Since its founding in 1905, Rolex has dominated the watch industry. The innovative and elegant watches the brand has produced have shot to cult status. Many models have become some of the most desirable watches on the market. However, Rolex watches come with a very high price tag. Also, they are often hard to get your hands on due to limited production runs. Many watch brands create Rolex look-alikes to allow this well-loved brands sense of style to be more widely available. Although Rolex dupes and copies are certainly disapproved of in the industry, watches inspired by the brand’s designs are embraced. The watches we have included in our guide of 5 must have look-alikes are all reminiscent of original Rolex timepieces rather than copies of them.
Look-alikes are a great way to introduce Rolex’s iconic style into a watch collection without spending too much money. However, look-alikes are not guaranteed to be of the same quality as the original models. Some look-alikes will have different movements and design elements. It is advisable that a collector assesses their own needs and research each timepiece before purchase. If you like Rolex watches, keep reading for our 5 must have Rolex look-alikes.
Our Top 5 Must Have Rolex Look-Alikes
Tissot Men’s Le Locle Powermatic 80 Black Dial Stainless Steel T0064071105300
The Tissot Men’s Le Locle Powermatic watches are popular look-alikes for the Rolex Air King. The Air King was first launched as a tribute to World War II pilots. It remains a symbol of World War II to this day. The Tissot and Rolex models share several characteristics that make them look rather alike at a glance. Both watches are constructed using a stainless steel case. The case of the Air King famously measures 40mm. The Le Locle is not far off with a diameter of 39.3mm.
This Tissot watch features a textured black dial with silver Roman numeral indices. A date aperture positioned at 3 o’clock. The dial also exhibits silver hour, minute and second hands. The case houses an automatic movement that provides the watch with a power reserve of up to 80 hours. The Air King also comes with a self-winding movement. A collector would not be missing out on the type of movement in the original model. The Tissot watch is finished with a stainless steel bracelet to provide a classic and elegant look.
Hamilton Men’s Jazzmaster Day Brown Leather Strap H32505511
The dial design of the Hamilton Jazzmaster is incredibly reminiscent of the Rolex Day Date models. The most distinctive features in both watches are the day and date aperture. Both brands have positioned the weekday display across the top of the dial, extending from 11 to 1 o’clock. This longer display allows the day to be written in full, ensuring that it is easy to read. This Hamilton watch features a white dial with rose gold baton indices and rose gold hour, minute and second hands. The dial is framed by a stainless steel case and protected by scratch resistant sapphire glass. A classic and timeless brown alligator style leather strap will secure the watch on the wrist. This timepiece is powered by an automatic movement with an 80 hour power reserve. This Hamilton watch is an incredibly high-quality and dependable look-alike for the Rolex Day Date watch.
ORIS Aquis Date Automatic Stainless Steel Blue Dial 01 733 7730 4135-07 8 24 05PEB
The iconic Rolex Submariner is a reference amongst diver’s watches as it was the first ever divers’ wristwatch that was waterproof to a depth of 100 metres. The modern Submariner models are waterproof to an incredible depth of 300 metres. This ORIS model has much of the same style as the Rolex and is also water resistant up to 300 metres. The ORIS features a blue dial that is surrounded by a black ceramic bezel. The dial is adorned with luminescent hands and indices that ensure the time can be read in the dark and underwater.
This watch is powered by an automatic movement that can be observed and enjoyed though the exhibition case back. The watch is finished with a stainless steel case and a matching stainless steel bracelet. To perfectly tailor this watch for diving, ORIS have added an extension to the bracelet to make it more comfortable to wear throughout a dive.
Rotary Men’s | Henley | GMT | Green Dial | Stainless Steel Bracelet GB05176/24
The 24-hour index on the bezel of this Rotary model has caused many watch enthusiasts to compare it to the Rolex Explorer II watches. This additional utility allows the wearer to track time with a higher level of accuracy. The Explorer II model grew out of Rolex’s connections and involvement with exploration, especially polar expeditions and mountaineering. The spirit of this iconic timepiece is perfectly captured in the design of the Rotary Henley GMT watch for a much lower price.
The Rotary model features a deep green dial with silver baton indices and silver hour, minute and second hands. The GMT hand is yellow to ensure that it is easy to track around the dial. Additionally, a date aperture is positioned at 3 o’clock. The stainless steel case houses the reliable quartz movement that powers the watch. The watch is secured on the wrist using a classic and modern stainless steel 3-link bracelet. This timepiece is water resistant up to 100 metres to ensure that it is a suitable companion for a variety of adventures.
Citizen Men’s Corso Eco-Drive Stainless Steel & Gold IP Black Dial Watch BM7334-58E
The Rolex Datejust was first launched in 1945 and has become an archetype of the classic watch due to its timeless functions and designs. Citizen’ Corso model offers very similar function and style for a significantly lower cost, making it a wallet friendly Rolex look-alike. This Citizen model features a black dial with gold baton indices and gold hour, minute and second hands. A date aperture is positioned at 3 o’clock on the dial, just as it is on the Rolex Datejust. A stainless steel case frames the dial and anti-glare sapphire glass protects it. The watch is finished with an on-trend two tone stainless steel bracelet with gold ion plated accents.
A distinct difference between the Citizen and the Rolex models is that the Citizen uses one of the brand’s famous Eco-Drive movements to power the watch. This means that the watch uses both natural and artificial light to power the movement and does not require regular winding or battery changes.
What are your thoughts on our 5 must have Rolex look-alikes? Would you consider adding a look-alike to your collection? Let us know in the comments!
