Broken stem

spread5150 · Wed. 7:01am

I bought this Seiko mod used. Found myself wearing it a lot. (After the new strap)

Today I put it on and the crown stem came off. I’m told it broke in the mechanism.

I left it with a local Seiko dealer as I’m understanding it likely has a nh35 movement.

Any idea what I should expect to pay ?

redpcar · Wed. 7:41am

Stem + crown +labor. $100? Just a guess. Easy fix.

ErichKeane · Wed. 10:38am

redpcar
Stem + crown +labor. $100? Just a guess. Easy fix.

TBH, the 'difficult' (read time consuming) part here is removing the old stem. IF it broke with enough out of the movement to pull out with tweezers, you're right, parts + 1 hr labor.

IF it is broken 'lower' than that (which looking at the crown, I think it isn't?), you end up having to remove dial + hands to get to the keyless works, so probably ~2-2.5 hrs.

redpcar · Wed. 10:41am

ErichKeane
TBH, the 'difficult' (read time consuming) part here is removing the old stem. IF it broke with enough out of the movement to pull out with tweezers, you're right, parts + 1 hr labor.

IF it is broken 'lower' than that (which looking at the crown, I think it isn't?), you end up having to remove dial + hands to get to the keyless works, so probably ~2-2.5 hrs.

Or just a quick movement swap. NH35 is relatively inexpensive.

ErichKeane · Wed. 10:42am

redpcar
Or just a quick movement swap. NH35 is relatively inexpensive.

Yeah, perhaps... But a movement swap is a hands + dial anyway, I'd spend the extra 10 minutes to just remove the old stem and re-use it. Honestly, biggest annoyance I would think is waiting for another crown in the mail.

josiahg52 · Wed. 6:53pm

The Seikos I've worked on have had integral crown and stems so they're replaced as a single unit. That requires opening the watch, releasing the stem remnant, pushing in the new stem and closing it up. You could buy a separate aftermarket crown and stem and have a new stem cut to length. Looking at the crown, there should be enough protruding to easily remove it.

redpcar · Wed. 6:59pm

This is a "modified" Seiko. I have one myself. Generic Oyster case with a fitting screw crown. Don't think it actually came from Seiko. There are many sites out there selling individual parts. These things go together like legos. Easy and inexpensive.
Quickest fix would be for the watchmaker to simply drop in a new NH35 which comes with a stem. Generic Oyster style crowns can be found everywhere on the "modding" sites.

spread5150 · 2025-12-25T20:08:30-0600

redpcar
This is a "modified" Seiko. I have one myself. Generic Oyster case with a fitting screw crown. Don't think it actually came from Seiko. There are many sites out there selling individual parts. These things go together like legos. Easy and inexpensive.
Quickest fix would be for the watchmaker to simply drop in a new NH35 which comes with a stem. Generic Oyster style crowns can be found everywhere on the "modding" sites.

Is the movement likely an actual nh35 or something else ?

I was really disappointed when it broke as I put this watch through its paces

redpcar · 2025-12-25T20:19:33-0600

100% sure it's an NH35. Here's mine.

spread5150 · 2025-12-25T20:35:21-0600

Nice thank you for the photo. Can I ask what you paid for that watch ?

I paid about 150 for mine in a second hand store. I bought two that day. This one and a sub look alike. Over all I’m happy with both of mine.

I have plenty of “pricy” watches but these two get a lot of play.

redpcar · 2025-12-25T20:47:26-0600

Ironically, I got it in a trade ($50ish) with exactly the same problem you have. I bought a stem on line for about $15 and dropped the crown in the trusted Alum+ water solution for about 10 days which totally eats away the broken stem. Trim, assemble and done!

A watchmaker probably won't go through this trouble. Do you have a watchmaker friend?

spread5150 · 2025-12-25T21:06:32-0600

redpcar
Ironically, I got it in a trade ($50ish) with exactly the same problem you have. I bought a stem on line for about $15 and dropped the crown in the trusted Alum+ water solution for about 10 days which totally eats away the broken stem. Trim, assemble and done!

A watchmaker probably won't go through this trouble. Do you have a watchmaker friend?

Watch maker friend …. No

redpcar · 2025-12-25T21:12:56-0600

A project like this is not that difficult. Google: NH35 modding
Watch a few vids. Simple tools and a dremel are all that's needed.
I understand if you are not technically inclined, it might be too much.

Broken stem

spread5150

redpcar

ErichKeane

redpcar

ErichKeane

josiahg52

redpcar

spread5150

redpcar

spread5150

redpcar

spread5150

redpcar

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