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I have nothing against such watches, but I am more of a person who enjoys originality and fine details.

Cool discussion but my brain starts to hate it when the same stock footage is used over and over like if ever a documentary does that it's an INSTANT turn off

Are those really 'alternative' ?

Amazing video. You provided a list of amazing alternatives to Rolex watches. At the same time, you showed how powerful is Rolex catalog right now.

The most obvious best alternative to Rolex. Tudor. Most of the alternatives listed here are horrible.

@10:24 😂

What comments were made by the CEO of Rolex?

This is excellent, thank you! With a fraction of your knowledge I’ve been doing similar research, and have a list of only a couple Rolex models, several Omegas, especially the Speedmaster white, and Breitling (which you didn’t mention.). I’m a private pilot and really like the Breitling line up, but they have a confusingly large number of models, so it’s difficult to compare and contrast. I’d be interested in your opinion on the Breitling vs. the Speedmaster, with the GMT still being a contender. I appreciate your expertise here very much, as well as the excellent production values of your videos. 👍

Thank you for this… probably the most original take of this type of video I’ve seen in years! Your attention to detail, that star lights on the ceiling of the car… spot on! Too many watch homage type videos but you’ve taken it to that deeper level, the intention, the statement, great alternatives !! Am a Rolex fanboy, but have added a few more to my wish list from this. ‘I have arrived a long time ago….’

I find Rolex soooooo boring 🥱 And tons of stock here in Singapore. Many have received the proverbial call … even with no spend history. My wholesale buddies show me their what’s app groups where no one is touching Rolex. Grey market dealers are flush with Rolex stock. So all rollie flippers and such, you can get back to a real job as hype time is over. And oh, 10,000 Daytona’s listed for sale on chrono24. And many have been there for a loooong time. I have been collecting AP, GP and Minerva for the past 24 years. Never wanted a Rolex of any kind. If you like Rolex, be my guest. Buy and wear it. If you expect lots of oohs and ahs from any serious collections from your sub or such … forget about it. If you think of Rolex as an investments … then perhaps think again. Same applies for all watches. On a positive note, I have nothing but respect for Rolex marketing and business savvy. 💯 Somehow they manage to make 1.2 millions mass made watches a year with more supply coming with 2 news facilities. But Rolex as a watch manufacturer … mediocre at best. A skydweller is about the only complication I can think of that they make. Finishing is again mediocre. Consistent mind you … but still mediocre. What do I dislike about Rolex the most …? It’s common. Especially in asia. Everyone taxi driver or durian seller has one. Fake, real what ever. Just blah and meh combined. So I’m hoping that some newer collectors see my comments and learn to think more.

For only $800 you can have a gorgeous Certina DS Action diver with 300 m and looks just as good as the submariner. I love mine.

As always a great video! Really enjoyed it!

I still want a Rolex. I will wait a bit for their call and try again. It’s the watch you dream about as a child.

After years of waiting for Mr. Dufour to say something - anything - now I'm ready for him to shut up again.

I highly appreciate the insights and do share most of your views. For some, you have shown other substitutes. I got a two tone sub to scratch the Rolex itch and to own a ‘bling’ watch.

You forgot the Omega Speedmaster Broad Arrow GMT.

I understand your analysis and agree with most of it - very glad you did not just propose "attainable" look-alikes. Interestingly, I still see plenty of folk dissatisfied with Rolex ADs. Not my experience, complete opposite in fact, and I'm far from a bloke who can just walk in and splash $ around...very far...😂. Cheers!

It's not "a myriad of", it's just "myriad"; as in there are myriad ideas.

Owning a Aquaterra and a Planet Ocean I totally agree that they are nicer watches than Rolex

what 8:22? rolex's finishing is mediocre at best

The daytona is an alternative of Heuer Carrera.

What are you eyeing next??

I agree completely on the Explorer II. If there's any Rolex to go for, that's the one, even though there's definitely a few more affordable alternatives from Grand Seiko or even Christopher Ward.

Mate. You are the one,who's down to earth. Appreciate it. Is the Cartier Santos GMT not disappointing AF?? I mean,€9K for a sellita movement? WTF??Greets from Warsaw

Because the Rolex AD experience is so poor after the Pandemic, I opened up to alternative brands that appealed to me. I am a dial man first. I discovered so many brands that are affordable , available, and want to sell to me as a first time customer. I cannot say anything bad about Rolex, just wish they follow the AP boutique model and dump their chain AD’s as they roll out more Bucherer boutiques. And before the haters try to shoutdown my comments, the only shortage of Rolex today is at the AD. The gray market is fully stocked!

Aunt May sends you a stack of wheatcakes for your shout out to Uncle Ben.😂

Another superb analysis sir! Thank you for sharing your expertise with us. Bravo!

I don't think titanium is priced as a luxury material. I think its priced as it is due to the higher costs of working with it as a material. Compared to steel its harder, and as such it takes longer to work into form, shape, size and relative dimensions. So yes, gold is getting more expensive and solid or two tone gold watches are going to be getting more expensive in the long term but this is due to cost of buying the material while gold is soft and maleable it is therefore going to be easier to work than titanium. The length of time working on titanium compared to steel is very much longer so the costs increase even if the material costs much less to buy in. However, there are watches that are made from titanium which do represent good value for money compared to an equivalent steel model. Rolex gets a bad rep for making a watch from its existing product line but with titanium instead of steel or precious metal then sells it way above the cost to profit value simply because its rolex and so it can. Tudor can do the same thing, for which they are now doing one better than its parent company Rolex and having their watches not just COSC tested but also Metas rated and for less money. As for titanium watches, shop around and im sure you can get one at a more realistic price....just not a Rolex on the grey market.

These kinds of videos are magic, and your thoughts / analysis on the watch market and BS watch collecting ideas are incredibly valuable to those of us swimming in these seas. Keep up the great work!

Calatrava vs 1908. Less expensive preowned too.

Where is the Gundam?

Still love the Submariner but love all your alternatives! Great video

Love your enthusiasm! Great video

Glad I bought a Seiko diver and gold coins instead 😂

What you said about VC having humility, and showing respect to their customers sums up why I am not interested I'm trying to get a Rolex, even though the Explorer 1 is among my favourite watches. I am not interested in working with a company that wants me to jump through endless hoops and get down on my knees and beg to be allowed to buy one of their watches. I simply have too much respect for myself to play these silly and humiliating games.

Great video 👍

Sorry guys but the hard truth is there is no alternative to Rolex. If your heart is set on Rolex then only a Rolex will fill that need. Think about it, this guy says these are all better than Rolex, yet he OWNS a Rolex 😅. If these were so much better then why won't he get one and get rid of the rolex? Because he knows there is no alternative.

All of them will feel disappointing compared to the Rolex.

Hard to take a guy serious who has toys in his office

I owned several San Martins that just left me a little unsatisfied. Something just wasn’t quire right, and I sold them. The best Chinese homage I saw in real life is a Seestern Nomos Tangente homage I gave my son. Idk how long it will last but it really looks very good.

Excellent observations and thanks for introducing me to quite a few stunning pieces I wasn’t aware of

Great vid and commentary, but when I think of "Best Alternative to a Rolex", it's not "A watch that costs $40,000". I'll never get a Rolex, not because of snobbery, but they are simply unattainable financially. I was thinking more along the lines of "Instead of an Explorer II, you could get the Christopher Ward C63 Sealander GMT". Congrats to people that can justify spending over $10k on a watch, I cannot. If I could go down and buy a Sub, put it on my Synchrony card like I did to buy my Omegas and Breitling, then maybe. Because luckily for me, a Sub is the only Rolex I have any interest in anyway. I got a Planet Ocean. And by that I mean I was able to walk in and you know...BUY a Planet Ocean, and walk out of the boutique with it on my wrist. I simply don't understand the rabid psychotic dedication Rolex has. I've held a sub. It's beautiful. It's elegant. It was $14,000. For me, 5K is really the upper limit(maybe slightly over to get my Aqua Terra). Rolex is to me on the same level as Patek, JLC, Breguet; spectacular timepieces that are made for those in society that are on a different level than me. I'm a middle class guy who rides a 33 year old Harley, drives a 22 year old Toyota pickup, and have a 44 year old Corvette. I'm not exactly wiping my ass with Clevelands here.

Indeed, Mike, there are always alternate choices equal or better in everything, always. Detailed vid. Thank you. Chris

Addiesdive explorer

I'm confused Mike- you've said in multiple videos that Tudor has boring, conservative designs (compared to Longines) yet in this video you said their corporate culture is genuinely represented in their mantra 'born to dare'.......I don't know about this. They have struggled to sell watches that aren't similar to Rolex models.

Thumbs up. 👍 I know I’m very negative towards Rolex. It’s just unbearable watching this grey market nonesense. Everyone selling but few buying even Rolex. Yet they expect premiums on 30+ year old Rolex without service 😂😂 You actually opened my eyes to that Glashütte instead of submariner

None of the alternatives you mentioned give you what many one time watch buyer seek - status recognition by masses

Amabokoboko! I have two of the watches named in this episode, the Santos and the Aqua Terra. Both of them are marvelous.

Nomos Club over OP… choice no one ever made

Excellent video…you continue to deliver the most interesting and varied content. Great job 👏