The entire modern genre of luxury lifestyle sport watches has origins in a single groundbreaking timepiece by design luminary Gerald Genta that was introduced in 1972. Yes, you can thank the Audemars Piguet Royal Oak for pioneering the concept of a steel sport watch as a status symbol, and many decades later its prestige is stronger than ever. With prices starting well into five-figures, however, you wouldn't be alone in wondering how to get a similar wearing experience for less money than a college education.
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Christopher Ward The Twelve Read More -
Maurice Lacroix Aikon Read More
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Tutima M2 Coastline Read More
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Dietrich Time Companion 1 SS Read More
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IWC Ingenieur Read More
Where does the Royal Oak's magic come from? It's somewhere between its octagonal bezel, exposed screws, textured "tapisserie" dial, and a thin case architecture that's integrated into its unique steel bracelet. It's hard to replicate the Royal Oak's mojo, but watches with comparable traits exist at every price level, from the G-Shock "Casioak" to the Genta-designed Patek Philippe Nautilus. In between, there's the Girard Perregaux Laureato, the Vacheron Constantin Overseas, the Piaget Polo, the Chopard Alpine Eagle, the Bell & Ross BR05, the Pelton Perseus the entire Hublot brand... arguably, even the H. Moser & Cie Streamliner and the A. Lange & Söhne Odysseus. And the list can go on (and on).
Offering similar features to the Royal Oak without plagiarizing or simply looking like a wannabe is a fine line to walk, but the below watches accomplish this at relatively affordable price points.
Christopher Ward The Twelve
- Movement: Sellita SW200-1 automatic
- Diameter: 40mm
- Water Resistance: 100m
Many watches in this genre still tend to be on the pricey side, but some smaller brands like Maen, Nivada and Christopher Ward are proving they don't have to be. Christopher Ward manages to pack the right specs and a lot of value into a watch that our tester found convincingly carried the Genta torch but did so for a comparative song. An important element of what gives the Royal Oak its character is finishing, and the brand even managed to do a pretty good job in this regard, especially for its price point.
Maurice Lacroix Aikon
- Movement: Sellita SW200-1 Automatic
- Diameter: 39mm
- Water Resistance: 200m
The Royal Oak's influence is evident in the Maurice Lacroix Aikon, but the Aikon is different enough to not feel too much like a direct homage. The integrated bracelet and waffle-textured "tapiserie" dial are clear references, but the bezel seems inspired by that of another Genta design: the Omega Constellation. Available with a Swiss automatic movement (and in many variants), the Aikon can offer a similar wearing experience and visual qualities to the "APRO."
Tutima M2 Coastline
- Movement: ETA 2836 Automatic
- Diameter: 43mm
- Water Resistance: 300m
The Tutima M2 Coastline has an integrated steel bracelet, so it can offer a comparable wearing experience as the Royal Oak in that sense — but it doesn't look like it fell from the same tree. Rather, it descends from the chronographs with which the brand outfitted German pilots beginning in the 1980s, and which later evolved into the M2 chronograph line. A true sport watch with a 300m water resistance, a military vibe and a bold presence, it measures 43mm wide in titanium.
Dietrich Time Companion
- Movement: ETA 2824-2 Automatic
- Diameter: 42mm
- Water Resistance: 50m
The integrated bracelet, exposed screws, the polygonal bezel...it's all there, but it seems that every aspect that's reminiscent of the Royal Oak has been creatively tweaked. The Time Companion is more evocative of another Gerald Genta design, in fact, but a rather obscure one: the Seiko Credor Locomotive. Independent brand Dietrich seems to be riffing liberally on the concept, and the result offers a strikingly unique wrist statement.
IWC Ingenieur
- Movement: IWC 32111 automatic
- Diameter: 40mm
- Water Resistance: 100m
The IWC Ingenieur, in its current form, is a faithful recreation of a bonafide Gerald Genta design. It shares key elements with the Royal Oak and Patek Philippe Nautilus, but the Ingenieur has more of a tool watch vibe. It's also a rather high-end watch, starting at over $11,000, but that still makes it a relatively affordable alternative to the Royal Oak.
