The BEST Alternatives to the Rolex Oyster Perpetual 

I see the Oyster Perpetual as an alternative to the Omega Aqua Terra.

I think the new King Seiko’s should be on this list too. I’ve gone away from bezel’s and chrono’s and leaned into simple 3 hand watches. And My current collection is just two watches. The Black Bay 36 in blue, and the King Seiko in red… I love them both. I think the King Seiko gets a bad rap for having a 6R35 but the finishing is something else! Totally worth it.

For those curious I recently bought my first "adult" watch and after getting the runaround by Rolex and doing some research I settled on an Aquaterra, blue face with horizontal teak wood appearance and 6 o clock date window. I love it, the older guys in my family love it and are envious of it. It's a great feeling and great looking watch and I 100% endorse anyone on the fence to at least try it on. Mine fits like a glove and I rarely take it off after 3 months!

Great topic! I think I like & agree with every one of your selections. I was lucky enough to purchase a SARB035 before they were discontinued. I’ve considered selling it, but especially now, it’s a great value!

Most alternatives are bigger than say the OP36. There’s a ton of great everyday watches at 38mm-40mm and 12mm+ thick but at 36mm and under 12mm thin there’s really not a lot of options. I’d go Black Bay 36. It has a similar case and design language with a highly accurate but easy to service ETA movement and a more Explorer dial. You can find one lightly used for $2,000 which is a steal for the quality of watch you get.

Really impressed with the emergence the Monta brand and their lineup especially the “Noble”in Blue or that beautiful turquoise dial. I feel for the cost your getting a piece the stands out in a good way in so many areas. Definitely a young brand that’s only going up from here in my opinion. Solid list Teddy, some nice options for sure ! Appreciate the work !

I got my OP JUIUUUST at the right time! Just before you had to wait for them! There really shouldn’t be a wait list on entry level pieces like the OP. 😂🤦🏻‍♀️ great video Teddy! The new aqua terras are particularly amazing alternatives!!

I like them all. If I had to chose, the Omega. It has the most balanced design for my taste.

Wao of all the watches presented in this video I was blown away by how beautiful these new Omega watches are. Definitely in my wish list great video as usual by Teddy Baldassarre thank you for sharing. :)

Was looking at the Gentlemen for a long time but instead I landed on a Tissot Ballade, the rose gold spoke to me somehow. And I just want to say thank you for all your work, Teddy. For some reason youtube wanted me to watch your videos and that awakened the interest in watches in me. And now I have my first mechanical watch ever, hoping to grow the collection during the years to come.

Glad you included Ball. I love my Fireman Enterprise, and always love seeing it on the screen.

Rolex AD lost me as a customer when they informed me I would have to wait 5 years, I purchased a Grand Seiko instead and glad I did. My next piece will be an omega.

I ordered an SBGH295 3 months ago and it just arrived this week. The dial is mesmerizing. The level of detail in the watch and quality of finish is unparallel at this price point. If you could call a dial dynamic this is it.

Teddy, Thanks for putting out some of the best watch geek content. Please keep up the good work.

Great video! Love most of these watches. I have the Seiko SPB243 and I love it. Another consideration that I have in my collection is the Certina DS Action Day Date; Aqua Terra - vibes in my opinion.

The Monta was very nice. Grand Seiko continues to knock it out of the park. Omega, very nice. If I had the money, the IWC would go on the wrist. Honestly there were so many. Marc at Long Island has some nice designs for a fraction of these prices. See ISL-38. Rolex is done in my book. I still own 2, but for me, the pure greed now on display for all to see has detracted from their awesome designs. Everything IMHO of course. Nice video.

I also recommend the Tag Heuer Carrera Caliber 5 as alternative. Good wearabilty and reasonable prices on the second hand market.

Hi, Teddy! You showed excellent alternatives with the "non-homages" soul (except Omega - My apologies to Omega lovers). I would be added Ball Engineer III Endurance 1917. Yes, they will be released in Fall and in a limited edition, but the chance to buy by retail price is the highest than exact for OP.

Thank you for covering such an inclusive range of watches; multiple great options! I'm especially fond of the Longines Conquest; an achievable watch by an old, established Swiss brand.

LOL! I love your intro! Yes, retail has lost their minds regarding the pricing of the Rolex entry line! Very nice recommendations regarding the alternatives.

I have the Seiko SUR373 and it is great value for the money!! A titanium everyday styled watch makes it standout. Glad to see it was showcased!! More people should know about it

I’m thinking of a Longines Conquest for a travel / work watch simply for its relatively indestructible build quality and it’s solid, classic good looks. I’ve always found that no matter how long between showers and visits to the barber, walking up to the desk of a good hotel, wearing a watch that at least looks the part, gets you a decent room for the night.

I tend to use my SNXS79 . I think it's just right for me for any formal occasion. It's not that I have formal occasion frequently but I didn't want to spend a lot on a watch which I will get to wear only about maybe 4 or 5 times for formal occasions in a year. All I did was changed it to a black leather strap and it looked the part for these evening occasions.

Excellent video Mr. Baldassarre. Thank you for your efforts.

Love ur insight on watches. Keep up the great work

It wasn't that long ago when I looked into buying my first and last Rolex in 2019. The only one that wasn't hyped and easily available was the OP range. I decided to buy the OP 36mm which I ordered from the AD and waited 3 weeks for it arrive. It's a great watch worth no more than retail. I wanted to buy another Rolex in 2021 but there was nothing I could buy for the $10K I had in hand to spend. Everything is so over priced and to me not worth the extra money. Looking around to see what else was out there, I ended up buying a Zenith Chronomaster Sport. Best decision I ever made!

Those dials on Omega really pop in video. Thanks for sharing. They don't look too great on Omega's website. I look forward to seeing them in person.

Awesome job Teddy, thanks for sharing!

my favorite is the carrera! I'm glad you mentioned it

Coincidentally and prior to this video I had recommended several of these to a friend who was after Rolex OP. In particular the omega,ball and tissot. "But they don't have Rolex on the dial" came the reply. Says it all. You can't help some people.

I was thinking along the lines of using Tudor as Rolex alternative as well, but I have my eyes on the Style line. This line of product is arguably a lesser-mentioned one of Tudor products, but they match the Oyster Perpetual appearance perfectly for $2,500-$3,500. One thing that edges them a bit higher than Black Bay 36/41 is that they do offer 38mm dial option which matches the 39mm Oyster Perpetual closer and is a good option for those who find BB 36 too small and BB 41 too big.

Always loved the look and versatility of the oyster perpetual and explorer models. Don’t have the coin for those just yet, but was able to get the Archimede Outdoor Protect black dial 38mm as my first “grownup watch”. So happy with the purchase. Theres something about wearing a watch you love; I catch myself gazing at it during the day even months after acquiring it. Keep up the great work Teddy.

Great topic and one that is close to my heart. Good choices and couldn't agree with you more on your inclusion and fondness of the new Omega ATs, which are prob near the top of my list for something OP adjacent that is actually attainable. Lots of GS choices, as you mention, but for more head to head with OP in terms of dial simplicity I think the SBGR lineup is on the nose, and a "bargain" at ~$4k. In terms of omissions I agree with others on the new King Seikos. And, one of my recent faves, for sure the new Oris Propilot X!

I saw the oyster perpetual silver dial and fell in love That shade of silver and the way it shines is so beautiful these watches are nice but they don’t got that same glisten to it

Man, what a gorgeous review, greetings from Italy !

I think every watch you showed us I would love, really liked the IWC, and the Tudor BB36, grate show case enjoyed this 🤙🏻

Ted, are you wearing a Breitling Superocean in this video? It would be nice if you did a wrist check at the beginning of your videos. Love to see what you are wearing. Thanks for the video. Great lineup.

Had a Rolex submariner with the Cyclops that couldn't keep time, it's gone. Now, Ball is my favorite, 6 of them. To round out the week, I have the Tag Heuer carrera calibre 5 in 41mm.

I was interested in the omega red AT in lieu of the coral red OP potentially, so tried on a black dial one to gauge the 38mm size on my 7.4 in. wrist and didn’t seem or feel small, but felt much more refined/dressy w/the polishing rather than sporty, so sadly not what I’m looking for in a colored dial piece :/

Thanks Teddy for another fantastic video!!

I think you nailed it with the Tudor. More colors would be nice, but multiple case sizes, an excellent bracelet (with NO RIVETS) and clasp make it a fantastic choice. Great video, Teddy. Thanks!

Wasn’t a fan of these at first but after seeing the ridiculous Rolex market now, I love these alternatives, Omega is my favorite brand but I only like the Speedmaster & Seamaster Professional most, the Aquaterra is growing on me

The Omegas were gorgeous! I would have one of every colour.

Great list. Thanks TB.

Great video, but for ball why is the base marvelight always brought up? The engineer 3 legend 2 is much closer with its thinner profile and RR1101-c (2892a2c) movement, it really makes a difference in the wrist profile

I really like the Carrera 39mm - it may be a bit generic, but it's also classy, relatively affordable, has a cheap to maintain movement and at least it's not blatantly copying Rolex like the Tissot and the Seikos (and I do love these two brands) and even the Omegas to a certain extent.

I really like the Omeg AquaTerra in Terra Cotta and Saffron(both); The Ball watch in green is good looking also.

I can't wait to try the Aqua Terra models. I'm not a huge Omega fan, but I always thought the AT was cool and didn't get enough attention.

i'll add the lorier- falcon series II and astor+ banks fortitude lite to the list. Both great watches in their own way and bang for you buck.

Hi Teddy, What do you think of Christopher Ward watches, especially in 36mm with color dials?

Does anyone know the case thickness of the Aquaterras? The video mentions 13mm while a prior video of Teddy’s had the thickness at 12.3mm. Many thanks

Thank you for this! Do you have a list like this for women's watches?

The new Omegas are brilliant. Your video with Kevin is great.

Rolex explorer 39mm was always on my list, I picked up a Seiko SARY057 and I love it.

Great collection and options....so many with dates could be a datejust alternative video. Got to get me a Ball Watch some time

Hi teddy i just got into watch, i owned a citizen eco drive and a tag Heuer f1 but im thinking of getting 1 more watch just that not sure what to get as my budget is 700-1000ish as im thinking of getting as my daily use

Great watches! :) what are your Thoughts on the new Nomos Club Campus Blue/purple? 😊

Respect to all the Ball Engineers out there.

I have the exact same opinion for the terracota red and the saffron yellow, both looks super nice

I would include that old Seiko 5 that cost +- 100 USD, as I saw many videos comparing them to rolex (both datejust and oyster perpetual)

This was great, would you consider doing something similar for an alternative to the Omega Speedmaster ? Many people are disillusioned with the $260 knock offs and are looking at alternatives

I have various Japanese affordable watches but I’ve already spent some years with them and I believe I’m ready to make my first affordable SWISS purchase. I work as a technician and sometimes bang my watches around things. Any recommendations ? I don’t want another dive watch , at the moment I’m in love with the khaki king and some Tissot models.

Teddy, I would like to order a wath from your website-. I live in Geneva, Switzerland. Do you have an idea of delivery time?

Great list of watches. Everyone can find their own. Difficult to pick and choose "THE" watch but my eye is on the Longines Conquest. Great everyday watch with fantastic specs. Thanks for sharing.

Tudor would be the obvious choice as a Rolex alternative. Even if Tudor is more casual/sporty it's still the closest. Personally, I've picked a vintage Tudor Oyster Prince from 1977 (34mm with Rolex case, crown and buckle). For me, this is the best alternative if you can't find/afford a Rolex OP: The spirit without being overpriced... yet.

Teddy I recently acquired a Burgundy Code 11.59 from my AD and man oh man you should review it. Very misunderstood watch. People say its a $32K fashion watch but its far from it. The case construction is intricate and all the details make it more interesting than a Royal Oak.

Awesome job. You should consider doing one for “The Explorer ii”alternatives.

I have the Sinn 556 Anniversary model with no date and absolutely love it!

@teddybaldassarre Please explain to me why you didn’t pick the Tudor Style 38/41 mm? Available with silver, black, blue and Burgundy dial. Also available with a fluted steel bezel.

The Seikos are amazing, it is sad they discontinued the 033 otherwise would be my choice, but nevertheless I am getting an Omega.

I've owned 3 of those Seikos, the Tissot, both of the Ball watches, the Monta, the Sinn, and the TAG Heuer. I also own the Oceanus S100, which heavily resembles the OP. I think I have a "type" when it comes to watches 😅

First, I appreciate your work! One of, if not my favorite watch related channel. But, I have to say, I can't help but roll my eyes each time I see another post titled along the lines of "Alternatives to Rolex." I honestly have no interest in Rolex; therefore, no need for an "alternative." This wording plays to the misguided perception worldwide that Rolex is the "gold standard" for a luxury watch. We all know that isn't the case, but the perception has become ingrained in the minds of it seems, watch enthusiasts as well as the uninformed consumer buying their first luxury watch. There, I've said it. Ending on a positive note, thank you sir for your channel!

The terra cotta Omega looks gorgeous. Also the best looking Tag I've seen.

Happy owner of Omega Aqua Terra 38 here! It's a perfect everyday watch, such a simple and clean design! Also - it's a real strap monster!

My favorite is still the Green teak dial AT from Omega. I'm obsessing over it.

This is an excellent list. I knew the Sinn 556 had to be in there, but I was also happy to see the Monta Noble included. Little bits like that the Noble wears a little bigger helps those of us that haven’t gotten to try them on. There are some other great watches on the list, and the new AT Terra Cotta is my favorite. I was not one of the haters on those releases. I think they are smartly taking advantage of the trend for more color, while keeping things a bit more unique with the process/look of the dials. The colorful Sinn 556 releases are certainly much closer to the OP color/look yet those were praised and sold out quickly as you noted. I was glad to see the inclusion of the Balls. I had been eying the Engineer III Marvelight Chronometer, but the bracelet makes me hesitate. I do think you missed one relatively affordable option, and that is the Citizen NB1050 line (NB1050-59L, -59E, -59A). They are available on some sites for the low $400 range, with the list under $600. From what I have seen, they are slightly better than the SARB033/35, with the minor negatives of a 19mm lug width reducing strap options should one want to go away from the bracelet, and a male end link on the bracelet extending the L2L a bit. The 38mm size is a sweet spot, and a Miyota 9011 movement with sapphire at that price will make the wallet of the most value conscious buyer cheer. For a bit of that OP color with a slightly integrated OP quartz look the NJ0150-81Z (yellow) and NJ0150-81X (green) gave a great look, though the 8000 series Miyota and 50m WR let enthusiasts down a bit. They do some with sapphire crystals though. If one wanted to get a bit more wild (and drain the bank account more quickly), the dials on the Citizen The Citizen Chronomaster solar quartz line are killer. I really think the NB1050 is the best all around do the 3 lines mentioned though.

What is the correct link for the BALL Engineer III Marvelight?

How do you compare Rolex and omega to Tissot, citizen, seiko, Sinn as same category as an alternatives.

Teddy I think you missed the Citizen nj0150. I think it's the best affordable option under $500, they even have the cool colors like Rolex OP.

High quality as usual. Keep it up 👍

I like the Aqua Terras too but why do they have to be 13mm. My datejust 36 is 11ish mm and even my 37mm yacht master is 10.8mm. Will definitely try them though they look good.

I have to say I have been waiting for a video exactly like this but, what makes me a fan of the OP is it's simple, no date design. These are all very nice watches but was hoping to see that simple, elegant, three hander, with no complications, and higher level finishing. That is why I'm a fan of the OP.

Great video Teddy, thank you 👍. Saffron Aqua-terra, please.

Teddy love your channel. Found you through Mr Wonderful. Aka Kevin O. What is your thoughts on Jack Mason/AV-8 watches for under $500 price range.

Just a quick note, the Tudor BB36 uses a top grade Sellita now instead of the ETA. Cheers!

I liked the Seiko SRPE!? I thinks that was awesome looking, I love a watch with the Day Date option more over then a Date Just variant. But those Ball watches were frigging FIRE and the Tissot and Omega’s at the end were good looking watches, the Grand Seiko was really really nice too but I think if it was a black dial that would have made me choose it as my first pick but that blue reminds me of some one really trying hard at looking fancy/flashy much like all the Gold bracelet/Gold watch guys, they scream look at me look at me!!!, I have an expensive Gold watch.

Teddy, What do you think about the Jack Mason brand? The Cayton day-date model looks stunning and it comes with the Japanese Miyota movement. Could you please do a review on that brand? The Texas flag on the second hand is really unique.

Well done video.

I really dig the Longines conquest except that crown guard. For the life of me, I never understood the point. Where the crown sits when you wear a watch doesn’t necessitate a guard around it

Hi Teddy! Big fan! Can you do a video about alternative to the Patek Philippe Aquanaut?

I don’t see an Omega as an alternative, I see it as a superior timepiece

A little late to the party but, as best alternative to the OP I would add the Nomos Club, in specific the 748 one. I owned a OP 39 in white but it was too big for me (why I didn’t take the 36…) then I came across the 748 and… didn’t left my wrist since; can be dressed up or down according to the strap you choose and works well in a business environment as well as in a pool

I think my concern with the OP going up so much on the secondary market is that it feels like an 'anything with a Rolex logo' purchase. It's a great watch but it's being dragged up by how ridiculous the Daytona, GMT and Submariner all are now. Teddy does a great job here of highlighting some alternatives but it's really up to everyone buying to find something that really works for them. I am a big fan of the Aqua Terra but also think Omega did a great job with the new Railmaster as an OP alternative and with the Seamaster 1948. Pleased that the GS Elegance gets a mention here as I think the build quality is unbeatable at the price. If it's Rolex or nothing then fair play - it's a big world out there for those that think differently.

What do you think of the Seiko SUR307 and SUR311s? You can get them at a really low price. If you can’t afford the SARB then the SUR is the quartz version of SARB

The new Citizen Statesman series is also a great alternative considering it is the most affordable at around 400 USD

The green dial Omega Aqua Terra is *chef's kiss 🤌

The Tissot Gentleman dial is so good, I bought a powermatic 80 with blue dial, the only problem is that there is no room for any other blue dial in my small collection, so instead because there are plenty of good blue dials available just get the green one…..good green dials are hard to find

I've been attracted to the Tissot Gentleman and the Longine Conquest for quite a while now. IU have to admit when I see the Rolex Datejust, I think of the Tissot Gentleman

There is also relio solstice or the 2nd hour mandala from the microbrands.. and also the formex essence 39

Thank you!