What are your thoughts on affordable automatic watches that look similar

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Adamh

·Nov 10, 2016

to more prestigious brands? As a young professional with a one year old, I'm doing my best to manage my finances responsibly. I considered the following watch to be a good buy, but also took note of its similarity to another (more expensive) watch. You can tell how they differ easily if you know what to look for, but it can also be said that they are too similar. Do you feel that this type of similarity treads into tacky territory? I like the watch either way, but I'm curious of what watch enthusiasts think.

Edited: Nov 10, 2016

 

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Adamh

·Nov 10, 2016

https://www.prestigetime.com/images/watches/6654-1127-55b.jpg

The other watch

 

U

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ulackfocus

·Nov 10, 2016

Taking design cues is different from outright copying. The FC has some elements of that BP, and a little bit of Breguet influence too.

 

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Vitezi

·Nov 10, 2016

Adamh

but also took note of its similarity to another (more expensive) watch

Think Seiko. Unlike a Rolex Submariner, it costs about $200:

 

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Jking

·Nov 10, 2016

U ulackfocus

Taking design cues is different from outright copying. The FC has some elements of that BP, and a little bit of Breguet influence too.

I agree with your design elements statement...it's been commmon in architecture, automotive, electronics, etc as long as those industries have been around and watchmaking is no different. Being in a similar situation (except I have 3 young boys) financially I simply can't buy every omega, Rolex, IWC etc that I want so brands like FC (which I happen to like myself) gives me a nice alternative without having to take out a second mortgage. I think they fill a very nice niche in the marketplace so I see no issue with it.

 

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ncstate1201

·Nov 10, 2016

The only issue I have with inexpensive watches is when you finally need the movement service in my head I have a hard time justifying the cost. The more complicated the movement the more it costs and the less I want it if it is inexpensive.

 

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Foo2rama

·Nov 10, 2016·Keeps his worms in a ball instead of a can.

I would have bet money this would be about submariner clones. Honestly 99.9% of people would be equally in the dark on both. If anything the FC looks more expensive I thought it was a VC at first.

 

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Jking

·Nov 10, 2016

Foo2rama

I would have bet money this would be about submariner clones. Honestly 99.9% of people would be equally in the dark on both. If anything the FC looks more expensive I thought it was a VC at first.

I open this thread thinking the same thing...pleasantly surprised to see a photo of an FC instead. Actually I think that is the first pic of an FC I've seen on this forum. I like the style of their pieces.

 

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bigsom

·Nov 10, 2016

Vitezi

Think Seiko. Unlike a Rolex Submariner, it costs about $200:

I actually find little resemblance between the SKX you linked and any rolex model. Seiko is uniquely seiko and I don't think they are in the business of trying to copy design elements from swiss brands. If anything they have innovated and pushed japanese style design and others have copied seiko. The Omega AT is a good example of that. Also speaking of price, an SBGA029, many would consider a more finished watch than a submariner and runs in a similar price category.

 

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SeanO

·Nov 10, 2016

The only problem I ever had with FC is that they're a weird size and none of them ever sat right on the wrist.

They appear well made though.

 

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shaun hk

·Nov 10, 2016

Check out the Dan Henry thread. He seems to have taken design cues from vintage and his watches look so good I might be buying a quartz!

 

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meganfox17

·Nov 11, 2016

What's the Time ?[emoji136]
It's Meganfox's Show And Tell[emoji137] Time !

Show me a FC ultrathin Moonphase & I'll show you 3 similar watches available in my backyard. If people ask you what's that moon on the dial ? Just reply " Oh , That's a Lycan Alert Display[emoji106] "
No #1 A designer brand we dont take seriously around here powered by a Tianjin Seagull Cal ST2528 It certainly looks expensive but be aware the rose gold plating changes colour then peels off after a while
No # 2 Seagull which makes pretty good fairly priced imitation is always on my list. Name any brand & Seagull has an answer

No# 3 My 1st watch was a Mickey Mouse, so naturally anything that breathes Mickey is Top of my list[emoji66]

Edited: Nov 11, 2016

 

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micampe

·Nov 11, 2016

bigsom

[…] and others have copied seiko. The Omega AT is a good example of that.

Oh?

 

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Buster

·Nov 11, 2016

I would cosider a Seiko or Hamilton. I have owned both and they looked nice and lasted greater than ten years each with no maintenance. When they eventually died I didn't repair them because of cost and I was ready for a new watch. Both were Quartz and I did replace the batteries a few times.

 

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JimInOz

·Nov 11, 2016·Melbourne Australia

95% of the herd wouldn't know a PP or a VC from a FC.

The other 5% of us who do know consider the FC to be a decent watch. Maybe not in PP/VC territory, but as close as you need to separate you from the Boss/Armani/Invicta crowd.

 

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OhMegaMan

·Nov 11, 2016

I almost bought the same watch you are wearing on impulse. Wow...never thought i would see it in any forum. The sales person was very convincing. I was almost certain of the purchase that the AD tech started to adjust the strap for me. At the end, i didnt bite cuz the date wheel was completely off. It didnt change the date until 1am. Plus i was turned off by how flimsy the packaging is. The 'pillow' where they wrap the watch was so out of shape that the watch rolled right out. And honestly it bothers me too that the name is quite similar sounding to Vacheron Constantin. So i decided against buying it. It was a good looking watch, nevertheless. I like the breguet hands and guilloche. The one i almost bought even had the open heart design, where u can see the balance wheel spinning.

Btw if im not mistaken, FC is now owned by Citizen? And they have a complication model/perpetual calendar for under 10k, which is unheard of in the world of mechanical watches.

And yes, as Megan Fox pointed out FC does gold plating which is, imho, a big no no in the world of watch collecting.

Adamh

to more prestigious brands? As a young professional with a one year old, I'm doing my best to manage my finances responsibly. I considered the following watch to be a good buy, but also took note of its similarity to another (more expensive) watch. You can tell how they differ easily if you know what to look for, but it can also be said that they are too similar. Do you feel that this type of similarity treads into tacky territory? I like the watch either way, but I'm curious of what watch enthusiasts think.

Edited: Nov 11, 2016

 

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Archer

·Nov 11, 2016·Omega Qualified Watchmaker

bigsom

Seiko is uniquely seiko and I don't think they are in the business of trying to copy design elements from swiss brands. If anything they have innovated and pushed japanese style design and others have copied seiko.

micampe

Oh?

Yes, clearly Rolex copied this one...



😉

 

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Uniqez

·Nov 11, 2016

Raymond Weil watches are in the similar price range and some of them look alike FC. But there are automatic watches for all of the budgets and style preferences out there. Seiko and it's younger brother Orient are really good watches, if you are not looking for Swiss made sign on the dial.

Sent from my SM-G930T using Tapatalk

 

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Vitezi

·Nov 12, 2016

JimInOz

95% of the herd wouldn't know a PP or a VC from a FC

Unless, of course, you're in a herd of squirrels. Then all bets are off.

(thanks)

 

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jebula

·Nov 12, 2016

Steinhart has pretty nice looking affordable watches, although almost every piece they have are some kind of copies from different brands. But I think they are pretty good quality.