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Old 20 February 2018, 07:46 AM   #1
Gixxer32
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Submariner wanna be watches

What is up with all these watch brands/companies having their version of the Submariner? It's pretty obvious Rolex is on the top of the food chain since a lot of companies mimic their design. The Submariner even has a plethora of fakes, knock-offs...etc. Yeah, other companies might be better according to critics, but let's face it...no one is knocking taking Rolex's spot. Your thoughts?
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Old 20 February 2018, 07:48 AM   #2
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Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery.


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Old 20 February 2018, 07:54 AM   #3
Abdullah71601
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IIRC, Rolex pirated the original design from another company.
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Old 20 February 2018, 07:59 AM   #4
Gixxer32
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Abdullah71601 View Post
IIRC, Rolex pirated the original design from another company.
Hmmm, kind of like Movado: a stolen design.
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Old 20 February 2018, 08:36 AM   #5
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If memory serves me correctly this topic may have come up once or twice before on the forums (-;
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Old 20 February 2018, 10:24 AM   #6
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Quote:
Originally Posted by 77T View Post
Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery.


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Exactly
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Old 20 February 2018, 10:26 AM   #7
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Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery.


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Old 20 February 2018, 10:34 AM   #8
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Knowing Rolex, I'm surprised they are allowing these companies to get away with it.
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Old 20 February 2018, 10:35 AM   #9
77T
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Submariner wanna be watches

Quote:
Originally Posted by Abdullah71601
IIRC, Rolex pirated the original design from another company.


Were you recalling this article?

https://www.hodinkee.com/articles/bl...tory-of-squale

Squale, Blancpain, Rolex were all dabbling, copying and innovating nearly at the same time. Sub Fatherhood is as complex as the first computer mouse.


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Old 20 February 2018, 10:42 AM   #10
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Swiss watch companies have been using each others designs for decades. Even longer.
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Old 21 February 2018, 07:14 AM   #11
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Abdullah71601 View Post
IIRC, Rolex pirated the original design from another company.
Are you referring to the fifty fathoms? As far as I know Rolex released the turn-o-graph before the fifty fathoms and it is virtually identical to the submariner released later except it doesn't say submariner on the dial.

If you are talking about something completely different or if I am completely wrong, please let me know.
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Old 21 February 2018, 07:22 AM   #12
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Gixxer32 View Post
What is up with all these watch brands/companies having their version of the Submariner? It's pretty obvious Rolex is on the top of the food chain since a lot of companies mimic their design. The Submariner even has a plethora of fakes, knock-offs...etc. Yeah, other companies might be better according to critics, but let's face it...no one is knocking taking Rolex's spot. Your thoughts?
there is no better luxury dive watch than the submariner. it is the world's greatest luxury dive watch. there is no valid debate. the only debates that occur are those for click bait and shock factor.
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Old 21 February 2018, 07:23 AM   #13
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There are many out there of various parenthood. This one is quite nasty and even calls itself a Rolly

Mathey-Tissot Gents Automatic Vintage Roly Watch with Stainless Steel Bracelet

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Old 21 February 2018, 07:23 AM   #14
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When people ask me about fakes or crappy copy-cats, I give them this analogy.


Ferrari vs Fiero-ari

https://blog.caranddriver.com/if-six...for-just-6000/
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Old 21 February 2018, 12:42 PM   #15
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Personally, have no problem with "homage" watches, as long as there are no patent/trademark infringements, etc.

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Old 21 February 2018, 01:06 PM   #16
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Quote:
Originally Posted by GradyPhilpott View Post
Personally, have no problem with "homage" watches, as long as there are no patent/trademark infringements, etc.

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This is how I generally feel about it too
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Old 21 February 2018, 01:56 PM   #17
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My Undone is an homage to a 1960s Rolex chronograph
I’m just fine with that
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Old 21 February 2018, 02:03 PM   #18
GradyPhilpott
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My Undone is an homage to a 1960s Rolex chronograph
I’m just fine with that
I really what Michael Young has done with his line of watches.

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Old 21 February 2018, 09:10 PM   #19
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Abdullah71601 View Post
IIRC, Rolex pirated the original design from another company.
Sorry, you recall incorrectly. Fredrick is correct, the original Sub's design was virtually identical to their Turn-o-graph which was released before the Fifty Fathoms.

Quote:
Originally Posted by Fredrik View Post
Are you referring to the fifty fathoms? As far as I know Rolex released the turn-o-graph before the fifty fathoms and it is virtually identical to the submariner released later except it doesn't say submariner on the dial.

If you are talking about something completely different or if I am completely wrong, please let me know.
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Old 21 February 2018, 09:17 PM   #20
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Originally Posted by cedargrove View Post
Sorry, you recall incorrectly. Fredrick is correct, the original Sub's design was virtually identical to their Turn-o-graph which was released before the Fifty Fathoms.
well they still stole the idea of putting a pocket watch on a bracelet to be worn on the wrist from someone... so where does it end? Stolen, inspired by, etc. None of it really matters.

Design and function are different. Maybe the design was similar to one of their existing watches, but the function was a response to the FF IMO. So nothing is purely organic in how it came to be if you really think about it.
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Old 21 February 2018, 09:43 PM   #21
Abdullah71601
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Quote:
Originally Posted by cedargrove View Post
Sorry, you recall incorrectly. Fredrick is correct, the original Sub's design was virtually identical to their Turn-o-graph which was released before the Fifty Fathoms.
The discussion is about the look of the watch - the iconic Sub appearance, not spinning bezels.

There were several manufacturers making similar watches at the time. The iconic look of the sub was not originated by Rolex. Fifty Fathoms had the look before Rolex. Compare TOG sales today to Sub sales today and you can see that merely spinning a bezel doesn't get you there, you have to have that look.
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Old 23 February 2018, 06:53 AM   #22
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This is what a 1953 turn-o-graph looks like, it is from a current ebay listing. I have no idea if this specific watch is legit in every way, but the look is there and it predates the BP.
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Old 24 February 2018, 06:01 PM   #23
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Did I kill the discussion with my picture?

Anyway, Rolex did not copy the BP Fifty Fathoms, they basically renamed the turn-o-graph released earlier. And as has been said before, neither design was original, several companies released similar looking watches in approximately the same time frame.
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Old 24 February 2018, 07:42 PM   #24
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Perhaps if Jacques Cousteau had worn a different watch.....
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