The original design of the Nautilus is mimicking a porthole. Darker dial complements perfectly the vertically brushed bezel. Under certain light conditions, the bezel will reflect light so beautifully that you can spot a Nautilus on somebody's wrist from afar. The white dial, however, is so closely colored to the bezel. When the watch plays the light game, it will lack the "depth". For me Nautilus is meant to have darker dial. But I also buy white dial Nautilus for easier time reading.