Affordable Alternatives to 6 Classic Luxury Watches

For those who are just getting into watches, you may be intimidated by the prices of classic designs from luxury brands like Rolex, Cartier and Audemars Piguet. With a fair bit of research, however, you'll be able to find a number of homage options that won't necessarily break the bank. Speaking to watch collector Jaclyn Li (who goes by @a.dose.of.time on Instagram) for recommendations, here, we've compiled a list of affordable alternatives to some of the most iconic timepieces.

If the octagonal Royal Oak or the Rolex Daytona feels out of reach, consider similar-looking styles from the Middle Eastern label Furlan Marri and New York-based brand Bulova. According to Li, Seiko also offers a budget-friendly watch model that resembles the timeless Cartier Tank.

Read on to learn about the affordable alternatives to six popular luxury watch models, and check out the collector's guide to investing in entry-level watches while you're at it.

Furlan Marri Tasti Tondi vs. Patek Philippe 1463

[shoppable brand="Furlan Marri" product="Tasti Tondi" link="https://furlanmarri.com/" store="Furlan Marri" price="$350 USD"]

[/shoppable]

Similarities: Dial configuration, case design, pusher design, hands, two-tone dial.
Differences: Movement, size.

Bulova Royal Oak Quartz vs. Audemars Piguet Royal Oak

[shoppable brand="Bulova" product="Royal Oak Quartz" link="https://www.chrono24.com/bulova/bulova-royal-oak--id10672996.htm#gref" store="Chrono24" price="$3,636 USD"]

[/shoppable]

Similarities: Dial, case, hands, indices, date-window.
Differences: Level of finishing on case, movement finishing, movements are different (quartz vs. automatic).

Baltic Bicompax 001 vs. Rolex Oyster Daytona

[shoppable brand="Baltic" product="Bicompax 001" link="https://baltic-watches.com/en/products/bicompax-001-cream" store="Baltic" price="€540.83 EUR (approximately $639 USD)"]

[/shoppable]

Similarities: Dial, dial configuration, both chronographs, case design.
Differences: Bezel, lume, movement. Rolex has stick hands, while Baltic uses leaf hands.

Manawa M1 vs. F.P. Journe Chronomètre Bleu

[shoppable brand="Manawa" product="M1 Myrtille" link="https://www.manawawatches.com/product/685066/manawa-m1-myrtille" store="Manawa" price="€890 EUR (approximately $1,052 USD)"]

[/shoppable]

Similarities: Shiny blue dial, indices layout, subsecond location on the dial.
Differences: Case material, lug design, crown design, thickness, movement material and finishing.

Seiko Tank vs. Cartier Tank Louis

[shoppable brand="Seiko" product="SUP880 Tank" link="https://www.amazon.com/SUP880-Analog-Display-Japanese-Quartz/dp/B00LI77OXK" store="Amazon" price="$129.69 USD"]

[/shoppable]

Similarities: Time only, dial configuration, roman numerals for indices, white dial, black indices, case shape, similar crown.
Differences: Movement finishing, movement type (some are quartz, some are mechanical), size.

Tissot PRX 40 205 Powermatic 80 vs. BVLGARI Octo Finissimo

[shoppable brand="Tissot" product="PRX" link="https://www.tissotwatches.com/en-us/t1374101104100.html" store="Tissot" price="$375 USD"]

[/shoppable]

Similarities: Type of bracelet, dial color, case shape.
Differences: Complication – one is time only, the other has a date. One has lume, one doesn’t.

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