The Best Affordable Rolex Submariner Homage for Under £100

The Rolex Submariner is an icon. It’s a desirable watch that we’ve all heard of. James Bond - in both the books and the movies - wore one. It’s inspirational and aspirational.

It’s also very expensive. Depending on the model, you may even have to go on a waiting list to get one. For many watch fans, this isn’t realistic.

The solution is to buy an affordable alternative.

Even the substitutes can be pricey. Particularly if you’re still looking at Swiss-Made models.

What if you want the Rolex Submariner style but have a very limited budget?

What’s the best inexpensive watch that you can buy that resembles the world-famous diver?

If you want a Submariner homage for well under £100, the Stuhrling Aquadiver is the answer.

Stuhrling Aquadiver Depthmaster 3950

42mm Diameter 13.5mm Thick 20mm Lug Width Stainless Steel Quartz movement Mineral Crystal 100M Water Resistance

The Aquadiver looks like the Rolex Submariner.

It’s the one element that it needs to get right. You’re not looking for a dive watch that reminds you a little of the Submariner. You’re after an affordable Submariner homage.

So all the essentials are there.

• Submariner style case
• Mercedes hands
• Round hour markers
• Date window with cyclops lens

There are a few minor differences, but on the whole, this looks like the Rolex.

Of course, you’ll have seen even cheaper homages than the Stuhrling. Usually from Chinese mushroom brands that have sprung up from nowhere. Although you’re shopping on a budget, build quality and specs are still important.

We want value for money - not cheaply made and poor quality watches.

Are Stuhrling Watches Good Quality?

I’d say that they are. The Aquadiver has a reliable Japanese quartz movement, a screw-down crown, mineral crystal and 100M of water resistance. Although I’d describe it as a desk-diver rather than a fully-fledged dive watch, it has decent specifications.

Remember - this watch is a little over £50.

Stuhrling are Chinese-made. But the company are proud of this. They’re very open and have videos available online of their manufacturing process. These videos feature the factories that they use.

The company is less than twenty years old and to date, they’ve sold over fifteen million watches.

The company is American-owned, with the founder Chaim Fischer based in New York.

Conclusion

The Rolex Submariner is an iconic and expensive Swiss-made dive watch. For many watch fans it’s the Holy Grail. In most cases, it’s not a realistic purchase.

If that’s you - then the answer is a more affordable homage model. A watch that takes its inspiration from the Rolex, but at a much less expensive price-point.

The Stuhlring Aquadiver is the best of these. It combines the Submariner style with solid construction and a very exciting price. It uses Japanese parts and is sold by a trusted American company. It should be the first place that you look for a homage watch.

The Aquadiver, like the Rolex, is available in a number of different colours.