ISO/Homage Watches

[marchone]

This isn't another "What is a Homage?" topics.

I haven't bought a new watch in a few years. Everything I had acquired over the previous two decades were well-known brands with solid reputations and history behind them. And all cost thousands of dollars each. The last was in 2007 when Sinn introduced the 757 UTC Chronograph here. But I had been looking at what Bill Yao has been doing for years and finally decided to get a MKII Milsub HRV a few weeks ago. What a nice watch. It's a 42mm ISO version of the 5517 Milsub. Great design, solid build, ETA 2893-2 adjusted by Bill. It's keeping time to +1 sec per day. I have been so impressed it has opened my eyes to other ISO offerings and some seem to be from fairly new companies as well as a few established brands.

I just ordered an Armida A2 500M PVD. I have my eyes on a Ginault Base Module 1, a Benarus Sea Snake, and a Helson Skindiver. All contain ETA movements. All are ISO designs derived from famous divers of the past. Rolex, Omega, Blancpain, JLC ... many out of production for years. I missed getting one of the last Watchco Omega SM300s. All are or were well under a grand.

One poster recently wrote that the Benarus Sea Snake's quality was on a par with $3000 watches.

Is this a new wave of ISO and Homage manufacture at this quality level, or have I just been in the dark? Combine these observations with modern design offerings from Dievas and Damasko among dozens of others and I ask 'Could this be a Golden Age of Value Watches?'

[Rusty_Shakleford]

I am unclear of your use of "ISO". Are you referring to the "International Standards Organization", or internet speak for "In Search Of", or some thing else?

If you are referring to the "International Standards Organization", please search the forum for any one of the many threads regarding the fact that they do not certify watches. They have published a couple of standards to which very few watch companies adhere.

RS

[marchone]

In Spirit Of.

[Rusty_Shakleford]

In Spirit Of.

Ahh, that makes sense. I do think that we are in a Golden Age of watches. The quality of watches that are available for reasonable prices is staggering. As far as homages go, you may also want to check out Steinhart, Helson, Armida, and Crepas. Each of those brands have some homages as well as watches of their own design. I've found their quality to exceed the asking price.They all give a lot of bang for the buck...

Best of luck,

RS

[mellonb1]

As Rusty stated, some of these micro brands are offering a huge "bang for the buck"...Quality & service is outstanding. I've been extremely happy with my Crepas and have another one incoming. The big question is how these micro brands will do in the watch value appreciation dept.

[caesarmascetti]

Homage watches r what they r. A way to get the style of famous out of reach price wise or extremely raare watches for a reasonable cost. I have a MKII that is a homage to a Military Bp FF, that I enjoy. As far as a "value equation" I cringe every time I hear this brought up, because it is so subjective. Value like beauty is in the eye of the beholder, a Benarus being on par quality wise to a $3000 watch eh who knows. I think as dive watches have essentially become man jewlery trying to attach a rational value equation to them becomes very difficult.

[jdmfetish]

Homage watches r what they r. A way to get the style of famous out of reach price wise or extremely raare watches for a reasonable cost. I have a MKII that is a homage to a Military Bp FF, that I enjoy. As far as a "value equation" I cringe every time I hear this brought up, because it is so subjective. Value like beauty is in the eye of the beholder, a Benarus being on par quality wise to a $3000 watch eh who knows. I think as dive watches have essentially become man jewlery trying to attach a rational value equation to them becomes very difficult.

when i think jewelry as far as dive watches go , IMO SOME fall into this catergory like rolex or omega as a few examples

but i like what you posted

[marchone]

Homage watches r what they r. A way to get the style of famous out of reach price wise or extremely raare watches for a reasonable cost.

I see it in a different way. At least to what I'm newly witnessing. These "In Spirit Only" watches are taking what were classic and sometimes timeless designs and improving them with better materials, finishes, and movements than the originals had. I don't view them as cheap imitations anymore. I guess when I get the Armida I'll know more about that. I've read of lume pips falling out for one QC issue. My MKII Milsub on the other hand, while clearly a tool watch, gives up nothing in quality to others costing far more and probably exceeds original MOD specs for the 5517.

[MadMex]

The big question is how these micro brands will do in the watch value appreciation dept.

There are some brands that sell at about or above their original price on the sale forums. Halios, BaliHa'i, Zixen, Benarus and some others don't seem to lose value. There are some that you really can't give away no matter what you do... Personally, I buy a watch to wear, and because I like it. I don't really take into consideration the resale value when I buy one.

[caesarmascetti]

I see it in a different way. At least to what I'm newly witnessing. These "In Spirit Only" watches are taking what were classic and sometimes timeless designs and improving them with better materials, finishes, and movements than the originals had. I don't view them as cheap imitations anymore. I guess when I get the Armida I'll know more about that. I've read of lume pips falling out for one QC issue. My MKII Milsub on the other hand, while clearly a tool watch, gives up nothing in quality to others costing far more and probably exceeds original MOD specs for the 5517.

I too owned a MKII MilSub LRRP and it was a gr8 watch at the end of the day though it was sold to help fund a Rolex Seadweller not the deepsea but the previous generation. I agree that these are no longer cheap imitations, in general though their lack of originality leaves me cold. I much prefer a boutique company like Aegir, or UTS that tries to do their own thing as opposed to taking classic designs and "updating" them with a saphire as opposed to acrylic and mass produced movements as opposed to proprietary ones.