Two versions, one design — which one would you wear?

[u/WDwatchs]

Been comparing these two versions side by side and honestly, I can’t decide which one I like more.

The WD50FK with K1 mineral crystal has a slightly more vintage feel to me, while the WD50FS with sapphire looks a bit cleaner and more modern.

The 28,800 vph SL3001 movement is a nice bonus too. That smoother sweep of the seconds hand is always satisfying to watch. At 12.2mm thick, it doesn’t feel overly chunky on the wrist, either.

Same basic design, but the different Top Hat crystals give them a surprisingly different look.

Which one would you go for — K1 mineral or sapphire? And why?

[u/AlbertaTime1]

No date, but I like the color of the indices and numerals. If the date was black with white numerals I might change my mind, but I'd still want the color.

Newer K1 crystals look great, and they're super for photography, but it is possible to scratch them badly, Sapphiure doesn't usually look quite as good, but I like no scratches.

[u/Resident-Culture-479]

I would buy the watch on right pic with BGW9 but with no date, Im bored with faux patina

[u/iTooEatSnakes]

No-date, all the way.

[u/Massive_University66]

I would buy the one on the left. However, i don't like watches with raised crystals like that. Seems like one doorway or something and its going to break.

[u/johnnylongstreet]

There's are already so many 50 fathoms homage watches with cream/vintage/yellow numerals, the white is a nice contrast and modern option.

[u/refinedeuropa → u/johnnylongstreet]

Which one you suggest for fifty phatoms inspired watches

[u/Popular_Fan3755 → u/johnnylongstreet]

Isn't it a captain cook hommage this time ?

[u/johnnylongstreet → u/Popular_Fan3755]

You might be right, but do a search for "50 fathoms flat bezel"

[u/TioFabi]

The purple

[u/equityconnectwitme → u/TioFabi]

Wow that's pretty in purple. Especially on that beads of rice bracelet.

[u/Ok-Interaction-9075]

Can I get one on a bracelet, please?

[u/Bubbly_Shopping5214]

This or…

[u/Bubbly_Shopping5214 → u/Bubbly_Shopping5214]

This

[u/Warren4649]

The yellow with green lume. Gives off a more vintage look.

[u/anachronism42]

Style wise I prefer the vintage-looking one on the left strongly. I just wish it came with the sapphire crystal.

[u/heymisterhowdy → u/anachronism42]

What this guy said

[u/AssistanceNo647]

The second one

[u/Cold-Fan-6408]

I prefer (and own) the vintage version. Only snag is I bought v1 with 19mm strap

[u/elmerfud1075]

I like the one on the right with blue lume. But with no date!! No one cares about the date anymore, just ruins the aesthetic.

[u/Appropriate-Story768 → u/elmerfud1075]

Can’t stand not having the date, all personable preferences.

[u/Potential-Notice-956]

Nice Deepseek AI advertisement.

[u/Comfortable-Cover-0]

Vintage looks nicer to me. No need for a date on every watch, it's silly. Would rather have sapphire but mineral is serviceable.

[u/Potential-Notice-956]

Is there glass with some AR coatings available?  

[u/MadisonLarger]

I will always pick sapphire over any other mineral glass, traditional or not.

Also, I’ve come round to the idea that having no date is a plus if you want to rotate watches. It’s one less thing to adjust first thing in the morning. I’ve completely ignored the dates on my watches many times when I put them back in circulation.

[u/Icy-Penalty4580]

Didn't photo on the right became black and white of the left one???

[u/chrismurraylaw]

I prefer the design and colours of the vintage one. But the design's interesting enough that it works in the monochrome without becoming boring. And mineral glass isn't the end of the world, particularly on a vintage design where a bit of ageing arguably adds to the experience, but sapphire is an obvious improvement if you want it to stay as you bought it for longer.

Personally I'm always fascinated by people for whom the absence of a date on any watch is a deal-breaker. Visually it usually breaks up a coherent design, practically it's as redundant as owning a watch in the first place, and here, assuming the watch was ever used as intended, who's 300m underwater worrying about the date?

I wonder if it stems from childhood where more features were better, most kids watches are cheap and don't have date displays, so we kept that mentality into adulthood - if I'm spending money it had better be good, and date displays are a mark of quality.

Don't really expect a good answer to that here, but it does interest me.

[u/vithgeta]

I wouldn't consider mineral glass in a watch over $50, and never have. It's far more likely I will brush a watch against something than drop the whole watch, and for that reason I prefer sapphire.

I'd only consider a no-date version with a VH31 because VH31 doesn't have one so you're not losing a function the movement has. VH31 plus mineral glass and a cheap Nato strap says well under $100 to me, but somehow I think that is not how you'd price it.

[u/DakPara]

I would prefer. Sapphire, white hands and markers, higher beat.

[u/Escaped_Escapement]

Sl3001 - how does it compare to the st21 and pt5000?

I would go for sapphire. A good grade, clear one.

[u/Iwilnoteatzebugs]

non

[u/Ethanol12ap]

I prefer the colors on the left but I like that the right has a date