Watch Talk

Affordable Alternatives To The Rolex Submariner

 

The Rolex Submariner is undeniably one of the most popular and sought-after watches in the world.  Perhaps caused be Bond influences, the prestigious Rolex name, or a combination of many factors, the Rolex Submariner has become an icon of what a dive watch should be. This proprietary design by Rolex has shaped and molded the blueprint of the sport watch.  Many consider it the father of dive watches. In today’s market, it is difficult to find a modern dive watch that doesn’t have some Submariner cues embedded in its DNA.

Obviously, this is a sought after watch that falls outside of our budget.  However, if you don’t want to drop thousands of dollars on this watch icon, there are many pieces that pay homage to it.  Like always in addition to aesthetics, we are recommending alternatives by reputable brands that offer great value.  Here are some fantastic watches that pay tribute to one of the greatest of all time.


Note: Here at Affordable Wrist Time, we are 100 percent against counterfeit watches.  If you cannot afford or don't want to spend a lot of money on a specific watch, look for alternatives by reputable and respectable brands. Please, don’t support counterfeit watches and watchmakers.  There are plenty of honest companies that deserve your hard earned money.

Recommendations

Seiko SNZF17 (Sea Urchin)

  • Price: $150

  • Movement: Automatic

  • Size: 42mm

  • Lug Width: 22mm

  • Water Resistance: 100m

The Sea Urchin is just one of the many fish in the vast ocean of Seiko divers.  However, this specific model is very affordable and has strong Rolex Submariner cues in it.  It’s available in other colored alternatives (like a beautiful Pepsi bezel).  In this price, it’s tough to beat.

 

Casio MDV-106

  • Price: $50

  • Movement: Quartz

  • Size: 42mm

  • Lug Width: 22mm

  • Water Resistance: 200m

For the third time in a few days, this watch makes our list. You can read more about this piece and its great value here and here.  However for our purposes, we are discussing its aesthetics.  The bezel, markers, and date window have strong Submariner influences that blend beautifully in this design.  Casio definitely succeeded in giving this ultra affordable watch a little bit of that timeless design.

 

Orient Ray

  • Price: $200

  • Movement: Automatic

  • Size: 41.5mm

  • Lug Width: 22mm

  • Water Resistance: 200m

Both the Orient Ray and Mako are great options in this category.  We gave the edge to the Ray because of the circular indices that resonate with the Rolex design.  Regardless of your choice, Orient is a trustworthy brand that won’t let you down.

 

Steinhart Ocean One

  • Price: $400

  • Movement: Automatic

  • Size: 42mm

  • Lug Width: 22mm

  • Water Resistance: 300m

In our opinion, this is as close as a Rolex Submariner as you can get; the dimensions and design are extremely similar.  This German company has a collection of many Rolex homages that are worth your money and time. Like all of our other recommendations, their build is fantastic and offer incredible value.

Conclusion

We want to reiterate our previous statement: Please, do not support the counterfeit watch market.  With such an enormous and varied watch world, there is bound to be a watch that meets all of your requisites; all you have to do is look.  If you’re considering buying a counterfeit watch, shoot us a message and we’ll personally direct you in a towards something that maintains legal integrity and provides what you are looking for.

 

-Affordable Wrist Time

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