First up is the Rolex Datejust – Rolex’s iconic date window watch. The Datejust has been a staple in the imitation Rolex catalog since the 1940s. Its size and case design have changed little over the years, the only change being the color of the dial.
This watch is a great all-rounder, starting at around $7,000 and available in several different sizes. It has a sophisticated elegance with a hint of luxury, but it still looks great with jeans and a t-shirt.
So when it comes to inexpensive alternatives, we’re looking at something that echoes the design and has multiple uses.
So for under $200, we would recommend the Timex Legacy. These fake watches have the exact same case size as the Datejust, 41 and 36mm respectively. The watches cost around $150 and are powered by a quartz movement.
Under $1000, we would recommend the Hamilton Jazz Master. It has a stylish design, a very nice bracelet, and a stainless steel case cost around $600. A quartz movement also drives this watch and it comes from a company with history and tradition like Hamilton.
Also, at this price point, we would recommend the Grand Seiko SBGH277. This watch is priced at $6,100 and has a lot of engineering. This Grand Seiko has a beautiful dial and a high beating movement, giving you a clean sweep on the watch’s dial. This watch is truly special, and it doesn’t need to have the clone Rolex name on it to let you know it is a great watch.
Under a thousand dollars, we would recommend one of the watches in Tissot’s Powermatic 80 collection, especially the gentleman’s model. Tissot has a number of great options in this gentleman’s collection, with quartz options around $300 and automatic watches between $700 and $1,000.
And at over a thousand dollars, one of my favorites is the Omega Seamaster Aqua Terra. Watches in this collection retail for $5,400, while pre-owned are under that and really less expensive than the Oyster Perpetual.
I once owned a watch with a blue rubber strap and blue dial that cost me about $3,400 and was lightly used and it was a great watch that I liked. Not to mention the fact that the Aqua Terra comes in different sizes for different-sized wrists and it has a showcase case back so you can see the movement.
There are also different dial variations and colors. Usually, they have a teak pattern on the dial, but you can also get ones with small second’s hands.
Choose Luxury replica Rolex Daytona at a low price
So, when it comes to alternatives, we’re looking at the sporty appeal of the Daytona.
At under $200, let’s take a look at this 1977 Rotary Chronograph. Buy these floating around $160, which can be a little more or a little less, depending on the variation. You get a very cool watch with some nice heritage from the Swiss brand at this price point. This watch mimics the Daytona but is not a one-to-one copy.
Under $1000, let’s take a look at the Yema Rallygraf. This would be our pick for the mid-tier at around $350. This one balances 1970s racing design with a modern feel.
Last but certainly not least is probably Rolex’s most iconic watch, the Submariner. Arguably Rolex’s most recognizable watch, the Submariner, starts at $9,000 and up.
Let’s take a look at some of the different price tiers of the Submariner’s alternatives. Starting with our most economical option, let’s look at the Casio Duro. for about $60. My real question is, why don’t you have one yet?
As we round out our list of budget alternatives, it’s kind of cool to think that you can have an entire line of alternatives for less than $1000. Each of these pieces will present an element of the various Rolex models we’ve come up with without replicating them one-on-one.