I have a new watch video up on YouTube (it’s also on TikTok). This time I talk about my collection of Chinese homage wristwatches, watches that pay tribute to well-known and expensive timepieces from the likes of Rolex and Omega. Pay tribute how? By borrowing design elements from them, sometimes to the point of being almost identical … stopping short, however, of being replicas or fakes. My Rolex lookalikes don’t say “Rolex” on their dials … that would be wrong.
Why am I into homages? Living on a retirement income and late to the watch collecting hobby, there’s simply no way I’ll ever be able to afford any of my grail watches. No Rolex Submariner for me, no Omega Speedmaster, not even a Tudor Black Bay. But I can afford watches that look like those, and as you can see I have several.
In the watch collecting community, homage watches are the subject of some debate. Here’s an excellent rundown on homages, including arguments for and against them, and the pros and cons of owning them.
I leave the debates to others: I’m Team Homage.
Here’s my video: