Patek Philippe Super Clone Watch: A Tribute to Classics or Plagiarism?

Recently, Phillips Auction House has engaged in a co-branded watch that is a typical example of paying tribute to classics through collaborations with multiple parties.

The classic being honored is a Patek Philippe vintage super clone, the JB Champion Chronometer ref. 2458. Born in 1917 and passing away in 1975, JB Champion was a U.S. lawyer and watch collector who collected pieces from Patek Philippe and Vacheron Constantin.

This JB Champion Chronometer Super Clone watch Ref. 2458 is one of the many chronometers released by Patek Philippe in 1952. The platinum case, burnt blue markers, willow leaf hands, and cannonball indicators are all very elegant. Another notable feature is the small seconds hand positioned at 9 o'clock, with a circular chronometer note and movement code at 3 o'clock, symmetrically arranged with the small seconds, making it easily recognizable. The JB Champion Ref. 2458 became a sought-after favorite among collectors, selling for nearly CHF 3.8 million at Christie's in 2012.

Phillips' Super Clone watch collaboration pays tribute to the dial layout of this chronometer, featuring the small seconds at 9 o'clock and the co-branding: Massena X Phillips X Bacs & Russo at 3 o'clock. Massena LAB is not a watch brand but a commercial promoter, and they also brought in independent watchmaker Raúl Pagès for this collaboration. In fact, the watch represents a four-party collaboration, though Raúl Pagès is not directly credited.

Raúl Pagès is no ordinary person; he won the 2024 LV Independent Watchmaking Award, a prestigious honor in the watchmaking world. The high standards of the LV Watchmaking selection process, with influential independent watchmakers and judges, highlight Raúl Pagès' significance.

Raúl Pagès' LV Watch Award winner features a gauge hand with a unique astronomical escapement, a special escapement, a distinctive dial, exceptional craftsmanship, and a beautifully polished movement.

However, this collaboration by Massena x Phillips x Bacs & Russo honors the classic dial design of the JB Champion Ref. 2458, while the movement is not on par with the RP1 Régulateur à Détente model by Raúl Pagès, which won the LV Horlogerie Award.

The collaboration is limited to 99 pieces and is priced at £7,750, which is about a tenth of the price of Raúl Pagès' award-winning RP1 Régulateur à Détente. Therefore, the classic dial, the work of a rising independent watchmaker, and the co-branded super clone watch are expected to attract many fans.

But the question remains: is it plagiarism?