Just finished this cheapie VH31 build for under 40 bucks to test building them.
This started as a drug store end bunk 10 dollar watch. and got the Seiko VH31 treatment. The 4 tick second hand is like looking at a lower hertz automatic with a quarter of its weight. I'm gonna order a couple more for better cases. The strap adds color and is in support of friends costing a couple bucks. Whole thing under $40.00 CDN
13 comments
Sort by
Brian
Recently retired and have the time for hobbies. Boats , watches and moonshine.
Regina Saskatchewan
Member since
Last active: 14 min ago
Nice build, is there a smoother quartz movement from seiko/hattorri ?
What is your source for the vh31? Any trouble getting good hands to fit?
Also did you use a movement ring?
Nice build, is there a smoother quartz movement from seiko/hattorri ?
Its in the mecaquartz family and the rest are chrono's. Citizen has something like it but I don't think they sell the movements aftermarket and if they do will be expensive.
What is your source for the vh31? Any trouble getting good hands to fit?
Ali buys them wholesale and sells retail well under 30 bucks. The hour and minute hands are the same as the NH 3x hands. second hand is .17 which are easy to get also. I tested a lot of ways to hold the movements in and found fabric hot melt glue works best. Basically it sticks and holds but can be removed easily to work as a movement holder without using dial dots or dial pins. Once in the battery is easy to replace and if you ever need to service it you just pry it out and reglue a new movement in. It does not bleed under to stick the date wheels also.
Thanks
My. first job after the the Juilliard School was concertmaster of the Saskatoon symphony!!, It only lasted 3 months, lovely people (Canadians) left before the cold set in ! , nice mod ! Never did get to Regina ,
Nice inspirational self build posting. Great strap 🌈
Looks great! I am looking at making a build with this movement, but am having difficulty sourcing dials. Do you have any advice? (Thanks already for the tips on finding hands!) Do NH35/36 dials work? I've read conflicting reports.
Any no date dial will work. I broke the dial pins off and used hot melt fabric glue to hold movement to dial. dial dots didnt work for me. it also is good to make the movement holder because it does not bleed under the dial and can be pried up later. NHxx hands fit. when your ready to put back on make a couple bumps up out of case and put a small piece of plastic bag on them as you put back on gently. if not fitting heat up the back with a hair dryer to soften plastic bumps and back will push them into finished form. There is next to no mod parts for quartz around.
Any no date dial will work. I broke the dial pins off and used hot melt fabric glue to hold movement to dial. dial dots didnt work for me. it also is good to make the movement holder because it does not bleed under the dial and can be pried up later. NHxx hands fit. when your ready to put back on make a couple bumps up out of case and put a small piece of plastic bag on them as you put back on gently. if not fitting heat up the back with a hair dryer to soften plastic bumps and back will push them into finished form. There is next to no mod parts for quartz around.
Excellent! Thank you!
Ali buys them wholesale and sells retail well under 30 bucks. The hour and minute hands are the same as the NH 3x hands. second hand is .17 which are easy to get also. I tested a lot of ways to hold the movements in and found fabric hot melt glue works best. Basically it sticks and holds but can be removed easily to work as a movement holder without using dial dots or dial pins. Once in the battery is easy to replace and if you ever need to service it you just pry it out and reglue a new movement in. It does not bleed under to stick the date wheels also.
According to caliber corner, the NH35 uses 1.5/1.0/.20mm hands while the VH31 uses 1.2/.70/.17mm hands. How did you make the hour and minute hands fit? Is this size difference negligible enough for the hands to work anyways?
According to caliber corner, the NH35 uses 1.5/1.0/.20mm hands while the VH31 uses 1.2/.70/.17mm hands. How did you make the hour and minute hands fit? Is this size difference negligible enough for the hands to work anyways?
Sorry i messed up the hands interchange. I must have gotten the VH31 hands from Essinger.