Lifestyle This $180 Dive Watch Puts Rolex Submariners On Notice

Editor's Note: This is the first edition of our new content series Smart Money. Here we'll explore some of the most iconic gear, gadgets, and more while simultaneously shedding light on wallet friendly alternatives that don't compromise where it counts. Enjoy! You'd be hard pressed to find a watch as iconic as the Rolex Oyster Perpetual Submariner. Veteran of 11 James Bond movies, untold campaigns by Navy Frogmen, and Lindsay Lohan's wrist, this watch is the original gold standard for diving watches, even if you get the stainless steel version. Though it's a luxury item, the Submariner's immaculate in-house movement keeps it ticking for your grandkids and keeps its legendary resale value for pawn shop emergencies. But despite the long list of pros, it has one con. A big, fat $7,900 con.

For those of us who consider that con a deal-breaker, there's the Seiko SKX007K2. Like the Submariner, it's a self-winding automatic watch with hardened crystal capable of withstanding depths of 200 meters, and the very same iconic design language of its Swiss counterpart. Unlike the Submariner, the Seiko only costs $180.

While many people are wary of inexpensive automatic watches made outside of Switzerland, Seiko has a phenomenal reputation for precision even in its more economical lines. "It's a fully-pedigreed diver — made entirely in-house, no less — that punches way above its weight," says watch expert Adam Craniotes. Pictured above on a NATO strap, the original Rolex Submariner from Dr. No. Note the similarities? That exact one will set you back north of $500,000.

Know what else looks killer on a NATO strap? Yep, you guessed it.

With its luxury looks, it's easy to forget that these dive watches are actually tools designed for action and capable of withstanding pressures that would bust most watch cases. The reasonable price point coupled with killer construction makes the Seiko a hero of the diving industry — after all, losing a $180 watch to the depths sucks a whole lot less than losing an $8k one.