My first foray into Seiko modding...

DJG2645 · Mar 10, 2021

I still very much consider myself a noob in watch collecting, with only a few years under my belt so far. I wanted to learn more about the movements and mechanics and thought the best way was to try and build a watch (not the entire movement of course thanks to the NH36). Did a lot of research and opted for Namoki parts.

I really enjoyed it, took me 6 hours all in all, took my time, made plenty of mistakes and learnt a fair bit (I think). My top learnings were:
- I could never be a watch maker, those that are have an incredible talent.
- I should have ordered a magnifying glass before starting.
- Attaching that seconds hand nearly beat me. The other half was amazing at finding it in the carpet when it flew off, only took 20 mins before she said "doesn't it glow? Let's turn the light off". Absolute legend, I was sat on the floor near defeated feeling so close, yet so far.
- The moment I could see the dot/pip needed on the arm to release the crown & stem was a massive highlight 👍
- Definitely should have not missed the Chapter ring off the order, but it only took me 10 mins to pop the glass off, remove the movement, it the chapter ring and re-assemble.

Now it is all working, keeping time and date I am really proud of it and would definitely do it again 😁 some pics of the finished model. I also love the blue lume!

P.S hope Seiko mods are allowed on here 😗

MCC · Mar 10, 2021

Well done, I think it looks great!

RealFire · Mar 13, 2021

That looks fantastic!

Walrus · Mar 13, 2021

Very nice job I’m often amazed by what I see people do with these seiko mods very impressive

omegaswisst · Mar 13, 2021

Looks great.

It's amazing how many things pop up to test you in watch making and tinkering, but the experience gained will mean the next one goes that little bit more smoothly.

pascs · Mar 13, 2021

Great job and I can tell you it can become very addictive.

I've been modding Seikos (and other watches) for several years but the huge number of companies now selling great aftermarket parts for Seiko mods make for an amazing choice of parts.

You definitely need a magnifying glass (Loupe) its absolutely essential, you can not do without one.

For the seconds hands there are some techniques to making this easier, I used to cut a very thin piece of masking tape and stick it to the back of the seconds hands, this makes positioning it very easy. I use a hand fitting press (I see you have one in the picture) and I find these have much more accuracy and control, however many modders seem to like the individual hand fitting tools and I started using these when I first started, but these can slip when installing the seconds hand if its very tight, so a lot of care is needed. I would also suggest using a dial protector when fitting or removing hands.
Hands can also be easily scratched when fitting so it can be beneficial to put a small piece of clear plastic over the center of the hand when installing to help prevent the hand fitting tool leaving any marks.

Above all enjoy the process 👍

Scarecrow Boat · Mar 13, 2021

I can confirm that it can be addicting and expensive... especially when you buy OEM LE parts. But, it’s a lot of fun. I did all of these early/mid 2019. The dark brown leather strap on a few of those was just a placeholder until the bracelets showed up.

DJG2645 · Mar 15, 2021

pascs
Great job and I can tell you it can become very addictive.

I've been modding Seikos (and other watches) for several years but the huge number of companies now selling great aftermarket parts for Seiko mods make for an amazing choice of parts.

You definitely need a magnifying glass (Loupe) its absolutely essential, you can not do without one.

For the seconds hands there are some techniques to making this easier, I used to cut a very thin piece of masking tape and stick it to the back of the seconds hands, this makes positioning it very easy. I use a hand fitting press (I see you have one in the picture) and I find these have much more accuracy and control, however many modders seem to like the individual hand fitting tools and I started using these when I first started, but these can slip when installing the seconds hand if its very tight, so a lot of care is needed. I would also suggest using a dial protector when fitting or removing hands.
Hands can also be easily scratched when fitting so it can be beneficial to put a small piece of clear plastic over the center of the hand when installing to help prevent the hand fitting tool leaving any marks.

Above all enjoy the process 👍

@pascs thanks for the tips - I have now invested in a Loupe to help me next time! For the seconds hand i used a similar approach to the above, dial protector & some blu-tac but will try you approach next time so I make sure I protect the hands! 👍

DJG2645 · Mar 15, 2021

@Scarecrow Boat those look amazing! I can definitely tell how addictive it is, I am already pondering whether to buy more bezel inserts so I can change them around every now and then, and then I see a different dial I like so I think it is hair to say this won't be my one and only Seiko mod 😁

Walrus · May 25, 2021

I am strongly considering getting into seiko mods. I’m curious about the tools you acquire. I read it doesn’t pay to get the really cheap stuff off the rip but I also don’t want to go crazy in case I find I don’t have the time to properly get into it. After three years of recovering from a hand thing I’m finally able to play guitar again but I’m a bass player at heart so making the switch back to an acoustic six string regular guitar is slow going. Anyway, too much info, tools. Yes that is what I’m curious about. I pretty much need everything but a strap changer. Of which I got the cheap set and wish I hadn’t but it’s fine I just learned to use them carefully. I see so much nice work people do on them I’d really like to give it a go. I would also just be doing it for my own enjoyment not like a business proposition which I see a lot of people doing which again would be another reason why I would not need top tier tools but would want reliable things I would not to replace often.

tikkathree · May 26, 2021

I spent a happy couple of years experimenting with watch modding, I started with Vostoks and moved into Seiko, mostly Sumos as they were what I wanted to wear at the time. Dials, handsets, chapter rings, crystals, movement holders, rotors, stem/crowns.

Loupe? Definitely and you might want to think about something which you can either fix to your face or hold over your work using a stand or something: why? For me it was the sweep second hand and needing to use both hands just to hold the movement and press the little stinker into position. You've had the "ping - she flies!!!!" experience and we understand each other. FWIW the technique which worked best for me was to fix a small blob of blutack on the end of a short stick and pick up the sweep second hand right over the pivot point and then press it into place. My blutack had to be small enough to align things visually and once you've pressed the hand home it releases easily enough from the blutack.

Tools? Well, blutack, a set of cheap brass tweezers, a pukka hand-setting press, a crystal press for removing and replacing. Oh and a shallow tray to hold my work in and a large smooth cloth to cover my workspace and hopefully avoid those flying hand moments. Here's a real "pro" tip. If something pings off into space your first step is to not move, not drag your chair about but look down, check your lap, check your shirt front, work your eyes down your legs, down the chair legs. Or maybe you'd like to learn about mashing a second hand with the leg of the chair? No, don't do it!

You can have a lot of fun, you can chase designs and see how you like them "on the wrist"

DJG2645 · Jun 1, 2021

I concur with everything @tikkathree has said...I also found when any of the hands flies off onto the carpet then turning the lights off speeds up finding the missing part 😁 I have done a few Seiko mods now and found with each one experience has improved.

I bought some loupe glasses with a touch and they are a godsend for fitting that seconds hand.

There is definitely a couple of routes you can go...buying all component parts and do a "proper" and full build or you can buy a case from eBay where it is mostly assembled for you (case includes chapter ring, case back, crystal, date magnifyer, bracelet).

Most importantly have fun with it 😀

Jkbenn02 · Jun 2, 2021

Awesome photos

Lancaster · Feb 1, 2022

Looks like fun and I'm thinking of trying this out. There must be a Seiko modding forum somewhere, right?

Walrus · Feb 1, 2022

Lancaster
Looks like fun and I'm thinking of trying this out. There must be a Seiko modding forum somewhere, right?

If you are on Reddit they have a seiko mod sub I haven’t really checked it out that much but it seems quite active

Scarecrow Boat · Feb 1, 2022

Lancaster
Looks like fun and I'm thinking of trying this out. There must be a Seiko modding forum somewhere, right?

Just a warning, it can be pretty addicting 👍 I’m not familiar with any forums and while I haven’t been on Facebook in years, I know there is an active Seiko Modding group.

Modding Seikos has ultimately led me to mod one of my Speedmasters 😁

This

To this

Lancaster · Feb 1, 2022

I'm not on FB and never will be, but I'll check out the other resources. Yeah, this whole hobby is too addicting.

DJG2645 · Feb 3, 2022

Lancaster
I'm not on FB and never will be, but I'll check out the other resources. Yeah, this whole hobby is too addicting.

Hey Lancaster, I am not on FB either, I used mostly You Tube videos to learn and got parts from Seiko Mods in the UK. Then tools required from Amazon and eBay. It's good fun but you'll lose hours to it without realising 😁

Lancaster · Feb 3, 2022

Thank you, I've actually been watching some and ordered an homage to practice on. They're recommending a few sources for parts. Jody the Aussie has some good ones but I see a mod he did resulted in the bezel protruding above the crystal (which he never mentioned). Lot's of different crystals available so I guess it'll be trial and error. It'd be great if there was a forum where Seiko modders could post their results with photos, experiences, and recommendations. I see individual threads here and there so I'll check them out.

DJG2645 · Feb 3, 2022

Lancaster
Thank you, I've actually been watching some and ordered an homage to practice on. They're recommending a few sources for parts. Jody the Aussie has some good ones but I see a mod he did resulted in the bezel protruding above the crystal (which he never mentioned). Lot's of different crystals available so I guess it'll be trial and error. It'd be great if there was a forum where Seiko modders could post their results with photos, experiences, and recommendations. I see individual threads here and there so I'll check them out.

That's great that you've ordered a homage to have a play around with. My main lesson is choose parts carefully. By this I mean I started off buying all the components separately from modding sites (I'll share the main ones at the end of this). I found those parts to be of a much higher quality than those of marketplaces and the bay. I noticed a lot of modders that sell their pieces buy the "mostly done" mods so case, caseback, crystal, bezel, bracelet already installed and yes granted you could get all that for around £30-£50 but my experiment with one of those was the quality just wasn't there and I didn't really feel as though I had truly modded. I think it took me about 20 mins to build the "mostly done" one where as a true (imo) mod from all component parts (bar the movement of course) was a real labour of love over many hours and the accomplishment was much greater. Another top tip; when you undoubtedly lose your seconds hand when it flies off into the air and into the floor or carpet turn the lights off and you'll find it immediately. After around 20 mins of crawling on the floor looking for it my smug wife came in and turned the lights off and the lume did it's thing immediately 👍. Here's the go to mod parts sites I used, seikomods, namoki, dwl, luciusatelier.

Look forward to seeing some pics of your adventures soon 👍

My first foray into Seiko modding...

DJG2645

MCC

RealFire

Walrus

omegaswisst

pascs

Scarecrow Boat

DJG2645

DJG2645

Walrus

tikkathree

DJG2645

Jkbenn02

Lancaster

Walrus

Scarecrow Boat

Lancaster

DJG2645

Lancaster

DJG2645

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