How Is A Homage Watch Different From A Replica Watch?

The concept of homages and replicas is pretty controversial among watch collectors. Some love them, others hate them.

Sometimes these two types of watches are considered to be the same, and to be honest the lines can get a little blurry at times, but the reality is that these are two different types of watches and regardless of what you think of either type, it is important to understand what the differences are, which I will go through below.

Homages and Replica Watches Are Very Different

I want to make it very clear from the start …there is a huge difference between homage and replica watches.

A lot of people will say they are the same thing but the reality is that they are very different. homages are legal, but maybe morally questionable, while replicas are both legal and immoral.

Homage watches may be disliked by many people, but there is nothing wrong with them, replica watches on the other hand are a problem and you should not be buying these.  

Replica Watches Are Illegal

You cannot get around the fact that replicas are illegal. These watches are made to look like another brands watch …and they even have the same logo. Whoever is making them is doing so for one reason …to try to convince us that these are the real deal, but they are fake, counterfeit, replicas and just straight up illegal copies of genuine watches.

You should stay away from these watches no matter what. If you want the real deal, cough up the money and buy the real thing. They are just not worth your time and even if you think there is a 1% chance that a watch you are about to buy is a fake, walk away.

A lot of these watches are linked to organised crime and just generally bad people, so stay away from them.

(You can read more about – Are Homage Watches Legal?)

Homage’s Are Immoral?

Homages are not illegal, but you could argue they are immoral.

There are some homages that are pretty much direct copies of other watches, but there is always at least one or two differences and most importantly, the original companies logo is not on the watch.

This small difference in logo, or sometimes just as lack of a logo, is often all that can separates a watch from being illegal or not, but some people don’t agree with the whole concept and think that even if it is legal, it just isn’t cool.

A lot of these watches can look too similar to the original and it’s clear that the homage company has just done everything in its power to rip the original company off, while still keeping things legal.

Many collectors just feel this is immoral and they don’t want anything to do with these types of watches, which is fair enough. You can totally see how a lot of homages are just an attempt to make money from the original company, while also not breaking the law.

I often say that homage’s can get blurry, and these kind of watches that look incredibly similar are where things get very blurry, it can be easy to see why people would assume they are illegal and it’s even more mind blowing that some of them are actually legal. I wouldn’t be surprised if a few copyright infringements have taken place, around the design, even if the logo has been changed. 

(You can read more about – Why Do People Hate Homage Watches?)

Homage Watches Have Their Own Brand

As I have already mentioned, homages will not have the original company’s logo on the watch, and they will in fact be their own brand.

A lot of these brands do try and treat themselves like a genuine watch company, it just happens that their watches look a little similar to some companies watches.

This may sound like it is not important … but it is. These companies will offer warranty and customer service and while it may not always be the best, it is still something.

When you buy a replicas, you have no idea who has made it and you will get no customer care or warranty. These watches are trying to pass themselves off as another brand, and of course that original brand is not going to help you if have a problem… as your watch is fake. 

Replica watches are basically a scam, they just want to make money and don’t care about the watches. Homage brands are at least trying to do things properly, even if the morality of their copying some designs is a little blurry. Maybe their desire to make money off other people is just as bad as replicas, but at least they are not fully trying to scam you.

Homage Watches Can Be Well Made

I think when people hear “homage” they automatically assume low quality, poorly made watches. This can certainly be the case at times, but not always.

Certainly recently there seems to be a real rise in the quality of homage watches. As I have already mentioned, the brands are trying to act like real companies and they are trying to put some actual effort into their watches.

You can get some really well made watches with decent movements. There are some homage brands that can offer you a watch that may outshine a big name brand watch. Basically if some of these brands stop the homages and just made their own watches … they would be well respected mircobrands, but I guess the homages make for easy sales.   

(You can read more about – Are Homage Watches Considered To Be High-Quality Timepieces?)

Super Clones Appear Well Made

When you think of replicas, you usually think of super low quality watches that you can spot as fake from miles away.

Unfortunately this is no longer true as you can get “super clones” which could honestly fool a lot of people. Even the movements can look very legit, but you have no idea where they have been made and to what standard.

Just because they look good, doesn’t mean they actually are good. You could end up spending a lot of money on a watch that just breaks very quickly.

Homages Are Honestly Priced

I think one of the big differences between homages and replicas is the price. I think when you buy a homage you are paying a fair price. You are also being told what you are getting and it is exactly that.

You are usually sold a watch with an affordable movement and decent specs and everything you pay for is exactly what you get.

When it comes to replicas, this doesn’t really happen. You will generally buy a replica in two different ways … the first being that you know it’s a replica. When you are in some shady market place while on holiday and guy is selling you a Rolex for 50 Euros …you know it’s fake.

You have no idea what you are getting, you just know the price you are paying doesn’t match the logo on the dial and you are happy with that. Chances are you are buying total junk, but who knows. You can’t exactly trust the specs. I think a lot of people happily do this as it is a risk they are willing to take. They are going to get that big brand on their wrist, even if it is only for a while. They justify the cheap price and think it’s a good deal.

The other way you buy a replica is because someone is trying to rip you off. They are trying to pass the watch off as the real deal. They will tell you it’s a 10k watch, worth 15k on the second hand market …but they will give you it for 9k.

Your excitement blinds you to the fact that none of this makes sense and the next thing you know you have paid 9k for a watch worth about 9 quid. What you thought you were getting …isn’t what you got. 

Replicas are basically only sold by dodgy geezers and you can easily get ripped off, at least a homage is being sold by a company and they are being honest about what you are buying. 

Conclusion

Hopefully now you can see that there is a huge difference between a homage and a replica watch.

Homage’s are fine and if you like them, go for it. Of course you can question the morality of it all, but at least you are getting what you paid for. If you try and buy a fake watch you are only going to get ripped off and end up benefiting someone else. They are not worth your time, avoid them at all costs!

(You can read more about – Frequently Asked Questions About – Homage Watches)