There’s nothing quite like wearing a quality timepiece around your wrist, knowing it’s beautifully designed, meticulously crafted and highly covetable, but the expense of such a thing can be eyewatering.
Indeed, some of us can only dream of owning the likes of a Rolex, Cartier or Omega, particularly when our priorities shift to sensible things like mortgages and families (snooze).
Cost-of-living aside, there’s good news. With a nudge in the right direction, you can snap up an accessible dupe of an aspirational brand at a fraction of the cost, and sometimes without compromising on quality. Tim Harrison, watch expert and co-founder of Watch Pilot, says: “For those with a discerning eye, exquisite style doesn’t always have to come with a hefty price tag. With a bit of savvy and diligent research, you’ll be amazed at the treasure trove of affordable watches that capture the essence and allure of their high-end counterparts.”
He adds: “From classic designs to modern marvels, if you’re willing to do your research, you can find timepieces that boast impeccable craftsmanship, precision movements and stunning aesthetics, all at a fraction of the cost of the big-name luxury brands.”
To help you shop smarter, we’ve compiled the best alternatives to iconic watches, leaving you spare change to go out, out and show off your new timepiece. After all, nothing says ‘bragging rights’ quite like knowing you’ve got a little luxury for less.
See below
Best chronograph watches for 2023 to suit your taste in timepieces
Best watches for men under £1000 for enduring style
Best mens watches for under £500
14 Best men’s watches for under £200
Best iconic watches and where you can buy them: Rolex, Tag Heuer, Omega and more
Best military watches for no-nonsense aesthetics, durability and practicality
Tissot Classic Dream Yellow Gold-Plated Leather Quartz Men’s Watch
With a brown leather strap and a gold-plated case, the Classic Dream from Tissot could easily be mistaken for the Grand Complications by Patek Philippe, both Swiss brands crafting a similarly beautiful watch boasting timeless appeal. The key differentiator? Tissot’s can be yours for under £300 while Patek Philippe’s retails from £80,000 upwards.
There’s no denying the latter is the very pinnacle of luxury watchmaking, but the Classic Dream offers plenty of bang for your buck, featuring an ivory dial with gold-plated hands and hour markers, a yellow gold-plated bezel, scratch-resistant sapphire crystal glass and reliable quartz movement. A dream, indeed.
Buy now £275.00, Beaverbrooks
Samsung Galaxy Watch4 GPS 40mm Pink Gold
Obsessed with all things Apple? Of course you are. But next time you mindlessly step out to snap up their latest and greatest creation, think again. The Galaxy Watch4 GPS from Samsung, the South Korean electronics company, might just save you a fortune.
A snip at just £199, it’s around £100 less than the Apple Watch Series 8 Starlight, featuring an intuitive touchscreen, activity tracker, Google Pay and Android notifications. Like the Apple, it’s water-resistant, meaning a cooling dip after a hot workout isn’t off the cards. The pink-gold colourway wraps up a pretty sweet deal.
Buy now £199.00, AO
Certina DS Caimano Gent’s Steel Watch
Riffing on the slim and streamlined aesthetics of Omega’s De Ville Tresor, the Certina DS Caimano is a fraction of the price at £280 (rather than £6,500), comprising a familiar black leather strap, thin and elegant stainless-steel case, and pale dial with three-hand movement and date dial.
The notable difference is the lack of 18-carat white gold on the Certina, but compromises need to be made to cut costs. Otherwise, it’s a quality watch with classic looks and considered features that don’t distract from its primary function: reliable timekeeping.
Buy now £280.00, Beaverbrooks
Herbelin Cap Camarat Men’s Blue Watch
Sure, a Santos de Cartier is up there on the wish list for most of us, but £6,750 is quite a whack to part with (even if its timeless style will endure for years to come). Good news: French watchmakers Herbelin have devised a similar-looking silver timepiece for a little over £500.
It echoes more than a few characteristics, from the shape with curved angles, to the stainless-steel case and bracelet, and the signature exposed screws. The striking blue dial, meanwhile, is all its own, and a welcome addition for those who like to make a statement.
Buy now £539.00, Jura Watches
Michael Kors Mens’ Lexington Watch
An object of desire since it was designed in 1945, Rolex Datejust was a milestone in watchmaking as the first self-winding waterproof chronometer to feature a window displaying the date. While its allure endures, just shy of £10,000 isn’t the kind of money you want to part with every day, in which case the Lexington Watch from American brand Michael Kors offers a more economical alternative.
The date window is present and correct, albeit not at 3 o’clock as per the Datejust, as are dressy aesthetics with sporty flair, while a chunky case and bold dial are complemented by a bracelet with metal links and elegant clasp.
Buy now £1999.99, Ernest Jones
Roamer Modern Classic Men’s Blue Watch
Blink, and you might miss the difference between Patek Philippe’s 5016A silver-and-blue timepiece and this similarly-styled number from Roamer. Although they’re both made by Swiss watch-makers, the latter comes for much, much less at under £200.
It features a blue leather strap, 44mm stainless steel case and chronograph display while everything is waterproof by up to 100m. Sure, it may not have all the makings of its seriously more expensive counterpart, but without needing to sell your home, you’ll certainly get over it.
Buy now £179.00, Jura Watches
Rotary Seamatic Men’s Black Watch
Are you even a watch connoisseur without a Rolex Submariner to your name? Maybe not. But nobody will ever know when you can fake it until you make it with the Rotary Seamatic featuring a like-for-like stainless steel case, black bezel and three-link bracelet to reflect the diving aesthetic of its pricier cousin.
Buy now £249.00, Rotary
Clogau Idwal Silver
Looking a lot like Cartier’s Tank, with its masculine good look and stainless-steel square case and bracelet, the Idwal Silver from Clogau is a steal at just under £400.
Interestingly, this small but stellar watchmaker is based in Wales rather than France, but that doesn’t stop it from turning out powerhouse timepieces such as this. It’s powered by a Japanese-made quartz movement for precise time, date and chronograph functions, while the crown in every watch contains rare Welsh gold. Can the Tank lay claim to that?
Buy now £360.00, Clogau
Huawei Watch Fit 2 Active Smart Watch Midnight Black
Another imitation of Apple comes in the form of the Fit 2 Active Smart Watch by Huawei. The Chinese brand has certainly been inspired by the Americans in its aesthetics – including the black rubber strap and colourful interface, for example – but the technology is all their own.
It runs exclusively on Huawei mobile services and doesn’t support Google or Apple technology (as you’d expect) with features such as TruSport running analysis and TruRelax stress monitoring. It’s also water-resistant for those who like to take the plunge.
Buy now £129.00, AO
Bulova Men’s Marine Star Automatic Watch
Got your eye on a Hublot? Look away – your bank account will thank you for it. Instead, cast your gaze on the Bulova Men’s Marine Star Automatic Watch.
The American-founded but Chinese-owned watchmakers have, rather convincingly, recreated the same bold aesthetic as the Swiss brand, albeit for a reassuringly lower price. It’s part of Citizen, who are more recognisable makers, so rest assured you’re benefiting from the brand’s heritage and experience behind this quality contemporary timepiece.
Buy now £369.00, Amazon
