The Rolex Submariner Date Alternative That's Half The Price And Nearly Identical

First released in 1953, the iconic Rolex Submariner was the first divers' watch rated for 100 meters of water resistance, setting the template for a whole variety of water-resistant timepieces. 16 years later, Rolex added the option to buy one with a date window in the form of the Rolex Submariner Date. But even back in the '50s, the divers' watch industry was fraught with tough competition. One of Rolex's main competitors in this area was Breitling, a chronograph specialist company that quickly caught on to the trend. In 1957, Breitling came out with the well-received SuperOcean, spurring a rivalry that's spanned well over half a century. Regardless of which brand you prefer, there's no denying Breitling has provided the more cost-effective of the two models.

While a 41-millimeter Rolex Submariner Date retails for over $10,000, you could get a Breitling SuperOcean Automatic 42 for less than $6,000. In other words, it's possible to purchase a classic, Swiss-made divers' watch from an old and well-respected brand for nearly half of what you'd drop on a Rolex. It might not be as wallet-friendly as Seiko's affordable alternative to the Submariner, but the SuperOcean shares many of the Submariner Date's design elements: Both feature similar case sizes, hundreds of meters of water resistance, and many of the same real-world capabilities.

The SuperOcean is not a Submariner Date clone, and while it costs less upfront, you should know what you're giving up if you opt for the Breitling instead of the Rolex. They may look alike and serve similar purposes, but the SuperOcean features a metallic bezel and boldly different colorways that a Rolex aficionado might be able to spot. If you're buying an affordable watch just so people will think you're wearing a Submariner, you're better off buying a Casio Duro — it looks more like the Rolex and usually retails for less than $100.

In terms of movement and accuracy, the SuperOcean lags behind the Rolex's in-house caliber 3235 movement. The Submariner Date's automatic movement has a 70-hour power reserve and guarantees accuracy within 2 seconds per day. Meanwhile, the SuperOcean's power reserve is only about 38 hours and isn't quite as accurate, according to Watch Advice.

You might also be making sacrifices in comfort and sizing when choosing the SuperOcean. The Rolex has a 41-millimeter case size and is notably svelte for a diver, and it also has the Glidelock micro-adjust that lets you resize the bracelet on the fly. However, the SuperOcean is thicker and comes in a sportier-looking 42-millimeter case. On the upside, it makes up for it with its 500 meters of water resistance, a full 200 meters more than the Rolex can handle.

It is worth noting that, while certain SuperOceans retail for around $5,700, the price on more high-end models can run you closer to $8,000, if not more. If you want to save even more, and you don't need something fresh out of the box, plenty of pre-owned options are listed on third-party websites like Chrono24 for between $2,000 and $5,000.

If you're dead set on a Rolex, though, you might have a harder time finding a deal in the used market. The cheapest you'll typically find a used Submariner Date is around $7,500, and it's likely that one priced that low will only be 40 millimeters. Even decades-old Submariner Dates in new condition still get listed for roughly the same price you'd pay when ordering a new one on Rolex's website. And if you do want a Submariner from an authorized dealer, wait times could range between four months to three years, according to Luxury Bazaar. It's no wonder that one of the two Rolex watches that appreciate the most is a Submariner Date model.

WatchCharts ranks the Rolex Submariner Date as part of its top 16% when it comes to value retention. The watch can really hold its value and even sell for more than its purchase price. Such information for the SuperOcean is inconclusive, but given how far below retail some used models go for online, buying a SuperOcean with the intention of reselling it might not be the best investment.