Album of affordable alternatives to watches with premium prices!

aidanathome

I came across this album of Premium watches, with an affordable alternative.

Imgur Album: http://imgur.com/a/YYvoN

Original Reddit thread (that I stole it from): www.reddit.com/r/Watches/comments/4gjb4b/guide_album_of_affordable_alternatives_to_watches/

Pique

Really shows the brazen budget copies of high end watches that Seiko put out, bless their little cotton socks!

Wibbs

Some interesting comparisons alright. Though I'd say the Sinn pilots was out before the Bell & Ross? Sinn have far more flying DNA in them anyway. The Helson Skindiver is a direct - you'd want to read the name on the dial - copy of the original Blancpain Fifty Fathoms. Less tacky than Blancpain's current range IMH. The Squale divers is an older design than the IWC aquatimer(the design they show) and squale were a big name in that field(it's not a Rolex Sub clone either). Vintage ones go for pretty strong money. Of the Big Pilots watch design, Laco and Stowa have just as much right to produce their own as IWC has. The Bulova military is more a rip off of the Longines Czech pilots. Seiko are chancers alright. Even copying themselves and their TAG Carrera is a blatant design ripoff. :eek:

aidanathome

In almost all the cases I prefer the more expensive version, but I do wonder whether I'd feel the same if the names weren't visible and I couldn't see the prices.
Hopefully I'm not that easily swayed by a price or brand!

Darwin

I was in liffey valley a while back and noticed Fields had stock of some Guess watches that marked more than a passing resemblance to some Hublot styles. For example, the Guess Rigor Model U0040G5 pays homage to the Hublot Big Bang. Then I saw this Megir on sale at amazon - pretty blatant or what!

Eoin

Hmm, didn't think I'd see Shinola listed on the premium brand side of the page.

There are definitely some blatant rip offs in there, but some can be excused as just similar styles.

aidanathome wrote: »

In almost all the cases I prefer the more expensive version, but I do wonder whether I'd feel the same if the names weren't visible and I couldn't see the prices

On a side note, I've started editing out the logos from pics of watches I am considering, to see if it's really the watch I like or just the brand.

gerfmurphy

Loving the senator sixties but prefer just about all the rolex copies to the original.

Deep Thought

mmmm,,

Strange how Stowa is seen as a cheaper alternative to IWC

Yet the Stowa MO is the more expensive model compared to an Archimede

Some watches have a fleeting resemblance, but are not a direct cheaper equivalent

Sinn Equivalent to the B&R..not really

Eoin

So anyone got any others to add to the list?

Didn't see Panerai & Getat.

The Steinhart Ocean 1 is obviously a closer match to the Rolex Sub than the Steinhart Titanium that is listed (which is more Pelagos-ish).

The Hamilton Pan Europ is another alternative to this one, as is the Poljot Okean

These are not too similar, other than they're all diver watches. Alpha make a much closer homage - about $100.

art

Gruppo Gamma do good quality Panerai inspired watches; Ruhla do an even cheaper Max Bill variation

http://www.gruppogammawatches.com

https://www.uhrcenter.de/watches/garde/herrenuhren/garde-ruhla-chronograph-herrenuhr-91203/

Thirdfox

Another alternative to the Nomos tangente and those who like the Bauhaus style:
Rodina small seconds
http://www.seagullwatchstore.com/Classic-Rodina-Automatic-Wrist-Bauhaus-Watch-p/r005-arabic-white-dial.htm

Available from a number of sources and using the reliable Seagull st17 movement or the 2130 for around 80 euro.

And for those who want it without any labels...
http://www.seagullwatchstore.com/Classic-Rodina-Automatic-Wrist-Bauhaus-Watch-p/r005-arabic-white-dial.htm

Side by side comparison:
http://i.imgur.com/WGWbqRH.

They even have one with a decorated skeletonised hand winding version:
http://good-stuffs.com/Rodina-ST3600-hand-winding-mechanical-wrist-watch-_p_238.html

These lads are as bad as Steinhart
http://www.marc-and-sons.de/en/unsere-kollektion.html

Seiko are cheeky no doubt but no where near as bad/good (:D) as those two IMO.

art

Don't know anything about them but look good value those Marc & Sons watches: the marine with enamel dial, sapphire crystal and Miyota 9015 movement for 249 euros is definitely very decent.

CarltonBrowne

A couple of interesting watches there - for me, notably, the Tissot Daytona-like model and the Seiko Explorer II-alike. There's no way I'd take Bell and Ross above Sinn (in fact Sinn made some of their early chronographs for them, IIRC). I've had both and there's no way that a Sinn EZM has anything to do with a Seiko Samurai.

fret_wimp2

Its a pity seiko do so many watches that are "very heavily inspired" by more expensive brands, as when seiko do their own thing, they usually do stellar work.

fret_wimp2

I dont think the monster is a sinn copy either. Its quite an individual watch, one of seikos own creations.