The Datejust is one of the most iconic, recognisable, timeless and brilliant watch designs of all time. It’s been the star of movies, politics, business and worldwide travel throughout its 80-year history.
It is the watch that supercharged Rolex’s rise to power and is part of the reason why they are the biggest watch manufacturer of all time.
With all of that provenance to its name you might think it hard to find watches that compare to the best-selling luxury watch of all time. But I’m going to try my best, so here are five affordable alternatives to the Rolex Datejust…
Before we get into the first watch, I’m going to set out a few key criteria for my choices. The first is water resistance — Rolex’s Oyster case paved the way for waterproof watches and so any pick should have a rating of at least 50m. The second is it must have a date complication, obviously. And then the hardest criteria of all, the ability to suit any scenario. The Datejust has found itself in every moment of life from conflict to confetti, so any watch on this list needs to be adaptable and versatile. With that in mind, let’s get into my list.
Timex Heritage Day and Date
The most budget friendly entry in this list is also our largest. At 41mm this Timex is catering to those that prefer the modern proportions of the Datejust 41 or Day-Date 40.
Featuring a magnifying crystal over the date, a five-link bracelet and 50m water resistance there is a lot of watch here for your £150. With a beautiful ocean blue tone dial and day complication this offers a little more functionality and fun than the Datejust and from a brand that pre-dates Rolex!
Price - £150
Tissot Gentleman
Available with either a quartz or automatic ‘Powermatic 80’ movement for £400 and £800 respectively, this watch emulates the sportier configurations of the Datejust with a three-link bracelet and smooth bezel. This is a classically designed watch that is versatile, well-made and well-priced from a brand with real heritage and prestige. There are several dial colours available, and my pick would be the sunburst blue with the quartz movement for this budget friendly option. At 40mm in diameter it’s a bit larger than classic Datejust proportions, but it’s a modern sizing for a modern watch.
Price - £400 quartz stainless steel
Seiko Prospex Alpinist SPB117
A staple of the Seiko lineup and a fan favourite amongst watch enthusiasts. The alpinist has managed to bridge the gap between dressy and sporty, just like the Datejust. And as a bonus feature, has a magnifying lens over the date window! This watch uses Seiko’s calibre 6R35 automatic movement and features an internal rotating compass bezel that is operated using the second crown.
I’ve picked the variation with the black dial on the steel bracelet as it’s the closest in configuration to the Datejust. But the green dial SPB121 is also a great choice. This watch wins the versatility category for me in this list.
Price - £690
Maen Brooklyn 36
Our only microbrand entry on this list (CW is not a microbrand anymore, I will die on this hill) is the triple calendar offering from Maen. The 36mm case, five-link bracelet, sunburst pie-pan dial, and faux patina on the lume give this watch a distinctly vintage aesthetic, despite only having been around for a couple of years. There is a lot of Datejust influence here but it is still an original design, and I think it’s been brilliantly executed. The addition of the triple calendar is a nice extra function and balances the dial nicely in its bi-compax configuration. Powered by the Miyota 9122 automatic movement and a water resistance of 50m, this watch easily meets all my criteria.
Price - EUR766.40
Christopher Ward C63 Sealander Automatic
The last of our truly budget friendly picks is from the wonderful team at Christopher Ward. The C63 Sealander is all the watch you could ever need. Powered by a Sellita SW200-1 and housed in a 36mm case with 150m water resistance, this is a spec monster. There is additional modern functionality from the Bader bracelet that has micro adjustment and a quick release system so you can change the look of this watch without the need for any tools. For me, I feel the white dial has a better balance of dressy and sporty, but you can’t go wrong with either option.
Price - £840
Oris Big Crown Pointer Date
I’ve thrown this one in for a bit of fun as the design language is more modern pilot than Datejust inspired, and the blue dial really stands out. But at its core this is still a timeless design with a date and 50m water resistance, so it meets my criteria. The calibre 754-1 is accurate and uses a pointer date, a refreshing change from the date wheels used on every other watch on this list. The 40mm case is adorned with a sloped bezel and secured to your wrist on a three-link bracelet, so again a sportier option but still one that can dress up when needed. This is a high-quality offering from a great brand that would last you a lifetime.
Price - £1,750
Grand Seiko SBGX263
A less catchy name than the Datejust, but this is not a watch to ignore. Here we have a 37mm case housing GS’s 9F62 quartz movement. This is very expensive for a quartz watch, but this is not your standard off the shelf cheap movement. This has been engineered and mastered to a point where it’s accurate to +/- 10 seconds per year! The champagne toned dial is beautiful and the case design is simple making it timeless and good looking for many decades to come. Water resistance is 100m for this model, so this is a truly capable sports watch with a dressy side.
Price - £2,100
Vintage Rolex Datejust 1601
Ok, hear me out. I know that my top suggestion for an alternative to the Rolex Datejust is a Rolex Datejust, but I honestly believe that if you want that feeling of owning and wearing a Datejust there isn’t much else that comes close. You’re probably also thinking that these are not affordable, and I’m not going to sit here and claim that £3,000-£4,000 is. But affordability in watches is relative and with the modern Datejust 36 starting at around £6,000 and going up to over £12,000 for precious metals, £3k-4k is a value proposition.
Now that I’m done justifying myself let’s have a look at the 1601 Datejust.
First Launched in 1959, the 1601 is where we start to see the very recognisable Datejust design DNA. Jubilee bracelet, fluted bezel in white gold, and of course, the cyclops lens. These watches feature Rolex’s calibre 1565 which is superlative chronometer certified and has a 42-hour power reserve. Impressive even by today’s standards. The pie-pan dial, handset and indices are quintessentially Rolex and the screw down duo-lock crown allows you to take this aged watch out and actually wear it without having to be overly delicate.
These watches ooze vintage charm with their stamped clasps, hollow bracelet links, acrylic crystals and 36mm sizing. Vintage Rolex really have an undeniable allure and charm to them that I haven’t seen with any other brand vintage or modern.
Always be vigilant when buying vintage, but if you’ve found a reputable seller and a model in good condition, you can’t go wrong here. If you’re asking us – it’s worth checking out Watches of Lancashire and Kibble Watches.
Price - £3,000-4,000 dependant on condition
Final Thoughts
So, here we have my picks for affordable alternatives to one of my favourite watches, the Rolex Datejust.
Which of these Datejust alternatives are you most likely to wear, and did I cheat with my last pick? Let me know in the comments and don't forget to check out our collection of watch straps curated especially for Rolex.
