Same, Same, But Different - Royal Oak Edition
I'm working on an Audemars Piguet Royal Oak homages/alternatives article. I thought fellow Watch Crunchies would be interested in what I've found so far.
- Timex
- Bulova
- Casio
- G-Shock
- Citizen
- D1 Milano
- Tissot
- Baume & Mercier
- Maurice Lacroix
- Girard-Perregaux
What would you add, if anything, to a list of AP Royal Oak lookalikes?
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Celine
I've worked in different areas of the watch industry over the last 15 years. Now, I'm a freelance luxury watch writer. Instagram @luxwatchwriter. Champion of #ladieswhocrunch.
Laguna Beach, CA, USA
Member since
Last active: 9 hrs ago
Nothing to add. As always did a nice job wrangling up the usual suspects.
quick search for these
Not a spitting image. No integrated bracelet but the bezel must been inspired by AP. Tissot T Sport.
My gold gshock.
Ohh it’s yellow 😜
Other thoughts
IWC Ingenieur - actually genta designed I believe. For whatever reason, this one was overlooked by the larger audience for RO alternatives.
Hublot Classic Fusion - which will get you plenty of hate mail but also clicks!
San Martin's Royal Oak homage - doesn't do much for me but then again neither does the royal Oak.
Rolex Oysterquartz - probably my favorite of the bunch. I own oysterquartz daydate and it's got it's own funky integrated sports watch DNA. I frankly think the classic nature of this design (which Rolex doesn't own) is why the Tissot PRX Powermatic was so popular
Other thoughts
IWC Ingenieur - actually genta designed I believe. For whatever reason, this one was overlooked by the larger audience for RO alternatives.
Hublot Classic Fusion - which will get you plenty of hate mail but also clicks!
San Martin's Royal Oak homage - doesn't do much for me but then again neither does the royal Oak.
Rolex Oysterquartz - probably my favorite of the bunch. I own oysterquartz daydate and it's got it's own funky integrated sports watch DNA. I frankly think the classic nature of this design (which Rolex doesn't own) is why the Tissot PRX Powermatic was so popular
You’re absolutely right about the Ingenieur and Oysterquartz! I‘m only sticking to current production models for this article, otherwise I would absolutely include them.
Also, years back when I worked at an AD, my boss called Hublot the “Poor man’s AP“ 🤣 (we sold both brands)
You’re absolutely right about the Ingenieur and Oysterquartz! I‘m only sticking to current production models for this article, otherwise I would absolutely include them.
Also, years back when I worked at an AD, my boss called Hublot the “Poor man’s AP“ 🤣 (we sold both brands)
Got it! You still have a ton of options out there for in production.
On the higher end
Chopard Alpine Eagle - Perhaps this is more of a Nautilus alternative. I wish I was cool enough to pull this off
Zenith Defy Skyline - You can probably choose any of the defy line actually....they're all pretty reminscent of the era but the patterned dial here makes it feel more on the nose.
Omega Constellation - Are they still making these? I feel like the integrated bracelet rather than the strap really heightens the RO/Nautilus look
On the more affordable end
Yema Wristmaster - more of a case shape resemblance than anything else.
Direnzo DRZ 04 - This is definitely the off the wall one. I feel like this is what a Royal Oak would look like if thoroughly reinterpreted by a microbrand.
Oh and even more come to mind though these are further afield
Tudor Royal - Very up the oysterquartz alley
Bell and Ross - BR-05 - Somewhat overpriced in my view but if you're craving aspects of the look....exposed screws, integrated bracelet....
Other thoughts
Oh and even more come to mind though these are further afield
Tudor Royal - Very up the oysterquartz alley
Bell and Ross - BR-05 - Somewhat overpriced in my view but if you're craving aspects of the look....exposed screws, integrated bracelet....
Other thoughts
I wish Tudor would offer the Royal with a baton dial instead of a Roman numeral. It’d look so much sharper and not so messy, imo
I wish Tudor would offer the Royal with a baton dial instead of a Roman numeral. It’d look so much sharper and not so messy, imo
I never thought of that. It's a great design modification. I feel as though the Royal is their attempt at a dressier watch...which is odd because the integrated bracelet screams "SPORT WATCH" to me.
I feel like only Cartier can get away with Romans in a sports watch....
The vacheron constantin overseas has some similarities
The Bulgari Octo Finissimo is a good alternative with Genta heritage
The vacheron constantin overseas has some similarities
I adore the Overseas, it's stunning...and the 222!
Chinese mechanical Tiong.
Great find! Thank you for sharing. I love the AP Royal Oak blue dial. I think the GP Laureato is the closest alternative in terms of the dial texture and colour and the case shape. But it is still quite pricey, so I bought the Tissot PRX as an alternative for the dial colour & texture, plus the integrated bracelet is quite comfortable to wear. 🍻
Almost all from Gérald Genta. What happened to Patek?
The blue Timex is my favourite of the bunch.
My gold gshock.
Ohh it’s yellow 😜
Yay! I'm a huge g shock fan :-)
What is the circled one?
What is the circled one?
It’s a D1 Milano
https://strapsco.com/top-audemars-piguet-royal-oak-homages-alternatives/
As you know there are sites you can buy mod kits for your gshock.
Cheers!
Just released today by Nivada Grenchen - the F77 Automatic - Which is a re- release of the F77 from 1977 - Cheers Shadow
https://monochrome-watches.com/introducing-nivada-f77-automatic-accessible-1970s-integrated-bracelet-watch-specs-price/
This microbrand Kickstarter campaign of a Genta-style modular "summer watch" (plastic interchangeable case and strap on an automatic movement case in steel and sapphire) just started a couple of days ago with raving reviews from watch YouTubers. It may be interesting to anyone drawn towards the style.
Here's the ongoing campaign: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/liberumwatches/liberum-watches