The Luxurious Rolex Day-Date Alternative That's Under $200 And Nearly Identical

The Rolex Day-Date 36, often called the "President," is one of the most expensive watches Rolex sells. The yellow gold version costs around $40,200 or $43,250 depending on your configuration, and that's before adding sales tax. This model is only made from gold or platinum, emphasizing why the Rolex brand is synonymous with watches that are worth a ton of money. The Rolex Day-Date 36 comes with a special metal band called the President bracelet, and the top of the watch face shows the full name of the day (like "Sunday" instead of just "Sun"). Most versions have a grooved, shiny ring around the glass, but some come with a smooth edge or one decorated with small diamonds. 

Meanwhile, Timex has a much more affordable option called the Legacy Day & Date, sized at 36 mm. The stainless steel version sells for $169 on the Timex website, which is less than the Seiko Prospex SPB143, another cheaper Rolex alternative. It follows the same general style as the Rolex Day-Date, with a metal bracelet made of five links, a ridged ring around the glass that mimics the Rolex look, and the full name of the day shown at the top of the watch face. Teddy Baldassarre's May 2025 list of Rolex alternatives praises the Timex Legacy for looking almost exactly like the Day-Date and points out that it has the same overall dial design, including the full name of the day at the top.

The Timex Legacy Day & Date comes in a 36 mm stainless steel case and runs on a simple battery-powered movement. The watch face is covered with mineral glass and is water-resistant up to 50 meters, so it can handle rain or a spilled drink. Timex keeps the details straightforward with a fold-over clasp, an 18-millimeter metal bracelet, and a battery that lasts up to three years as Timex quartz watches do. The full weekday display at the top and the date on the side give the watch a more polished feel without making it complicated to use.

The Timex Legacy Day & Date has also gained attention in pop culture. GQ's August 2023 watch guide highlighted the version with a "Tiffany-blue" dial as one of the most popular under-$200 watches of the year. Both the 36 mm and 41 mm sizes in that light blue color sell out quickly. In April 2025, actress Pooja Hegde wore the silver-blue version on the digital cover of ELLE India, adding some celebrity spotlight to a watch that's still budget-friendly. Timex keeps the lineup fresh by releasing new dial colors each season, like green, champagne, and two-tone, all using the same reliable design, so fans can collect different looks without spending a lot.

You don't need to pay the full $169 price for the Timex Legacy Day & Date when it sells for much less. On eBay's "new-other" listings several brand-new watches, with boxes and tags, going for $97 to $102. Online discount stores also offer similar deals; Jomashop's U.S. site lists the Timex Legacy Day & Date with the blue dial (model TW2V68400VQ) at $96.85, showing it as 43% off the original price.

That kind of pricing also helps if you decide to sell the watch later. eBay's sales data shows that used but well-kept Timex Legacy Day & Date models can go for $75 to $130. That means the watch keeps about half of its original price even after being worn. So the risk of losing money is low if you buy one used. You can wear it as much as you want, and likely sell it later for close to what you paid. The Legacy won't gain value like a Rolex, even the luxurious Patek Calatrava watch alternative do not. Still, with a low starting price and a solid resale range, it's an affordable way to enjoy the President-style look without so much.