Tao making homages and fakes?

[MG511]

I was talking to a friend of mine about watches (as you do) and mentioned that I liked the look of the new Tao ‘Yacht Club’, very much an ‘IWC homage’ http://store.taowatch.us/TAO-165BD.aspx. He pointed out it looked very like the ‘fake’ he had seen on a replica site
http://www.watcheden.biz/iwc-portuguese-yacht-club... They do look very similar, if not identical, apart from the branding (same pattern on the inside of the strap, movements look identical etc). Having receiving my Tao ‘Bell & Ross homage’ on a fake B&R strap (though the website shows them on unbranded straps) I am now somewhat suspicious that Tao are making homage’s and fakes, and I’m not impressed by that. Probably bought my last watch from them, anyone know if Parnis are suspected of doing similar? I know links to replica sites normally get removed by the mods, please could someone cleverer than me (99.9% of you) post up some pictures before the link gets removed, thanks.

[RichTT]

There are many companies out there who make homage watches based on case sets, dials and parts that are used in the replica industry. They are more than likely built by the same parts makers. They will use the same tooling and molding and techniques, but leave off the engravings or markings used in the replicas. Tao, Parnis, Helenarou and others are well known for this.

But there's a definite line between the legality of replicas and homage watches. One is fine, the other is not (in some people's eyes)

edit: I will however say that these companies are not producing fakes. They simply use the replica industry as parts suppliers to build their own watches. Tao not so much as there designs are often too far apart from the fakes to be using the parts, more just the inspiration.

[MG511]

Thanks for the reply, many Tao and Parnis watches I've seen (and own) look very similar to B&R, IWC etc, but that one looks a direct copy, apart from the branding.

[RichTT]

I must admit that's the first time I've seen Tao so blatantly use replica parts or tooling in one of their watches. Most of them are just derivatives in design but retain some individual or unique aspects. That one is very obviously cast from the same mold as it were