Welcome back to the Gentleman's Gazette. In today's video, we're going to be
sharing with you some of our favorite alternatives to iconic luxury watches.
♪ Gentleman's Gazette Theme Song ♪
So, who doesn't love looking at a beautiful luxury watch?
If you're anything like us, we could spend hours gazing at these beauties.
[Nathan gazes at a Patek Philippe]
The problem is most luxury watches cost so much that the only thing we can spend on them
is time. And if you've ever had this feeling,
then this video is made for you. We thought it was about
time to bring together some alternatives to some of our favorite luxury watches.
Should we call them "look-a-likes" or "watch-a-likes"? Yeah, never mind.
So, before we get started, let's clarify, what does "affordable" mean?
We all have different budgetary concerns when it comes to buying a wristwatch.
After all, for some of us, we'd rather choose a $10 watch and invest the money elsewhere,
and that's perfectly fine. But, there's no denying that the desire to own
an iconic luxury watch can be powerful and it's certainly something that we appreciate.
So, if you can afford a $10,000 Rolex or a Patek Philippe that's the price of a house,
then that's awesome as well. And, also, how to get in touch with you? I'm
asking for a friend. For many of us, investing in luxury watches has become something of a daydream,
and it's something that might not ever happen.
So, with affordability at the top of our goal here,
this is how we're going to do things today. First,
we'll name an iconic luxury watch and then, we will
talk about some affordable alternatives - some at
the thousand dollar budget and some that are sub-500.
We really want to cater to different levels of what our viewers can and can't afford. And just
to make this clear, we're not going to tell you to buy replica.
It's something that we don't stand for
and something that I don't feel you should support.
After all, the term "replica" is actually just a fake
watch and it's something that we certainly don't recommend. And because many fakes hover around
this price point that we're going to talk about today, we would highly recommend buying a watch
that is an alternative and not a fake. It'll also keep you out of trouble. So, let's dive in to our
first watch - the Rolex Submariner. With an MSRP of around $8,900 to $10,000 if you can get
them at retail, the Rolex Submariner is an iconic piece synonymous with luxury, which is why it was
really controversial when Raphael said that he'd never owned one. That being said, Rolex is known
as a status symbol of wealth and luxury, so it's really interesting that their most iconic watch
is actually meant to be a tool watch. You can't argue the Submariner's appeal as a
functional dive watch, which is why it might be one of the most copied designs out there.
So, we wanted to pick a few examples of watches that really give you a good bang-per-buck,
while honoring the Submariner's heritage and look. So, first is the Oris 65 with the MSRP sitting
around $2,000, but you can find these gently used for $1,200 to $1,500, maybe less.
Okay, okay. I know this is a little bit over the budget that we established, but this is a personal
favorite. It's the watch that got me into luxury watches and, I mean, look at how good it looks.
In fact, I'd argue if you have a smaller wrist,
the Oris might be a better choice for you as it has
a much thinner case than the Rolex Submariner. It has a slimmer bezel, unique colors, and an overall
smaller design and proportion than the Submariner. And hey,
you get it at like a quarter of the price.
If rugged utility is something you're looking for, then you really can't go much further than Seiko
dive watches at their price point. Seiko divers, especially this example from the Prospex line,
come in a variety of dial colors, bezel colors, and sizes.
And really, with a 300-meter water resistance,
you get a great value for $300 to $500 bucks.
This is the watch that you can wear with a lot of casual
ensembles every day and not have to worry about it if you get it wet. One more watch that we'll throw
in here is the Baltec Aquascaphe. At around $600, it has the vintage charm of the Oris 65
and really looks a lot like a Rolex Submariner and pays a lot of nod to classic Submariner design.
Next up on our list is a watch that really needs no introduction. It has an iconic shape and look
and that's the Cartier Tank. Now, this one was actually a little bit challenging
because the retail price on a Cartier Tank isn't as high as you would think it was,
especially if you're considering a lot of the other
watches we're looking at today. The MSRP and
the secondhand value usually hangs around $2,900 to $3,500, but we understand that not everyone has
$3,000 to spend, so let's look at some alternatives.
For under half the price of the Cartier Tank, you
could be the proud owner of a Longines Dolce Vita. Longines is actually a really interesting brand
with a really rich history. So, if you want to know more about them,
let us know and we might make
a video on it. But, in the meantime, if you look at the two side-by-side, blued hands, Roman hour
markers, and the rectangular case make these two very comparable. Really the Longines has it all.
Thankfully, rectangular watches are not only super wearable, but they're also pretty popular.
So, we were split when it came to the choice under $500.
First, let's let Seiko shine again. We've chosen
this watch particularly for the gold tone used in the case. After all, Cartier Tank watches in
gold look fantastic. But, at a price point of around $10,000, that's just out of a lot of
people's reach. Therefore, with this Seiko,
you can enjoy the look of a gold Cartier and still have
thousands in the bank. For another alternative to Cartier, we would recommend looking at Rotary,
especially their Cambridge model. Much like
Longines, Rotary has a rich history as a Swiss brand,
and they can be a nice place to look for some luxury alternatives. What's great about this
model is it's not trying to be the Cartier one-to-one, but it takes some design cues
and has a really nice look. Lastly for one higher option at the thousand-dollar price point,
we would recommend this Maurice Lacroix Reserve de Marche. Now, this is a bit of a bigger watch,
it works well on my wrist. It's really cool. It has a silver dial, that rectangular shape,
and it has a power reserve indicator. This is a watch that I hadn't seen before, but Federico
over at Delray Watch had one in the shop, and I thought it fit the criteria really well. They
aren't sponsoring this video, but they always send us watches to help us out in our watch content so
thanks for that. Now, you know I have to include this one on the list; it's a personal favorite
of mine - the Omega Speedmaster. My first video on the channel was about this watch and we asked the
question of if it was worth it. I'm not going to spoil that video, so you need to go watch it here.
Suffice it to say, the Speedmaster's heritage and history of being the "moon watch" makes it highly
desirable. And while its unique design can be tricky to find alternatives,
we found some. The best
example I can think of is the Bulova Lunar Pilot. This watch gives you the look and feel of the
Omega and it brings you a little bit closer to the moon.
It has a similar look to the Speedmaster and,
although the chronograph pushers are integrated more into the case, it shares a lot of the same
design language. The colors and the subdials are the same, and it even has a tachymeter bezel
just like the Speedmaster. And depending on the kit that you buy, they come with the Velcro strap
just like the NASA astronauts used.
You could pick these up for $300 to $600. And if you're looking at
an affordable alternative to the Omega Speedmaster,
then you can get an Omega Speedmaster. What you're
looking at here is a recent collaboration between Omega and Swatch. This collaboration, called the
"MoonSwatch", incorporates much of the Speedmaster's
design details with some really unique colors in
a quartz movement, which keeps it affordable. This collection comes in a variety of colors like blue
and yellow and pink, as well as the iconic black. So, with the thousands that you would save off of
a Speedmaster Professional, you could buy two of these, three of these. That's if you can get them
at retail. These are completely sold out
right now. Our fourth watch is often seen as the pinnacle of
dress watches - the Patek Philippe Calatrava. The MSRP of these start at $21,000 and
go up, and you can find a few models for a little bit less than that, but expect to pay
fifteen, eighteen, twenty thousand. The simple,
refined, and uncomplicated dial makes the Calatrava
infinitely wearable and a timeless classic. Yeah,
I know, I know. "Timeless classic." So, for as much
fun as we're having here, the price tag of these
watches is eye-wateringly serious. But, great news,
there are plenty of affordable alternatives to this iconic piece. Nomos has a variety of watches
such as the Club, the Tangente,
and the Ludwig that are around the thousand-dollar price point. Nomos
is currently soaring in popularity with watch lovers and it's pretty easy to see why. They have
precise detailing, fun colors, and a really fresh take on a classic look, which is very popular
and appealing to buyers. As the Calatrava range has gone through many iterations over the years,
we picked the Tangente and the Ludwig as a direct comparison to the iconic 5120G.
And as you can see,
the similarities speak for themselves here. With details such as elegant Roman numerals and a
beautifully simple dial, it makes the Nomos stand out and not just for its attractive price point.
Now, for a different feel, we turn back to Baltic, especially their MR01 model. This particular watch
bears a striking resemblance to the 5196 Patek Calatrava, most notably models with a sub second.
Now, the salmon color dial might not be everyone's taste, but Baltic offers many different color
options. And around this similar price point, you will once again find Seiko - specifically in their
Presage range and their watch called the Cocktail Time.
These are watches that sit around $300 to $500
and are really easy to incorporate into a modern wardrobe. With some really nice dials and even
a few complications, these watches are a nice fit here at this price point. And, just for fun,
we will also include Timex here, especially their Marlin line. At around $180 to $250,
this is a watch
that really should be in everyone's collection, especially if you have a small wrist. Just keep
in mind that the Marlin is a hand-wound movement, so it might not be your cup of tea. I should have
said, "It might not be what grinds your gears," but
hey. Our fifth watch is the iconic Audemars Piguet
Royal Oak. Some people love it, some people hate it. I personally really like it and there's others
who would rather spend thousands of dollars
on something else. The MSRP of these is around $28,000
to $30,000, but that's if you can get one. Secondhand,
they currently sit at $60,000 up. So, although this
watch has an iconic design with the integrated bracelet, we were able to find some alternatives.
First up is the Maurice Lacroix Aikon. At around a thousand dollars, gently used, this watch
incorporates a lot of the design language from the Royal Oak and puts a bit of its own spin on it.
With the integrated bracelet and similar K-shape, this is a great alternative at the thousand-dollar
price point. And if you're allured by the Royal Oaks
iconic dial, pick the Tissot PRX. Now, this watch
might not be a one-to-one match, but with similar features including the dial and the integrated
bracelet, it's a great fit for $400 to $600.
The last option here that I'll throw in at the $300 to $400
price point is the Rotary Regent. Rotary is another affordably-priced
brand that is now making our
list again. This watch has a similar design that's easy on the eyes and easy on the wallet. Our last
watch is the JLC Ultra Thin Moon. Pop culture fans will note that this is the watch that was worn by
Marvel's Doctor Strange in his movie and the watch that got the crystal smashed. Now, outside
of the movie world,
this watch is very befitting of its title with JLCs level of master craftsmanship.
First up, we will head over to Frederique Constant for a watch of a similar style.
Frederique Constant is known for making some pretty nice-looking dress watches at an affordable
price so, if you like this this, might be a great option for you.
Now, Orient might not be a new name
to some of us who love watches as they provide great value and great design at their price point.
And with several moon phase offerings coming in at around $300, there's great value there. Lastly, to
end things on a high note, let's look at Henry of London. Their Richmond model in quartz comes in at
around a hundred dollars and is a nice alternative at this price point. And for that price, you get
the day, date, month, and moon phase, which is
pretty impressive if you consider the price of this watch.
After all, it might have a quartz movement but it has a lot of the original styling as the JLC.
And as we round things up, I want to make a note that the world of watches is something that's
constantly evolving and changing. So, prices that I quote here might not always be perfect, but we
did our very best. So, if we've inspired you to go look for a budget alternative to an iconic watch
and it's not available, look around within that brand's catalog, there might be something else
that fits the bill.
Which one of today's affordable alternatives was your favorite? Please let me know
down in the comments below. In today's video, I'm wearing an outfit that's perfect for a casual
spring-summer here in Minneapolis. It consists of
a navy blue pop over with a spread collar from Suit
Supply. This is a shirt I wear a lot in the
warmer months. It looks great under a sport coat. The only
thing I would do differently is have a button-down collar because, as you can see, my collar is
flying away. I'm wearing a pair of flat front chinos from LL Bean in a bit of a looser fit.
And as I typically do, a crisp pair of white sneakers. I said in the last video that I needed
a new pair and these are from [inaudible].
On my wrist for this video, is an incredible Patek Calatrava.
This one has a sector dial. Federico over at Delray Watch sent this over. Again, they're not a
sponsor of the channel, but they send us watches and it helps us out a lot so thanks for that.
This watch is not an affordable alternative, but since we had one in, I had to wear the real thing.
♪ Gentleman's Gazette Theme Song ♪