- What is an homage watch? Explore the definition, legal aspects, pros and cons, and why homage watches are becoming popular among US and UK buyers.
When it comes to Homage watches, there has been a split opinion in the world of horology. Some people think that the designs for homage watches celebrate designs, and others think that they are merely cheap copies. If you have liked the designs of watches like the Rolex Submariner and the Omega Speedmaster, but have also noticed how expensive they are, then you have used homage watches as an alternative to them. But what exactly are homage watches, and are they ok to wear?
This article will explain everything about what you should know about homage watches, including the legal stuff and the reasons that have more and more people, even collectors, wearing them.
What is an Homage Watch?
An homage watch is a tribute to an iconic watch design. It uses some of the same aesthetic design elements, but still has it’s own identity. These watches celebrate iconic watch designs but do not try to deceive consumers about what they are. These are not counterfeit watches.
You should think of homage watches as a way to pay respect to some of the classics of horology. They capture the spirit of the design, whether it be the elegant proportions of a dress watch, the distinctive bezel of a dive watch, or the functional complications of a GMT, while being completely honest about their design.
Key characteristics of homage watches:
- Posses their own branding on the dial
- Have a comparable design language to iconic watches
- Provide similar functionality for a lower price
- Employ good quality materials and movements
- Never try to mislead and pose as the original
Famous examples consist of diving watches inspired by the design of the Rolex Submariner, field watches reminiscent of the vintage military look, and GMT watches that capture the travel time style without directly reproducing the designs.
Homage vs Replica Watches: Knowing the Fundamental Differences
This is of utmost importance to buyers of homage watches. Blurring the two categories can result in a minefield of legal troubles, unethical issues, and potential buyer remorse.
Homage Watches:
- Display the actual brand name of the manufacturer
- Claim inspiration from watch brands but have their own unique twist
- Legally made and sold
- Marketed legally as tribute pieces
- Quality and value focus
Replica Watches:
- Illegally display fake luxury brand names and logos
- Attempt to trick customers into buying
- Illegal to produce, sell, or distribute in most countries
- Made with cheap materials and bad watch movements
- Breach of intellectual and trademark laws
The main difference is in the intent and transparency. Homage watches, in celebration of their design, honor replicated watches. Replica watches are all about deception and counterfeiting.
Homage vs. Fake Watches: The Importance of Legality
There is a lot of confusion with the terms “fake” and “replica” that most people tend to use interchangeably, but in the case of homage watches, it is necessary to distinguish what is what.
Fake or counterfeit watches include:
- Unsanctioned logos or trademarks of high-end watches
- Breaching the jurisdiction of intellectual property
- Creating revenue streams for organized crime
- Confiscated by customs
- Buyers may be prosecuted in some countries
Watch replicas, also known as homage watches, are perfectly legal because they:
- Do not violate the jurisdiction of intellectual property
- Abide by design patents if they are applicable
- Comply with the law and the legal system
- Are sold at authorized retailers
The law gives homage watches the right to sell these watches because you cannot copyright the copyrightable elements of a design in the aesthetic realm, and specific elements such as logos, brand names, and patents, or even certain watch faces or cases, and their shapes are not typically copyright protected.
Are Homage Watches Legally Defendable?
Yes, homage watches are legally defendable, and it deserves emphasizing because a lack of clarity on this point causes a lot of otherwise quality watches to go unconsidered.
Watch design, like many other disciplines such as fashion design, car design, and architecture, is an area where homage and inspiration from existing designs are commonplace, and as long as companies use their creativity to design watches without infringing on trademarks or patents, they are free to do so.
Legal protection for luxury brands covers:
- Brand names and logos
- Movements and complications (when patented)
- Design elements that receive protection through trademarks
Legal protections do not include:
- Overall aesthetics and proportions
- Moveable windows, rotating bezels, and other common watch complications
- Standard case dimensions and geometry
- Typical color palettes and arrangements of the watch dial
The major homage watch brands operate legally, pay taxes, honor warranties, and are otherwise completely legitimate watch manufacturers. They are not in a legal gray area. They are providing a different-priced solution to the market.
Affordable Luxury Watch Alternatives: The Value Proposition
The value that homage watches provide to consumers is perhaps the most important reason for the popularity of these watches. They bring iconic designs to a much larger audience.
Price comparison examples:
- Rolex Submariner: $9,000-$40,000+
- Quality dive watch homage: $200-$800
- Omega Speedmaster: $6,000-$10,000+
- Chronograph homage: $300-$1,200
The significant difference in price does not always suggest a proportionally equivalent difference in quality. Many homage watches provide
Dependable automatic movements by well-known manufacturers such as Seiko, Miyota, or Sellita, and that offer great performance and durability
Excellent construction materials including sapphire watch crystals, stainless steel cases, and high-quality ceramic bezels. These materials also are found in true luxury watches.
Great water resistance! Many of these watches reach 200m, makin’ em some legit tool watches.
Great solid build quality! Watches like these are utilized with brushed surfaces, applied indices, aligned bezels, etc.
Many buyers go for these watches for their great value at the cost of designer watches. Homage watches capture the value of technical watch craftsmanship as opposed to their designer counterparts which are also great and super overpriced.
Worthy Luxury Watch Homage Brands
The homage watch market has grown quite a bit from it’s earlier days and now has a bunch of great quality and design brands.
You’ve probably heard of these brands!
Steinhart swim watches like the Ocean One are awesome quality, easy to wear, and super adjustable! They do a great job balancing quality and material.
Squale are completing their dive watches with classically inspired designs.
Glycine provides true, high quality Swiss design and manufacture vintage inspired watches, with the Airman GMT series providing great quality luxury price GMT travel watches.
Christopher Ward holds true to great British quality with clear pricing and great value quality. They have their own in house movements which is a great deal that provides better quality. They also offer great Modern updates which is very refreshing, thank you!
Microbrands and Homage Watches
Microbrands are smaller scale manufacturers who have also created homage pieces:
Lorier watches are vintage inspired and made with a lot of period correct detail and made with vintage inspired pricing.
Baltic makes value watches that are french mid-centurt style with modern dependability.
Zelos designs with new and innovative modern materials with classic designs for dive and field watches.
San Martin makes high specifications watches for pocket change, especially prominent with dive watch homages.
These microbrands typically have direct to consumer models that cut out all the retail markups, giving way better value.
Motivation for The Purchase of Homage Watches
To appreciate the popularity of modern homage watches, we need to understand the essential truths surrounding the modern day watch collector.
The best financial sense is evident. There are not a lot of people that will spend 10k plus on a wrist accessory, regardless of its panache or glory.
The genuine love for watch aesthetics is the most prominent factor driving the buying of such watches. The buyers appreciate the designs, and want to be able to wear and enjoy the pieces without the worry of being a victim of theft, or the watch being damaged or the value of it diminishing.
Most new collectors in the watch niche start with homages, as it is most approachable. Many enthusiasts begin with cheap homages before crossing the line into buying opulent originals, and the process helps to identify the watchers own tastes.
You can wear homage watches while hiking, swimming, and traveling, or while at work – without the worry of wearing an expensive brand watch – actually, these watches fit perfectly with the look of Practical daily wear.
When watches cost hundreds instead of thousands, Collecting variety becomes possible. Watch lovers can buy different designs, colors, and mechanisms without going bankrupt.
Quality for value is one of the basic reasons why people buy homage watches. For people who appreciate the mechanics, construction, and design of watches, H. watches give them value. Well-designed homage watches perform better than designer brands that cost the same or are even more expensive.
Some buyers value craftsmanship, and dislike what they perceive as a hyper-inflated brand premium that is not justified by the effort put into the watch.
Responding to the Critics of Homage Watches
Homage watches are not for everyone and there is a counter to almost every argument made for the watches.
Lack of originality is the most common critique. Critics claim homage producers choose to take the easy route by redesigning watches rather than showing creativity and inventing their own designs.
Some enthusiasts believe that homage watches diminish the created aesthetic of the original art.
Brand confusion is another risk, as casual observers could mistake an homage watch for the real deal and this could cause some embarrassing situations.
It’s a shame that buyers have consistently proven that they prefer duplicates to originals. This causes many critics to say that market segmentation causes brands to disincentivize creating original designs.
As far as quality issues go, yes. Lower-end copies can offer inadequate quality and can lead to a lingering unfair reputation for the whole category.
A schism has appeared in the collector community, as some enthusiasts find copies to be a perfectly valid option, while others believe they should be completely disregarded.
Because the copyright watch category understatement watch category has a focus on and draws the lack of original design support.
Should You Buy an Homage Watch?
This question essentially boils down to your value system, preferences, and timepiece needs.
Homage watches are a good option for people who value:
- Several different types of quality mechanical watches for a lower price.
- A good daily watch that won’t stress them out when it gets damaged.
- A decent watch collection without spending a ton of money.
- Quality and functionality over the name of the watch brand.
- Watch collecting as a hobby before moving on to more expensive watches.
- Access to memorable iconic designs with a watch.
You may want to think about different options if you value:
- Names and reputations.
- The opportunity to resell or invest in the watch.
- Original usage of concepts and ideas.
- The originals that you admire.
- Ethical design concerns.
- Craftsmanship that uses better materials and techniques.
- Design that has exclusive and limited circulation.
No watch collecting philosophy is objectively true or valid more than any other. What is important are the watches you like to own and wear.
Conclusion: You enjoyment is what matters.
The answer to the question, ‘‘is it okay to wear homage watches?” is a solid yes. You can feel good about the choice as long as you decide carefully what homage watches you want to buy.
Homage watches are of good quality, legal, and provide value to consumers who appreciate watches, but cannot spend thousands on timepieces. They provide an entry point to those interested in mechanical watches, and provide good value watches that can be used on a daily basis.
Be careful when differentiating between encompassing homage, replica, and counterfeit watches. Do not buy a fake watch that has an illicit luxury brand name on it — it is illegal and unethical, and you would be funding a crime.
Your choice between an homage watch and an original is a reflection of your own values, priorities, and economic means. Some collectors enjoy having luxury originals and homage timepieces. Others use a more exclusive approach, and they are just as right as anyone else is.
What is important is that you have watches that you truly love, you know what you are buying, and you are making wise purchases that fit your financial situation. The watch community has room for people who love investing in luxury originals, as well as those who enjoy homage timepieces.
Talk about Homage Watches
As new brands come out, the conversation for homage watches is continuously changing. What is your opinion? Have you owned homage watches? Do you see them as legitimate alternatives or problematic copies? The watch community thrives on constructive criticism, so feel free to leave your opinion below.
Have you thought about buying your first homage watch, or have you been collecting for years? Regardless of your answer, your opinion is valuable to the many conversations on a watch’s design, value, and worth.