Another Friday - another list.
After last week's review of Tudor Black Bay alternatives, today we look at one of the most iconic watch models in the world. We present to you the top five alternatives to the legendary Audemars Piguet Royal Oak “Jumbo.” Released in 1972, this model is considered the progenitor of a new genre of sports watches with integrated bracelets, which are incredibly popular today. After Royal Oak “Jumbo” set the tone, many watches inspired by Gerald Genta's creation appeared. For those seeking something different from the current Royal Oak “Jumbo” ref. 16202, we have selected the top five stainless steel alternatives still in production.
We will limit ourselves to stainless steel watches to compare similar models. This automatically excludes the logical first candidate - Patek Philippe Nautilus ref. 5811, produced only in white gold, making it a completely different model in another price category. However, there are enough worthy contenders, and choosing just five was not easy. We made some tough decisions, with which some may disagree, but this is inevitable for such a popular category. Without further ado, let's start reviewing our favorites.
Vacheron Constantin Historiques 222
Let's start with a personal favorite, long considered another creation of Genta. It is now known that the design of 222 was created by young Jorg Hysek, and he did a brilliant job. Yes, one could choose the Overseas, but the 222 stands out for its historical significance, design, and more comfortable size. The watch returned in 2022 with the release of the gold version of Historiques 222, becoming a hit at Watches and Wonders. Last year, Vacheron Constantin introduced the steel version, which was a great start to the brand's 250th-anniversary celebration.
The watch case has very harmonious dimensions - 37 × 7.95 × 45.3 mm. The characteristic notched bezel insert looks more elegant than the modern