When you think of men’s watches, what’s the first brand that comes to mind?

Chances are high that it’s Rolex. 

Rolex has become the gold standard for men’s watches over the past several decades. For many, Rolex watches are a desirable accessory that, unfortunately, lands outside what many consider a comfortable watch budget.

Luckily, all kinds of options are available to those who want Rolex alternatives.

Below, we’ll highlight 11 of our favorite Rolex alternatives from Joseph Abboud. But first, let’s dive into what makes Rolex the watch giant they are. 

Why Rolex?

If you’re unfamiliar with the brand, Rolex is one of the most popular and iconic brands for men’s watches. They’re often seen as a status symbol—Rolex watches are worn and have been worn by many influential people throughout history, from actors to royalty. 

In general, Rolex sticks to a few simple-yet-iconic designs. This helps make Rolex watches instantly recognizable by watch enthusiasts and leads to many Rolex knockoffs.

Rolex is also a marketing giant—they may not have groundbreaking designs, but they’ve spent decades turning their brand into one of the most desirable watch brands in the world. Even with such a steep price tag, men worldwide seek out Rolex as their watch brand of choice. 

Is It Worth Buying a Rolex?

It sounds like Rolex is one of the best watch brands in the world, and everyone should look to buy one, right?

Here’s the thing: Rolex watches are beautiful, but they cost much more than your average timepiece. 

To really hammer this home, the average cost of a Rolex watch is anywhere from $7,000 to $12,000. For many men, spending this much on a watch simply isn’t feasible, and choosing a budget watch option is the better route. 

Rolex certainly makes desirable and stylish watches for men. After all, many of their designs have been replicated by other brands to capitalize on their success. If you’ve got the budget and a Rolex is truly what you want to buy, then by all means—go for it!

However, we also want to point out that you don’t need a Rolex to accessorize your bespoke suit or elevate your casual outfits. You can add a beautiful timepiece to your look without breaking the bank, including some unique designs that Rolex doesn’t have. 

Our Favorite Rolex Alternatives

Whether you’re looking for affordable watches that offer a design close to a current Rolex model or a completely unique design, we’ve got you.

Here are some of our favorite Rolex alternatives from Joseph Abboud.

Multi-Function Bracelet Watch

For those who love the Rolex Daytona, we’ve got a great watch for you.

The Multi-Function Bracelet Watch from Joseph Abboud has an iconic design that’s unforgettable and classy. Similar to the Daytona, this watch features three different subdials. It also has a rugged stainless steel case back, a stainless steel band, and it is water resistant up to 100 feet. This perfect everyday watch is versatile enough to work with casual and formal outfits. 

Add it to your collection today for $150. 

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The Park Place Collection Automatic Bracelet Watch

The Park Place Collection Automatic Bracelet Watch is one of our higher-end pieces. It’s similar to the GMT-Master II from Rolex, but with a twist—you can see the watch's inner workings through the case! 

This special timepiece, available in silver-tone, gold-tone, or black IP plating, is a top-of-the-line watch with a see-through case design. Along with this unique feature comes a bezel with 24-hour markers for precision time-keeping in a different time zone. The watch is water resistant up to 165 feet and features a matte black dial with exposed automatic movement.  

This watch is a must-have for your collection—get it today for $235.

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Gold Bracelet Watch

If you’re looking to make a statement with a watch, it’s hard to beat a classic gold-tone design—like this Gold Bracelet Watch from Joseph Abboud. The watch bears a few similarities to the Day-Date 36 from Rolex. Thankfully, it’s much more affordable!

This classy watch features a beautifully-shaped case, a polished adjustable link bracelet, and a subdial for seconds. It’s also highly durable, featuring water resistance up to 100 feet.  

The Gold Bracelet Watch is a can’t-miss for lovers of gold-tone watches. At a reasonable $135, you can add it to your collection and create statement-making outfits. 

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Multi-Function Dial Bracelet Watch

Not every Rolex alternative needs to be similar to one of their designs—we know that some people want a unique design that helps them stand out.

This Multi-Function Dial Bracelet Watch is a smoothly-styled timepiece featuring an analog face, two sundials, a polished bracelet, and a stainless steel case back. Our favorite part is the blue sunray dial with silver-tone hands and markers—the combination of blue and silver gives the watch a classy and unique look. 

Get this one for just $135. 

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Stainless Steel Bracelet Watch

The Rolex Submariner is one of the most iconic styles of Rolex—its history dates all the way back to 1953. However, this Stainless Steel Bracelet Watch is ideal for those looking into a similar style without breaking the bank.

This standout timepiece from Joseph Abboud has everything you want in a stylish watch—an organic-shaped case, a navy blue face, and unique rose gold detailing around the edges and on the hour markers. It also has an adjustable link bracelet with water resistance up to 100 feet. 

Get this incredible Rolex alternative from Joseph Abboud for $135.

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Silver Date Mesh Bracelet Watch

Though Rolex doesn’t offer mesh bracelets, we love this Silver Date Mesh Bracelet Watch for those who want a unique option.

This contemporary timepiece offers smooth and effortless style to the wearer. It features an analog face with Roman numerals and hour markers, a second hand, and a date window. Both the mesh bracelet and the case back are stainless steel, and the watch is water-resistant up to 100 feet. 

Add this classy watch to your collection today for $125. 

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The Crosby Street Collection Automatic Bracelet Watch

The Rolex Datejust 41 is a gorgeous watch— we understand why people would want to add it to their collection. The Crosby Street Collection Automatic Bracelet Watch is the closest thing we have, but it also adds some unique features that make it a great choice. 

Similar to the Park Place version, this iconic timepiece features a see-through design showcasing all of the intricate inner parts. It also has an industrial-style bezel, contrasting markers, and a matte navy blue dial with exposed automatic movement. 

Pick up this truly premium watch from the Joseph Abboud site for $250. 

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Transparent Dial Bracelet Watch

We couldn’t have a list of incredible Rolex alternatives without one of our favorite pieces: The Transparent Dial Bracelet Watch. Instead of replicating an existing Rolex design, this one has its own unique design. 

The watch features a see-through case style with an analog dial and gold-tone markers. It also has a second hand and a beautifully-polished stainless steel bracelet to complete the classic look. 

Grab this one from our website for $125.

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What About Leather Straps?

Rolex watches are known for iconic designs, from the Submariner to the Sky-Dweller. 

However, one thing they lack is designs featuring a leather strap. In fact, they only have one design with a leather strap: The Cellini collection. 

For those who prefer a classy leather strap, we’ve got some fantastic Rolex alternatives that won’t hurt your wallet. Here are some of our favorites. 

Multi-Function Croco-Grain Strap Watch

We couldn’t have a list of our favorite leather strap watches without including the Multi-Function Croco-Grain Strap Watch. 

This simple-yet-stylish timepiece features a classic design with a metal case and an analog face. The star of the show is the Croco-grain leather strap—a classy feature with unique detailing. The face also features three subdials that display the day, date, and 24-hour time. 

For just $125, you can add this beautiful watch to your collection. 

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Brown & Black Multi-Function Strap Watch

This piece offers the ideal alternative to our Multi-Function Bracelet Watch for those who prefer a leather strap.

The watch features a rugged silhouette with a soft leather-lined band and three different subdials: One for the day, date, and 24-hour time. Like many of our other watches, this Multi-Function Strap Watch is water resistant up to 100 feet and features a stainless steel case back.

It’s hard to beat this amount of style at a price like this—grab this watch for $125 today. 

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Black & Silver Transparent Dial Strap Watch

If you’re a fan of our Transparent Dial Bracelet Watch above, we know you’ll like this leather strap version!

This Transparent Dial Strap Watch features the same see-through case as its metal strap counterpart. It also has a soft strap, analog dial, and hour markers with a second hand. The watch is water resistant up to 100 feet. 

You can have this one without hurting your wallet—grab it today for just $85. 

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Find the Best Rolex Alternatives From Joseph Abboud 

Joseph Abboud’s watch collection includes all different kinds of designs and styles to choose from. We’ve got everything you need, from Rolex alternatives to more unique designs—all of which are much easier on the wallet than the men’s watch juggernaut. 

Check out the Joseph Abboud watch collection today for your next forever timepiece!