Best Nautilus/Royal Oak Alternatives?
The hype about the Nautilus and the Royal Oak has been insane over the last few years. If like me, you are a mere mortal, it is absolutely impossible to get these Patek Philippe and Audemars Piguet timepieces from their official dealers at the official retail prices.
Patek introduced the Aquanaut as an alternative to the Nautilus, something similar to the Nautilus but at a lower price range. But ironically, the Aquanaut itself quickly became out of reach of most watch collectors, as the excessive demands it immediately created also pushes its price at the grey market to a level multiple times of its official retail price. Currently, the situation with the Aquanaut is not anywhere better than the Nautilus.
If one likes the integrated bracelet design but is out of luck with either Patek or AP, then, the next best option is to look for alternatives from other high-end watch brands. There are a few come to mind. The options are:
1. Girard-Perregaux Laureato - The original Laureato dated back to the same era of both the Royal Oak and the Nautilus. While you could say the Laureato is a copycat of the Royal Oak that came out first, one may also say that all these watches simply reflect the fashion trend of their time. So, the Laureato shares a similar historical heritage like these other two more iconic timepieces.
2. Chopard Alpine Eagle - Again, there is a lot of history for Alpine Eagle. It is a reinvention of the St. Moritz that was first introduced in 1980, eight years after the Royal Oak.
3. IWC Ingenieur - You can't really say the Ingenieur is a copycat of either the Nautilus or the Royal Oak, as all three were designed by the same Gerlad Genta within a few years. Somehow, the Ingenieur has never received similar recognition like the other two.
4. Nautilus/Aquanaut/Royal Oak - Well, some may consider Patek and AP timepieces are irreplaceable and thus must get them no matter what....
Which would be your pick?
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I love watches and have been collecting inexpensive watches for over 20 years. Most are quartz watches but a few are automatic. None cost me more than C$300. Since two years ago, I started collecting...
Canada
Member since
Last active: 39 min ago
7.00” / 17.78 cm
No equal!
No equal!
Of course they are not equal, otherwise, they are not "substitutes"... And there is the D option for that too. 😉
And I am glad that they are not equals. Otherwise, their prices at the grey market would be as crazy as those of Patek and AP models and become similarly unreachable for most people.
The one with numbers is tolerable But they all are so ugly. The nautilus to me looks like a teletubi
The one with numbers is tolerable But they all are so ugly. The nautilus to me looks like a teletubi
Haha.. I guess that is the style for most integrated sport watches? I think the integrated bracelets make them look more bulky.
Personal taste is subjective. Many find them stunning, and they did represent the fashion trend of the 70's to 80's, which continues to these days in the ultra high-end watch segment.
I personally find the Royal Oak quite interesting and very original. Then, the next best one is the GP Laureato. Integrated bracelet is not my top favorite watch style, but I don't mind having one such style in my collection.
By the way, most of these watches wear relatively small on the wrist. See this example picture for the Nautilus on the wrist:
How To Buy A Patek Philippe Nautilus Reference 5711 (hodinkee.com)
Used ingeniueur or..... THE MIDO MULTIFORT TV BIG DATE
I just saved you 50 thousand and 50 bucks!
Used ingeniueur or..... THE MIDO MULTIFORT TV BIG DATE
Ha, thank you! I can't search and cover all the brands! The Mido is indeed a good alternative too, at a tiny fraction of the price of the Nautilus!
The Mido looks great with the strap, but I like the bracelet version more: Mido Multifort TV Big Date | M0495261109100 | MIDO® Watches Canada (midowatches.com)
I kinda like the GP when considering cost
I have two Alpine Eagles...so I guess that must be the winner for me...
I also have this GP Laureato...which is awesome if you don't want the screws in the bezel and you don't want the hobnail pattern on the dial...dial is stone...Onyx...
I just saved you 50 thousand and 50 bucks!
This Citizen watch is interesting... a homage to both the Royal Oak and perhaps Rolex sport watches like Submariner or so? 😮
Just get a Nivada F77
VACHERON CONSTANTIN Overseas by faaaar
I kinda like the GP when considering cost
That's also my preference. It really shares the same historical heritage of the more iconic pieces, and it costs less than half of the Nautilus' official retail price and even less when one considers the latter's prices at the grey market.
Would the VC overseas be considered an alternative?
Czapek Antarctique
The not so obvious pick and inspiration for the CW 12
None! 15cm wrist means I need not apply 😂 Most integrated wear HUGE
Of your bunch… the GP
Some of these watches are indeed quite large.😢
Yes it's crazy. I am waiting for my Calatrava 6119G to arrive, but don't think I'll get near any of the others, not that I'm too fussed about the nautilus.
I'll try to get the Calatrava 6119R from an official dealer in another country. The Calatrava and the stainless steel sport watches (at official retail prices) are pretty much the only models within my reach. But then given that I won't have any chance to get a hand on those sport watches from an official dealer, and the Calatrava is likely the only Patek I will ever buy, there is no point to build a relationship with the local official dealer.
I heard that in order to be considered for allocating a Nautilus, one is expected to have a purchase history of something like US$400,000 to US$500,000 roughly. Don't know if this is true, but this won't surprise me.. Given the prices of most of their watches, even those who has just bought an entry level model from them would have a purchase history of around US$30,000 or above. And if one just bought an additional watch at a more typical price point of Patek, it could easily go over US$200,000 or above. So, in order to be considered an VIP, it won't surprise me if they expect a purchase history of something like US$500,000 or above....
Adding a couple more high-end options. The PF is on my grail list.
I'll try to get the Calatrava 6119R from an official dealer in another country. The Calatrava and the stainless steel sport watches (at official retail prices) are pretty much the only models within my reach. But then given that I won't have any chance to get a hand on those sport watches from an official dealer, and the Calatrava is likely the only Patek I will ever buy, there is no point to build a relationship with the local official dealer.
I heard that in order to be considered for allocating a Nautilus, one is expected to have a purchase history of something like US$400,000 to US$500,000 roughly. Don't know if this is true, but this won't surprise me.. Given the prices of most of their watches, even those who has just bought an entry level model from them would have a purchase history of around US$30,000 or above. And if one just bought an additional watch at a more typical price point of Patek, it could easily go over US$200,000 or above. So, in order to be considered an VIP, it won't surprise me if they expect a purchase history of something like US$500,000 or above....
Patek is a whole other ball game. I am on the bottom rung and only looking at the entry level watches which are 30k. We are clearly all mad!
Don’t forget the Ikon from Maurice Lacroix
I dont really consider this as an alternative, since those watches are way beyond what I usually look at.
But if someone askes me what integrated bracelet sportswatch I like the most, I pull out my good ol reliable:
If you're spending that much you might as well buy what you actually want...
I'm both a Roman numerals and rivets guy, so the Chopard is an easy choice
I dislike the Nautilus, prefer the Aquanaut. Royal Oak is cool but kinda played out imo.
Cartier santos, oysterquartz and the Alpine Eagle are good alternatives. Affordable are the twelve, Brew and Autodromo.
But they each have their own branding and style so much that none of these are really substitutes.
I can’t believe they didn’t put the adjustment system that’s in the Mark XX in the Ingenieur. Come on IWC…
Very interesting design. Never heard of the brand. I bet another Indie brand?
Its a Bahrain based brand - swiss movement - became a big thing when TGV from urban gentry included this in top 3 watches with gerald genta design aesthetics on a budget - Also King of Bahrain who is one of the most prolific watch collectors in the world wore it too so it got lot of media attention
I just saved you 50 thousand and 50 bucks!
I need this in my life. Perhaps the next trip to Tokyo will warrant this. It's such a gorgeous watch. All the colorways
I need this in my life. Perhaps the next trip to Tokyo will warrant this. It's such a gorgeous watch. All the colorways
Why wait they're available here
I need this in my life. Perhaps the next trip to Tokyo will warrant this. It's such a gorgeous watch. All the colorways
Oh wait you live in India 😬
Found this Atticus on Chrono24, looks pretty nice and costs EUR660
Found this Atticus on Chrono24, looks pretty nice and costs EUR660
Thank you Edwin for sharing this information. The watch looks very nice! There are indeed good watches in every price range! There are too many to know them all! 😀