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Have you ever lusted after a watch that you just couldn’t afford at the time, so you instead purchased something comparable aesthetically, but cheaper? It’s a common refrain in watch collecting, but buying a lower-priced alternative doesn’t have to mean you’re settling. All available through StockX—an online marketplace aimed at fostering a buying/selling experience that values transparency above all else—the six watches profiled in today’s article demonstrate just that.
Want This? Get That: Lower-Priced Alternatives to Three Iconic Watches
Want a Rolex Oyster Perpetual 39?
The Oyster Perpetual is a Rolex mainstay, and for good reason. It’s a damn fine watch with a clean, versatile aesthetic and an undeniably excellent build quality, from the 39-millimeter case made of a proprietary steel alloy down to the engine within (it’s a cal. 3132, by the way). The best thing about the watch is that it’s a go anywhere, do anything sort of piece—from the beach to the boardroom, it won’t look out of place in most scenarios. If gray isn’t your color, Rolex has a handful of dial options available, including two classic black and white variants released earlier this year.
Get a Tudor Black Bay 36
Staying within the Wilsdorf family, the Tudor Black Bay 36 was born from a family of historically-inspired dive watches. But it also deviated from the Black Bay’s tried-and-true formula. It was a bezel-free, ever-so-slightly dressed-up sports watch measuring just 36 millimeters in diameter. On paper, that combination looked a bit strange to say the least, but in the metal the whole thing came together, and it’d be quite easy to argue that the Black Bay 36 is Tudor’s quirky take on the Oyster Perpetual. And like the Oyster Perpetual, it’s supremely versatile, taking well to both a bracelet and a leather strap. If you were looking to become the proverbial “one watch guy,” then then Black Bay 36 is a strong contender for that coveted real estate on your wrist.
Want a Grand Seiko Spring Drive “Snowflake” ref. SBGA211?
The Grand Seiko Spring Drive SBGA211, otherwise known as the “Snowflake” by Seiko enthusiasts, is perhaps Grand Seiko’s most iconic Spring Drive-powered watch. It’s been around for quite some time now, and yet it still turns heads when someone shows up with one at a watch get-together. From the beautiful and unique dial, which emulates the look of newly fallen snow, to the impressive Spring Drive caliber within, the watch is a powerhouse. And let us not forget Seiko’s excellent case finishing, with the Zaratsu-polished surfaces catching the light in ways few other watches do.
Get a Seiko Presage “Sakura Fubuki Cocktail Time” ref. SRPC03J1
There are few watches that can match the distinctive beauty of the “Snowflake,” but Seiko is known for often translating higher-end ideas to more accessible watches. The Seiko Presage SRPC03J1, also known as the “Sakura Fubuki Cocktail Time,” attempts just that. The biggest draw here is, without a doubt, the dial, which features a striking pattern that expands out from its center. It’s both elegant and calming, and it captures some of the feeling of the “Snowflake,” albeit in a very different way. Regardless, it is simply a stunning watch that is sure to take up plenty of time on the wrist (those who have ever owned one of Seiko’s “Cocktail Time” watches will gladly attest to that).
Want a JLC Master Ultra Thin Automatic?
Jaeger LeCoultre is a watchmaking powerhouse, with the firm producing watches that offer an incredible value given their high level of horological prowess. The Master Ultra Thin 41 ref. 1338421 is an elegant example of just that. As the name suggests, it’s a svelte and graceful dress watch without too many bells and whistles, but that’s a good thing because it doesn’t need any. And the automatic in-house caliber ticking away inside keeps the watch thin at just a hair under 7.5 millimeters. It’s the perfect dress watch.
Get a Montblanc Heritage Chronométrie Automatic
A few years back, Montblanc began producing super-thin, somewhat classically-styled pieces through their Heritage Chronométrie series. These were handsome, classically-styled watches primarily utilizing standard ETA calibers. The Heritage Chronométrie Automatic was one of the simplest references, offering the time and date in a case measuring 40 millimeters wide and just 7.65 millimeters thick. While it may not have the same horologicial chops as the aforementioned JLC, it handily makes up for it in the looks department.
