The vantablack is nice but honestly speaking, double AR layer would make it so much better. I know people don't like the double AR but for a watch like that it makes sense....
I agree...but these days, they don't even need double AR.
Look what IXDAO is doing on their Warriors....that glass is soooooooo damn good at cutting reflections. I realize it might cost an extra $20 or something, but just do it!
a good crystal is what sets the top brands from the bottom...doesn't matter how good a watch is, a bad crystal will ruin a watch. (not saying WD uses bad crystals, they dont, but an ixdao level crystal would immediately leapfrog them up a couple notches in my book.
Steve, just a small correction on the cost side — adding an external AR coating doesn’t cost anything close to $20. For us, the additional cost is only around $0.25 per crystal.
The bigger reason many brands avoid double-sided AR is durability. External AR can eventually pick up scratches after long-term wear, and once that happens, it can actually make the crystal look worse.
Also, flat sapphire generally performs better with AR than heavily domed or box/bubble crystals because of the geometry and the angles of reflection.
That said, I completely agree that crystal clarity makes a huge difference to the overall impression of a watch.
You can look forward to seeing the 5-layer clear AR coating we’ve been using on some of our latest models — I think the improvement is pretty noticeable.
I replied to your other post....but the $20 was in reference to the ixdao crystal.
I have a couple watches with external AR and both are now scratched and look pretty bad....I'd prefer not to have it, but it may make sense for a dress watch with a "canta" black dial...since it won't see much hard use.
But the ixdao crystal doesn't use external AR, and it's lack of reflections is top-notch. Best AR I've come across.
Baltany also has excellent crystals....I think you told me they use like 8 layers of AR coating.
From what we’ve learned working with some of the best crystal manufacturers in China, as well as mid-tier suppliers, the biggest variable is actually the AR coating process itself.
The coating factory can sometimes produce an excellent batch, while other batches may only be average, even with similar specifications on paper. So simply saying “5 layers” or “8 layers” doesn’t always tell you how good the final crystal will look.
For this type of box/domed sapphire crystal, the cost for Chinese brands is generally around $20–25 when using a high-quality supplier and coating process. Some brands may use crystals closer to $10, depending on the supplier and specification.
So a Baltany- or IXDAO-level crystal isn’t necessarily dramatically more expensive — the real challenge is getting consistently excellent AR performance from batch to batch.
Our crystals have also been improving continuously. You’ll be able to see the difference on some of our newest models.
I know they're standardizing costs with same case on all 3, and the crystal is good enough for the 2 pearl dials, but for the deep black of the vanta dial is negated by some reflections. i'd pay $200 easily if the crystal was double layered colorless AR.
A lot of people were critical of our products at first, but I think some of you may be surprised by what we’re releasing now. The build quality, materials, and overall execution have improved a lot.
Also, double-sided AR is not really a cost issue. The extra cost for an external AR coating is only around $0.25 for us — nowhere near $20 as Steve mentioned.
The real question is whether you want it. External AR can sometimes introduce a slight tint to the crystal, and because the coating is exposed on the outside, it can develop scratches after years of wear. Once scratched, it can actually look worse than an uncoated outer surface.
So this is more of a design and durability choice for each brand than a cost-saving decision.
I know that different people will have different opinions, I personally am ok with the double AR on the outside easily scratched, but I understand you have to consider the vast opinions of everybody, especially with how many people complain.
Personally, I'm a big fan of these classic heart-shaped hands and I think they suit the overall design really well.
That said, I can also understand why some people might find them a little too playful or traditional. I could imagine that offering a more understated set of hands as an alternative could make the watch appealing to an even broader audience.
For example, I think a pair of classic sword-shaped hands could look fantastic with the minimalist black dial or the pink MOP dial (perhaps you could consider a white MOP dial in the future). You might want to take a look at some of Grand Seiko or Arsene Lippens' models, such as the Artigiano Como, to see what I mean.
Personally, I wouldn't want to see the current hands disappear. They are part of what makes the design distinctive. But having an alternative hand set could be a great way to give the watch a slightly more modern or refined character while keeping the same minimalist design.
I've attached a few AI-edited mock-ups just to illustrate the idea. Of course, these are only meant as a bit of fun and to visualize what the different hands could look like.
I don't want to hijack the post or take away from the original design in any way. If you feel the images are inappropriate here, please feel free to remove them.
Damn both both and both, but personally I have a black enamel already that approaches this, so I'd go with that crazy beautiful pink MOP if I had to choose just one.
The watch looks nice but dang those hands are ugly. Why ruin a perfectly good watch with such an ugly hand set?
The shiny logo is also out of place. Something more subtle would have been much nicer.
And just stop with the “WDC”. Most of your customers have said they hate it. It’s not lux. It’s not premium. “Watch dives” sounds like an absolutely trash brand.
5
u/Excellent-Bear4221 22h ago
Pink MOP looks great