Alternatives to the Rolex Explorer for all budgets

The automatic watch Alpha Explorer is a very similar looking alternative to the Rolex Explorer. This homage from the Chinese watch manufacturer Alpha is made of 316L stainless steel and is equipped with an automatic Miyota movement that can be seen at work through the transparent case back. The Alpha Explorer is relatively cheap and can be found new at prices around the $110 mark.

For this amount of money, you get a sapphire crystal and a 5ATM water resistance with a screw down crown. The proportions of this watch are pretty reasonable and loyal to the spirit of the Rolex Explorer: the case is 38.5mm wide, 12.5mm thick with a lug to lug length of 43.5mm.

• Ref: SB369-8215-BLACK
• Diameter: 38.50 mm
• Thickness: 12.50 mm
• Lug width: 20.00 mm
• Caliber: Miyota 8215

The dial is once again very much inspired by its iconic Swiss model, with a black dial, applied markers, and the classic 3,6 and 9 Arabic numerals. The hands and markers are luminous and provide a high legibility in all situations.

The Oyster style bracelet is also present, and with a width of 20mm it can be easily changed. If you like this legendary design but don't quite have the budget, this could be the Rolex Explorer alternative you're looking for.

The Seiko SARB017 aka Alpinist is a very well made watch. It has gained strong support from watch enthusiasts and is very often mentioned as a legendary watch. The SARB Series was introduced in 2006 and was discontinued in 2018, which made this watch even more desirable, contributing to a rather high price increase (ranging from 20 to 50%) in the last year or so.

The watch features a green dial with gold indices and lumed hands. It is a perfect watch for going outdoors and hiking, but looks very refined too. It even has a solar compass which can prevent you from getting lost - provided you know how to use it.

• Ref: SARB017
• Diameter: 38.00 mm
• Thickness: 12.00 mm
• Lug width: 20.00 mm
• Caliber: Seiko 6R15

The Seiko SARG009 is a Japanese domestic market (JDM) model. Despite its rather large diameter of 40.3mm, it can be considered as a great Rolex Explorer alternative. It definitely carries the essence of what its Swiss counterpart is about while keeping its own identity. The case is 12.4mm thick and it measures 47mm lug to lug. Between the lugs, you will find a classic looking stainless steel bracelet that is 20mm wide.

The Seiko SARG009 has a date function and is powered by a reliable 6R15 automatic movement which can be seen through the case back. The 6R15 is a premium caliber offering 50hours of power reserve that can be usually found in higher-end Seiko models (e.g. Seiko Prospex).

• Ref: Seiko SARG009
• Diameter: 40.30 mm
• Thickness: 12.40 mm
• Lug width: 20.00 mm
• Caliber: Seiko 6R15

The Seiko SARB033 ($350 On the used market), also called baby Grand Seiko due to its similarity with its big sister (SBGR001 retailing in the $2k range on the used market). Discontinued in 2018, this watch saw its value increase by up 25% in a few months. This model was only available on the Japanese domestic market (JDM) but is easy to find on eBay. It is still very desirable to this day.

The execution of the black dial is classy and the design is timeless. The watch features a date window at 3 o'clock. The automatic mechanical movement 6R15 - which can be seen through the see-through case back - is the same as the one used in the Seiko Brightz range, priced at the upper $1000 level. The 6R15 movement has a generous 50-hour power reserve. The diameter of this watch is ideal to me, 38mm makes it wearable in all conditions, whether it's while wearing a suit, or going for a walk on a sunny day. The thickness is 11.2mm.

• Ref: SARB033
• Diameter: 38.00 mm
• Thickness: 11.20 mm
• Lug width: 20.00 mm
• Caliber: Seiko 6R15

The Everest (PRS 25) from the Smiths brand by Timefactors is an interesting and affordable watch. The Oyster case design, the black dial, and Mercedes hands remind us a lot of the Rolex Explorer, this watch is very simple yet elegant.

For $350, you get a Miyota 9015 automatic movement in a comfortable 40mm wide and 14.5mm thick case. The water resistance is 100m and the glass is acrylic so it can scratch but you can easily polish it.

• Ref: PRS 25 (1st gen)
• Diameter: 40.00 mm
• Thickness: 14.50 mm
• Lug width: 22.00 mm
• Caliber: Miyota 9015

This timepiece can definitely follow you in the mountains or in the jungle! It is therefore a great and affordable Rolex Explorer alternative.

A new 36mm version (2nd gen.) has a hi-dome sapphire crystal, the bracelet has been improved and is now fitted with an adjustable clasp which has four adjustments to ensure a perfect fit.

• Ref: PRS 25 (2nd gen)
• Diameter: 36.00 mm
• Thickness: 11.30 mm
• Lug width: 20.00 mm
• Caliber: Miyota 9015

The Longines Conquest Classic is a great alternative to the Rolex Explorer or the Omega Seamaster Aqua Terra as it has similar traits. Nevertheless, it also has its own identity. Longines is a very reputable Swiss brand with a rich history that provides very high quality watches.

The 40mm diameter case is in stainless steel case and has a classic looking fixed bezel. The movement is Longines Calibre L619/888 providing you with 42 hours of power reserve at 28800 vph. The glass is made of sapphire crystal which is scratch resistant. The watch is water resistant at 50 meters / 165 feet. It has numerals in the same arrangement as the Rolex Explorer and has a date window at 3 o'clock.

• Ref: Longines L2.785.4.56.6
• Diameter: 40.50 mm
• Thickness: 14.00 mm
• Lug width: 20.00 mm
• Caliber: L619/888

The 556A from the German brand Sinn is a great watch that can be considered as an affordable alternative to the Rolex Explorer. Its 316L steel case is 38.5mm wide and 11mm thick and it has a black dial.

The 556A has a 20mm lug width and comes with a high quality stainless steel bracelet. We love those dimensions, it is definitely designed with the same spirit as the Explorer, it is classic and will not go out of fashion. The Sinn 556A is marked "A" for Arabic numbers. There is also the Sinn 556i which has baton indices and a date window at 3 o'clock.

Sinn's inspiration for the design of this watch is the historic Sinn NaBo clocks long manufactured for use in cockpits as a navigational tool. Even today Sinn continues to produce these clocks which are used in both civilian and military aircraft, as well as specialty cars.

• Ref: Sinn 556A
• Diameter: 38.50 mm
• Thickness: 11.00 mm
• Lug width: 20.00 mm
• Caliber: ETA 2824-2

The Omega Seamaster Aqua Terra (AT) is a fantastic watch that is very versatile and is a strong candidate for your one watch collection. It was released in 2003, sporting the first co-axial movement developed by Omega: the Omega 2500.

This first AT model got discontinued in 2010, it was available in 3 sizes:

• 42.0mm (2502.XX)
• 39.5mm (2503.XX)
• 36.0mm (2504.XX)

• Ref: 2504.30, 2504.50, 2504.70, 2504.80
• Diameter: 36.00 mm
• Thickness: 11.00 mm
• Lug width: 19.00 mm
• Caliber: Omega 2500

The lugs on those models are quite long, so the watch wears bigger than its diameter suggests. We find that the 36mm model in black (2504.50) is a great Rolex Explorer alternative.

The dial colors available for this timepiece are:

• Black (250X.50)
• Blue sunburst (250X.80)
• Silver sunburst (250X.30)
• Mother of pearl with blue markers and hands (250X.33)
• Silver with gold markers and hands (250X.34)
• Red (250X.60)

• Ref: 2503.30, 2503.50, 2503.70, 2503.80
• Diameter: 39.50 mm
• Thickness: 11.50 mm
• Lug width: 20.00 mm
• Caliber: Omega 2500

No matter what the size is, the layout of the dial is the same. You will find a date window at 3 o'clock, along with a shortened hour marker.
The size of this marker will vary depending on the size of the watch: it is a good way to check out what the diameter is when you are looking at the pictures.

As mentioned earlier, the first AT models sport the Omega 2500 co-axial movement, which was first based on an ETA 2892 (before 2003) and Frederique Piguet (after 2003) movement to which a 2 level co-axial escapement was added. This movement is relatively thin, allowing the first AT models to be worn comfortably with a thickness of 11mm.

• Ref: 2502.30, 2502.50, 2502.70, 2502.80
• Diameter: 42.20 mm
• Thickness: 11.60 mm
• Lug width: 20.00 mm
• Caliber: Omega 2500

Omega changed the 2500 caliber 4 times, through revisions A, B, C and D. The revisions A and B beat at 28,800vph whereas at C and D have an oscillation frequency of 25,200vph. The latter frequency is closer to what George Daniels envisaged in his co-axial movement.

The 2500D revision was released in 2011 and is therefore not equipping any Omega AT models since they were discontinued in 2010. The 2500D is however present in Omega Planet Ocean (PO) and DeVille models with serial numbers above 8525XXXX.