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5 Worthy Watches That Capture the Spirit of the Rolex Daytona

These semi-affordable chronographs from Seiko, Tudor, Zenith and more will give you some of the Rolex Daytona mojo.

tudor watch on linenPhoto by Henry Phillips for Gear Patrol

By Zen Love and Johnny Brayson

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Want a Rolex Daytona? Good luck. To get the iconic chronograph’s 40mm profile and prestigious name on your wrist will cost you over $15,000. That, of course, is just the base price of the watch in steel — if you’re lucky enough to pay retail for it, which ain’t likely.

An ongoing shortage of Rolex’s steel sports watches, hype and other factors mean long waiting lists and massively inflated prices, with the secondary and vintage markets often being even crazier.

The Daytona has taken different forms over the years since its introduction in 1963, but pretty much any chronograph watch with certain common features will beg comparison to it. It’s that important and influential of a watch, and the reasons for this are complicated.

The Daytona is the poster boy for the expensive, hard-to-get Rolex grail, so you’re not alone in wanting one — and brands are keen to offer you an alternative. Rather than a straight-up knockoff, we’d steer you toward watches that offer some of the same aesthetic appeal and functionality but with their own character.

Sure, you might want to join a waitlist and start saving up, but if you’re in need of a fix to tide you over in the meantime, or simply dig the style, try one of the alternative options below.

Seiko

  • Movement: Seiko Solar V192 quartz chronograph
  • Diameter: 39mm
  • Water Resistance: 100m

Though inspired by the brand’s own model from 1969, the modern Speedtimer’s retro chrono vibes give more than a subtle nod to the Daytona’s iconic looks.

That might have to do with why, upon its release, watch enthusiasts got more excited than they usually might about a solar-powered quartz watch.

Its ideal size at 39mm might also have had something to do with its popularity, but a larger 41.4mm model is also available in the SSC911.

Baltic

  • Movement: Sellita SW510 hand-wound chronograph
  • Diameter: 39.5mm
  • Water Resistance: 50m

The Baltic Tricompax a great-looking watch and probably aesthetically as close as you’ll get to a vintage Daytona on this list — but it’s also a hell of a value.

We’ve regularly been impressed with the French brand’s bang for buck, but a Swiss mechanical chronograph for under $2,000 would be pretty great even if it wasn’t this pretty.

At 39.5mm, you’re also getting a vintage wearing experience and even a reasonably thin profile at 13.5mm thick thanks to its hand-wound movement. (If the Baltic Tricompax is sold out, its next run is expected soon.)

Longines

  • Movement: Longines L895.2 automatic chronograph
  • Diameter: 42mm
  • Water Resistance: 100m

Longines spent part of 2023 overhauling its sporty Conquest line, from transforming its Conquest three-hander into a Rolex Oyster Perpetual stand-in to adding this head-turning chronograph to the line.

A robust sports-minded chronograph, the Conquest Chrono comes in a bit bigger (42mm vs 40mm) and beefier (14.3mm vs 11.9mm) than the current Daytona, but visually — and even specs-wise — it’s quite similar.

You’re getting an automatic chronograph movement from Longines, one of the most historically important chronograph makers in the industry, along with 100m water resistance, a ceramic tachymeter bezel and a tri-compax layout available in three different panda configurations (plus an all-blue version if you want to dial down the Daytona vibes).

There’s even a sapphire caseback so you can admire the movement, a feature only available on select platinum and white gold variations of Rolex’s chronograph.

Tudor

  • Movement: Tudor MT5813 automatic chronograph
  • Diameter: 41mm
  • Water Resistance: 200m

If the Tudor brand itself represents an alternative to its pricier sister company Rolex, then the Black Bay Chrono is its Daytona. The differences between the two give the Black Bay its own personality, but comparisons are inevitable and similarities work in its favor.

tudor bb chrono dial
Tudor’s chronograph combines the Black Bay line’s rugged diver tendencies with vintage motorsports-inspired flourishes.
Photo by Henry Phillips for Gear Patrol

Tudor, however, offers legendary bang for buck, with an automatic chronograph movement developed together with Breitling — and many components produced in the same facilities as those in Rolex watches.

Zenith

  • Movement: Zenith El Primero cal. 3600 automatic chronograph
  • Diameter: 41mm
  • Water Resistance: 100m

The Daytona’s status means any watch with a certain combination of fairly common features will inevitably draw comparison, and with Zenith’s Chronomaster Sport, we’re getting closer to the modern Daytona both in terms of looks and price, but it should be a little easier to snap at retail.

zenith
Long before the Chronomaster Sport’s debut, Zenith played a key role in the Rolex Daytona’s history.
Photo by Henry Phillips for Gear Patrol

Zenith’s signature overlapping subdials help give the Chronomaster Sport its own twist, but the look is similar enough that many will assume Zenith is trying to offer a more available and attainable Rolex alternative.

It’s still a Zenith chronograph, though, and that means you’re getting a wildly cool, automatic hi-beat movement with tons of history. (Fun fact: From 1988 – 2000, the Rolex Daytona was actually powered by a modified Zenith El Primero movement.)

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