Homage watches?

[Talbot]

My military homage.

 

[Yahoody]

History is a fun thing to read.

https://www.ablogtowatch.com/brief-history-waterproof-watches/2/

Setting aside the snob factor of having a modern copy with a brand name attached. Maybe the homage watches are simply a very nice watch made from the high-quality parts that are now available to everyone. And offering real value @ pennies on the dollar by comparison.

Your comment is rather funny really if you know anything about the history of the more famous watch brands, be it Smith, CWC, Rolex, Tudor or pretty much anyone you care to name. The most famous watches are very likely just copies of a watch that came before the "famous maker's" version.

Designed from the ground up in 1952, the Fifty Fathoms was born from the mind of French secret service agent, Captain Bob Maloubier, MBE, who worked with the Special Operations Executive during WWII.

Which of course Rolex knocked off shortly after. In 1953, Rolex introduced their Submariner line of dive watches in the form of the reference 6204.

Worth a read:
https://www.gearpatrol.com/watches/a557312/military-watches/

Funnier yet, as I type this, I have 7 mechanical watches and one quartz movement sitting at my desk. Retail prices on those watches range from $110 to $17,000. By far the best time keeper is $700 Quartz. (even a cheap Casio will out perform any mechanical Rolex) The best mechanical watch for keeping time, in this bunch, is a toss up between a $365.00 homage and a $110 Invicta. Funnier yet as they both use the same, <$50, Seiko NH35 movement. The 2 Rolex watches fall in right behind those two


And another COSC rated homage to the original Fifty Fathoms. And again, a much better watch than the original. As it should be 75 years later.

CW's current version:

 

[Yahoody]

Here is a fun collection and the original. All of which are great watches. And all the newer versions, those pesky homage versions, are much, much better watches than the original Smith W10

"Developed by famed British clock- and watchmaker Smiths, the W10 was built from the late 1960s through the early 1970s and is unique as a military watch for having been manufactured in England, with an in-house, English-made movement, to boot."

Vintage Smith W10:

And a current Smith:

CW's version is COSC rated:

CWC's version

 

[Yahoody]

I liked the new Smith's enough to get one of my own. Thanks for the insight on that one

!

 

[Coveragro]

It's interesting how our perceptions of watches have evolved over time, right? I totally get what you mean about the appeal of "homage" watches—they offer the essence of a high-end timepiece without breaking the bank.

 

[Monte]

"VARIO 1945 D12 Field Watch is heavily inspired by the ‘Dirty Dozen’ – a collection of Swiss and British watches commissioned and worn by the British military during WWII...."
Homage to the Dirty Dozen watch makers and those who wore them. My lume could be better and last longer, but I like it and it keeps time acceptably.