Best Rolex Explorer Homage Watches A Lot Cheaper, Yet Very Similar

Alpha Explorer

If a close alternative to the Rolex Explorer is what you are looking for then you should grab the Alpha Explorer. Usually available on Ebay for just over $100, this is about as close as you are going to get for a fraction of the price.

You can see from the two images here that the likeness is astounding – black dial, squared Arabic numerals at 3, 6 and 9 o’clock. A field watch style down arrow at 12 o’clock, A tapered round bezel and a jubilee style band. All stainless steel.

The only slight differences are in the minute train at the hours where the Rolex has thicker markers, and the crown being slightly narrower.

And let’s not forget that you are not getting a bad deal here either. Sure, it’s not a Rolex, but with a Japanese Miyoto automatic movement it’s a great buy in my opinion.

Parnis Explore Automatic

Yet another homage that is true to the original Explorer, Parnis has not held back with this watch. With an automatic movement, sapphire crystal and all stainless steel, it is a bargain for something that could pass as a true Rolex.

Where this watch differs from the Alpha is in the more clean appearance due to the lack of any writing on the watch, and the sizing is close to the Explorer I at 41mm. Aside from the Arabic numerals of course.

This watch is no longer easier to come by on Amazon, so you will have to jump over to Ebay to see if you can find one on there!

Ball Engineer II Ohio

If you want something a little more upmarket, and Swiss-made, the Ball Engineer II is a stunning watch that represents one of the more worthwhile Rolex Explorer alternatives.

The black dial and clean stainless steel bezel are clear homages, however, Ball strays far from the original. They use the inward arrow at all hour markers and have a 12 o’clock Arabic numeral as well. There are also micro gas tubes on the hour, minute second hands, and the hour markers (the small circles) which make reading this a cinch in the dark.

On top of that, they have added a day/date window at 3 o’clock and this baby is 5G shockproof, anti-magnetic (4,800A/m) and 100m water-resistant. Something an engineer can certainly take into the field!

Seiko SNE327 Solar

Seiko love trying that hand at almost any kind of watch, and they usually succeed. This solar variation of an Explorer homage is no different.

The Arabic numerals are perhaps a little on the larger side, and the arrow at 12 o’clock is on the bezel, but otherwise it bears a striking resemblance.

They have snuck in an unobtrusive day/date inside the 3, with the black background making it somewhat harder to see. The hands a more sword-like than the Explorer too, but it still holds its own in terms of a clean design.

And last but not least, being a Seiko, you get top-notch quality for a very reasonable price!

Seiko Presage SARY057

Seiko’s Presage range is a little on the higher end than the above model, which you can tell from the automatic movement (4R35) and the sapphire crystal that they have included.

The SARY057 is a decent Rolex Explorer alternative, of course without the numeric indices at 3,6 and 9. But for a watch as great value as this, you can’t go wrong!

You can read our full Seiko SARY057 review.

Oris Classic Date Black

Venturing into more expensive Swiss-made territory now, this watch from Oris is another stunning Explorer homage, without being a blatant copy.

Somehow, this model comes off as a little more refined than the rest, which in part is due to the jubilee band with its finer inner elements. Also, the hour markers are thinner lines and the hands very straight. The Arabic hour markers are also far more classic in font type, without the harder corners of the Explorer.

Of course, there is non-standard placement of the date window at 6 o’clock to add yet another original element. But what is perhaps most stand-out on this watch is the varying circles of black overlay on the watch, which gives it a few more interesting dial to analyze.

Lastly, this is one of the smallest Rolex Explorer alternatives with a 37mm diameter dial, so will definitely suit people with smaller wrists.

Tudor Heritage Ranger

Another mid-range Swiss watchmaker from Geneva, Tudor, has a great Explorer Homage called the Heritage Ranger.

It comes with a Swiss-made automatic movement (ETA 2824) with 38 hours reserve and a screw-down crown. The bezel is stainless steel with a satin finish, as is the band with fold-over lockdown clasp.

This watch has no huge differences from the Explorer save for the 12 o’clock marker and the missing arrow at that position.