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| Movement | In-house swiss automatic | Swiss automatic | Automatic | Automatic |
| Case Size | 41mm | 36mm | 40mm | 43.8mm |
| Lug to Lug | 47.6mm | 43.5mm | 47.5mm | 51mm |
| Band | Stainless steel bracelet | Stainless steel bracelet | Stainless steel bracelet | Stainless steel bracelet |
| Water Resistance | 300m | 300m | 300m | 30m |
| Key Benefits |
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Buy Now at Bob’s Watches
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Buy Now at Gnomon
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Rolex Submariner
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| Movement | In-house swiss automatic |
| Case Size | 41mm |
| Lug to Lug | 47.6mm |
| Band | Stainless steel bracelet |
| Water Resistance | 300m |
| Key Benefits |
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| Get It |
Buy Now at Bob’s Watches
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Steinhart Ocean One Vintage 39
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| Movement | Swiss automatic |
| Case Size | 36mm |
| Lug to Lug | 43.5mm |
| Band | Stainless steel bracelet |
| Water Resistance | 300m |
| Key Benefits |
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| Get It |
Buy Now at Gnomon
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Ginault Ocean Rover
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| Movement | Automatic |
| Case Size | 40mm |
| Lug to Lug | 47.5mm |
| Band | Stainless steel bracelet |
| Water Resistance | 300m |
| Key Benefits |
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| Get It |
Buy Now at Ginault
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Tiger Concept Vintage Snowflake
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| Movement | Automatic |
| Case Size | 43.8mm |
| Lug to Lug | 51mm |
| Band | Stainless steel bracelet |
| Water Resistance | 30m |
| Key Benefits |
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| Get It |
Buy Now at Tiger Concept
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The Rolex Submariner is the most recognizable watch in the world.
Even with all of its colorways and different constructions, it’s the Sub’s core architecture that makes it so popular.
With this king of dives, Rolex took a simple function-forward watch and redefined men’s style—with the help of 007 of course.
It’s also the watch that launched a thousand homages, and not all of them are good. Fortunately, the six Rolex Submariner homages in this roundup are. Plus, even the most expensive entries are a fraction of the cost of a Sub.
Read on to see which of the six is the best fit for you, or to find out if you’d rather go with one of our five alternatives.
How Did I Come Up With My List?
You don’t work in the auction industry for as long as I have, without constantly coming across Submariners of all references. I developed this list using my background as an auction professional and as a collector, as well as my experience with these choice homages and many more that didn’t make the cut.
I also took counsel with colleagues, watch enthusiasts of all levels, and watch experts in my field, not to mention my hours of forum and review diving. As such, All perspectives and priorities are considered in this list.
6 Best Rolex Submariner Homages
Image Source: Gnomon
Steinhart is an excellent brand to turn to for all types of Submariner homages, whether you’re in it for the Mercedes hands, or on the lookout for a Kermit Sub lookalike (Ocean 39 Green). Though, we’re focusing on the Gnomon-exclusive Steinhart Ocean One Vintage.
Rooted in its own history, separate from the Sub, this Ocean One is based on watches issued by the British military in the 1970s, which explains the tropical indices.
The hands add a lot of visual character that’s unique, but familiar. The hour hand is alpha-shaped like a vintage MilSub, but wider than standard. It’s an overall bold, but not loud, aesthetic.
It runs on Sellita’s SW200, which is a pretty standard workhorse known for its reliability. Steinhart opts for their Elaboré version of the SW200 though, which is adjusted to raise the accuracy from between +/-12 and +/- 30 seconds a day to between +/-7 and +/- 20 seconds a day.
What I Like
- The combination of Submariner best practices, including the modern Sub template and vintage tropical hands, combined with Steinhart-unique features make this watch an excellent homage and a stylish watch in its own right.
- Functional and practical, this watch is equipped with a domed sapphire, 120-click bezel, and 300m of water resistance.
- The SW200 Elaboré movement is exceedingly reliable and accurate.
What I Don’t Like
- The lume is surprisingly weak. It’s still visible in the dark, but definitely the lowest-quality of all the watch’s functions.
What Do Other Reviewers Say?
This Steinhart is one of the most popular Sub homages on the internet, thanks to its blend of practicality and style. Reviewers love the accurate hacking and precision.
One reviewer on Gnomon even claims his watch runs at +1 second a day.
The non-jangly bracelet is another quality many praise, especially since that’s an easy shortcut for less expensive watches.
There are a few complaints about the lume. Also, some reviewers think the hour hand should be smaller, but I think it gives it character.
The Verdict
Just like its source material, the Steinhart Ocean One Vintage 39 scores high on form and function.
This watch is well-finished and accurately blue-printed against the Sub to satiate you lookalike seekers. Still, it also boasts thoughtful differences, giving it a level of genuineness that doesn’t take it out of homage territory.
Performance-wise, Steinhart opts for the premium of two SW200 movements. Inside and out, the Ocean One offers an overall compelling value proposition.
Just like its source material, the Steinhart Ocean One Vintage 39 scores high on form and function. This watch is well-finished and accurately blue-printed against the Sub to satiate you lookalike seekers. Still, it also boasts thoughtful differences, giving it a level of genuineness that doesn’t take it out of homage territory. Performance-wise, Steinhart opts for the premium of two SW200 movements. Inside and out, the Ocean One offers an overall compelling value proposition.
Image Source: Ginault
Despite its over-1000 price tag, you get a lot of bang for your buck with Ginault’s Ocean Rover. The level of detail and finishing is comparable to Swiss watches several times the Ocean Rover’s price.
The indices and hands, for example, are impeccably polished and placed. If you look really closely at them, you’ll notice how deeply cut each is, compared to the outline. This depth and extra surface area is one of the reasons its lume is so strong.
The other reason for this brilliant lume leads us to the next unique quality about Ginault. They research best practices and then replicate them on American soil–or so they claim (more on that later). Their lume is based on SuperLuminova C3, with an afterglow that lasts a good 12 hours even in complete darkness.
Meanwhile, the Ginault caliber 7275 that the Ocean Rover runs on is a 25-jewel automatic based on ETA 2824-2, a durable movement known for being used by Tudor and even Omega before they went co-axial.
What I Like
- Finished at a luxury level, this watch has a beautifully signed crown featuring the brand’s flower logo, a satin brushed top and polished sides, and flawless applications on and off the dial.
- The look is based on vintage Submariners, but with an extra pop of color via the red lollipop second hand, distinguishing it from other homages.
- It runs on an American-made clone of ETA 2824-2, which is strong, easy to use, and easily serviced.
What I Don’t Like
- Ginault is a controversial company because the owner used to make replicas, and they aren’t very transparent about where parts come from. Fortunately, they seem to be climbing out of this hole, because of their high-quality timepieces.
- Related to transparency, they use the word “chronometer” to describe their movement, which is misleading. It’s not a COSC-certified Chronometer with a capital C, but a literal chronometer, which just means it tells time.
What Do Other Reviewers Say?
Reviewers love that this homage is so high-quality, from the sapphire crystal to the finishing. Since the timepiece is objectively well-made, the main gripes aren’t around the watch itself, but, as mentioned, Ginault as a company.
There’s a lot of forum discussions and reviews mentioning that the owner started out making replicas, and the company even disappeared between 2012 to 2016. Still, more and more reviewers and forum-goers believe this is all in the past, and that Ginault has “gone legit.”
There’s complaints about the cloned movement too, and many doubt the legitimacy of the “hand built in America” dial label. The FTC doesn’t have an official requirement for that appellate, and Ginault’s website isn’t particularly transparent about part origins.
Regardless of their past, many also claim that their customer service is professional, responsive, and even amenable to the watch community’s desire for more transparency from them.
The Verdict
If you’re looking for a luxury homage that’s still a fraction of the cost of a Submariner, the Ginault Ocean Rover is for you. The details are of Rolex-level quality to the naked eye, but features like the red second hand ensure it’s an homage and not an illegal replica.
Speaking of which, while I don’t like Ginault’s sordid past, I’m not that worried about it either. This watch is too good. They just need to offer us more transparency.
If you’re looking for a luxury homage that’s still a fraction of the cost of a Submariner, the Ginault Ocean Rover is for you. The details are of Rolex-level quality to the naked eye, but features like the red second hand ensure it’s an homage and not an illegal replica. Speaking of which, while I don’t like Ginault’s sordid past, I’m not that worried about it either. This watch is too good. They just need to offer us more transparency.
Image Source: Watchuseek
The Tiger Concept Vintage Diver with snowflake hands is a cross between a Rolex watch and a Tudor watch. The basic design and palette is built like the first Submariner, but chunkier and bolder, to match the very modern Tudor-like qualities.
These features include the cut-out style indices and the popular snowflake hands, the very old and the very new in one place.
Other than its sub-200 price, the next best thing about this watch is the ability to opt for slight customizations. You can get it with or without the Tiger Concept logo on the dial, and you can choose the movement.
The slightly more reliable Miyota movement costs about $45 more than the Chinese-made DG2813. However, the DG2813 actually offers fine reliability for its price. It’s just simpler and more roughly finished.
What I Like
- The hands and bezel are well-polished, and the text is neatly applied on the dial, which is impressive for this cost bracket.
- Tiger Concept offers custom options on this watch, including a choice of two movements.
- With its vintage Submariner design foundation and modern-looking Tudor features, this watch has an unusual and fun look.
What I Don’t Like
- The bracelet this watch comes with is rattly and hollow.
- The bezel is super loose and wobbly.
What Do Other Reviewers Say?
Many online reviewers consider the 16800 the gold standard for Tiger Concept divers with snowflake hands. The bright blue is lively and complements the white hands and indices. The 16800, however, is hard to find these days.
Plus, the current available black version is more Submariner-looking. Reviewers love the look and price of this watch, but many agree that its cheapness is given away when working the loose bezel. One Reddit reviewer even reports that it spins when it brushes against his sleeve
The Verdict
The Tiger Concept Vintage diver with snowflake hands shines on two fronts. First, the custom options and finishing are excellent qualities, especially for their price. Second, the mix of Tudor and Rolex features, and modern and vintage styles, create a visually interesting watch that’s unlike most Sub homages.
The Tiger Concept Vintage diver with snowflake hands shines on two fronts. First, the custom options and finishing are excellent qualities, especially for their price. Second, the mix of Tudor and Rolex features, and modern and vintage styles, create a visually interesting watch that’s unlike most Sub homages.
Image Source: Squale
The special ingredient of the Squale 1521 Militaire is its case. It was designed by the founder of the brand, Charles von Büren, and gives the watch a whopping 500m of water resistance.
Naturally, this design was one of the most influential in the ‘70s. Blancpain and Tag Heuer even purchased this case to provide their watches with more water resistance.
The Militaire isn’t just more function-forward than the Submariner, but has a more tool-like aesthetic to go with its practicalist qualities. The crown is out of the way at 4 o’clock, creating no need for guards, and the long indices and bright minute hand provide maximum legibility.
Other top-grade functions include a satisfyingly crisp bezel and an especially bright lume. It’s no wonder the original version was chosen as an official watch for the Italian Navy.
What I Like
- The heavy tool watch style partners excellently with the textured rubber strap it comes with, as well as other professional and casual bracelets like NATOs and simple leathers.
- With 500m of water resistance, this watch can go deeper than most divers, including the Submariner.
- Its connection to the brand’s founder and the Italian Navy gives this watch a cool history, just like the Sub has.
What I Don’t Like
- Its rugged look isn’t as versatile as the more understated Submariner.
What Do Other Reviewers Say?
Because of the watch’s historical design and promised functionality, a lot of hype came with the 1521’s debut a few years ago. Now that we’ve lived with it for a while, many reviewers and forum-goers think it’s the Squale to have.
Many think it pairs well with NATOs, which I agree with, though several reviewers are concerned that it’s too aesthetically functionalist to pair it with a suit a la James Bond.
The Verdict
The Squale 1521 Militaire leans harder into the tool watch side of things than the Sub, both in its looks and its operational qualities. It’s efficient and simple, with 200m more water resistance. And while it isn’t as famous as its Rolex counterpart, dive watch aficionados love that it has its own important history.
The Squale 1521 Militaire leans harder into the tool watch side of things than the Sub, both in its looks and its operational qualities. It’s efficient and simple, with 200m more water resistance. And while it isn’t as famous as its Rolex counterpart, dive watch aficionados love that it has its own important history.
Image Source: Watchcharts
The Armida A9 is an almost one-to-one homage to a specific hard-to-find and sought-after collector’s piece: The Rolex Military Submariner, otherwise known as the MilSub, which was standard issue equipment for the Ministry of Defense.
The A9 has all of the signature Milsub features, from the sword hands to the smaller case size, which is rare even in the homage game. It’s as if Armida knows that even the most well-connected collectors will never get their hands on a MilSub, so they’re serving up the closest thing we can get—for just around $500, no less.
The drilled lugs are a nice touch, as is the signed crown. The hands are well polished, and the light plays off it beautifully, complementing the matte dial.
What I Like
- The dial and case are designed almost exactly like the MilSub, one of the rarest and highest-priced vintage Submariners on the secondary market.
- The signature sword hands are immaculately polished and complement the matte dial.
- This watch comes with a one year warranty which is recognized internationally.
What I Don’t Like
- As with all Armida watches, the bracelet clasp is flimsy, especially at the top portion. They also overcompensate for this by making it difficult to open.
What Do Other Reviewers Say?
Reviewers are grateful that Armida offers a MilSub-specific Submariner homage, since most lookalikes take inspiration from the standard vintage and modern references.
Many in the blog and forum community mention that while the bezel clicks are fine, it’s not the best out there. One forum-goer from Watchuseek mentions his Seiko Sumo’s bezel turns better.
There are a few complaints about the flimsy bracelet clasp, and the fact that it digs into your wrist.
The Verdict
If you’re looking for a vintage MilSub homage, the Armida A9 is an aesthetic dead-ringer, thanks to the high-quality sword hands and 316L stainless steel body. It also runs on a respectably reliable Miyota automatic movement and has a sapphire crystal, proving Armida doesn’t just focus on looks.
If you’re looking for a vintage MilSub homage, the Armida A9 is an aesthetic dead-ringer, thanks to the high-quality sword hands and 316L stainless steel body. It also runs on a respectably reliable Miyota automatic movement and has a sapphire crystal, proving Armida doesn’t just focus on looks.
Image Source: Tisell Watch
As an homage, the Tisell Sub Diver is a lot like the Armida, but for a classic Submariner instead of the MilSub specifically. Rather, it’s an almost one-to-one of the Submariner Date, though many consider this to be the standard since it’s more popular than the no date version.
It has the Mercedes hands, the applied indices, and the cyclops date window. While obviously not as crisp as the Submariner’s, the rotating ceramic bezel turns pretty well, though it only goes one direction.
This watch runs on Miyota’s 9015 movement, which, on paper, has an accuracy rating of +/-10 seconds per day up to +/- 30 seconds per day. However, my experience with Tisell is that it’ll be closer to around +2 seconds a day.
What I Like
- Aesthetically, this watch is one of the closest to a Submariner Date on the market.
- The Miyota 9015 movement is far more accurate on this Tisell than it is in other watches.
- The sapphire crystal is AR coated on the inside for clarity even on the sunniest days.
What I Don’t Like
- The date isn’t perfectly aligned, often sitting just a little high in the window.
What Do Other Reviewers Say?
Reviewers report that this Tisell not only looks like a standard Sub Date, but wears like one too thanks to the similar size.
One forum-goer on Watchuseek theorizes that Tisell regulates the Miyota movement after they’re cased up, which makes sense considering how accurate it is.
The Verdict
The Tisell Sub Diver is for you if you’re looking for the closest visual homage to the Submariner Date that also has a touch of horological chops. Design-wise, the only thing it’s missing is the Rolex label. Function-wise, the 24-jewel Miyota automatic movement is accurate and reliable.
The Tisell Sub Diver is for you if you’re looking for the closest visual homage to the Submariner Date that also has a touch of horological chops. Design-wise, the only thing it’s missing is the Rolex label. Function-wise, the 24-jewel Miyota automatic movement is accurate and reliable.
5 Quality Rolex Submariner Alternatives
Unlike an homage, which is built as a lookalike tribute to a more expensive watch, an alternative is a comparable model, often a competitor or similar option within the same brand.
Sometimes alternatives are less expensive, and sometimes they aren’t. Alternatives are usually in the same category as the watch you’re considering. So if you’re in the market for
Image Source: Jomashop
The Omega Seamaster 300 is of equal quality to the Submariner. They both have 300m of water resistance, a COSC Chronometer certified movement, and are equipped with plenty of proprietary innovations. Plus, they’ve both been worn by James Bond.
The Seamaster has a less restrained look though. Its bracelet features more links for added complexity and lightplay, while thel face sports the iconic wave dial and partially skeletonized hands.
Image Source: Bob’s Watches
While the Submariner was built for recreational divers, the Rolex Sea Dweller is made to go much deeper. It has a larger case that’s water resistant at 1220m, a huge achievement in the dive watch world.
Another big difference, vital to deep divers, is the Sea Dweller’s helium escape valve. This is used to help the watch decompress as the divers make their way back up to the surface. Basically, the Sea Dweller is a functionally leveled up Submariner.
Tudor and Rolex being sister companies, the Tudor Black Bay is like a more modern Submariner. Sure, they’re both built with top-grade materials like sapphire crystal and COSC movements, but the Black Bay’s snowflake hands give it a less traditional aesthetic. Plus, it’s way more affordable than the Rolex, and you get a five-year transferable guarantee that mercifully doesn’t require you to register for it.
Image Source: Amazon
Like Rolex, Oris only offers mechanical watches. The 26-jewel movement in the Oris Aquis is based on SW001 which is precise, robust, and reliable. It’s a slightly glossier timepiece than the understated Submariner, with its sunburst dial and gem-like indices that provide beautiful lightplay.
At 39.5mm, the Aquis also suits more wrists than the Sub, and at usually under $2000, it also suits more budgets.
The Breitling Superocean hasn’t changed much visually since the ‘50s, much like the Submariner. More than looks, however, these two have almost identical function features: 70-hour power reserves, COSC movements, and excellent lume.
However, the Breitling Superocean has 100m less water resistance. What it loses in depth capability, it makes up for with an eye-catching design that includes bold arrow and sword hands, a silky blue dial, and a utilitarian rubber strap.
Which Rolex Submariner Homage Should You Get?
Steinhart offers many effective Sub homages, none more comprehensive than the Ocean One Vintage 39, which also stands on its own as a great dive watch.
Just like its source material, the Steinhart Ocean One Vintage 39 scores high on form and function. This watch is well-finished and accurately blue-printed against the Sub to satiate you lookalike seekers. Still, it also boasts thoughtful differences, giving it a level of genuineness that doesn’t take it out of homage territory. Performance-wise, Steinhart opts for the premium of two SW200 movements. Inside and out, the Ocean One offers an overall compelling value proposition.
If you want to level up though, the Ginault Ocean Rover is our upgrade pick because of its luxury-level attention to detail and finishing.
If you’re looking for a luxury homage that’s still a fraction of the cost of a Submariner, the Ginault Ocean Rover is for you. The details are of Rolex-level quality to the naked eye, but features like the red second hand ensure it’s an homage and not an illegal replica. Speaking of which, while I don’t like Ginault’s sordid past, I’m not that worried about it either. This watch is too good. They just need to offer us more transparency.
On the other end of the price spectrum, the Tiger Concept watch, adorned with those Tudor-like snowflake hands, is easily found for under $200.
The Tiger Concept Vintage diver with snowflake hands shines on two fronts. First, the custom options and finishing are excellent qualities, especially for their price. Second, the mix of Tudor and Rolex features, and modern and vintage styles, create a visually interesting watch that’s unlike most Sub homages.
Meanwhile, the Squale 1521 is known for its history and intense 500m of water resistance.
If you’re looking for the closest visual homages, the Armida A9 looks just like a MilSub, and the Tisell is nigh identical to a Submariner Date.
It’s all about deciding what qualities you love most about the Submariner, picking your budget, and going from there.
FAQs
What is the best Rolex Submariner homage?
It depends what you’re looking for in an homage, but the Steinhart Ocean One Vintage 39 offers topnotch design and function, as well as a relatively middle-of-the-road price.
Is Tudor a Rolex homage?
No, Tudor is Rolex’s sister company. Both are owned by the Hans Wilsdorf Foundation.
Ever since I received an Omega Seamaster for my 16th birthday, I fell in love with watches. Professionally, this led me to work for New York and LA’s leading auction houses. Personally, it led to a life as a collector, my Seamaster and my Explorer II being my favorite timepieces.
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