Ratio watches - knockoff or...?

[ZesPak]

Hi guys,

Just stumbled across this brand and they have watches that seem blatant knock offs of Seiko and Citizen amongst others.
Anyone any comment on this or any ideas what this is? Are they selling old stock/materials?

[anonymous-user]

ZesPak said:

Hi guys,

Just stumbled across this brand and they have watches that seem blatant knock offs of Seiko and Citizen amongst others.
Anyone any comment on this or any ideas what this is? Are they selling old stock/materials?

They are just another 'Homage' watch brand who are simply photocopying the designs of Seiko, Citizen, IWC, etc. The watches themselves won't contain any components from those brands, apart from using fairly generic Seiko or Miyota movements (according to the Ratio website) which isn't anything special as many homage brands use Seiko or Miyota movements.

See 'Pagani Design' for another example of simply photocopying well know brands and flogging them for $100-200.... https://www.paganidesignwatch.com/all-mens-watches

Edited by anonymous-user on Wednesday 19th October 14:01

[ZesPak]

Ok clear, I was hoping to get an older SKX that way if they were using tooling or old stock from Seiko but that clears it up. Thanks!

[anonymous-user]

ZesPak said:

Ok clear, I was hoping to get an older SKX that way if they were using tooling or old stock from Seiko but that clears it up. Thanks!

If you like the style of watch, I guess they will be fine. Maybe watch a few YouTube reviews on them first to see what others are saying.

Many of these homage brands are so close (identical) to the originals that people do query if it is old tooling, or old cases etc being sold off, but as far as I know, that has almost never happened as Seiko, IWC, Citizen etc would never allow it.

3D scanning is now so insanely accurate and affordable that these homage factories can scan a watch from any brand and easily reproduce it to within tiny fractions of a millimetre. As per my link above, Pagani have absolutely perfected this technique. They are taking models from Rolex, Omega, Breitling, PP, AP, etc and not changing any aspects of the design apart from the logo on the dial, and knocking them out in the thousands.

[walamai]

I'd say San Martin (and maybe Steeldive) are the default option for Seiko 'homages'.

The Just One More Watch youtube channel has done lots of reviews of these. It seems like they may even be better quality in some cases than the Seiko they are 'inspired' by.

For example, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XJxKz4Mhkr0 but have a look around the channel, he's done lots of videos, and lots of stuff on 'homages'.

[anonymous-user]

walamai said:

I'd say San Martin (and maybe Steeldive) are the default option for Seiko 'homages'.

The Just One More Watch youtube channel has done lots of reviews of these. It seems like they may even be better quality in some cases than the Seiko they are 'inspired' by.

For example, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XJxKz4Mhkr0 but have a look around the channel, he's done lots of videos, and lots of stuff on 'homages'.

I owned a San Martin SN004G 'retro diver' with a Seiko NH35 movement, and the quality/finish for £190 was bonkers. Easily the best made watch I have seen under £500-700 ish.

https://www.sanmartin.watch/products/san-martin-62...

[magpie215]

ZesPak said:

Ok clear, I was hoping to get an older SKX that way if they were using tooling or old stock from Seiko but that clears it up. Thanks!

I got the Heimdallr skx clone and it's been a great work beater.

Seiko movement hacking and handwinding also a sapphire crystal all for less than £120.