Originally envisioned as a tool for scuba divers, the Rolex Submariner quickly became one of the most popular watches ever made. Unfortunately, they’re out of reach for many – they cost anywhere from $8950 to $37,950.
Fortunately, many companies make watches that look similar to the Rolex Submariner – homages. In this article, I’ll show you which are the best ones!
Read: Where are Seiko Watches Made?
#1 – Introduction
Before I begin, keep in mind that …:
(1) … the homages listed here got universal praise from reviewers on various selling platforms. NO MATTER what watch from this list you decide to buy, you can be REST ASSURED that it’ll last you for years (and even outlive you) if properly cared for. A fake Rolex Submariner certainly won’t – no matter of what “class” the fake is!
(2) … the list starts from the most expensive Rolex Submariner homage (Revue Thommen) and ends with the cheapest one (Casio MDV106-1AV).
(3) … I won’t get into too much depth about the specifications of each homage listed (for example, power reserve of the movement, finishing of the case…).
(4) … all Rolex Submariner homage watches listed in this article cost less than $1200 brand new. Shipping and sales tax are NOT included in that price.
(5) … I’m not affiliated with ANY of the brands whose watches are listed in this article.
Read: THE BEST Men’s Dive Watches Under $100 you Can Buy
Revue Thommen Diver Collection Series ($900 to $958)
Revue Thommen is a Swiss watchmaking company with a rich history very few people heard about. It was founded in 1853 as Société d’ Horlogerie à Waldenbourg in Waldenburg, Switzerland and acquired by Gédéon Thommen and Louis Tschopp. After Tschopp left the company in 1869, it was renamed to Gédéon Thommen Uhrenfabrik (Gédéon Thommen’s Watch Company) and again in 1904 to Thommens Uhrenfabrik AG.
In 1936, Thommens Uhrenfabrik AG created two divisions (which became separate companies later on) – one specializing in aircraft instrumentation (nowadays known as Thommen Aircraft Equipment AG) and another specializing in watches made under the Revue Thommen brand (nowadays known as GT Thommen Watch AG).
Revue Thommen watches from their Diver series are relative similar in appearance to the Rolex Submariner and are highly regarded for their quality in various online watch communities. If you prefer a homage of more basic Submariner models, then models such as Barracuda Point (seen in the picture above), Coral Garden, Silfra Fissure are something to consider. If you prefer a homage of more expensive Submariner models, then Wonder Reef and Roca Redona should do the trick.
All Revue Thommen Divers are have a 20 ATM water resistance, are powered by a Sellita SW200-1 automatic movement (older models are often powered by ETA 2824-2 automatic movements instead) and they’re only available in 43mm case size – in case you have small wrists or prefer a smaller sized watch, then consider buying something from Davosa or Certina instead. Some of the more notable differences between the Rolex Submariner and Revue Thommen Diver watches are …:
(1) … hands (no Mercedes-style hour hand) and crown.
(2) … a different bezel.
(3) … a bigger magnification bubble lens.
(4) … a different 12 o’clock mark.
On Revue Thommen’s official site, all Diver series watches cost from $900.68 to $958.19. If you buy directly from their site, you’ll be able to choose your bracelet size and its material (metal, rubber or both). On eBay, new ones (mostly older models) cost around $600 and used ones cost around $400 on average. This brand isn’t faked, so you should be safe if you decide to buy Revue Thommen watches from third-parties.
Revue Thommen watches have been historically used by the Swiss, German and British militaries and are, as I mentioned before, highly regarded in the watch community. Should you ever buy one, you can be rest assured that you won’t be disappointed!
Read: All About Seiko Astron GPS Solar Watches (and Hands-on Review)
Davosa Ternos ($898 to $948)
Founded by Paul Hasler in 1881, Davosa is one the very few watch brands that is still family owned. For most of its history, this brand (founded as Paul Hasler Terminages d’Horlogerie and renamed to Hasler & Co. S.A. in 1974) was involved in small scale production of high-quality watches. That changed in 1993, when the Hasler family and Friedrich-Wilhelm Bohle, a German entrepreneur involved in watch distribution, joined forces and renamed the company to Davosa.
Many companies usually tend to go south after a merger (Activision-Blizzard) or after getting bought (Instagram). Fortunately, that was not the case with Davosa – the first collection issued under the new brand name was an instant success, acclaimed by customers, retailers and the trade press alike. That’s still the case today.
Davosa has an extensive collection of watches – three models being Rolex Submariner homages. All three are powered by DAV 3021 movement (Davosa’s version of ETA 2824-2 / Sellita SW200-1), have Mercedes-style hour hands and bezels made from high-tech ceramic. These are:
(1) Ternos Medium, whose case diameter is 36.5 mm wide, and has a 20 ATM water resistance. Comes in two variants – black and blue (seen in the picture above).
(2) Ternos Ceramic, whose case diameter is 40 mm wide and has a 20 ATM water resistance. Comes in multiple variants.
(3) Ternos Professional, whose case diameter is 42 mm wide. Of all Rolex Submariner homages, this model has the biggest water resistance of them all – 50 ATM (almost twice that of the Submariner)! This puppy can survive anything but a trip to the Mariana Trench and in the picture below, you can see how it looks like.
All three models cost anywhere between $898 to $948 on Davosa’s official site. On eBay, both used and new ones cost roughly the same. Should you ever see a reasonable priced Davosa watch on the Internet, go ahead and buy it – this brand isn’t faked.
If you’re looking for a Rolex Submariner homage …:
(1) … closest in appearance to the Rolex Submariner itself (the only notable differences between them are the sizes and the shape of the crown), …
(2) … that’s quite small in size, …
(3) … which can handle things the Rolex Submariner itself can’t, …
…, then the Ternos line of watches is something to consider buying!
Certina DS Action (from $839 to $1,052)
Certina (not to be confused with Festina) is a brand established in 1888 by Adolf and Alfred Kurth in Grenchen, Switzerland. At the start, this company didn’t produce watches, but movements parts for other watchmakers. This changed a few years later, when the Kurth brothers began making their own watches under the “Grana” (short for “Granacus”, the Latin name of Grenchen) brand name, which were well-received.
During the 1930-ies, the “Grana” brand name was gradually replaced by “Certina”, because it’s easier to pronounce in all languages and because it’s based on the Latin word “certus” (“sure” in Mandarin Latin). That brand name is still in use today. In 1959, Certina’s engineering and technical teams led by Hans and Erwin Kurth (sons of Alfred Kurth) created the Certina DS (“Double Security”) – the world’s first automatic watch with water resistance up to 20 ATM, which set new standards for a whole generation of wristwatches. The DS survived conditions no other watch in that period could – it …:
Certina didn’t stop there – in 1971 it introduced the Biostar (seen in the picture above), the world’s first watch that displayed human biorhythms.
In 1983, Certina became part of the SMH Group (renamed to Swatch Group Ltd. in 1999), which owns various other Swiss watchmaking companies you’ve probably heard about (Tissot, Omega, Longines and others). In the Swatch watch hierarchy, Certina is considered to be a mid-range brand, alongside Tissot, Mido, Hamilton, Balmain and Calvin Klein.
As far as Rolex Submariner homages are concerned, Certina has eleven of them available. Homages of more basic models (like the one seen in the picture above) tend to be cheaper, while those of more expensive models (like the one seen in the picture below) are more expensive. They come in two sizes, are powered by ETA 2824-2 automatic movement and have a 30ATM water resistance. Other notable differences between the Rolex Submariner and its Certina homage(s)…: …:
(1) … are the hour and minute hands (their shapes are totally different).
(2) … is the lack of date magnification bubble lens on the Certina homages.
(3) … is the bezel material (Certina’s are made from steel and aluminum instead of ceramic).
(4) … are different 6, 9 and 12 o’clock marks (Certina’s are much more pronounced and triangular in shape and their 12 o’clock mark is a trapezoid).
The prices of Rolex Submariner Certina homages depend on two factors – size and the Submariner model it’s influenced by. Smaller watches (whose case diameters are 38mm wide) cost between $839 and $897, while bigger ones (whose case diameters are 43mm wide) cost between $983 to $1,052. On eBay, the selection is quite poor, and their prices are roughly the same. In order to avoid fakes (yes, there are some out there), I suggest that you buy yours from your local AD (Authorized Dealer).
Compared to other brands listed here, Certina has the most interesting Rolex Submariner homages. If you’re looking for a very unique looking Rolex Submariner homage, Certina will certainly have something that you’ll like!
Steinhart Ocean One ($476)
Of all watch brands listed in this guide, Steinhart Watches GmbH is the youngest, being founded in 2001 by Gunther Steinhart, an architect turned watchmaker and headquartered in Stadtbergen, Germany.
Unlike many other recently established watch brands who outsourced the production to China, Steinhart Watches did the exact opposite – they outsourced theirs to Switzerland. This ended up being a smart move – their watches are lauded by many for their quality, reliability and affordable prices.
The vast majority of Steinhart watches are homages of various IVC and Rolex models. Of all their diver watches, Ocean One BLACK (their first and most popular model, seen in the picture below) and Ocean One GREEN are the closest in appearance to the Rolex Submariner (others are much less so and I’ll not be mentioning them). Both of them have a slightly bigger case diameter that the Submariner’s (42mm), are powered by the ETA 2824-2/SW 200 automatic movement and have, like the Submariner, a 30 ATM water resistance.
If 42mm case diameter is poquito mucho for you, there’s a model with a smaller (39mm) case diameter – the Ocean 39 GREEN (seen in the picture below). The performances of this model are identical to those of Ocean One BLACK/GREEN.
In comparison to the Rolex Submariner, Steinhart Ocean watches have …:
(1) … almost identical hands – the only difference is that the minute hand seems to be slightly longer.
(2) … an aluminum bezel of slightly different design.
(3) … a different crown.
(4) … a bigger date magnification bubble lens.
On the official site, the cost of a Steinhart Ocean One BLACK and Ocean One GREEN (whose case diameters are 42mm) is around $476. Their smaller counterpart, the Ocean 39 GREEN (whose case diameter is 39mm wide), costs the same. On eBay, they’re much more expensive (brand new ones cost around $700 and used ones around $400), so I suggest that you buy yours directly from Steinhart.
Of all Swiss made Rolex Submariner homages on this list, the ones made by Steinhart are the most affordable. If you’re looking for an affordable Swiss made Rolex Submariner homage with a good and dependable automatic movement, then the Steinhart Ocean One and Ocean 39 are watches that you were waiting for!
Read. THE ULTIMATE Guide to Pulsar Watches (and Pulsar in General) IN HISTORY
Orient Ray II ($350)
In case you’re looking for a more budget-friendly Rolex Submariner homages, then you should consider buying those made by reputable Japanese companies like Orient, Seiko, Citizen and Casio. Each of these companies has at least several Submariner homages, as well as plenty of models which borrow some of its elements. All of them share two characteristics – affordability and high quality. Because of these two factors, it comes as no surprise that a lot of Japanese Rolex Submariner homages are the most popular homages currently on the market. Choosing which ones to list wasn’t an easy feat, believe me!
The first Japanese Rolex Submariner homage on this list, the Ray II, comes from the Orient Watch Company, Japan’s biggest producer of mechanical watches. That company, founded in 1901 by Shogoro Yoshida as the Yoshida Watch Shop in Tokyo, initially only sold imported pocket watches and wristwatches. The business did quite well and in the following years it changed its name to Toyo Tokein Manufacturing once it began manufacturing its own watches.
Due to the Japanese economic devastation following World War II, the Toyo Tokein Manufacturing shut down in 1949. Fortunately, it was soon re-established as the Tama Keiki Company, which changed its name to Orient Watch Company, a name still used today.
Despite being completely owned by Seiko since 2009, the Orient Watch Company is still a separate entity – all of its components are manufactured in house, separately from Seiko’s. One of their best-selling watches is aforementioned Ray II, a homage of the Rolex Submariner.
The Ray II runs on Orient’s in-house F6522 movement and has a slightly bigger case diameter (41.5 mm) than the Submariner. As far as I’ve seen, this is the only size currently available. Some other notable differences between them are…:
(1) … the shape of the hands, crown and bezel.
(2) … complications (Ray II has a day complication – something that Rolex Submariner lacks).
(3) … lack of magnification bubble lens.
(4) … different 6, 9 and 12 o’clock marks (Orient’s are much more pronounced, and the 12 o’clock mark is a trapezoid).
At the moment of this writing, the only Ray II models sold by Orient’s AD are the green, red and “Pepsi” (seen in the image below) variants, each priced at $350. If you prefer older Ray II models with a slightly different hands (like the one seen in the beginning of this section), there’re plenty of them available on Amazon and eBay, where their average price is around $170. The average price of used Ray II watches on eBay is around $150.
From what I’ve understood, there’re some fake Orient watches out there. Before buying a watch from a third-party seller, I strongly suggest that you ask people on forums (such as WatchUSeek) if it’s genuine.
Of all Japanese Rolex Submariner homages, the Ray II is the most popular one. For $350 (or less), you’ll get a watch that punches WAY above its own weight – its quality is on pair with some of its more expensive Swiss counterparts.
Invicta Pro Diver ($100)
Choosing the last two most affordable Rolex Submariner homages options wasn’t an easy task, believe me – after spending hours and hours trying to figure out which ones to add to this list, I decided that Invicta Pro Diver and Casio MDV106 are the best choices for those with more modest budgets.
Originally established in La Chaux-de-Fonds, Switzerland in 1837 by Jean-Luc Raphael Picard, Invicta (Latin for “invincible”) quickly gained a reputation for producing high-quality timepieces. Due to multiple reasons, it went out of business in the late 80ties. Fortunately, it was soon re-established in 1991 in Hollywood, Florida, under a new ownership.
Amongst watch owners and enthusiasts, opinions about Invicta are SHARPLY divided – some loooove this brand because it makes affordable watches that are of decent quality whereas others hate it for their very poor customer service, questionable marketing practices featuring insane discounts off the manufacturer’s suggested retail price (MSRP) and/or for producing overly tacky and oversized homages of various Rolex models. As you can see in the picture above, watches from their Pro Diver line are some of the rare exceptions – they are of “normal” size (40mm diameter) and thickness (14.1mm) and feature many models that aren’t overly tacky.
Automatic watches from the Invicta Pro Diver line have a 20 ATM water resistance are powered by 24 jewels Seiko’s NH35 automatic movement which is, due to its reliability and ruggedness, one of the world’s most popular automatic movements. In case you prefer a quartz movement, this line features plenty of such models (powered by Seiko’s Hattori PC32 Caliber). One of those models can be seen in the picture below.
Casio MDV106 ($69.95 – $74.95)
Casio was founded in 1946 in Tokyo by Tadao Kashio as Kashio Seisakujo, their first product being a yubiwa pipe – a finger ring that would hold a cigarette, which allowed its wearer to smoke a cigarette down to its nub while also leaving the wearer’s hands free. This gadget was a success which allowed Kashio and his younger brothers (Toshio, Kazuo, and Yukio) to start production of electro-mechanical calculators in 1954 and eventually musical instruments and various electronics such as cameras, laptops and watches, like the MDV106-1AV, the last (and the most affordable) Rolex Submariner homage from this list.
The main differences between the MDV106 series and all other Rolex Submariner homages (not to mention the Submariner itself) is that the MDV106 watches have the biggest case diameter of all homages included in this article (44.2mm) and feature a resin brand (which can be replaced with something else if you desire).
The MDV106 comes in five different variants – black (like the one seen in the beginning of this section), blue, green, Pepsi (blue/red) and black/blue (seen in the image above). Each of them costs between $69.95 and $74.95. Don’t let their low prices fool you – for that amount of money you won’t get some junk but a watch which has an impressive degree of quality control and detail.
If you are constantly on the move, then MDV106-1AV is a watch that I strongly recommend buying. Why? Because you won’t lose sleep in case you lose it.
Read: The Best Men’s Dive Watches Under $100 you Can Buy in 2023
#2 – Final Words
No matter which timepiece listed in this article you chose to buy, each of them is going to have some pros and cons.
Some models resemble the Rolex Submariner more, others less so.
Some models are too big, others too small.
However… all of them have one thing in common – quality. If properly cared for, they’re going to last for quite a long time (and may even outlive you)!
Thank you for reading. If you’ve liked this article and want to see more like them, bookmark this site and follow me on Instagram!
Until next time.
Your man,
-Leon
Pingback: THE ULTIMATE Guide to Pulsar Watches (and Pulsar in General) IN HISTORY – Findnolimits
Pingback: The BEST Men’s Dress Watches Under $100 You Can Buy RIGHT NOW – Findnolimits
Pingback: Where Are Seiko Watches Made? – Findnolimits
Pingback: All About Seiko Astron GPS Solar Watches (and Some Hands-on Reviews) – Findnolimits
Pingback: The BEST Guide to Zegna Lines IN THE SOLAR SYSTEM (and Beyond) – Findnolimits
Pingback: Where Are Ralph Lauren Clothes Made? In the US? Or Perhaps in China? – Findnolimits
Pingback: How to Identify a GENUINE Emporio Armani Watch – Findnolimits
Pingback: The DEFINITE Guide to ALL Canali Lines – Findnolimits
Pingback: The DEFINITE Guide to Canali and Canali Lines – Findnolimits
Pingback: The ABSOLUTE BEST Women’s Dive Watches Under $100 you Can Buy in 2023
Pingback: Where is Armani Made? Is it in Italy?
Pingback: The Best Men’s Dive Watches Under $100 you Can Buy in 2023