Are you a fan of luxury watches, but the price and waiting lists of getting them simply makes your head hurt? If so, then this article is just for you. You don’t want knock-off Chinese goods, nor do you want to spend a fortune on the original brand: then homage watches are here to the rescue.
What are homage watches? Here’s the short version: homage watches are the exact duplicates of the original high-end timepieces in terms of design and are oftenly even equipped with improved modifications, all at a budget-friendly price. Homage watches are the ideal substitutes for expensive luxury watches as they are easily accessible, have the same slick design and are very affordable.
A homage watch is by no means a fake or a replica watch. It is simply an affordable alternative to the original timepieces, oftenly with a slight twist to it. A good homage watch always comes from a manufacturer that is trying to build a brand with consistent quality and service. If they’re merely trying to copy a design, put a cheap movement in the watch and don’t care about customer service, quality control or a good reputation in general, you’re simply dealing with an unprofessional knockoff ‘brand’. That is why you need to understand the distinction between good and bad homage brands.
Almost all homage watch brands will have their manufacturing done in China, since this plays a big role in being able to create very affordable timepieces. Although they don’t always have the most reliable reputation when it comes to watch production, there are some Chinese manufacturers that have proved themselves when it comes to delivering a consistent quality.
These Chinese manufactured watches we are referring to not only exhibit the highest quality standards as we know them from manufacturers in the Western countries, but they are also extremely inexpensive in comparison.
In this article, we will take a look at the 10 best-valued homage watches that are adored by watch enthusiasts worldwide.
1: Aviation Watch Homage of Seagull 1963:
The Seagull 1963 watches have a reputable status in the community of watch enthusiasts. The Aviation watch homage of the original Seagull 1963, the way it originally was made back in the second world war, is one of the greatest homage watches ever made. With the backstory, the unique design and the ST1901 movement inside, this is a total no-brainer for every watch enthusiast. This homage watch is available in all sorts of dials, but all with an iconic red star that pays tribute to the original aviation timepiece. Other features which resemble the original classic design include the golden watch hands, the red seconds hand, and a retro texture. Thus, the Aviation watch homage of the Seagull 1963 chronograph watch provides all the aspects of the original aviation series, at a much more reasonable price, making it a must-have homage watch for collectors. We love these homage watches so much that we actually started to offer them in our webstore a while ago. Feel free to read more about the Seagull 1963 watches or to check out our collection of Seagull 1963 watches we offer.
3: Corgeut Black Bay:
This extravagant homage watch is based on the design of the Tudor Heritage Black Bay. Obviously, the original Tudor watches are expensive and not all can afford them, hence the introduction of its homage version. It comes with a Sapphire crystal glass and a reliable Japanese movement. It also offers 100M of water resistance and the design of this watch is inspired by the original sensational Tudor model. All the design specs, such as the snowflake hands of the watch, the black dial with gold accents, no crown guards, and the 41mm watch case resemble the original Tudor. The Japanese Automatic movement and the water resistance features are an additional plus for this homage watch, all at an affordable price!
3. San Martin Water Ghost:
The San Martin Water Ghost watch is the homage watch that was inspired by the classical Rolex Submariner. The Rolex Submariner is one of the models of Rolex that got famous due to the fact that Sean Connery used to wear it in the early James Bond films. This Hollywood affiliation itself adds to the price tag of the watch. Fortunately, the San Martin homage watch covers all the design features and specs of the original iconic Rolex Submariner, such as the standout crown, the Mercedes hands, the aged lume, and the 38mm watch case. Moreover, this homage timepiece is equipped with a sapphire crystal and a Seiko automatic movement which makes this homage even more unique.
4. Pagani Design Seamaster 007:
This watch is another one of the James Bond classics and is a duplicate of the Omega seamaster. We all know how costly Omega watches can be so the Pagani homage watch serves to be the most perfect substitute. This homage watch resembles the original Omega in many design aspects but the only notable difference between this homage watch and the original Omega is in the watch case. The original Omega has a titanium case whereas the Pagani homage has a stainless steel case along with 100M of water resistance, sapphire crystal, and a Seiko movement.
5. Seagull 1963 Red Army Wuxing Homage:
This epic homage watch reflects the design of the first-ever Chinese watches manufactured back in 1955. This homage watch is a reflection of the vintage style in ancient Chinese watches. The mineral glass top, the retro spring steel strap, the off-white or champagne color dial, and the symbolic red star, all resemble the design of the original classic. This homage watch is a must-have for watch lovers who are passionate about vintage watches. It falls a bit in the same space as the Seagull 1963 and you can check more about the Red army wuxing homage watch on our website!
6. Parnis Datejust:
This epic watch is a homage to the classical model of Rolex, the Datejust. The original Rolex Datejust is one of the vintage staples in the world of watchmaking and it also has a historic affiliation with Winston Churchill. The Parnis Datejust perfectly copies the original design of the Rolex classic. It maintains the simplicity and authenticity of the design by using a plain bezel. The feature which makes this homage affordable is the fact that it is equipped with a Chinese automatic movement. This watch is a great companion for those Rolex fans who are in the search of an affordable vintage watch.
7. Alpha Explorer:
Alpha Explorer is the copy of the iconic Rolex Explorer 1. The original Rolex has a very sleek vintage design and some would argue that it has a good ‘value for money’ ratio. Needless to say, the Rolex brand stamp on it comes with a price tag. The Alpha Explorer homage watch is the optimal alternative to the original Rolex. It resembles the original Rolex in terms of the 36mm watchcase design, the Mercedes hands, and the bold numerics. The difference is in the movement of this watch as this homage watch uses a Chinese Seagull automatic movement. Moreover, it is equipped with a sapphire crystal and can be purchased at a very budget-friendly price.
8. Steeldive Ploprof:
This timepiece is a homage to the Omega Ploprof watch. The Steeldive Ploprof resembles the original Omega Ploprof in many aspects such as the locking bezel, the 9 o’clock crown, the watch hands, and the watch case. Moreover, this homage watch has a 1200M of water resistance, a mesh bracelet, and a sapphire crystal which makes it a must-have for watch enthusiasts. The Steeldive Polprof has a great and reliable Seiko automatic movement, resulting in an affordable price tag.
9. Benyar Milgauss:
The Benyar Milgauss is the copy of the Rolex Milgauss, which is the only Rolex watch with a tinted crystal. The Benyar Milgauss is a really fun homage watch as it resembles the original Rolex in many design aspects, especially the color factor. For many people even with hefty budgets for their watches, this would be a very ‘fun and playful’ watch to get, but the price tag is just something that would keep them from getting this, since this wouldn’t be a ‘daily wear’ watch for most people. The homage version has the green crystal, colorful markers, and a lightning bolt hand which makes this homage watch seem fairly identical to the original Rolex Milgauss, all at an inexpensive price.
10. Heimdallr 62MAS:
This watch is a homage to the first-ever dive watch by Seiko. The original watch is no doubt very expensive which is why the Heimdallr 62MAS homage watch is the ideal alternative. This homage watch also has a vintage style and all the diver style specs. Moreover, this homage watch has a Japanese automatic movement and a domed sapphire crystal, all at a low-cost price.
This concludes our list of the top 10 best-valued homage watches. We hope you found this article helpful, feel free to share it with friends or to drop us a follow on social media if you did!