8 Affordable Alternatives to Patek Philippe HK

Patek Philippe is considered the most prestigious among the traditional luxury watch maisons. It is also the most preferred brand of seasoned collectors and investors. Meticulously hand-crafted by utilizing the well-regarded horological traditions and technical know-how, Patek Philippe’s timepieces are not only expensive but also reserved for a few pieces only.

Because of the Geneva-based company’s limited production policy despite the high demand, its watches are difficult to purchase. Even its esteemed clients have to wait for years to clear the waiting list. Because of this, consumers are willing to pay hefty amounts for acquiring cult models like Nautilus.

The retail price range for the minimalistic and classic models like Patek Philippe Calatrava typically starts at HK$100,000. The average Patek Philippe HK costs for watches from Aquanaut and Nautilus collections are also exceedingly higher, mostly going above HK$200,000 for one. In the secondary market, these models are sold in very high prices due to soaring demand and limited availability.

In this article, we want to highlight eight affordable alternatives to Patek Philippe watches. Manufactured by renowned brands, these exemplary models belong to the luxury sports category like the Nautilus, AP Royal Oak and Vacheron Constantin Overseas.

(1) Bvlgari Octo Finissimo

Known for its record-breaking ultra-thin mechanical timepieces, the Octo Finissimo is a best-selling Bvlgari watch collection. This elegant luxury sports watch is available in various material choices like carbon, ceramic, 18 carat gold, platinum, stainless steel and titanium. The sand-out features are the octagonal bezel and ultra-thin case construction.

Fusing Italian design with Swiss know-how, the award-winning series offers a number of extremely thin mechanical watches. For example, the Bvlgari Octo Finissimo Ultra is the thinnest hand-wound watch in the world. Made of sand-blasted titanium, it has a thickness of just 1.80mm. The collection also holds several other world records in the ultra-thin category, ranging from the thinnest automatic time-only watch to the thinnest tourbillon chronograph skeleton.

The Octo Finissimo series offers automatic and manual-wound models. The line-up includes solo tempo (time only) models, skeleton timepieces, and complication watches featuring additional functions like chronograph, GMT, minute repeater, perpetual calendar and tourbillon. The approximate retail price range of this collection is HK$60,000 – HK$400,000.

(2) Girard Perregaux Laureato

Laureato traces its origins back to the mid 1970s, when Girard Perregaux introduced a sleek luxury sports watch featuring octagonal bezel, integrated bracelet and high-precision quartz movement. In 2016, the iconic Swiss Manufacture re-launched this collection by introducing an automatic three-hand with date model with a 41mm diameter stainless steel case and “Clous de Paris” pattern dial.

Presently, this Girard Perregaux collection offers timepieces for both men and women. The series is presently comprised of watches featuring 34mm, 38mm, 42mm and 44mm diameter cases. The material choices include stainless steel, 18K gold, dual-metal (steel & gold), ceramic, titanium and carbon. The major aesthetic features are the satin-brushed and polished case with octagonal bezel and the integrated bracelet that offers optimum wearer comfort.

In addition to the models with date function, the collection includes skeleton watches, chronographs, perpetual calendars and flying tourbillons. Among the present generation Laureato watches, the 34mm variant is equipped with a quartz calibre. Other models typically feature mechanical self-winding movements. Additionally, the brand is offering Laureato Absolute editions with cases made of new-age materials like sapphire, carbon composite and titanium (with or without black PVD coating).

The retail price range of the Girard Perregaux Laureato series is from HK$60,000 to HK $1,230,000.

(3) Piaget Polo S

Introduced in 1979, Polo is a series of casually elegant luxury sports watches from the House of Piaget. It was revived in 2016 with the new generation Piaget Polo S series featuring some design enhancements, while maintaining the spirit of the original collection.

Inspired by the sports of polo, the collection offers stainless steel and 18k rose gold watches. They are available in black, blue, grey, silvered, white, skeleton and gem-set dials. The major highlights of this series are the large 42mm diameter case with a unique bezel design that blends oblong and round shapes, and the cushion-shaped dial.

This Piaget watch collection is primarily comprised of self-winding wristwatches with horizontal pattern dial with a date display at 6 o’clock and three centre hands. These luxury sports models are equipped with the caliber 1110P automatic movement with a power reserve of 50 hours. The series also offers chronographs featuring similar design characteristics. Additionally, the collection includes skeleton timepieces, diamond-set versions and high-complication variants featuring mechanisms like minute repeater, tourbillon and etc.

The approximate selling price of this series starts at HK$80,000.

(4) Grand Seiko Sport

Grand Seiko, the most-loved Japanese premium watch brand, has been associated with classic designs, superb precision and perfect finishing. The brand also offers various casually elegant wristwatches from its Sport collection. These represent Grand Seiko’s answer to the ever-growing popularity of luxury sports category led by cult watches like Royal Oak and Nautilus.

The luxury sports Grand Seiko watch collection includes Mechanical, Spring-drive and Quartz timepieces. A best-selling model in this category is the High-Beat GMT (with Caliber 9S86), which is available in stainless steel and high-intensity titanium versions. The GS Sport collection also offers other GMT models, chronographs and diving watches. The quartz-powered GS sports watches are available in an accessible price range starting at HK$29,000. Both mechanical and spring drive sports models usually cost above HK$40,000.

(5) Zenith Defy

Defy is a best-selling sports watch family from Zenith. It is an excellent alternative to casually elegant icons such as Patek Philippe Nautilus. This extensive collection is comprised of several models like Defy 21, Classic, Midnight, Zero G, Skyline, Night Surfer, Double Tourbillon, Fusee Tourbillon, Revival, Chroma, Extreme and Extreme Desert.

The Defy collection offers various material choices like ceramic, brushed or micro-blasted titanium, 18k rose gold, carbon, platinum 950, stainless steel and sapphire. The prominent characteristics include geometric inspired designs, revolutionary mechanical movements, and advanced forms and materials. These superb Zenith timepieces are equipped with iconic in-house movements like El Primero and Elite.

The line-up ranges from the basic models featuring date display to extremely complicated timepieces featuring complex horological mechanisms like double tourbillon, 1/100th chronograph, fusee tourbillon and Gyroscopic Gravity Control module.

This Zenith watch collection also offers several skeleton variants. You can also go for interchangeable strap choices like rubber, alligator and integrated bracelet. The Hong Kong retail price range of Defy starts at HK$50,000.

(6) Jaeger-LeCoultre Polaris

Jaeger-LeCoultre is universally known for its long-established expertise in the traditional watchmaking industry. The Swiss Manufacture graciously offers a diverse product portfolio, ranging from the iconic Reverso to the grand complication line Hybris Mechanica.

Polaris is a luxury sport JLC watch series. It is an affordable option to insanely expensive Patek Philippe timepieces like Nautilus and Aquanaut. This collection includes automatic wristwatches featuring 42mm diameter cases made of stainless steel or 18 carat gold. The Polaris family is comprised of “Three-hand” models with or without date display, Perpetual Calendar, Chronograph, Mariner Date and Mariner Memovox.

Powerful yet aesthetically pleasing, each Polaris watch fuses modern style with iconic design features. Made for adventures, it comes with features like inner rotating bezel, off-centre crowns, streamline case and sharp lugs. These timepieces are equipped with in-house self-winding mechanical movements. Moreover, this Jaeger Lecoultre collection offers interchangeable straps such as the emblematic metal bracelet with polished and brushed finishing, calf leather strap and rubber strap with Clous de Paris pattern.

The retail price range of the Jaeger-LeCoultre Polaris watch in Hong Kong starts at HK $50,000.

(7) Montblanc 1858

In addition to its prestigious writing instrument collections, Montblanc offers a fantastic selection of Swiss-made luxury watches. Presently it has five flagship collections: 1858, Heritage, Boheme, Star Legacy and Tradition.

The brand’s most sophisticated collection, 1858 offers various creations that can be considered affordable alternatives to Patek Philippe timepieces. Available in stainless steel and bronze versions, these Montblanc watch models are inspired by the rich heritage of the iconic Minerva manufacture. Notable creations from the 1858 series are Automatic 40mm, Automatic Chronograph, Geosphere, Iced Team Automatic Date and Mono-pusher Chronograph. The retail price range typically starts at HK$22,000.

(8) Frederique Constant Highlife

Frederique Constant is a pioneer of affordable luxury watches. The Swiss brand’s popular watch collections are Manufacture, Classics, Highlife, Slimline, Ladies Automatic, Runabout and Vintage Rally Healey.

Highlife is a casual-elegant wristwatch collection dedicated to cosmopolitans and urban adventures. This accessible luxury sports line-up is ideal for customers who cannot afford high-premium watch brands like Patek. The prominent members of this successful series are Automatic COSC, Heart Beat, Perpetual Calendar Manufacture, Skeleton Automatic and Worldtimer Manufacture.

Suitable for the urban lifestyle, these Frederique Constant watch models come with integrated bracelets, a hornless case design with an innovative quick-change strap system, elegantly furnished dials and supplementary straps. They are primarily available in stainless steel, with some versions featuring gold-plated or PVD-coated cases. The price range of the Highlife series starts modestly at HK$15,000.