I prefer subtle inspiration over obvious imitation
Been looking at a lot of skeleton watches lately and I keep noticing how many are just straight-up copies of each other. Like the same openworked bridges, same font on the logo, same everything. Am I the only one who actually prefers when a brand takes a subtle nod from the classics but does its own thing? I don't need a 1:1 hommage, just something that feels like it has its own identity.
You're not alone. Half the fun of skeleton watches is seeing how a brand solves the 'show everything' problem. If you just copy the guy who did it best, why bother?
Counterpoint: if the original design is good, why reinvent the wheel? Some of us can't afford the 'real thing' and a tasteful hommage is the next best option.
Agree with OP. There's a difference between inspiration and laziness though. A 'tasteful hommage' is usually just the lazy version with a different logo file.
Exactly my thought. I've seen cases where the only change is the text on the dial. That's not inspiration, that's a photocopy.
Yeah, the photocopy thing drives me nuts. But I also think think there's a middle ground where a brand takes the *idea* of a floating movement but executes it with its own bridge shapes and finishing. That's what I'd call subtle inspiration.
Which brands do you think pull it off well? Genuinely asking, I'm in the market for a skeleton under 2k and everything I look at feels lik either an AP clone or a skeletonized Seiko 5.
Under 2k is brutal. You're basically in hommage territory by default unless you go microbrand.
Microbrands are the answer. A lot of them actually design their own bridges because they don't have a marketing team telling them to copy a Royal Oak. Some of them are even original. Shocking, I know.
Hot take but some of the 'obvious imitations' are actually more legible than the watches they're copying, lol.
That's not a hot take, that's just true. The original isn't always the best at practicality.
Fair point. Legibility is underrated in skeleton watches. And honestly, if a brand copies the look but improves readability, I can respect it a little more.
So no actual brand recommendations then? Cool.
Search for independent skeleton watches with in-house bridges, not 'skeleton watch' on AliExpress. That's all I'm gonna say.
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