Derek_Bertos

Derek Bertos
5 Followers
3 Following
2 months ago
Joined
San Diego, CA
7.50” / 19.05 cm Wrist
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Recent posts

SKX173 Build

Aftera few commissioned builds for friends and co-workers, I built this one for me. I've said before, I think Seiko made their best divers in the 90s....
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2 Recent GMT Builds

Two builds made for co-workers. Both GMTs using Certiga Works modified NH movements. Both using gen dials and mostly Tokeilab parts.
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Neo Vintage NCG SKX Build

This build was done to represent my Seiko journey. A few years ago I started in this hobby with a cheap AliEx Pagani with an NH35 that has since been...
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Recent Comments

commented on Travel Tuesdaay- let’s see your favorite GMT ·

Two of my favorite recent builds for friends.

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commented on Controversial post… wait for it… ·

Having explored this realm myself, I knew the plot way before you dropped the bomb. The AD experience at Rolex is alone reason enough not to buy, but the fact that clones this good exist for so little compared to the gen turns me off to the brand altogether. Having had gen Rolex's and clones on the wrist has given me no difference in luster. I'll spend my money on a GS or watch in a similar niche that can't be replicated.

commented on Do you like your vintage watch to be polished or not? ·

I say 90s is Neo Vintage.

commented on New Seiko SJE097, SJE099 & SJE101 "Marinemaster" ·

Not a fan. I agree with some other comments because these look unrefined. For me, Seiko's golden age was the 90s and early 2000s. Simple dials, great specs, capable of wearing flexibility without trying to hard. These are too "blingy" for being dive watches. For me, and I know I'm not everyone, even an 114060 no date Sub feels too much like a shiny piece of jewelry to be a dive watch. And I say that with complete knowledge of how iconic it is.

These though... They're just candy coated dive watches with price tags 3x what they should be... This is why I build.

commented on 2 Recent GMT Builds ·

Thank you. Though admittedly in my early days I built some pretty silly stuff. I prefer now to make watches that look OEM and something Seiko would charge 2-3 times as much for.

commented on 2 Recent GMT Builds ·

Thank you!

commented on 2 Recent GMT Builds ·

Both were ground up builds and came to a total around $600 each.

More posts

Seiko Saturday

Some of the inspiration for the build.
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On the Bench

Work in progress I'll probably finish tomorrow morning.
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