Feature: 4 cheaper alternatives to the Rolex Daytona
The Rolex Daytona is a watch that sits high on the wish lists of many and it’s easy to see why. An iconic timepiece, it had a huge fan in the late Hollywood heartthrob and race car driver Paul Newman, plus countless others—in fact it was Newman’s Daytona that is among one of the most expensive watches ever sold at auction.
However, not everyone has the means to get in on the Daytona action, so we’ve put together a list of four cheaper alternatives to Rolex’s beloved chronograph.
We’ve also looked at how the Daytona fares against another titan of the chronograph world, the Omega Speedmaster. The Moonwatch might even be the better option.
##TAG Heuer Autavia CBE2111.BA0687
This limited edition Autavia certainly flaunts that Daytona style with the three chronograph sub dials in the classic panda colourway. Although, to the delight of many, it doesn’t share the Daytona’s price tag. At a fraction of the price pre-owned, this piece from Heuer’s oldest collection is purpose-built to resemble the dashboards in rally cars and airplanes—just like the Rolex.
##Chopard Mille Miglia 168915-100
Named after the glamorous Italian Formula One race, Chopard’s Mille Miglia is inspired by the classic lines and shapes of vintage cars. Of course, it features three chronograph sub dials reminiscent of a car’s dash, similar to the Daytona. This limited edition watch features a light grey dial giving it a retro appeal and flaunts the Mille Miglia logo on the sub dial at 3 o’clock.
##Breitling Chronomat 41AB0144
In true Breitling style, this is a watch associated more with aviation than race car driving, but that doesn’t take away from its resemblance to the much-loved Daytona. However, it does feature a more curvaceous case and chunky bezel—in usual Breitling fashion—compared to the Rolex. Also, three sub dials are present on the Breitling’s black dial creating a reverse panda effect.
##Longines Heritage L2.750.4.96.0
Inspired by retro aesthetics and Longines models past, the Swiss watchmaker brings modern technology to the fore with the Heritage collection. This model, then, features the reverse panda dial—much like the Breitling—but has some stylish rose gold hour markers and dauphine hands on it too, creating a much-loved colourway that makes it stand out amongst the chronograph crowd.
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