Wristwatch Review: Tahari Quartz "Datejust Homage" Dress Watch

Do you like the look of a fluted bezel like the one on the famed Rolex Datejust "Presidential" dress watch? I've been playing around with fluted bezel watches for awhile. On the one hand, I like the way that the fluted bezels catch the light, but on the other, I typically wear more utilitarian watches. Before plunking down big money on a Rolex, it's worth exploring the look a bit more thoroughly.  That's where a watch like the Tahari Quartz Datejust Homage comes in.

Tahari Datejust Watch Features

The Tahari Datejust has a quartz movement made in Singapore. It is a dress watch with a domed crystal, a magnifier bubble (or cyclops) over the date window; a gold-tone fluted bezel, case, bracelet, and hour markers; and the number 12 at 12 o'clock. It's a simple watch.

Tahari Datejust Quartz Watch

Tahari Watch Style

The Rolex "Presidential" Datejust is a watch that has long been associated with presidents, prime ministers, and other leaders around the world. With the Tahari, the style is a bit more relaxed. You don't need to do any of that leadership stuff. You just need to take $20 or so down to Burlington. Other than that, the Tahari mimics a traditional Rolex Datejust--without actual gold, diamonds, or crowns here there and everywhere.

Tahari "DateJust" Homage

On a more serious note, the Tahari does give an approximation of how a datejust might look on your wrist. It's not a substitute for a Rolex, but it is a placeholder. It'll help the wearer figure out if they like fluted dials or not.

Tahari Watch Construction

The Tahari Datejust is made by Accutime in Asia (most likely in China or Hong Kong). The watch has a stainless steel case back, a base metal case, and a Chinese stainless steel bracelet. Over the years, I've been satisfied with other watches made by Accutime over the years. The company makes many watches under license for sports teams and store-brand watches. 

This Tahari watch does have a few little things that reveal its low price point. For example, the bracelet is very light weight and there are a few brush or tool marks on the case. None of these minor things are showstoppers for a $20 fashion watch.

Tahari Watch Dimensions

The Tahari "Datejust" case is 39mm in diameter and 10mm thick. Without the room requirements of Swiss, antique-style, mechanical works, the Tahari (not counting the 1mm cyclops) actually comes in a little thinner than a 41mm Rolex Datejust which measures 11.6 to 12mm thick. The lug-to-lug measurements come in at about 47mm. The stainless steel bracelet is 19mm wide at the lug and tapers slightly to 15.5mm at the clasp.  It's  long enough to fit my 7 3/4-inch wrist perfectly without adjustment.

The Tahari Datejust Bracelet tapers significantly

Overall Impressions of the Tahari Datejust Homage

The Tahari Datejust Homage is a comfortable, cheap, watch that has allowed me to experiment with the fluted bezel watch look. It's a nice looking watch for casual wear. However, I probably wouldn't wear this watch in a professional setting. While it does mimic the look of a far more expensive Rolex, it doesn't have the brand reputation or high quality look that we expect from more expensive brands like Bulova, Seiko, or Timex. Still, its a fun bang around watch for the weekend.

[Do you want to see five more alternatives to the Rolex Datejust Presidential watch? Read my blog post here!]

Five Alternatives to the Rolex Day-Date President Watch

The Rolex Oyster Perpetual Day-Date "President" watch has long been popular with U.S. Presidents and other leaders around the world. Lyndon Johnson was the US President who popularized the watch. But, other presidents including John F. Kennedy, Richard Nixon, Gerald Ford, Ronald Reagan, Barack Obama, and Donald Trump have worn Rolex President watches.

Rolex Day-Date Presidential Watch - Fabian Peiffer, CC BY-SA 4.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0>, via Wikimedia Commons

Since it's introduction in 1956, elements of this popular Rolex watch have worked their way into many other watch designs from a variety of brands around the world. 

Watches Inspired by Rolex

From merely inspired to obvious homage watches, we'll take a look at a few timepieces that clearly draw upon the Rolex Day-Date President for inspiration.

1. Bulova Classic Surveyor Watch

The Bulova Classic Surveyor is a quartz watch that incorporates all the day-date functionality into a rich looking quartz package. By omitting the fluted dial, this Bulova keeps away from being a direct copy, but keeps an upscale look that is very practical. As of this writing (June 2025), this Bulova is 46% off at this link on Amazon.com.

Bulova Classic Survey Quartz Watch (Amazon photo)

Moving beyond the Bulova, you can bring in more and different design elements to evoke that classic look. It's interesting to see how different elements of the style come together for customers.

2. Mathey-Tissot Mathey 3 Automatic Watch

Named after one of the founders of Mathey-Tissot, flutes and a date cyclops join together on the styling Mathey-Tissot Mathey 3 Automatic watch for men. This watch brings together the flash of a fluted dial and a Swiss Automatic movement for a classy watch at a relatively low price. You can check out the Mathey-Tissot Mathey 3 in blue here on Amazon.

Mathey-Tissot Mathey III automatic

If you want to nail the Rolex President look, you may have to dive deeper into homage watches. There are several that mimic the President look.

3. NIBOSI Stainless Steel Quartz Day Date Watch

Starting out with the lowest price Rolex President homage brings us to a Chinese watch maker called Nibosi. They've nailed the Rolex President look--from a distance.  Up close, the dial reads "Superlative Chonometery." 

The watch comes in 28 different color and dial combinations including ones with Roman numerals instead of crystals. It's less than $35 and might be worth taking a chance on. You can find it here on Amazon. 

4. Peugeot 14K All Gold Plated Big Face Watch

If you need to nail the look and bring the bling. I think this Peugeot watch (available here on Amazon) really brings the look to every man's wrist at an affordable price. This watch is plated with 14-carat gold and is powered by a Seiko movement.

5. Cadisen Men's Miyota Automatic Day-Date Watch

This Cadisen also nails the look and provides a reliable Miyota Automatic movement with 100-meters of water resistance. It's a fun watch with a nice one-two combination punch of looks and capability. It gets 4.2 stars about of 5 in 72 reviews on Amazon. If gold feels like too much flash for you, Cadisen has several color and dial combinations that allow you to tone it down a bit. This gives you a chance to enjoy the light playing across the flutes and all the functionality of the watch without looking like a complete clone.

If you like the look of this watch, you can check it out here on Amazon. 

None of these watches will ever have the same meaning as a genuine Rolex President. Like it or not, Rolex (and particularly the President) symbolize achievement, authority, and power. It's an ultimate status symbol watch. However, when you step back from the Rolex crown and all the prestige and mystique surrounding a real Rolex, it's clear that the beauty and functionality of the original Rolex design still shines through in these homage timepieces.

[Are you intrigued by other Rolex designs? Are you saddled with the budget of a mere mortal? Don't worry, here are some watches that might be affordable alternatives to a Rolex Explorer.]

[Do you want to see a very inexpensive Tahari watch that draws inspiration from the Rolex Datejust? Check out my review here on the watchdude!]