Looking for inexpensive Rolex Explorer alternatives? The Rolex Explorer is just one of many great selections from the legendary Rolex brand. Rolex, however is known for carrying a premium price tag. The quality and history of Rolex demands prices in the thousands of dollars range for their products.
So what does this mean to the average person who doesn’t have the budget for an actual Rolex watch? Are you doomed to never experience a luxury style watch on your wrist? Not necessarily. Rest assured that for just about every luxury watch available on the market, with a little bit of research, you can usually find an inexpensive alternative to that product.
In this article, we will be looking at watches that resemble the style of the Rolex Explorer. So if you like the style of the Explorer, but are looking for a more inexpensive option, then we’ve got you covered! Check out these great Rolex Explorer alternatives!
#1: Longines Conquest Black Dial
The Longines Conquest would be the first option because of the striking similarity to the original style Rolex Explorer. It is an automatic self-winding watch with an analog display.
It is made of stainless steel and is water resistant to a depth of 300 meters. Upon first glance, it looks almost exactly like the original Rolex Explorer, except that it has a date window on the right side. This is, however, the most expensive watch on this list.
Quick Look
- striking resemblance to the Rolex Explorer
- automatic, self-winding
- stainless steel
- water resistant up to 300 meters
- somewhat expensive
2: Orient Mako II
The Orient Mako II bears a resemblance to the Rolex Explorer II style. This is a stainless steel, automatic, hand-winding, watch with an analog display. The dial window is made of mineral material.
It is water resistant up to 200 meters and has a 40 hour power reserve. The main difference in style between this and the Rolex Explorer II, is the addition of the day to the date window. The Explorer II only has the date, but not the day in the window.
Quick Look
- stainless steel
- automatic, hand-winding
- water resistant up to 200 meters
- 40 hour power reserve
- looks just like the Rolex Explorer II
3: Casio EF106D-2AV
This model of Casio follows in the traditional style of the Rolex Explorer. This watch is stainless steel, Japanese quartz movement, with an analog display.
It features luminous hands, and a mineral crystal dial window. It is water resistant up to 100 meters. The thing that stand out the most about this Casio model, is its affordability. This watch comes in at a budget price.
Quick Look
- stainless steel
- Japanese quartz movement
- luminous hands
- water resistant up to 100 meters
- very inexpensive
#4: Citizen Eco-Drive AW1430-86E
This Citizen watch is another great budget option. It uses Japanese quartz movement, and has an analog display. It is made of stainless steel, the dial window is made of mineral material, and has luminous hands and markers. This one also contains both the day and date in the side window. This watch is water resistant up to 330 feet.
Quick Look
- Japanese quartz movement
- stainless steel
- luminous hands and markers
- water resistant up to 330 feet
- inexpensive
#5: Seiko Men’s SNK393K
This Seiko model clearly takes great inspiration from the Rolex Explorer. This watch features automatic movement, and an analog display. It is made of stainless steel, has luminous hands, and has a hardlex dial window. It is water resistant up to 30 meters.
Quick Look
- automatic movement
- stainless steel
- luminous hands
- water resistant up to 30 meters
Conclusion
As you have seen, it is still possible to find watches that exude both style and elegance at an affordable price! Style is not limited to those select few who seem to have an unlimited amount of disposable income.
While these options may not possess the same inherent quality and history you will find in Rolex watches, the basic style is there. This completes our list of the top 5 best Rolex Explorer alternatives.
If you like the style of the Rolex Submariner instead, then check out our article on the best Rolex Submariner cheaper alternatives! Still not satisfied? We have articles on other luxury watch alternatives.
Over the years there have obviously been a number of homages, and outright copies, and in this review I have gone wide and deep to find them all for you. If an almost exact match to the original Rolex Explorer is what you are looking for then you should grab the Alpha Explorer. Usually available on Ebay for just over $100, this is about as close as you are going to get for a fraction of the price.