Best Rolex Oyster Perpetual Alternatives
The Oyster Perpetual, or OP, is the simplest model in Rolex’s current catalog, combining the company’s renowned water-resistant “Oyster” case with a “Perpetual” automatic movement. The watches feature straightforward time-only dials and no-frills stainless steel construction. Yet, what the Oyster Perpetual lacks in bells and whistles, the collection makes up for in variety—there are plenty of sizes and dial colors on offer. In fact, it was the colorful assortment of dials, which were unveiled in 2020, that propelled the otherwise unassuming Rolex timepiece front and center. Since then, the Oyster Perpetual watch has enjoyed plenty of attention, with select editions, such as yellow, red, green, and fan-favorite turquoise, trading above retail prices. If you appreciate the watch’s minimalist design and are curious to know what comparable models are out there, here are some of the best Rolex Oyster Perpetual alternatives made by other luxury watch brands.
Key Design Traits of the Rolex Oyster Perpetual
As always, before we get to the alternatives, it’s important to first understand the key characteristics that make the Oyster Perpetual what it is. If we consider modern versions only, here are the signature hallmarks of the Rolex OP:
- Stainless steel cases, water resistant to 100 meters
- Smooth unmarked steel bezels
- Time-only dials with luminous hour markers
- Three-link steel Oyster bracelets
- Automatic movements
- Sizes: 28mm, 31mm, 34mm, 36mm, 41mm
- Dial colors: Coral red, turquoise, candy pink, yellow, green, blue, black, silver, white
- 2023 Retail Prices: $5,500 (OP 28), $5,650 (OP 31), $5,800 (OP 34), $6,100 (OP 36) $6,400 (OP 41)
Rolex used to make 26mm and 39mm Oyster Perpetual watches but those are now discontinued. What’s more, while the watches are now exclusively made in stainless steel, Rolex once offered Oyster Perpetual watches in two-tone steel/gold and full yellow gold configurations. Of course, these older OP watches can still be sourced from the vintage or grey market.
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Alternatives to the Rolex Oyster Perpetual
Following our other articles covering the best Rolex alternatives, this exercise is not primarily focused on finding cheaper prices — in fact, many on this list are more expensive than OP retail prices. Our goal is to show you timepieces that offer a similar vibe to the Oyster Perpetual. With that in mind, here are the best alternatives to Rolex Oyster Perpetual watches made by Tudor, Omega, Cartier, IWC, H. Moser & Cie, Bulgari, and Czapek.
Tudor Black Bay 31/36/39/41 Collection
As we’ve said several times before, the best place to look first for an alternative to almost any Rolex watch is its sibling company, Tudor. For a Rolex Oyster Perpetual alternative, Tudor offers the Black Bay 31/36/39/41 collection.
Like the Oyster Perpetual, these Tudor Black Bay watches feature time-only dials, water-resistant cases, and automatic movements. Furthermore, they’re also available in a range of sizes (31mm, 36mm, 39mm, and 41mm) and fitted with various dial colors. However, unlike the current-production Oyster Perpetual watches, Tudor doesn’t only make them in stainless steel; there are two-tone options provided too. Plus, some two-tone Black Bay watches come with diamond-set bezels and dials too.
In 2023, Tudor upgraded the collection with new in-house-made movements to replace the preceding ETA-based movements. The older references were 795xx while the newer references are 796xx.
Tudor Black Bay 31/36/39/41 Specs
| Reference Series | 796xx |
| Case Sizes | 31mm, 36mm, 39mm, and 41mm |
| Materials | Stainless steel or two-tone steel/yellow gold |
| Dial Colors | Anthracite, blue, silver, light champagne, black, |
| Functions | Center hour, minute, seconds hands |
| Movement | Automatic |
| Water Resistance | 100 meters (330 feet) |
| Bracelet | 5-link bracelet |
| 2023 Retail Prices (For steel models) | Black Bay 31: $3,800 Black Bay 36: $3,925 Black Bay 39: $4,025 Black Bay 41: $4,125 |
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Omega Seamaster Aqua Terra Shades Collection
In 2022, Omega launched colorful versions of its popular Aqua Terra watches and later dubbed the range the Shades collection. While the Omega Seamaster Aqua Terra Shades watches do include date windows, their overall design, size choices, and rainbow palette make them fantastic alternatives to the Rolex Oyster Perpetual.
Similar to the OP, the AT Shades watches are exclusively made in stainless steel, complete with three-link bracelets. Omega makes them in two sizes (34mm and 38mm) and dial colors include blue, green, pink, purple, orange, and yellow. Additionally, the Aqua Terra watches run on automatic movements and are water resistant to 150 meters.
Omega Seamaster Aqua Terra Shades Specs
| Reference Series | 220.10.34.20.xx.xxx (34mm) 220.10.38.20.xx.xxx (38mm) |
| Case Sizes | 34mm, 38mm |
| Material | Stainless steel |
| Dial Colors | 34mm: Sea blue, lagoon green, sandstone, shell pink, lavender dial 38mm: Atlantic blue, bay green, sandstone, saffron, terracotta |
| Functions | Center hour, minute, seconds hands; date window |
| Movement | Automatic |
| Water Resistance | 150 meters (500 feet) |
| Bracelet | 3-link bracelet |
| 2023 Retail Prices | $6,600 |
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Cartier Pasha Collection
Originally designed by Gerald Genta in the 1980s and refreshed in 2020, the Pasha is Cartier’s sporty everyday watch. Its signature features include a round case, T-shaped “Vendôme” lugs, and a crown cap attached to the case via a chain. Moreover, the dial includes a square minute track and Arabic numerals at 3, 6, 9, and 12.
Although Cartier does make complicated Pasha watches and precious metal variations of the model, the simpler full steel versions work well as an Oyster Perpetual alternative, albeit a somewhat dressier substitute. The 35mm current-production editions include no-date dials while the 41mm sizes do include a subtle date window between 4 and 5 o’clock. Plus, Cartier Pasha watches, which are automatic and water resistant to 100 meters, are available with an assortment of dial colors including some special editions such as the green-dial version made for the Middle Eastern market.
Cartier Pasha Specs
| Case Size | 35mm, 41mm |
| Material | Stainless steel |
| Dial Colors | Silver, salmon, blue sunray, anthracite, green (special Arabic dial) |
| Functions | Center hour, minute, seconds hands; date window (only 41mm) |
| Movement | Automatic |
| Water Resistance | 100 meters (330 feet) |
| Bracelet | 3-link bracelet or leather strap |
| 2023 Retail Prices | $6,750 (35mm), $7,350 (41mm) |
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IWC Big Pilot’s Watch 43 Collection
If you’re interested in a larger alternative to the Rolex Oyster Perpetual, IWC has a solid option in the form of the IWC Big Pilot’s Watch 43. As its name implies, the watch includes a generously sized 43mm case, which is made of steel and houses a clean time-only dial. As is customary with IWC’s Big Pilot watches, the dials have Arabic numerals for the hour markers, prominent luminous hands, and an oversized winding crown.
Although most of the Big Pilot’s Watch 43 models are fitted with aviation-style leather straps, a five-link steel bracelet is also up for grabs with the punchy blue dial version. Like the Oyster Perpetual, the Big Pilot 43 runs on an automatic movement but unlike Rolex’s offering, IWC fits its watch with a sapphire caseback for a view of said movement.
IWC Big Pilot’s Watch 43 Specs
| Reference Series | IW3293xx |
| Case Size | 43mm |
| Material | Stainless steel |
| Dial Colors | Blue, green, black, |
| Functions | Center hour, minute, seconds hands |
| Movement | Automatic |
| Water Resistance | 100 meters (330 feet) |
| Bracelet | 5-link bracelet or leather strap |
| 2023 Retail Prices | $8,950 (strap), $9,950 (bracelet) |
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Bulgari Octo Finissimo Automatic Collection
The Octo Finissimo has emerged as Bulgari‘s hero collection in recent years due in part to several record-breaking executions of ultra-thin watches. In addition to the impressive array of complicated models within the lineup, there are also pared-down versions — the Octo Finissimo Automatic watches.
Now, on the face of it, the Bulgari Octo Finissimo Automatic may appear to be completely different from the Oyster Perpetual. It does, after all, have an angular and super flat design, features octagonal elements, and is only available in one size, 40mm. However, if we dig into the details, we see that the essentials are actually comparable. Both the Oyster Perpetual and the Octo Finissimo Automatic are offered in full steel construction, include time-only dials, run on automatic movements, are water resistant to 100 meters, and come with various dial colors. Think of the Octo Finissimo Automatic as the Oyster Perpetual’s super stylish, fashion-forward cousin who studied abroad in Italy for a few years.
Bulgari Octo Finissimo Automatic Specs
| Case Size | 40mm |
| Material | Stainless steel |
| Dial Colors | Blue, black, silver, salmon |
| Functions | Center hour, minute hands; small seconds indicator |
| Movement | Automatic |
| Water Resistance | 100 meters (330 feet) |
| Bracelet | Integrated steel bracelet |
| 2023 Retail Prices | $13,300 |
H. Moser & Cie Pioneer Centre Seconds
When it comes to minimalist and richly saturated dials, independent brand H. Moser & Cie makes some of the best in the market. Among them, the Pioneer Centre Seconds model is an excellent stand-in for the Oyster Perpetual thanks to the range of vibrant colorways of the time-only dials. From turquoise and blue to red and green, the choices are generous.
Aside from the various shades available, other similarities between Moser’s model and Rolex’s OP watch include the water-resistant steel case and automatic movement. There are also two size options to choose from: the original 42.8mm and the newer 40mm variant. One key difference between the two watches is that the Pioneer Centre Seconds watch is equipped with a rubber strap.
H. Moser & Cie Pioneer Centre Seconds Specs
| Reference Series | 3200-xxxx |
| Case Size | 40mm, 42.8mm |
| Material | Stainless steel |
| Dial Colors | 42.8mm: Blue Lagoon, Funky Blue fumé, Swiss Mad Red fumé, Cosmic Green 40mm: Arctic Blue |
| Functions | Center hour, minute, seconds hands |
| Movement | Automatic |
| Water Resistance | 120 meters (400 feet) |
| Bracelet | Rubber strap |
| 2023 Retail Prices | 42.8mm: CHF 13,900 (approx $15,600) 40mm: CHF 12,900 (approx $14,500) |
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Czapek Antarctique Passage de Drake Collection
Fine watchmaker Czapek launched its first sports watch, the Antarctique, in 2020, and the Passage de Drake variants include dials decorated with a trapezoid pattern. These dials come in a variety of colors, which isn’t the only similarity the Czapek Antarctique Passage de Drake shares with the Rolex Oyster Perpetual. There are also water-resistant steel cases, steel bracelets, and automatic movements.
In contrast to the Oyster Perpetual, the Antarctique Passage de Drake includes a date window, as well as a sapphire display caseback to allow a view of the movement inside the watch. And at almost $25,000, the Antarctique Passage de Drake is far more expensive than Rolex’s entry-level watch. This is what we like to call an upgraded alternative to the Rolex Oyster Perpetual.
Czapek Antarctique Passage de Drake Specs
| Case Size | 40.5mm, 38.5mm |
| Material | Stainless steel |
| Dial Colors | 40.5mm: Ice White, Deep Blue, Black Ink, Glacier Blue, Viridian Green 38.5mm: Glacier Blue, Salmon |
| Functions | Center hour, minute, seconds hands; date window |
| Movement | Automatic |
| Water Resistance | 120 meters (400 feet) |
| Bracelet | Integrated steel bracelet (additional rubber strap) |
| 2023 Retail Prices | CHF 22,000 (approx. $24,700) |
Buying Rolex Oyster Perpetual Alternatives from the Grey Market
Whether you’re on the hunt for a modern steel Oyster Perpetual, a vintage one in gold, or an alternative, it’s always a good idea to check what options the grey market has to offer first.
Not only are some OP models almost impossible to buy from retail (no waitlists in the grey market!) but many of the non-Rolex watches we listed above are sold at less-than-retail prices on the secondary market, even if they’ve never been worn before.
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