Pretty much every guy who’s into horology wants a Rolex in their watch collection. Seriously.
You’d be hard-pressed to find any fella who would say they’d never thought about owning one. But since most of the silhouettes cost more than most house deposits, it’s a little unrealistic for mere mortals. The solution? Finding something similar which does the same job for a much more reasonable price tag.
Enter: Emporio Armani’s World Explorer 42mm GMT. Any Rollie stan will instantly clock the model it looks like – of course, it’s the Rolex GMT Master II ‘Sprite’, the watch that’s been spotted on everyone from David Beckham to Roger Federer, David Beckham, LeBron James and Declan Rice.
First and foremost, they’re both GMT watches. That means there’s an extra hand which makes one revolution every 24 hours to indicate a second time zone via the bezel markers – ideal for guys who are always travelling.
There are similarities beyond the main function, too. They both have a stainless steel bracelet, a logo at 12 o’clock and a two-tone black-green bezel and a Cyclops lens date complication (although Rolex’s is on the left while Amrani’s is on the right).
But there are some key differences. Where the Rolex is self-winding, Armani’s has a more basic battery-powered quartz movement, and the OG is made with a ceramic bezel, while the latter is made from steel. Specs aside, there’s a certain level of cachet that comes with wearing a Rolex, which you don’t get with many other watch brands, Armani included.
The battle of the RRPs
But the Rollie comes with the price to match. Where the “Sprite” would cost you upwards of £12k, the World Explorer comes in at just £150. And right now, thanks to the Amazon Prime Big Deal Days (a two-day sales extravaganza which lasts until midnight on Wednesday, October 8), it’s on sale for even less – for just £126.60.
While it may not be nearly as technologically advanced, they definitely tick the same box from a vibe perspective. The chunky metal silhouette. The bold, legible markers. The XL hands. They’re both rugged, no-frills timepieces which just feel masculine.
Considering the Armani timepiece is currently just 1 per cent of the price, it really is a no-brainer. The time is right now.
Buy now - Was: £149.51, now: £126.60
Emporio Armani World Explorer 42mm GMT
Was: £149.51
Buy now £126.60, Amazon
