Rolex Explorer alternatives
A plain, legible 36 to 40 mm steel watch with a 3-6-9 dial and no bezel, built to be worn anywhere. Alternatives here are field watches.
These 14 watches come from other brands, sit within 3 mm of a Rolex Explorer reference in case size, and cost less than its $7,900 starting price. They're grouped by price, closest in size first, with one watch per brand in each group.
The Rolex Explorer
| Reference | Case | Lug-to-lug | Water | List price | eBay median ask |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Explorer 36 124270 | 36 mm | 43 mm | 100 m | $7,900 | $10,553 |
| Explorer 39 214270 | 39 mm | 47 mm | 100 m | — | $8,750 |
| Explorer 40 224270 | 40 mm | 46.5 mm | 100 m | $8,350 | $10,750 |
| Explorer II 216570 | 42 mm | 50 mm | 100 m | — | $10,114 |
| Explorer II 226570 | 42 mm | 50 mm | 100 m | $10,600 | $12,650 |
Under $500
| Watch | Case | Lug-to-lug | Thick | Water | Movement | List price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Timex Expedition Scout 40mmvs the Explorer 224270 | 40 mm (same) | 48 mm (+1.5) | 11 mm | 50 m | — | $95 |
| Vaer C5 Korean Field Solar 40mmMicrobrandvs the Explorer 224270 | 40 mm (same) | 48 mm (+1.5) | 11.4 mm | 100 m | Solar | $319 |
| Seiko 5 Sports Field GMTvs the Explorer 214270 | 39.4 mm (+0.4) | 47.9 mm (+0.9) | 13.6 mm | 100 m | Automatic | $450 |
| Bulova Hack Watch 38mmvs the Explorer 214270 | 38 mm (−1) | 47 mm (same) | 13.4 mm | 30 m | — | $495 |
| Citizen Eco-Drive Chandler (Garrison)vs the Explorer 124270 | 37 mm (+1) | 42.5 mm (−0.5) | 9.5 mm | 100 m | Solar | $295 |
$500 to $1,500
| Watch | Case | Lug-to-lug | Thick | Water | Movement | List price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Raven Trekker 39 Matte Black (no-date)Microbrandvs the Explorer 214270 | 39 mm (same) | 48 mm (+1) | 12.5 mm | 200 m | Automatic | $690 |
| Lorier FalconMicrobrandvs the Explorer 124270 | 36 mm (same) | 44 mm (+1) | 10.4 mm | 100 m | Automatic | $699 |
| Seiko Prospex Alpinistvs the Explorer 224270 | 39.5 mm (−0.5) | 46.4 mm (−0.1) | 12.7 mm | 200 m | Automatic | $900 |
| Nodus Sector II Field Titanium - SequoiaMicrobrandvs the Explorer 214270 | 38 mm (−1) | 47 mm (same) | 11.7 mm | 100 m | Automatic | $625 |
| Hamilton Khaki Field Mechanical 38mmvs the Explorer 214270 | 38 mm (−1) | 47 mm (same) | 9.5 mm | 50 m | Manual | $675 |
$1,500 to $5,000
| Watch | Case | Lug-to-lug | Thick | Water | Movement | List price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tudor Rangervs the Explorer 214270 | 39 mm (same) | 47 mm (same) | 12 mm | 100 m | Automatic | $4,025 |
$5,000 and up
| Watch | Case | Lug-to-lug | Thick | Water | Movement | List price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tudor Black Bay Provs the Explorer 214270 | 39 mm (same) | 47.2 mm (+0.2) | 14.6 mm | 200 m | Automatic | $5,075 |
| IWC Pilot's Watch Mark XXvs the Explorer 224270 | 40 mm (same) | 49.2 mm (+2.7) | 10.8 mm | 100 m | Automatic | $5,900 |
| Omega Seamaster Railmaster 38vs the Explorer 214270 | 38 mm (−1) | 44.9 mm (−2.1) | 12.4 mm | 150 m | Automatic | $6,200 |
List prices are manufacturer prices in US dollars where published. Differences in brackets are against the closest Rolex Explorer reference by size. Check lug-to-lug against your wrist with the fit finder.
Side-by-side comparisons
Questions
- What is the best affordable alternative to the Rolex Explorer?
- By size, the closest under $1,500 in our catalog is the Timex Expedition Scout 40mm T49963 at $95: 40 mm across against 40 mm for the 224270, with a 48 mm lug-to-lug.
- Is there a Rolex Explorer alternative under $500?
- Yes. The Timex Expedition Scout 40mm T49963 lists at $95 and is 40 mm across, water-resistant to 50 m. 5 of the watches on this page cost under $500.
- How much does the Rolex Explorer cost?
- In our catalog, Rolex Explorer references start at $7,900 list price. On eBay, the 124270 has a median asking price of $10,553 across 150 live listings.