[shankar.balan]

Originally Posted by sachit0901

Thank you everyone!

Basis your suggestions I’m increasing my budget and going for a Cartier Dumont with a leather strap. I think in the long run I’ll enjoy cartier more.

An excellent choice. This is truly an evergreen classic.
Cartier Watches are classified more in the line of Jewellery. And this one has special history - it was literally made by Monsieur Cartier at the specific behest of Senhor Alberto Santos-Dumont, the Brazilian Aviator of the 1900’s. The heyday of those ‘proving’ endurance flights! So you have lots of History to go on with.
(I too would wish to aspire to this watch one day. Its been on my list for years.)

In an earlier post I said he was Argentine. But he was Brazilian.

[arindambasu13]

Originally Posted by Pancham

These Pagani watches - how are they not classified as good quality first copies? How do we distinguish between a homage and a copy? Is it because it has a Pagani branding? Quite ridiculous in my view.

Copies carry the same branding as the originals, is my understanding. Homage is when they carry a different branding but physically resemble or closely copy the original.

[oilgascng]

I recently acquired a Seiko Samurai. Really love this watch - the way it looks, feels on the wrist, the super bright lumes. Can’t take it off, making my other watches jealous!

[omranga98]

Originally Posted by shankar.balan

It is called Pagani Design and they seem to have lots and lots of interesting looking options.
They also seem to have received several good reviews.

Apparently the Brand is owned by Horacio Pagani of the Pagani Supercar Fame! (However, going by my experience in this space, it is very likely that he has licensed out his Brand, in exchange for Royalties.)

Pagani Design has no relation to the Auto company Pagani other than having a similar name. Pagani Design is actually owned by Guangzhou PAGANI DESIGN Watch Industry Co. , a company that mainly does white label manufacturing for a lot of small/new brands around the world. So with their production line, they make these imitation watches.

Would not call these homage watches as they are direct rip offs.

[shankar.balan]

Originally Posted by omranga98

Pagani Design has no relation to the Auto company Pagani other than having a similar name. Pagani Design is actually owned by Guangzhou PAGANI DESIGN Watch Industry Co. , a company that mainly does white label manufacturing for a lot of small/new brands around the world. So with their production line, they make these imitation watches.

Would not call these homage watches as they are direct rip offs.

Good to know more about the Pagani ownership. I stand corrected - I had posted what I read on the net about the ownership but clearly there are two pieces of information as shown in the screenshots.

Anyway, the other thing is the Homage piece.
Basis casual internet research this is what it threw up.

A ‘rip-off’ is a derogatory way to describe blatant fake or clone or super-clone of the brand, including but not limited to imitating the design, the branding and other ‘marks’.

A Homage watch is one that is ‘inspired by’ a big brand’s design and aesthetics but carries a different branding etc.

Yes, as I had earlier said, a purist will not wear a blatant fake branded watch. But even purists may wear an Homage watch.

[Axe77]

This is a nice video by Teddy Baldassarre principally focussed on Replica / Fakes vs Homage watches.

https://youtu.be/ZBNfAvpbBQ0?si=zFb5hsjwoHIqJ0Jp

To me, I’d personally look at the subject in three buckets - Fakes; Homage and identical copies / nearly replicas:

1. Fakes:

This is an easy one. Someone trying to sell a fake Rolex as a real one for instance. Every aspect of the watch will be identical or near identical with a view to pass it off as another brand's product altogether This is outright illegal for all transacting parties concerned.

I recall China had such a huge proliferation of fake Pinarello bikes originating from China that they were jokingly referred to as Chinarellos. Rolex suffers the same problem as do some other luxury brands like Lois Vuitton etc - nothing new or unique about this so not much to discuss or debate here.

2. Homage vs identical copies (/ nearly replica):

To me this is where the lines blur a bit and it makes for more nuanced discussion around this grey area. Disappointingly, the above video does not dwell into this aspect in as much detail.

Personally, I feel an Homage watch will be heavily inspired by the original but have enough unique elements to it as well to create its own identify too. A Swatch Moonswatch is a good example of Swatch paying homage to the Omega Moonwatch. Of course this is an easy example since IP is not an issue either with both being part of the same umbrella brand.

But if a particular brand does an exact copy paste replacing only its own brand name as logo, then to my mind thats a near identical replica (not cool) and not homage territory. The Chinese copy of the RR Evoque is a good example of falling in this bucket. Its not trying to pass off the product as an original Range Rover but it definitely trying to profit out of its iconic design language. iIs pretty much copied the exact look of the product, infringing on their "trade dress" so to speak, even if not the exact trade mark.

I don't have a personal opinion as to where Pagani falls on this Homage vs Replica scale since I haven't seen the brand before (nor researched it specifically) but thought this might present some general perspective at least on how one could choose to bucket the approach. The second point differences are my own take on the subject, not necessarily some universal principle.

[shankar.balan]

Lots of debate on Homage, Replica, Clone, Super-Clone, Rip-Off etc.

Take a look at this.

[clutchNgo]

Figured I'd share my new addition here....

Earlier I had an SKMEI 1256 (I only own one watch) and I recently was in India catching up with family.

My niece looked at my watch and asked to have it. She also had a watch so we traded.

I'm wearing this until it breaks

[SithDefender]

Originally Posted by sachit0901

Thank you everyone!
Basis your suggestions I’m increasing my budget and going for a Cartier Dumont with a leather strap. I think in the long run I’ll enjoy cartier more.

An excellent choice! The official site shows a bewildering 73 models for the Cartier Santos with all sorts of variations - skeleton dials, small seconds, etc. There's literally something for everyone !

Originally Posted by oilgascng

I recently acquired a Seiko Samurai. Really love this watch - the way it looks, feels on the wrist, the super bright lumes. Can’t take it off, making my other watches jealous!

A legendary watch indeed. They don't call it the lume monster for nothing!

Originally Posted by clutchNgo

My niece looked at my watch and asked to have it. She also had a watch so we traded.

Some watches make you smile instantly, and this is one of them.
In fact, it is like the Snoopy watch trend that started some time ago:

[Shorya1412]

Originally Posted by Shorya1412

Guys need your opinion on my first proper watch.
Have been using Apple Watch for the past 6 years and now getting bored of them. Currently on an SS AW Series 7 in Silver. Was planning on getting the ultra the moment it launched in black with the titanium Milanese loop but not seeing any merit in paying 1.15L for a watch that will be outdated in 3-4 years.
The budget I have is ~1.5L. I am very clear on an automatic diver’s on bracelet.

So, I ended up getting something completely different from my initial plan. Looked at diver options in detail again and almost pulled the trigger on Longines Hydroconquest. At the last minute, saw this classy watch at the store and fell in love.

Longines Conquest 41

Apologies for the bad quality pic. It’s just a casual wrist check from an excited young boy getting his first watch

Bought it after thinking for a full 2 minutes and still don’t regret one bit. It is the perfect watch for my needs which include occasional wear for some time and being the daily beater once I add something nicer by next year. It’s a very lightweight watch.

Bought it in Dubai last week and was able to save a pretty penny. The best quote I had in Delhi for Longines was 14% discount on MRP. In Dubai, got a 15% discount and a 4.5% VAT refund on top of the MRP itself being 5% lower compared to India. The final price came out to ~INR 1.55L. Must say, the experience with Rivoli Dubai Mall is very good and would wholeheartedly suggest anyone travelling to check it out.

[blue_wizard_v12]

My first mechanical watch!!!

[Shorya1412]

Originally Posted by Shorya1412

So, I ended up getting something completely different from my initial plan. Looked at diver options in detail again and almost pulled the trigger on Longines Hydroconquest. At the last minute, saw this classy watch at the store and fell in love.

Longines Conquest 41
Attachment 2697001
Apologies for the bad quality pic. It’s just a casual wrist check from an excited young boy getting his first watch

Bought it after thinking for a full 2 minutes and still don’t regret one bit. It is the perfect watch for my needs which include occasional wear for some time and being the daily beater once I add something nicer by next year. It’s a very lightweight watch.

Bought it in Dubai last week and was able to save a pretty penny. The best quote I had in Delhi for Longines was 14% discount on MRP. In Dubai, got a 15% discount and a 4.5% VAT refund on top of the MRP itself being 5% lower compared to India. The final price came out to ~INR 1.55L. Must say, the experience with Rivoli Dubai Mall is very good and would wholeheartedly suggest anyone travelling to check it out.

Dear Mods

Was pleasantly surprised to see this post on home page today. It’s really an honour.

There’s just one small correction I forgot to mention. The 15% off MRP offer was applicable on purchase of 2 swatch group watches. We got a RADO Centrix too for my uncle. For single item, the discount was 10%.

Apologies for forgetting to leave that detail out. Would request you to edit the original post if possible.

[_jkuruvilla]

The OG PAN-AM GMT Master Pepsi REF 1675, Def a head turner among watch aficionados

[SithDefender]

Originally Posted by Shorya1412

Looked at diver options in detail again and almost pulled the trigger on Longines Hydroconquest. At the last minute, saw this classy watch at the store and fell in love.

Beautiful watch indeed, and congrats for your purchase!
BUT a Hydroconquest has very different aesthetics, especially in black ceramic with that delightful blue lume to match. It's stealth luxury!

Originally Posted by blue_wizard_v12

My first mechanical watch!!!

Ah, another beautiful watch. No doubt inspired by the Rolex "Batman" model !

Originally Posted by _jkuruvilla

The OG PAN-AM GMT Master Pepsi REF 1675, Def a head turner among watch aficionados

Forgive my ignorance, but is that (gasp) a yellowish patina ?? What a treasure !

[Shorya1412]

Originally Posted by SithDefender

Attachment 2698164

Beautiful watch indeed, and congrats for your purchase!
BUT a Hydroconquest has very different aesthetics, especially in black ceramic with that delightful blue lume to match. It's stealth luxury!

Hi

Thanks!
That black ceramic hyroconquest is indeed a beautiful watch and it caught my eye while exploring at store. But, it was about 2x the price I had in my mind as a first watch. Maybe 1 Rolex later.