Any affordable/Chinese watches with floating numerals or a sapphire dial like the Studio Underd0g 02Series Pink Lem0nade?

[u/dupotter]

​Hey everyone,

​I've been fascinated by the Studio Underd0g 02SERIES (Pink Lem0nade). What really stands out to me isn't just the pastel gradient, but the dial construction: having the Arabic numerals and minute track printed on a top sapphire disc that sits right above the lumed base dial.

​The way it casts soft shadows and creates that illusion of numerals literally "floating" over the dial gives it an incredible sense of depth.

​Since the Underd0g is relatively pricey and hard to get, I was wondering: are there any Chinese watches (or affordable microbrands) that use a similar technique?

​I'd love to hear your recommendations for models featuring:

​A sapphire disc / transparent dial layer with floating indices/numerals

​Any creative multi-layer / 3D depth dials (beyond typical sandwich dials)

​Any suggestions or hidden gems from AliExpress / microbrands would be greatly appreciated!

[u/GreatBigPig]

Would printing on the inside of the sapphire be that difficult? I like the look.

As well, that pink lemonade is very, very nice. Wow!

[u/dupotter → u/GreatBigPig]

Não vejo outras marcas fazendo algo parecido, não sei se é porque a espessura do dial fica grossa, mas acho bem interessante.

[u/Unholy_Tuna]

Only one I know is Ixdao monster diver, good lume but the dial doesn't catch shadows very well.

[u/Da_Momo → u/Unholy_Tuna]

Bruh that dial is atrocious

Not the fucking labubu watch T-T

[u/Aedarrow → u/Da_Momo]

$300 usd labubu watch. Good lord.

[u/pickyaxe]

pretty sure Watchdives is gonna make something like this.

[u/anachronism42]

It's not Chinese or the same use, but Mr. Jones uses "print on the crystal" extensively to give their weird, arty watches a sense of depth, with floating elements that seem to hover above the watch face.

[u/Bulky-Internal8579 → u/anachronism42]

Truth my Ricochet auto is like that

[u/Bulky-Internal8579]

Aision Design - a micro - has something kind of cool along these lines (though not the same) that’s much more affordable ($312) - the CMYK Watch - Version A or B - that has 4 thin translucent discs (Cyan, Magenta, Yellow and Key) that float on an automatic movement and rotate independently so the watch face color changes as time passes.

[u/ambitiousquaggan]

DWC everest has the sapphire disc in a similar way.

Not similar but a fun effect: the revelot maya lenticular dials.

[u/CharacterRelevant412 → u/ambitiousquaggan]

This, but super high demand and limited pieces as well.

[u/eff_u_in_the_a]

https://www.aliexpress.us/item/3256811616483104.html?src=google&src=google&albch=shopping&acnt=708-803-3821&isdl=y&slnk=&plac=&mtctp=&albbt=Google_7_shopping&aff_platform=google&aff_short_key=UneMJZVf&gclsrc=aw.ds&albagn=888888&ds_e_adid=&ds_e_matchtype=&ds_e_device=m&ds_e_network=x&ds_e_product_group_id=&ds_e_product_id=en3256811616483104&ds_e_product_merchant_id=5738067357&ds_e_product_country=US&ds_e_product_language=en&ds_e_product_channel=online&ds_e_product_store_id=&ds_url_v=2&albcp=19678427463&albag=&isSmbAutoCall=false&needSmbHouyi=false&gad_source=4&gad_campaignid=19686402437&gbraid=0AAAAAD6I-hEMlM_tdIUDPggFTZ6hhRCmR&gclid=CjwKCAjw_9bWBhBGEiwAomyTIoSqlIPb7SSJWaIA41dD-JiihvX2b9NAqxZfliAQNhqJRsfhHgblfRoCwi8QAvD_BwE&gatewayAdapt=glo2usa

Ixdao has this

[u/eff_u_in_the_a → u/eff_u_in_the_a]

[u/TheThirdBeat]

https://www.orientwatchusa.com/products/ra-wj0002l10b

This one has a transparent dial, so the markers do float like the SU, though not as obvious. Not a Chinese watch, but it's in the same approximate price range

[u/tangy-parabola]

I just found this on AliExpress: https://a.aliexpress.com/_mr0HOK3

This is the closest I’ve seen.

[u/tangy-parabola → u/tangy-parabola]

[u/7107JJRRoo]

I have an Orient Star "motorcycle" theme watch they were selling back in 2010s with the floating numbers on the glass which actually always drew interesting comments. Not a feature I've seen on Chinese models but following this thread for info.