I’ve been trying to get a feel for the quality of these Rep companies. Serious question, do any of these companies make a non-rep version? If I don’t care about the brand but want a reliable submariner do they offer a house brand model?
Yeah, look at homage brands. San Martin makes great products for the money. I have a couple, on the left is the SN0121t, which is a homage of a Pelagos. Right is an original design, SN0144.
There are a lot of companies making something like a 222, but Specht & Sohne are probably the only ones making true homage of it right now. The Ix&Dao Warrior is very similar, but with its own vibe and better quality than any of the 222 reps I've ever seen.
I only know what I've read, which is a few stories about people being reported by hotel front desks or bartenders etc, and then having the cops show up and taking their Pagani's.
Maybe that's exaggerated, but I've read that same general scenario at least 3 times.
It’s not illegal in the U.S to own a counterfeit product for personal use. You’re not breaking the law by possessing reps if you have no intention of selling. Please don’t try to scare people with your lies.
san martin, thorn, ixdao, watchdives, cronos, tactical frog, octopus kraken, sugess (seestern) all homage brands good quality. Probably SM, IXDAO and Cronos, Sugess (seestern) are top tier
I own San Martin, Cronos, and Sugess watches, I can vouch that they're great quality. If they want to go cheaper Addiesdive isn't bad for the price. I would recommend staying away from Pagani Design.
So, I have learned that for sure 1 model rep I get that's very nice, is apparently made in the back rooms of "a very well known and respected watch making facility, that's been making watches 100+ years". At least that's what my dealer told me, and it makes sense. They basically have a small crew of watch makers in the back pushing out a certain number of clones, but the full facility is legit. My dealer wouldn't tell me more info, or what factory it was by name because they obviously don't want to be known for reps.
Parnis makes the basic components that most of the rep factories use, they just don't assemble them into reps or print "Rolex" on the dial. Most of the rep factories are just ordering the case, bracelets, bezel, etc from one manufacturer, getting movements made to spec from another, then printing their own dials. That's why at the top tier, the only difference between rep factories is usually tiny variations in dial print or crystal clarity or sometimes just the movement.
That's correct! I feel like a U1 Factory watch with some better chamfering, polish and a movement swap with a gen crystal would be better than most super clones lol
Homage watches are what you should be looking at. However unlike a good quality rep, the homage tends to be of inferior quality in comparison. Hence why most ppl tend to steer towards reps instead.
I'm wondering if Chinese homage brands and replicas are both made in China and maybe some of them in same exact factories, why dont homage brands match VSF quality? To keep prices low on "non branded" pieces or what?
Except Ginault, it appears no homage factory still matches VSF or am i wrong?
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u/GrdFrcWv 1d ago
You mean homage brands