Best of the Fifty Fathoms Homages - Watchdives WD50FK review

[@adk7962]

Watchdives is killing it with the value homages. And what a great and simple idea to offer both mineral and sapphire! Thanks for the great review!

[@pauliewalnuts5241]

agreed. I love my WD5512 submariner homage from WatchDives

[@adk7962]

@@pauliewalnuts5241 Paulie Walnuts. Awesome name! Yeah I have two from them, a Willard and a GMT, and they’re fantastic!

[@EscapeWheel]

I just love they they are listening to their customer base. If you aren't aware, they have a subreddit called r/watchdives where they show off upcoming products and take suggestions from the users.

[@adk7962]

@@EscapeWheel No I didn’t. Headed there right now! Thanks.

[@tcwhite0104]

Wouldn't know can't get one single watch pass the customs check at FedEx

[@WillyMcCoy50]

I bought the one you have in this video. I really liked the mineral crystal. The way it stays clear when viewed from a side angle and the distortion. 19mm was no problem for me because I've collected for decades and have no hesitation buying 19mm bracelets. I payed $79 + shipping. I sold it to a freind and he immediately smashed the mineral crystal. I bought the sapphire / matte bezel insert model. The matte bezel compliments the matte dial very well. I prefer the bezel without the busy minutes hash ticks. The first one I purchased ran at +1 seconds per day. The sapphire runs +17. This watch is a much better 50Fathoms than Blanc Pains all time best seller 50Fathoms. Ceramic case and unserviceable plastic movement. Complete garbagé. Nice review!

[@claycox5285]

Clean, well executed. Great little watch. I always appreciate your thorough review Steve.

[@EscapeWheel]

@@claycox5285 thank you. Glad my work is being appreciated 👍. Have a great weekend!

[@karolwicik3888]

I would consider sapphire version just becouse mat bezel insert

[@Kel7S]

9:14 I would love to see all the watches before or after the lume shot in normal lighting, always end up looking them up if i dont know them. I see a lot of channels do that, so assuming its easier to do it this way, but would be nice.

[@jacksonisaac1453]

Thank you, Steve! I was looking forward to this and have been eagerly waiting since morning for the video. I appreciate the effort you put into the review great job as always!

[@EscapeWheel]

@@jacksonisaac1453 absolutely man...had some technical difficulties related to Hurricane Debbie so didn't have it out this am. I appreciate the support and kind words

[@jacksonisaac1453]

No problem. Hope all is well and that things settle down soon. Appreciate the heads-up!

[@vjdpred]

The matte finish looks really cool!

[@edwardbowen-humphreys9758]

The matt insert and sapphire version is worth the extra £££. Different looking.🧐

[@asimplefarmer]

I agree this is one of the best looking versions of the FF style watch. I have the bronze thorn version and if this watchdives version was out, id prob get that instead. esp the milspec dial with matte bezel. the shiny bezel is kinda too shiny. I know its supposed to be kinda like the bakelite bezel of the old watch, but the shininess is too much. also WD has nice thick fonts for the bezels which looks better.

[@EscapeWheel]

@@asimplefarmer yup, it's just little things. I hope to see a V2 with a mineral/sapphire bezel insert and 20mm lugs and maybe thin it out a bit.

[@marlowkaplan3584]

I'll wait for that new Trident logo watch dives is using

[@EscapeWheel]

@@marlowkaplan3584 just released...with 20mm lugs as well!

[@holgermuller3597]

For me a curved bezel (like Octopus overs) is essential for an FF homage. But still a nice watch, thanks for the review 👍👍👍

[@AWATCH-4U]

Really need grab one of these with sapphire..Great review...

[@oktc68]

Looks like the Steeldive with a different logo? Case looks identical to the one on my Barracuda, that has 20mm lugs though. 19mm wtf?

[@frankdavis1139]

Love mine watchdives and my Zanuti

[@anthonydevono8833]

It’s chunky but I like it I’m not bothered about sapphire or what bezel is I’ve got a mixture in my collection and this looks the business 👍

[@scottlauren3145]

Solid watch and a solid review, as always.

[@LymanPhillips]

Interesting. The 19mm lug width is annoying, but the rest of the watch in sapphire with matte bezel looks like the pick of the litter.

[@Rob954ever]

Nice watch. It's a shame that I'll never get one because I hate the Logo. 🤦🏻

[@EscapeWheel]

@@Rob954ever they actually have a new logo coming out soon. Looks nice 👍

[@cedarcanoe]

Are Chinese feeling the declining purchases from the low-conjuncture in the Western world, and started offering watches for ridiculous low prices? It seems like it

[@EscapeWheel]

@@cedarcanoe I think WD is trying to make a name for themselves...undercutting a lot of brands and delivering consistent products.

[@springbay1]

The product cycle of a successful Chinese copycat product is rarely more than four big Ali sales, and the price drops all along. Their economy is not based on perfecting a product, but to sale as much as they can today to release a new product as soon as they can to get new attention. In the meantime, they make a version two, three and even four to fix the main errors that they get the most complaints about the previous product. You have to take into consideration that they act in an economy regulated by the Communist party, and they can never make plans for years ahead. Hence, we have a gigantic housing crisis in China and even if you get as successful as Jack Ma, the Communist party can just force you away, because you get too successful. So constantly dropping prices and offering products on sale in regards to an imaginary MSRP is just the way for them to make sales today that they are unsure they'll be able to make tomorrow.

[@cedarcanoe]

@@springbay1 exactly!

[@bernardpaulsen825]

Hmm . . . "the best" homage? I don't think so. What you like, the "modernized" lug size, is a major turnoff for me. I like my homages to be as closely to the original. In this case that means 50mm lug width, 19mm strap size (Bulova has 16!), and, really important especially on a Chinese watch, the sterile option. There is such an homage out there, and that's the Rdunae R6. A bit more expensive, but well worth it.

[@EscapeWheel]

@@bernardpaulsen825 yup, I e seen good things....but reading comments, the 50mm lug span is a deal breaker for many. Either way, I can appreciate rdunae for sticking to their guns...they are the go-to for 1:1 homages, between this, the Willard, and the 34mm field watches. They found a niche

[@thebricktop429]

19mm lug width is basically the end of the review, why they keep doing this is beyond me

[@EscapeWheel]

@@thebricktop429 thankfully sneaking 20mm pass through s is easy, and this should live on a pass through strap IMO

[@dunderhay9169]

I completely agree, I'm not buying 19mm straps when I have plenty of 18, 20 and 22mm.

[@costa7060]

Every change they make keeps away legal action. I believe original watch was 23mm then there's a variation of 21.5 and current series is 20mm Copyright law can be tricky, just a logo change or colour variation is not enough these days Especially when companies are buying up old dead brands and bringing them back

[@jonirwin7316]

A 20mm will look like crap. Dont Mickey Mouse it.​@@EscapeWheel

[@andal7404]

​@@jonirwin7316The strap it ships with is a 20 mm strap.

[@bestboy897]

14mm is too thick

[@tiemenstaal]

19mm lug width? Ugh

[@EscapeWheel]

@@tiemenstaal sadly they pretty much all are for some reason ...I think the original was

[@tiemenstaal]

@@EscapeWheel oh well, at least they aren't comically long lugs, like so many seem to come with.

[@drebarthelotte5712]

Not from me 😊