy wearing a variety of watches regardless of what others might think of them. There is very pretty Quartz-driven Daytona homage I've got my eye on...
Very interesting points. Arguably most current watch productions are homages, to various degrees, of previous models. Functionality is an important litmus test of legitimacy, however, as you illustrate it eloquently with the Breitling/Sinn Navitimer example.
Squale are quite an old brand with an extremely good history of making dive watches since 1946!! They have been s supplying some top class watches to world champion free divers, diving watches to the Italian police diving unit and have a very illustrious history. To accuse that company of producing homage watches puts a question mark over your knowledge of the watch industry.
Actualy tianjin watch factory sea gull bouht the machinery and the licence from venus. It is not a clone as it wassaid here. The chinese bouht an alredy 20 year old movement that venus sold to finance the development of a new movement.
Irrespective of the homage debate, that Sinn is great. Lovely new movement. Homages not for me, but they are a very good way for you to get a feel for your preferred style and size. This can be a very expensive process otherwise!
I would be interested in a work focused on the various Submariner homages, as you noted, it is the most "homaged" (to verb a noun) watch produced. Good vid. Keep at it!
Armand, the Chinese actually bought the machinery and the richt to continue producing the Venus 175 movement, much like Sinn bought the Breitling Navitimer rights. Venus needed money for their new movement, the Venus 188. So, calling is a replica is legally wrong.
Is that a Bulova Lunar Pilot at 7:15? I have one almost like on my desk right now (I have the stainless-steel bracelet). It's not a homage, since it's made by the original manufacturer. What would you classify it as?
11:53 wasnt it so that breitling went bankrupt at that moment!? And that two companies bought the assets from bankruptcy , whereby sinn is one of them? And Ollech & Wajs bought also asset in the bankruptcy auction (you see also breitlings with their name on it).
The terminology, such as "luxury watch", "tool watch" seem so vague. I'm probably not very well informed but I was expecting words to aid in communicating ideas. As far as I'm able to discern, Sinn doesn't make tool watches any more than Breitling does. They're just at a different point on the Price-Finishing spectrum. Land Rovers are luxury vehicles and the Land Cruiser is a utility vehicle only when compared directly to each other. The Toyota looks decidedly more luxurious when you bring a Kijang into the same picture. The point I'm struggling to get at, is that all of this stuff is relative and highly contextual. A lot of it is mental mast***ation of obsessive industry insiders (and that includes the press). Design originality seems to have been a rare phenomenon in the watch space since the very first timepieces. Technical originality, even more so. All this obsession with "homages" and "in-house movements" seems ultra myopic to someone uninitiated.
Or you can buy what I'd call a pre-homage Daytona; i.e. a watch that has all the characteristics of a Daytona but pre-dates the post-2000 versions. I refer to the 90s era Zenith El Primero Rainbow. While some complain that the most recent release of the El Primero mimics the ceramic-bezel Daytona, in the 90s the reverse was the case when the Daytona used El Primero's movement, and thus its subdial layout and other physical properties, though reduced in performance from El Primero's 5 Hz to Daytona's 4 Hz.
I must admit those knob in me how many almost clicking away during the review of the alpha. Luckily my common sense prevails all the way to the end with the discussion on that Sinn that's been tempting me for years. I was not aware of the movement upgrade so I may now have to pull the trigger and just buy the damn thing.
Enjoying your unique content and delivery. Buy a Rolex, but can't wear it due to rash of assaults/robberies. Yes, right here in Beverly Hills and tony Melrose Avenue and of course worldwide. At what point does it affect prices/sales on popular models. One Rolex these day's is perhaps enough. Best, JP
If you move to a state that allows people to carry a gun you would not have to worry about being robbed for a watch. When I wear by Rolex sub or omega sea master I have never thought about being robbed ever. I wear them everywhere all the time. I have seen on news about the crime rate in CA. I also carry a 357 lol so I guess that is why I don’t worry but I have never had anyone even try to rob me. I hope it gets better for the people in CA and you can get your gun rights back so you can defend yourself from the animals trying to rob people
Really not a fan of the submariner design, so dislike Steinhart (except for the Steve McQueen Explorer) & the awful Black Bays (must be one of the few folks that much prefer the Hydronaut). Good insight on the Alpha Daytona, highlights the fact that the Rolex Paul Newman when stripped of its history is just a rough (compared to modern) old watch. Interesting topic, Cheers 👍🏻👍🏻
Watch snobs hate homage watches but they sell. And since watch companies are in business to make money rather than to placate watch snobs, the homage watches will continue.
@@Dylan-xj8tb There's nothing unethical about homage watches so ethics has nothing to do with it. That you consider them "unethical" simply proves my point. You're a watch snob.
@@DannyKaffee in any other industry this practice of blatently copying a design, throwing your name on it, and profiting would absolutely be viewed as unethical. But i guess since you use the word "homage" instead of plagiarism it becomes okay
@@Dylan-xj8tb I take it you're not a golfer? Nearly every golf company produces a putter like the Ping Anser. There are many more examples. Your statement is patently untrue.
would be interesting to hear your opinions or even a video on the controversial Ginault Ocean Rover2. Probably the best Submariner homage I have ever come across, the quality is simply astounding for the price point.
Steinhart Nav B chrono 42mm in blue is a stunning watch ..I guess its an IWC homage....but you can't say it's not beautiful....the only thing stopping me pulling the trigger is the 16mm height.... You can't speak about ugly when you bought that Crepas plo prof rip off 😉😉😂😂😂
@@limajuliett3406 to me it looks like IWC Le Petit Prince especially in the blue dial.... It's beautiful...but you can't say it's not a rip off.....that's what Steinhart do.....and they do it well...
Why show homage watches that the average person can't afford? It's like showing a knock-off of a Ferrari for 150 thousand dollars instead of 500 thousand.
I considered Rolex to be a fantastic watch. Then I noticed a couple of things. While other brands were going full speed through the bat-stew-flu Rolex uses it to prop up their price point (scarcity). Then I considered who was wearing them. Not the undersea demolition divers, not the petroleum exploration teams, not the dive officer on a training submarine. No. Ellen Degeneres and other hormone blocker meth addicted kiddy diddlers. No thanks Rolex. I hope your staff recovers from covid and other afflictions.
The apparel industry calls them jeans. Nobody calls a Calvin Klein a "blatant rip-off" of the original design by Levi Strauss and Jacob Davis. Do they?
I think they are shit. Sometimes is better to wear no watch at all. Stop pretending to be someone you are not. Rather aspire to be that person and work toward becoming it.
Thank you very much for your comments and for the different opinions present here in the comment section - I'm very grateful to hear all the different perspectives.
However, I would like to clarify a couple of things which I perhaps wasn't too clear about.
1. I couldn't agree more with the fact that the Alpha Daytona is a poorly made watch. I own one and it is, make no mistake, cheaply produced and seriously unreliable. It isn't a good watch but is, instead, an experience akin to actually owning an older watch.
2. I have no doubt that Steinhart watches are well made. I have owned a Steinhart and, aside from an issue which was resolved under warranty, it was excellent. My criticism of the brand was not directed at the products it produces but, instead, at the fact that they haven't (in my opinion) moved with the times. It is precisely because they make a good quality watch that I wish they would be more confident to break with the easily-sold Submariner format.
3. To address criticism of the Aquastar advert, please bear in mind that, when the review was produced, no money had changed hands or had even been discussed for advertising. That was organised and negotiated with Aquastar as a result of how well received the review was, and not the other way around.
I hope that these points clarify my stance.
I really liked the video and the fresh perspectives it brings.
Thanks for the video, when I saw the title I knew this was going to be controversial, love the comments
J
Several watches are better than the watches they homage. Chinese brands are producing Seiko models far better than the originals at a fraction of the price. I own two Steinharts far better than the old Rolex's they homage to. Homage watches give people without pots of a money, the opportunity to experience nice watches. It's only watch snobs that have an issue with them
You can't afford a Seiko?
@@justmeeagainn I own a Rolex, a Tudor, 4 Chris Wards, a Glycine, and various micro brand watches costing between £400 and £1000. I also own the one Seiko, which is an Alpinist with ab glacier blue dial. It's gorgeous, but compared with the others I have mentioned is poor by comparison.
I seem to remember that Squale have been making dive watches for as least as, long as Rolex. Homage watches are for people who cannot afford to sponsor F1, Tennis, Yacht racing and golf etc etc. There was a time when all these "Luxury Brands" were just ordinary watches which were supplied to the military and the general public in their thousands, cheap and reliable. "Luxury brands are just smoke and mirrors with many other watch brands giving equal quality at a fraction of the price viz a viz Steinhart!!
Spot on. People also seem to forget that Rolex mass produces around a million watches each year, exclusivity is a myth and I suspect that they may be complicit in this after market hype where a $10k watch become $25k.
Squale has been making dive watches since 1950. Often lost on blog sites that fawn over the 50 fathoms is the fact that when the contract from the French government came in, Squale ghost built the first batch of 50 Fathom's for Blancpain. Blancpain didn't have the first idea about how to make a dive watch.
I love the idea of snooty collectors not knowing that their uber-expensive grail watch was made by a 'pokey little skin-diving company'.
Underrated brand that still make functional dive watches.
@@theoriginaldylangreene Well said!
@@jacobygulsten1103 Squale make tools. Rolex make jewelry. A Prada handbag is not a substitute for a Crye Precision Backpack. Squale watches are still used by military's in Europe. Rolex's are sold to Chinese nouveau riche and "flippers" trying to make quick money on the used market.
@@jacobygulsten1103 You have no idea what you are talking about, and I'm not interested in your BS.
So cut the internet tough guy routine, no one believes you. It's insulting to those who are.
I've handled many Rolex's and Squale's over my years. The fact that the Rolex's use very soft stainless steel instantly rules them out for serious work, they dent and bend too easily. As I said before, Squale have contracts with several countries military's. Rolex don't, because even stupid government's know they are overpriced.
The seagull movement isn’t a clone my friend. The Chinese bought the rights from Venus
The only mouvement from China that I approved
not only the rights, but the tooling as well
That still makes it a clone, just not a fake. I have the movement is a Seagull 1963, and love it by the way
@@watchalot919 by that logic, then Rolex makes a clone of Aeglar movements
@@watchalot919 Sea-gull actually improved the venus movement if you care to read the history.
Thank you! 🙌 The additional point I'd like to make is: how likely is it that sub-£2k mechanical watches will be available in 15 years if quality affordable homages for the under 30's are not accepted by the watch community. Rolex will not go under due to AliExpress, but apple watches will be the only things on peoples wrists by then if we do not make it ok to rock an Invicta or a SanMartin. If they are not your thing, you do not have to wear them 👍
I bought an Alpha Explorer homage for about $125 (USD). It looked nice but the movement was garbage. I threw it in the rubbish and moved on. I also own a Steinhart 39 GMT and it runs perfectly with its ETA 2893-2 movement. How you can rip Steinhart and praise Alpha is incredible.
When Alpha first came out their watches were $35 shipped. Their quality has never gone above that price point.
Call me crazy but I think that the Daytona situation also applies to the Submariner made popular by Sean Connery, Ref.6538. Out of all the "vintage sub homage" I have seen the best by far goes to the Chinese - San Martin SN004-G. Yes, it is made in china. Yes, it has a NH35. It redeems itself with a 38mm case size as opposed to the more modern 40-42mm, while still having modern features like sapphire crystal and a ceramic bezel insert. This is all for a price of less than $250 USD.
Chinese homage watches were made to slap us and give a reality check that the other watch industries have been ripping us off from day one. But, when you are rich, money don't matter. A 1 million dollar watch is like a 1 dollar watch.
Resale value is important to remember. Rolex watches hold and increase in value
This is a fantastic exploration of the value of an homage. Thank you 😊👍
what I found interesting is that Breitling used the Venus chronograph movement in their original 1954 Navitimer. Its kind of cool owning a current Seagull 1963 chronograph and learning more about how far back that lineage goes. Thanks for the video!
Ah, the good old days when a Rolex Daytona was “profoundly undesirable”. Great video, keep going with the bold and challenging opinions, really refreshing, thank you 🙏
I made the mistake of purchasing a steinhart, never again. Firstly the build quality was very poor for the cost and secondly the customer service was awful. I sold my ocean one titanium within a month and replaced it with a Certina such is far superior.
I was expecting SteelDive.
the Daytona was NOT a "cornerstone of the chronograph market". the ONLY reason it became popular is because of the hype DECADES LATER because it was worn by a celebrity (who didn't even choose it, but it was gifted to him by his wife, lol). as an actual chronograph watch, it's about as irrelevant as it gets
Spot on. Heuer was historically the brand most commonly used for and associated with motorsport timekeeping.
@@stewester I did some minor racing in the sports car arena in the '70s and wore a Speedmaster. By the 80's I had 3 Omega chronographs, a Heuer and an early manual wind Rolex Daytona. I liked the fact it was a Rolex and not much else. It had stainless applied markers and stainless hands on a black face (oyster subdials) and in low light levels, the hands disappeared and were hard to read. I also had developed the habit of winding the Omega unconsciously and I had to remind myself to wind the Rolex (screw-down crown). It ran down on a regular basis. There wasn't much status owning it as a Rolex either since it was a model no one recognized so I sold it. I wish I had it back now!
@@rvb8093 excellent insight! It's a real puzzle how the Daytona has become to be seen as so significant, especially in terms of historic impact, as its achievements are fairly modest.
@@stewester With better advertising and more availability, it has now become a status symbol. The only people I have known in the past 30 years who actually owned a Daytona wore it for status. (My Daytona cost more than your Datejust and is bigger). It was just a piece of jewelry. I do know a Rolex collector who owns one, but it sits in the safe and he wears a Submariner.
Very interesting topic. I have absolutely no choice but to purchase homages of certain watches and I'm sure I won't be alone.
...can't understand why you treat steinhart with contempt only to spend at least two min of your vid to advertise an insignificant replica of a defunct (no wonder) watch brand as the aquastar
You heard who sponsored this video, right? It wasn't Steinhart... although I can appreciate the honesty disclosing that, it leaves me a little disppointed. That makes this vid not a review or opinion but just an obvious advertising.
San Martin did very influential job with SN004G 6200 watch. That was a giant boom for the homage divers.
HEIMDALLR MONSTER!!!!!!
Actually except for some unique models I am off of Seiko. Seiko has not improved their QC or specs but have significantly bumped up their prices. Many homages imitate (especially former great value for money) Seiko models as much as Rolex or Omega. Often these Seiko homages offer better QC and better specs than the Seiko.
In my opinion Orient is now what Seiko used to be.
As for homages of more expensive Swiss brands you will not get the return on investment or the level of finishing or even some of the higher end swiss movements but you will get the same LOOK of the watch with reliable movements and often very decent finishing with decent value for money specs - for significantly less ... especially great if the original is significantly out of reach (I'm talking having to save many many many years if not a lifetime to afford a multi-thousand dollar watch) price or availability wise.
I would argue that Steeldive is now what Seiko used to be: reliable, well executed and cheap as dirt productions suitable for kicking the living shit out of them on a tropical battlefield as much at home or in the office.
@@denisdes7 I do have two Steeldive watches and am getting a third. There are a number of Aliexpress brands that together have taken much of what Seiko used to offer; Pagani (twice my Pagani Daytona was mistaken for the real thing by Rolex wearers - in polite fairness I did explain that it was not the Rolex ... I like the look of homages but not the idea of trying to pass them off as the real thing - which is why I never get the sterile no logo dial), Parnis, Cadisen, Seagull, San Martin, Corgeut, Phylida, Steeldive/Addies etc. You could even argue for micro-brands like Helm, Zelos even Long Island Watch with Seiko designs but much better specs.
Tudor is the best homage IMHO. Cheers...
No I think Rolex is definitely the best homage !
How about Moser's homage to the Apple Watch?
Without a doubt, GINAULT is the best hommage maker. The quality of the watches is on par with Rolex. I own two of them and they wear great! I even like them more than my rolex submariner (because it has too big lugs).
Steinhart is also great! I especially like their explorer hommage. Just a stunning watch! I have to admit I even have 11 steinharts in my collection.
The idea for getting a Dayton homage which basically mimics the movement sounds interesting. Would it actually even be a better watch than an original Daytona? In terms of accuracy?
What do others think of San Martins homage to the Tudor Black Bay?
i think they should have used aluminium and not ceramic on that particular model. that's my only critique of the watch.
I like the Steinhart Rolex Explorer 1971.
Should have mentioned how omega speedmaster was not a. Original design
I only buy homage watches and could stare at them for hours.
I'm alone in my enthusiasm, so no in-person watch people to impress. I love to do my own refinements, mix and match parts, get into the 'watch-making' aspect.
Buying homages with potential isn't easy and I've learned to really appreciate details.
Seems like cheap homages done well are a kind of cheat and something that shouldn't exist, but they hold my interest a long time.
Through my cheap hobby, I learned I'm an Omega guy.
Also learned I love Tudor a lot and have different iterations of BlackBay homages.
I own and personally prefer the Oris X1 over the Sinn or Navitimer. Dial and font size matters when rapidly glancing at your watch or looking at it through aging eyes.
Good video. I picked up an Alpha Explorer to see if I really wanted to own a Rolex Explorer. Given the sheer difficulty of getting a Rolex and the high price, I wanted to sure. As it turned out, I really do like the little Alpha. It is in no way near as nice as the Rolex,;but I am certain I will buy one for even the MSRP of $6,500, much less the grey market price. I am so glad that I did. Because, I know now that I would have regretted spending so much on a stainless steel three-hander. This is video affirms my decision. Well done.
Odd video - not sure what the point was. I used to own Rolexes. I sold them when the prices got just plain stupid, pocketed tens of thousands of dollars, AFTER replacing them with Steinharts. I don't miss them in the least and I love, LOVE the Steinharts.
The Sinn ‘Homage’ of the Breitling Navitimer comes by way of its deserved status as a genuine improvement on the original through the tribulations of economic crisis. Both watchhouses mutually benefited from the deal.Ultimately we ,the end user can now get our hands on a superior iteration of the original and in some ways the equal of its contemporary for a lot less money. As for the rest of the bunch a doubtful downward glance is all I can offer.
So…with all the snobbery removed what dive watches are true effective dive watch tools for $600-$1000? I only care about the most quality and best aesthetics which are completely subject to opinion but… with my feeling your reviews are well thought out, researched and presented, I would like to hear what you feel are great options in this price point.
I bought two homage watches on Amazon, one Omega-based and one Rolex-based, being leery of buying direct from China. Even with the Amazon premium, neither cost me over $150. They're great fun to wear and so far reliably accurate, as accurate as entry-level mechanical movements can be expected to be, anyway. I have a Laco Flieger homage inbound from China currently. In my mind, such pieces represent great value for those of us who decline to spend new car money on a watch but want to enjoy wearing a variety of watches regardless of what others might think of them. There is very pretty Quartz-driven Daytona homage I've got my eye on...
yes sir you are TRUE👍👍👍 why buy a watch so expensive while there are so many watches out there that worth your money practically 😁😁😁👍👍👍
What about Yema? Homage as well or just bringing back some of their timeless/classic designs?
Very interesting points. Arguably most current watch productions are homages, to various degrees, of previous models. Functionality is an important litmus test of legitimacy, however, as you illustrate it eloquently with the Breitling/Sinn Navitimer example.
Squale are quite an old brand with an extremely good history of making dive watches since 1946!! They have been s supplying some top class watches to world champion free divers, diving watches to the Italian police diving unit and have a very illustrious history. To accuse that company of producing homage watches puts a question mark over your knowledge of the watch industry.
Can someone please tell me what watch is at 1:35 it only shows a side profile. Thank you!
Good ballzy video!
Hope this is a new direction.
In many cases, calling watches homages would be like calling most touch screen cell phones iPhone homages.
Another excellent video. I'd be interested to hear your take on the Seagull movement and how it compares to the Venus movement of old.
Actualy tianjin watch factory sea gull bouht the machinery and the licence from venus. It is not a clone as it wassaid here. The chinese bouht an alredy 20 year old movement that venus sold to finance the development of a new movement.
That silver alpha Daytona looked so nice
Irrespective of the homage debate, that Sinn is great. Lovely new movement. Homages not for me, but they are a very good way for you to get a feel for your preferred style and size. This can be a very expensive process otherwise!
I would be interested in a work focused on the various Submariner homages, as you noted, it is the most "homaged" (to verb a noun) watch produced. Good vid. Keep at it!
Armand, the Chinese actually bought the machinery and the richt to continue producing the Venus 175 movement, much like Sinn bought the Breitling Navitimer rights. Venus needed money for their new movement, the Venus 188. So, calling is a replica is legally wrong.
Interesting content. Regards.
Is that a Bulova Lunar Pilot at 7:15? I have one almost like on my desk right now (I have the stainless-steel bracelet). It's not a homage, since it's made by the original manufacturer. What would you classify it as?
11:53 wasnt it so that breitling went bankrupt at that moment!?
And that two companies bought the assets from bankruptcy , whereby sinn is one of them? And Ollech & Wajs bought also asset in the bankruptcy auction (you see also breitlings with their name on it).
The terminology, such as "luxury watch", "tool watch" seem so vague. I'm probably not very well informed but I was expecting words to aid in communicating ideas.
As far as I'm able to discern, Sinn doesn't make tool watches any more than Breitling does. They're just at a different point on the Price-Finishing spectrum.
Land Rovers are luxury vehicles and the Land Cruiser is a utility vehicle only when compared directly to each other. The Toyota looks decidedly more luxurious when you bring a Kijang into the same picture.
The point I'm struggling to get at, is that all of this stuff is relative and highly contextual. A lot of it is mental mast***ation of obsessive industry insiders (and that includes the press). Design originality seems to have been a rare phenomenon in the watch space since the very first timepieces. Technical originality, even more so. All this obsession with "homages" and "in-house movements" seems ultra myopic to someone uninitiated.
Or you can buy what I'd call a pre-homage Daytona; i.e. a watch that has all the characteristics of a Daytona but pre-dates the post-2000 versions. I refer to the 90s era Zenith El Primero Rainbow. While some complain that the most recent release of the El Primero mimics the ceramic-bezel Daytona, in the 90s the reverse was the case when the Daytona used El Primero's movement, and thus its subdial layout and other physical properties, though reduced in performance from El Primero's 5 Hz to Daytona's 4 Hz.
I must admit those knob in me how many almost clicking away during the review of the alpha. Luckily my common sense prevails all the way to the end with the discussion on that Sinn that's been tempting me for years. I was not aware of the movement upgrade so I may now have to pull the trigger and just buy the damn thing.
11:30 Can confirm, just don't ask me how.
But in all seriousness, great video, even if I am about half a year late in having seen it.
Great stuff keep up the good work thxs vivre les homage !
Excellent , clear and concise. Oh and very informative.
Enjoying your unique content and delivery. Buy a Rolex, but can't wear it due to rash of
assaults/robberies. Yes, right here in Beverly Hills and tony Melrose Avenue and of
course worldwide. At what point does it affect prices/sales on popular models. One Rolex these day's is perhaps enough. Best, JP
If you move to a state that allows people to carry a gun you would not have to worry about being robbed for a watch. When I wear by Rolex sub or omega sea master I have never thought about being robbed ever. I wear them everywhere all the time. I have seen on news about the crime rate in CA. I also carry a 357 lol so I guess that is why I don’t worry but I have never had anyone even try to rob me. I hope it gets better for the people in CA and you can get your gun rights back so you can defend yourself from the animals trying to rob people
Great video. Congratulations!
Very good one, many tnx
Astute take on this. Bravo.
Really not a fan of the submariner design, so dislike Steinhart (except for the Steve McQueen Explorer) & the awful Black Bays (must be one of the few folks that much prefer the Hydronaut). Good insight on the Alpha Daytona, highlights the fact that the Rolex Paul Newman when stripped of its history is just a rough (compared to modern) old watch.
Interesting topic, Cheers 👍🏻👍🏻
Watch snobs hate homage watches but they sell. And since watch companies are in business to make money rather than to placate watch snobs, the homage watches will continue.
people with ethics are snobs? Weird
@@Dylan-xj8tb There's nothing unethical about homage watches so ethics has nothing to do with it. That you consider them "unethical" simply proves my point. You're a watch snob.
@@DannyKaffee in any other industry this practice of blatently copying a design, throwing your name on it, and profiting would absolutely be viewed as unethical. But i guess since you use the word "homage" instead of plagiarism it becomes okay
@@Dylan-xj8tb I take it you're not a golfer? Nearly every golf company produces a putter like the Ping Anser. There are many more examples. Your statement is patently untrue.
Are you going to argue that Rolex is an "ethical" company? As a "nonprofit", where do their "profits" go?
That was a dope video!
Earnt my subscription.
Too many adds
would be interesting to hear your opinions or even a video on the controversial Ginault Ocean Rover2. Probably the best Submariner homage I have ever come across, the quality is simply astounding for the price point.
Steinhart Nav B chrono 42mm in blue is a stunning watch ..I guess its an IWC homage....but you can't say it's not beautiful....the only thing stopping me pulling the trigger is the 16mm height....
You can't speak about ugly when you bought that Crepas plo prof rip off 😉😉😂😂😂
Not an IWC ripoff but a german flieger style watch
@@limajuliett3406 to me it looks like IWC Le Petit Prince especially in the blue dial....
It's beautiful...but you can't say it's not a rip off.....that's what Steinhart do.....and they do it well...
Why show homage watches that the average person can't afford? It's like showing a knock-off of a Ferrari for 150 thousand dollars instead of 500 thousand.
I considered Rolex to be a fantastic watch. Then I noticed a couple of things. While other brands were going full speed through the bat-stew-flu Rolex uses it to prop up their price point (scarcity). Then I considered who was wearing them. Not the undersea demolition divers, not the petroleum exploration teams, not the dive officer on a training submarine. No. Ellen Degeneres and other hormone blocker meth addicted kiddy diddlers. No thanks Rolex. I hope your staff recovers from covid and other afflictions.
Homage = COPY 😅
Your tyres are a copy of Goodyear 😅
The watch industry is the only industry that will call blatent ripoffs a fancy word to make it seem less unethical and shitty
Fragrances call them clones.
Drug companies call them generics.
@@karlsenula9495 idk anything about fragrances but it sounds like they should stop calling them clones and start calling it theft
The apparel industry calls them jeans. Nobody calls a Calvin Klein a "blatant rip-off" of the original design by Levi Strauss and Jacob Davis. Do they?
@@SheshankReddyS I should've cheated my way through school and told the professors i was just giving homage to everyone else's work.
I think they are shit. Sometimes is better to wear no watch at all. Stop pretending to be someone you are not. Rather aspire to be that person and work toward becoming it.
You are completely out of your depth and have no clue of what’s going on