When did copies become homages?
When did copies become homages? I'm curious, how this came about? To me a homage is a watch that makes reference to another iconic watch, inspiration or repurposing a desirable feature or design. For example a watch with Oyster case and sterile dial with sword hands but with Fifty Fathom like bezel, to me that would be a homage to Fifty Fathom and possibly vintage military dive watches.
But I'm curious how the WUS or watch community has come to accept copies like Steinhart, Invicta Pro Diver, or Tissell Explorer as being homages, when in fact they are copies. Homage would be pay respecting to the original. This is just ripping off the original design.
I understand some people don't like homages of any kind. I'm OK with a watch that combines features from others, and apply some flair of their own. But I see so many straight copies that are called homages and I don't understand it, since they are clearly not homages, they are copies.
And some people also seem to not able to understand a copy and replica are no the same thing. I"m not saying Steinhart or Davaso make Rolex replicas, but they certainly are making Rolex copies.
To me calling these watches homages is an insult to other watches that are actually homages, as it puts a watch with interesting character of their own in the same basket with these lame copies.
But I'm curious how the WUS or watch community has come to accept copies like Steinhart, Invicta Pro Diver, or Tissell Explorer as being homages, when in fact they are copies. Homage would be pay respecting to the original. This is just ripping off the original design.
I understand some people don't like homages of any kind. I'm OK with a watch that combines features from others, and apply some flair of their own. But I see so many straight copies that are called homages and I don't understand it, since they are clearly not homages, they are copies.
And some people also seem to not able to understand a copy and replica are no the same thing. I"m not saying Steinhart or Davaso make Rolex replicas, but they certainly are making Rolex copies.
To me calling these watches homages is an insult to other watches that are actually homages, as it puts a watch with interesting character of their own in the same basket with these lame copies.
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I’ve finally settled the debate (for myself).
There are design copies that blatantly take the majority of its design cues from a watch made by different manufacturer. To remain in my design copy designation, the watch must be legal to sell.
There is an homage which is created by the manufacture. It is a design copy of one of their models that was made in the past. Example: Tudor Ranger.
Then there is a design copy that also includes the branding of another brand, made for the purpose of fooling the consumer or general public. This is a counterfeit and illegal.
Some watch brands take various design cues from other brands but not enough to be considered a copy of the original design. Everyone’s tolerance is different when it comes to how much is too much. “What we’ve got here is a failure to innovate.”
There are design copies that blatantly take the majority of its design cues from a watch made by different manufacturer. To remain in my design copy designation, the watch must be legal to sell.
There is an homage which is created by the manufacture. It is a design copy of one of their models that was made in the past. Example: Tudor Ranger.
Then there is a design copy that also includes the branding of another brand, made for the purpose of fooling the consumer or general public. This is a counterfeit and illegal.
Some watch brands take various design cues from other brands but not enough to be considered a copy of the original design. Everyone’s tolerance is different when it comes to how much is too much. “What we’ve got here is a failure to innovate.”
1 - 2 of 538 Posts
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