TGIF: Affordable Alternatives to the Rolex Explorer

Why We Lust for Rolex and What We Can Do About It!

We've been programmed to want them: the elite European watches. "They" put watches like the Rolex Submariner and Explorer on the back cover of National Geographic and on the big turns of every race track. Our movie heroes wore them.  Our favorite musicians wore them. Advertising and product placements fueled our desire. The watch lust became a part of us. Some succeeded in attaining that dream Rolex watch. God bless their energy, education, drive, and good fortune. But, many others among us found out that the world had other more sinister plans to move that dream further and further away.

A Rolex Explorer II (Rolex Explorer 2.JPG: TheMonster17derivative work: Pittigrilli, CC BY-SA 4.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0>, via Wikimedia Commons)

We learned that some watch makers will buy back models that don't sell well so that they can be destroyed rather than be liquidated at a discount. You will never luck out and find a Rolex at a T.J. Maxx or Ross Dress for Less store. If you're a western worker in technology, you'll undoubtedly feel downward wage pressure from low cost offshore competition and a vast pool of guest worker contract labor. Add in inflation usurping your purchasing power and the game becomes more challenging. Something has to give. Fortunately, there are ways to stop playing the game by their rules.

Finding Alternatives to Rolex

In this post, we'll look at affordable alternatives to the Rolex Explorer.  There are many great alternatives to that vaunted timepiece that won't break our bank accounts or divert money from other important financial goals.

Rolex Explorer I - Photo by Thierry Mostra-store, CC BY-SA 4.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0>, via Wikimedia Commons

Rolex Homage Watches

First, let's take a look at homage watches.  Homage watches have styles that are obviously inspired by iconic watches. Sometimes the watch is an almost exact copy that differs only in the logo on the dial, some materials used, and the internal mechanism that drives the watch. It's important to note that these aren't counterfeit watches. They are simply watches inspired by classic designs. Pagani Design offers affordable alternatives to several common Rolex models.  Take a look at their Rolex Explorer 2 GMT Alternative:

Pagani Design Automatic GMT Watch (Amazon Photo)

You can find the Pagani Design GMT Automatic here on Amazon for about 1/10 of the price of a Rolex Explorer II.  That's over $10,000 that could be used for investments or other purposes.

Alternatives to the Rolex Explorer I

The Rolex Explorer 1 is a tall order for most middle class watch enthusiasts, but a company called AddiesDive has a wonderful quartz homage for a fraction of the cost.

AddiesDive VH31 (Amazon Photo)

The AddiesDive 36mm Small Dial VH31 Stainless Steel Quartz Watch is available here on Amazon for a pittance.

Another Explorer I alternative is offered by a company called Tactical Frog. Like the Rolex Explorer 1, the Tactical Frog Cronos has a 36mm diameter case and 100 meters of water resistance. The watch has a stainless steel case and the sapphire crystal has an anti-reflective coating.

Tactical Frog Cronos L6032 PT5000 Automatic Watch (Amazon Photo)

If you'd like to make the hop to Tactical Frog, you can find this what here on Amazon.

One more Rolex Explorer is the Baltany Explorer. The internet and watch Youtube have gone crazy over this automatic with a beautiful stainless steel case. It's 36mm in diameter and offers a very solid 200 meters of water resistance.

Baltany Explorer 36mm (Amazon photo)

If you'd like to get a luxurious look at a more sensible price, bang it here to see the Baltany Explorer on Amazon.

Beyond Rolex

Of course, sometimes an homage watch can seem like it is trying too hard to be an exact replica of the inspiration watch.  If you don't want to look like a "wannabe," take a step back and look at what people value about the original watches. Setting aside rarity and prestige branding, people are drawn to the practicality of the Rolex Explorer series. The watch is readable, simple, and of a comfortable size. There are literally thousands of watches that fit that criteria. You might simply choose a sensible Seiko to meet that need. You can get this one with a brilliant sun ray blue dial for a sensible price here on Amazon.  It's romantically called the Model SZSB013.

Seiko Men's Automatic Watch (Model SZSB013)

If you let yourself breathe a little and look away from the unobtainable brands, you may find plenty of watches from companies like Bulova, Citizen,  Orient, Seiko, Timex, Tissot, Victorinox, and Wenger that fit the bill.  All of these companies have long, rich, proud histories of their own.  You can arrive at the readable, practical, watch that fits your budget and has its own heritage. Ultimately, you can define your own prestige watch.