The Seiko SNZH has a medium case size, but the short lug base makes it look good even on smaller wrists. The 14mm thickness is caused mostly by the curved crystal, but you will most likely change it anyway during your Fifty Five Fathoms mod.

Movement

The SNZH is part of the Seiko 5 collection, which means it is super affordable. This is great because you can put more money toward mods, but some OEM components will be a bit "unimpressive".

The in-house 7S36 movement isn't bad by any means, I just think it's a bit boring. It doesn't hack, you can't hand-wind it and it's a bit bland-looking.

Fortunately, the 7S36 delivers where it really counts: it is pretty accurate and it's one of the most reliable mechanical movements in this price range.

Crystal

Like every other watch in the Seiko 5 lineup, the SNZH is equipped with a Hardlex (hardened mineral) crystal. What's special about this one is that it is slightly curved, which is usually pretty rare for Hardlex crystals.

Water Resistance

Considering the low price of the Seiko SNZH, it's possible to copy the Blancpain's styling, but you're stuck with subpar water resistance. Like all Seiko 5 sports watches, you get 100m of water resistance, which means you can't take it for a dive. 

Lume

Even if it's not a proper dive watch, the Seiko SNZH still has a pretty decent lume application on the hands. You get Seiko's Lumibrite formula, but it's sadly not on the bezel. Furthermore, you only get lume pips instead of fully covered indices.

Bezel

The OEM bezel of the SNZH is already pretty close to the Blancpain Fifty Fathoms, but most modders will get an exact replica with the diamond-shaped mark.

Additionally, a third-party insert is a great way to get something more scratch-resistant (such as ceramic) and add lume to the bezel.

Styling

As I mentioned earlier, the styling  is the main selling point of the SNZH because it lacks in water resistance and movement complexity. If you don't care about these things, the styling is definitely worth it, as you can get an identical timepiece if you're committed enough.

Pricing

The Seiko SNZH is pretty cheap in its original form, but mods can get expensive depending on how deep you want to get. The watch will run you $150-$180, while the mods can go from $20 to $200+.

The Ocean7 LM5 shares the same 42mm case diameter as the Seiko SNZH, but the lug-to-lug length is almost 6mm longer, which is quite impressive. This goes to show how important it is to consider lug-to-lug.

Whereas the 42mm case of the Seiko will look great on small wrists, the Ocean7 LM5 will look goofy on anyone with wrists below 6.75''. Men with large wrists will love the imposing presence of the LM5, but men with small wrists should steer clear to avoid lug overhang.

Movement

As a microbrand, Ocean7 doesn't have the resources required to build their in-house movements. Instead, they delegate this job to ETA, a world-renowned Swiss movement manufacturer.

The ETA2824-2 found inside the LM5 has everything an enthusiast looks for: hand-winding, hacking, high accuracy, and long-term reliability. For an extra $200, you can even get a COSC-certified caliber (-4 to +6 seconds per day accuracy).

Crystal

Ocean7 says that the development of the LM5 took two years. This means that no corners were cut during the conception of this watch. Indeed, you get a top-quality sapphire crystal that is virtually scratch-proof and looks great thanks to its domed configuration.

Water Resistance

While the Ocean7 LM5 can't boast a 300m water resistance like most modern Blancpains do, you still get a very respectable 200m rating. This is enough for snorkeling and even recreational diving.

Lume

As was the case for the mechanical movement, Ocean7 chose the industry-leading Swiss manufacturer for its luminous phosphorescent treatment. This Superluminova application is on the hands, indices, and bezel.

Bezel

Even though the LM5's bezel is extremely similar to the Fifty Fathoms, there are still a few differences. For instance, the time indicator is a triangle instead of a diamond, and you don't get individual markings for the first 15 minutes.

Like the crystal, the LM5's bezel insert is domed and made of sapphire. This gives a super shiny aspect to the insert while also giving much-needed scratch resistance.

Styling

It's no secret that the Ocean7 LM5 is a Blancpain Fifty Fathoms homage, but in no way is it a replica. This one gets a few distinctive features such as the protruding lugs, larger fonts, rounded date display, etc..

Pricing

At $699, the Ocean7 LM5 might look a bit expensive for an homage watch. The more you dig into the specs of the piece, the sooner you realize that it's actually a bargain.

For instance, the case is forged from a block of steel, the movement and lume are high-end, and the styling is exquisite.

The Helson Skindiver is technically the smallest watch on this list if you only consider case diameter. However, you simply can't overlook the massive 52mm lug-to-lug length, which is one of the most pronounced lugs-to-case ratios I've ever seen.

Not only is the Skindiver long, but it's also super thick thanks to its superdomed crystal. This isn't a watch for slender wrists, so I suggest buying it only if you have 6.75'' wrists at the very least.

Movement

Whereas Ocean7 trusted ETA for the LM5's movement, Helson instead chose Miyota, which is a Japanese manufacturer. The Skindiver is equipped with the 9015 automatic caliber, which has been used by many microbrands over the last decade.

Using a Miyota 9015 caliber is a surefire way to get something accurate with legendary Japanese reliability. Also, this movement is hand-wound, hacking, and has a high frequency of 28,800 bph.

Crystal

Standing at 14.5mm tall, the Helson Skindiver is a very thick watch. The main explanation for this measurement is the domed sapphire crystal, which has an astounding 5.5mm thickness. This is quite impressive for a sapphire crystal as it is a hard-to-shape material.

Additionally, Helson applied anti-reflective coating on the inside of the crystal to reduce reflectivity as much as possible.

Water Resistance

The Helson Skindiver is the first watch on this list that's able to match the Blancpain's 300m water resistance. This rating is achieved with the help of a screw-down crown and beefed up seals/gaskets.

Lume

Almost every microbrand that tries to establish itself as a high-end watchmaker will use Superluminova. What you might not know is that Superluminova has dozens of different lume applications, ranging from bright to dull.

For the Skindiver, Helson spared no expense and went straight to Superluminova's brightest and most durable application, the C3. This lume is applied to the hands, indices, and bezel.

Bezel

The bezel of this watch is made of sapphire and it has a flat configuration. This layout makes a huge contrast between the flatness of the insert and the superdomed crystal (as you can see below)

Styling

There're very few distinctions between the Helson Skindiver and the Blancpain Fifty Fathoms. If you want something a bit different from the original, Helson offers 6 variations. You can choose between date or no date, numerals or indices, white vs oranges indices, etc..

Pricing

The Skindiver is not a cheap watch, with the most affordable model starting at $699. Once again, this price is totally warranted considering the high-end components and specs, but some people might be uncomfortable spending this kind of money on an homage.

Also, the Skindiver is available with the same specs except for an ETA 2824 movement and a bronze case for a staggering $1 299.

With the Captain Cook, Rado managed to create protruding lugs similar to the Fifty Fathoms without going overboard with it. The 49mm lug-to-lug length is very reasonable for a 42mm case, so it will look good on men with 6.25'' and above wrists.

The 12.10mm case is also quite thin for a Blancpain alternative, so it's perfect if you plan on wearing it with long-sleeve shirts. 

Movement

The Captain Cook is equipped with an ETA C07.611 movement, which is an upgraded version of the famous Calibre 2824-2. The core of the movement remains the same, with a few tweaks (mainspring, barrel core, etc..) that allow for an impressive 80 hours of power reserve.

Like every other modern ETA movement, it is reliable, accurate, and well-built.

Crystal

The sapphire crystal on the Captain Cook is barely domed, which explains why it's so thin (especially compared to something like the Helson Skindiver). Rado applied a layer of anti-reflective coating to avoid glare.

Water Resistance

The Rado Captain Cook is equipped with a screw-down crown, screw-down case back, and a beefy gasket around the crystal to get 200m of water resistance. This is a proper dive watch that's built to strive in harsh environments such as the ocean.

Lume

The Captain Cook's hands, indices, and bezel (triangle only) are coated with a thick layer of unknown lume. Rado doesn't officially state which brand provides the lume,  but it's most likely Superluminova like the majority of luxury divers.

One thing that people complain about is the lack of lume on the seconds hand. This is kind of a big deal because a lumed seconds-hand is a mandatory feature for any diver's watch. It is used as an easy way to check that the watch is still running in a dark setting.

Bezel

This timepiece is the first watch on the list that comes from the factory with a ceramic bezel. This material is equally as scratch-resistant as sapphire, but it will be a bit less prone to shattering.

Additionally, a ceramic bezel's finish will usually be a bit less reflective, which I think gives off a tool watch vibe. Ceramic is also a better surface for lume, allowing it to glow brighter.

Styling

While the Captain Cook is definitely not a Blancpain Fifty Fathoms homage, I think it is an excellent alternative. Unlike most brands on this list, Rado is an established watchmaker that's been making timepieces for decades.

The Captain Cook has a deep history that goes back to the 1960s, and the Automatic is a modern-day reissue.  This means that it isn't an exact copy of the Blancpain FF, but you still get a few resemblances such as the bezel, protruding lugs, and domed crystal.

Pricing

As I said above, the Rado Captain Cook is its own unique watch, so it comes with an accordingly high price tag. 

The entry-level model comes in at $1,900, equipped with a leather band. Every other model is between $1,900 to $2,600. The price will depend on the bracelet (leather vs steel), the case (steel vs bronze) and the color scheme.

Have you ever had a hockey puck lay on top of your wrist? This is what the Precista PRS-50 feels like. I'm exaggerating a bit since official NHL hockey pucks are 25mm thick, but the 16,70mm thickness of the PRS-50 is astonishing.

The case itself is pretty normal at 42mm, and so is the 50mm lug-to-lug length. However, I don't recommend this watch for anyone with wrists under 6.75'' because it's an absolute unit.

Movement

Apart from its towering height, the AS 2063 caliber is probably the PRS-50B's most distinctive feature.  This is a brand new "old stock" movement that was in production from 1969 to 1978. This gives the PRS-50B a true vintage aspect that cannot be recreated.

Of course, the movement is a bit rudimentary ( 17 jewels, non-hacking, 21,600bph, etc.), but it will keep pretty decent time. This is possible thanks to Precista servicing and regulating each movement before putting them on the market.

Crystal

It wouldn't make much sense to use a movement from the 70s without using a vintage crystal to go along with it. For this reason, the PRS-50B is equipped with a domed acrylic crystal.

Of course, this crystal won't be as scratch-resistant as sapphire or even mineral, but small scratches can be polished off easily. Also, acrylic is damn-near shatter-proof, so breakage is something you won't have to worry about.

Water Resistance

With all these old-school components, one might think that the Precista PRS-50 isn't up to par with modern dive watches. However, the PRS-50 actually has 200m of water resistance, placing it neck-and-neck with most modern dive watches.

Lume

It shouldn't come as a surprise that Precista uses Superluminova lume. The watchmaker went straight for the C3 application, Superluminova's brightest formula.

I can't complain about this lume, but I think Superluminova's "Old Radium" formula would've been more appropriate to stay in tune with the vintage vibe of the PRS-50.

Bezel

The Pecista PRS-50B sports a flat acrylic bezel with lumed indices & numerals. This means that the whole surface of the watch is plastic, which is super easy to scratch. Some will love it as it will have a beat-up look pretty quickly.

If you're not part of the patina-loving crowd,  I suggest you get yourself a tube of Polywatch to remove scratches easily.

Styling

Contrarily to other manufacturers that try to pass it off as a coincidence, Precista clearly states that the PRS-50 is a Blancpain Fifty Fathoms homage. They try their best to recreate the vintage quality of the FF by using components from the 60s and 70s.

The dial and bezel are very close to the original Blancpain, but the case is definitely bulkier (very thick, huge domed crown, etc..)

Pricing

Unfortunately, the Precista PRS-50B has been discontinued. The bright side is that it can still be found quite easily on the pre-owned market for $400-$600 depending on the condition. 

Your best bet is to buy the watch from a reputable reseller, making sure that it was serviced recently and that most scratches have been polished off.

At this point, there's really nothing much more to say about sizing. Every Fifty Fathoms homage has a case diameter between 41 to 43mm. As always, the lugs are sticking out quite a bit, and the case is reasonably thick.

Movement

Since the Spinnaker Fleuss is much cheaper than almost every other watch on the list, it doesn't have any fancy ETA caliber or 1970s-sourced AS movement. However, it does get a Seiko NH35, which is very dependable.

This automatic caliber can be hand-wound, hacked and has about the same accuracy as the Seiko 7s26 caliber.

Crystal

Spinnaker says that the Fleuss is equipped with a domed sapphire crystal. In my opinion, it is more of a "curved" crystal, cause the inclination isn't pronounced (which explains the 12mm thickness).

It's normal that you don't get a Superdome because sapphire is much harder to work with than acrylic. The restrictive budget of Spinnaker doesn't allow for big curves.

Water Resistance

The Fleuss comes close to being a dive watch, but the water resistance stops at 150m. I think the reason for that is the exhibition case back, which adds another entry-point for water. 

If I was Spinnaker, I would've used a steel case back and bumped the water resistance up to 200m, especially since the NH35 movement isn't beautiful enough to be displayed. 

Lume

Like almost every other watch on this list, the Spinnaker Fleuss uses the ubiquitous Superluminova treatment. This one is the C5 formula, which gives off a greenish-yellow hue with about 89% brightness compared to the C3.

Bezel

Spinnaker describes the Fleuss's bezel as "semi-bulbous" or "curved". This is one of the few inserts that replicate the diamond marker at the 12 o'clock position. 

This bezel insert is made of acrylic so you must expect scratches to appear quickly.

Styling

The Spinnaker Fleuss is beloved by collectors around the world for its near-identical styling to the Fifty Fathoms. There are a few tweaks such as the square date display at the 3 o'clock position, the super grainy dial, and the crowded chapter ring.

Pricing

The Fleuss is one of the most affordable Fifty Fathoms homages around, as it can be had from $285 to $340 (depending on strap and dial color). The only downside I can see is the 150m water resistance, but this won't matter to 95% of us.

The Hydrodurance is interesting because the dial & bezel are undoubtedly an homage to the Fifty Fathoms, but Hemel chose a very short lug base (46mm).

This is completely different from the original Blancpain's long and protruding lugs, but I think it's a perfect alternative for men with smaller wrists (6.25'' +).

Movement

The heart of the Hydrodurance is a Miyota 9039 automatic caliber, which is the updated version of the 9015 (found in the Skindiver). The two have exactly the same features (hand-wound, hacking, 28,800 bph frequency, etc.) except for the date complication, which is absent on the 9039.

This is a great mid-range caliber that is durable and offers high accuracy.

Crystal

The domed sapphire of the Hydrodurance is covered with anti-reflective coating. 

Water Resistance

The 300m water resistance rating of this Hemel is incredible considering the low price of the watch. It is achieved thanks to a huge screw-down crown, screw-down case back, and high-endurance gaskets.

Lume

The Hydrodurance uses Superluminova's C3 application (brightest one out there). It is applied on the hands, indices, and bezel insert.

Bezel

The bezel of the Hydrodurance has a nice studded pattern and a sturdy 120-click mechanism. The insert is made of sapphire, which gives a shiny aspect to the watch's face. 

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Styling

I think the Hemel Hydrodurance is a tasteful alternative to the Blancpain Fifty Fathoms that has enough distinctive features to be its own watch. For instance, you get unique triangle indices, an orange diamond hours hand, and a minimalist dial.

Pricing

Standing at $600, the Hydrodurance is a very good deal considering the high water resistance rating, the sapphire crystal & bezel insert, and the outstanding 9039 Miyota movement. Additionally, this watch is offered in tons of peculiar color schemes.