Seiko Mods?

I guess they're OK for ones personal enjoyment.

Not a fan of "Modding for profit" though.

YMMV

I think they're awesome!  They're like resto-mods and kit cars, which I think are beyond cool.

Saw a neighbor driving around the neighborhood in a Shelby 427 Cobra kit car.  Looked amazing.  Had him over for drinks, and turns out that it's a real 427!!!  Dude is driving around the neighborhood in a $1.5M car.  Imagine the depreciation every time he decides to take it for a spin!  It's like burning 10 Benjamins every time you take it out of the garage!  Honestly, I respected him more thinking it was a kit car that he'd built.

In the same way, if you showed me a Seiko mod that looked just like a Yacht Master, I would respect you more for your ingenuity and hard work, than if you showed me a real Yacht Master.

But, maybe that's just me!

What a great story! Cause i am really thinking about getting a seiko modded into a rolex 16610LV kermit...because i love the look of a "vintage" rolex but i really dont have like 20k to spend on a watch...not a big fan of hommage watches or worse: fake ones. I think with a modded one you still got real craftmansip and a real soul in the watch... 

You should totally do it!  I think that Kermit would rock!

Then, post photos here.

Then, I'm gonna end up asking you to mod one for me, on commission!

Haha, (sadly) i'm not gonna mod it myself, found a dude on instagram that made one wich looks absolutly stunning! But really would love to get myself into modding!

Kit car and restomod lovers of the world unite!

I love the custom nature of mod watches! Considering 4 of my 6 watches are mods, I think I might be a little biased though. My only advice when it comes to mods is to put a little originality into it. Find a new handset, bezel, or dial that just feels right. If you want a pure Rolex homage, might as well save a hundred bucks or so and get a San Martin or Pagani Design. 90% of Seiko mod parts come out of a Chinese factory so quality is likely comparable to those brands. I completely support getting a mod, but I think you'll have a better experience if you tweak the design in a way to make your watch one of a kind. 

Really thinking about that fact too! Would love to have a personal touch on the watch...making it really an unique piece!

Nothing wrong with modding your watch to look like a homage of another watch you really like,end of the day your the one looking at 👍

I really enjoy modding. Half my current watches are mods or full on custom builds that I've done. I've never tried to replicate another watch completely I look at them for inspiration to do my own take, my Pogue Diver Mod would be an example of that. 

Having said that I see no issue with doing whatever you want as long as your transparent and take pride in your work. I've been seriously considering a Seiko SBP185 Build using OEM Parts. Looks like I could do it for half the cost of buying it retail. However, I'm trying to decide if I do it with OEM Parts is it really a mod any more or is it a very serviced SBP185 lol.

I don't even see an issue if you sell your mods as long as your selling it as a mod. I just don't see how one could make much money selling them; parts aren't cheap and with some of my builds buying a solid Microbrand would have been more economical.

Also if this is your first mod/build buy extra parts as you will well screw up. I lost count of how many second hands I bent on my first watch. Even yesterday I messed up one and source your parts from a good dealer. 

Anyway here's a link to TVG's episode on modding. 

https://youtu.be/3MhbdocFyHc

Also this YouTube channel is the best walkthrough mod channel I've encountered. Others make it look like it's easier than it is

https://www.youtube.com/c/ItsAnotherWatch

"Others make it look like it's easier than it is..."

Just like @thatguy306 said, I cannot emphasize it enough. I remember seeing a video by @LumeShot , and he installed a seconds hand in a fluid motion, placing it lightly, then increasing the pressure to fully set it, in maybe less than 10 seconds. This is not what your experience will be. 😉

Quite the opposite: You may lose hands, damage a movement beyond reasonable repair, or damage other parts. This is why I recommend starting with something you really don't care about that much, and finishing the project no matter how bad the end result looks, so you at least have the experience to avoid the same errors the next time. 

lol I was thinking of that @LumeShot video when I wrote that lol. Second hands are freaking hard until you figure out a technique that works for you. Also if your anal retentive like me about the date changing over spot on midnight you will be removing hands a lot.

I would add you will get frusturated don't be like me and try and push through you just make more mistakes ... walkaway and come back. That's precisely why I ruined my last yellow second hand yesterday.

Well i used to be a truck mechanic...really know what it feels like to just try and try until you break everyting😆thanks for all the tips&tricks!

Thanks for sharing your views on modding.  I like your "Pogue" mod.  I don't have the patience and talent to do modding but I enjoy seeing what others have done.

@thatguy306 @hbein2022  I've done hundreds, at this point more than a thousand possibly, of second hand installations, so it definitely can take some time to get comfortable haha. 

modding is exciting in my opinion. you can mix and match the parts whatever you like. i know some of my friend bought secondhand beat up seiko snz sea urchin and mod it. it is a satisfaction to see from the worn watch to became where is it now (not a fan of the dial though, spec doesnt add up with the watch lol). but hey, it is what it is 

I have the dial in my parts box now lol. 

During the hours (literally) of effort trying to install my first ever second hand I think I re-watched your video a dozen times trying to figure out the magic. I can do it in a few minutes now but I'm a long way from seconds.

Thanks that Pogue Build was my second mod project, looks better on a bracelet but weighs a lot. Still annoyed I couldn't find a day/date dial in that gold/yellow sunburst color; had to settle on just the date. Still keeping an eye out for one like it with a day/date.

Yeah, I found that some seconds hands are harder to balance on the pinion that others. Breaks are pretty good, just to get out of a funk and to realize what you are doing wrong, as long as you will eventually finish what you are doing. The other part it setting expectations and taking the time necessary.

The modding world is a world of its own. lots to learn and even more fun to be had!

it is a good dial, but because water resistant didnt match with seiko sea urchin spec it bothers me lol

as cliche as it sounds, if you are enjoying the process and the watch then that's all that matters

Personally, I am not a fan of mods or blinged-up watches. Having said that, my brother went for a modded CasiOak and that did look great!

For me, the whole interest in watches is designing and building them and Seiko parts are numerous and varied. However, I’m not a fan of homage so much - but just because they lack a bit of imagination.

alliexpress is the place for mod parts. i put snowflake hands on my Invicta with a lightning second hand. Found out later the big hands are like Tudor Peligos and the second hand is like Rolex Milgauss. They were pretty and easy to see. Left the Invicta dial so there's no chance of mistaking it for a fake.

paid under $150.00 for watch and hands