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Why I'll Never Waste My Money On A Rolex Explorer

Say no to the waitlists and secondary market, here are three similar watches that you can get NOW

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The Main Thing

Don’t Buy The Rolex Explorer

Thinking about splurging on the Rolex Explorer? Think again.

There's no doubt that it's a prestigious timepiece. But I'm here to tell you to ignore it. Move on.

Unless you live under a rock, you know Rolex is having some supply issues. This has led to waitlists and paying over retail prices for used models. This shit's ludacris. Don't be a part of the problem.

For the price of an Explorer, you could buy several high-end watches that you can own TODAY. You read that right. Several similar watches on your wrist, right now.

I'm here to convince you to explore three alternatives at different price points.

Rolex Explorer 40 mm ($7,700 USD)

Sinn 556A

German watch company, Sinn Uhren has the 556 A model. Like most things the Germans make, this watch well-made. For less than $2k USD, you get a ton of premium features. A few are: a stainless steel case, 200 meters of water resistance, and sapphire crystal glass.

Sinn 556 A ($1,700 USD)

Some specs:

  • Case Diameter: 38.5 mm

  • Case Thickness: 11 mm

  • Lug Width: 20 mm

  • Lug to Lug: 45.5 mm

  • Weight: 65 grams

  • Power Reserve: 38 hours

This watch is easy to wear on the wrist. It’s elegant and sporty so it goes with almost any outfit. If you want a daily, multipurpose watch, the Sinn 556 A may be the one for you.

Nomadic Turas 914

I discovered this brand when browsing the internet. Then I headed to their Instagram and fell in love with their watches. I'm talking about Nomadic, a microbrand based in Belfast, Ireland. I'm a sucker for white dials, so this caught my attention right away.

Nomadic Turas 914 ($1,265 USD)

For about $1.3k USD, you're getting a stainless steel case, with 100 meters of water resistance. You'll also get a flat sapphire crystal with anti-reflective coating. I featured Nomadic as the brand of the week in my last newsletter.

Some specs:

  • Case Diameter: 39 mm

  • Case Thickness: 11 mm

  • Lug Width: 20 mm

  • Lug to Lug: 47.5 mm

  • Weight:

  • Power Reserve: 41 hours

If you want a watch that pops and want to support a small watch company, give Nomadic a try.

Tudor Ranger

Rolex’s little brother. The “poor man’s” Rolex. The Wannabe Rolex or JV team are nicknames that I’ve heard to describe Tudor. Sure, Tudor and Rolex were both founded by Hans Wilsdorf. And sure, they're still sister companies to this day.

However, in the last ten years, Tudor has established itself as a stand-alone, high-end brand.

The Tudor Ranger is classy, sophisticated, and easy on the eyes. Its simplicity is everything that I want a watch to be.

Tudor Ranger ($3,300 USD)

For about $3k USD, you're getting a domed, sapphire crystal and 100 meters of water resistance. Still less than half of the Rolex Explorer.

Some specs:

  • Case Diameter: 39 mm

  • Case Thickness: 12 mm

  • Lug Width: 20 mm

  • Lug to Lug: 47 mm

  • Weight: UNK

  • Power Reserve: 70 hours

You also get a 5-year manufacturer guarantee. Did I mention that this watch is COSC-certified? (Accurate from -4 to +6 seconds per day)

If I had to pick one from this list…

I'd pick the Ranger. It's so simple, that it's sexy and the COSC certification and 5-year warranty are important to me.

Buy My Book.

I’ve published a guide on watches, covering everything from how they work, to technical details like case diameter, lug width, and water resistance ratings to help make your first purchase.

Don’t miss out—grab yours today!

Honorable Mentions

None of the above tickle your fancy? Here’s a few more to check out.

Brand of the Week

Minus 8 Watch Company

I found Minus 8 watches while browsing the internet one day. Seconds later, I saw their ads on the 'Gram.

There are thousands of watches out there and I tend to be frugal. I sent them an email to see if anyone would chat with me about their watches. They did!

Layer 2.0

I heard back from Mike and Brian promptly. I found out that they left jobs tech companies to make something physical and that they had a love for watches. My people.

We hate that most of the watches we love are unattainable or cheap design ripoffs. We love building products and found a gap in the watch market. So we decided to build the watches that we wanted to wear.

Mike, Co-Founder and CEO

I was looking for a sturdy watch that I could bang around for two weeks of training in the field. It needed to be tough and withstand the cold. Like REALLY cold. We're talking -40° F, cold.

So I bought the Layer 2.0 (see pic above). Over two weeks, at least ten people asked me about my watch. I proudly told them to check out Minus 8 because they make a high-quality product. That's what I'm telling you today.

These guys make a damn-solid watch and they're super friendly. Check them out and tell them Ian sent you.

Industry News

The Week In Watch News

MORE FROM ME

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OUT OF TIME

Signing Off

Of the watches listed today, which one would you pick? (reply to this email and tell me)

I hope you liked today’s email. I’m trying to change up my writing style a bit to make it easier to read. This whole thing was written at a third-grade reading level.

Could you tell a difference?

Lots of great things in store and I’m looking forward to this journey with you. But it’s the and and we’re OUTATIME.

Timelessly Yours,

Ian

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