The Rolex Submariner is one of the most well known watches of all time. The iconic dive watch from the crown itself is widely heralded as one of the most versatile choices for any watch connoisseur due to its combination of classic looks and rugged tool watch features. It's a true "beach-to-boardroom" watch thanks to its 300m of water resistance and a sharp aesthetic. That said, getting hold of one is no easy task. We're all aware of the long waitlists and sizable prices on the second-hand market, so it's important to know what else is out there if this is the type of watch you're looking for. Thankfully, there are a number of excellent alternatives worthy of your consideration.

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Omega Seamaster 300M

 The Omega Seamaster 300M dive watch is a perfect option for anyone looking for a sporty dive watch that is built to handle the rigors of day-to-day life. While the brand is perhaps most well known for its Speedmaster chronograph, Omega’s Seamaster 300M is no slouch and an excellent alternative to the Submariner. The 42 mm case is a little larger than the 40 mm Submariner, but it wears just as well on the wrist.

 A legend in its own right, the Omega Seamaster 300M is the watch of choice for James Bond, and if it's good enough for 007, then it’s probably good enough for most people. As the name suggests, the stainless steel Seamaster 300M offers wearers 300 meters of water resistance along with its rugged and sporty looks. 

A ceramic bezel and dial mean that this watch will look as good in 30 years' time as it does right now. The stunning bracelet with its on-the-fly adjustment makes finding the perfect fit a breeze, whether pairing it with a wetsuit or a sharply tailored suit. The icing on the cake is Omega's METAS certified Co-Axial caliber which offers better-than-COSC levels of accuracy, not to mention its easy availability at retail prices. 

Tudor Black Bay 58 

Widely considered Rolex's "little brother," Tudor allows collectors to get that vintage Submariner styling with modern technology. If that doesn't scream "alternative", we don't know what does. The Black Bay 58's compact 39 mm case, modest 11.9 mm thickness, and very wearable 47 mm lug-to-lug measurement, allow it to complement any wrist.

Ticking away inside, Tudor's manufacture caliber offers an impressive 72 hours of power reserve and an anti-magnetic silicon escapement. No more worrying about airport x-ray scanners affecting your watch on the way to a well-earned holiday. What's more, Tudor regulates all of its movements to run well within COSC certification.

Offering 200 m of water resistance, this may be less than the 300 m of the Submariner, though it's far more than the average person will likely ever need. Swimming, snorkeling, and recreational diving are fair game with the Black Bay 58 on your wrist. Like the Omega, you'll have no trouble tracking down an example of the Tudor Black Bay 58, with a variety of colors to choose from.

IWC Aquatimer Automatic

IWC's Aquatimer is possibly the wild card on this list, but it doesn't make it any less worthy of inclusion. Where the Omega Seamaster 300M and the Tudor Black Bay 58 offer quite classic aesthetics, the IWC Aquatimer is a little more radical by design, and that's something that may appeal to some people. It's not a watch you see very often, meaning it may fly under the radar a little more. 

Though the brand is perhaps more well known for its pilot watches, IWC's Aquatimer is a serious dive watch, clocking in at 42 mm across. Much like the Submariner, it offers 300 meters of water resistance. The IWC Aquatimer is the only model on this list that does not feature an in-house or manufacture movement. The Aquatimer's caliber 30120 is derived from the ETA 2892, which means easy servicing and known reliability. Can’t argue with that!

It's no secret that IWC makes great quality watches and the Aquatimer only reaffirms this. If you're looking for Submariner levels of performance and technology but something a little more unique, this might be the alternative for you.

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