What are your opinions on modifying watches to suit taste (specially vintage or thrifted pieces)
This question has bugged me for a while now, as I'm new to collecting watches and have considered the possibility of modifying some watches in my collection (keeping in mind almost all my watches are vintage 20+ year old watches). I'm interested to know y'alls opinion on this topics specially for swapping movements or hands. However this isn't in the interest of reselling, but rather more on personal usage.
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Just a chemistry student who likes watches :)
Cairo, Egypt
Member since
Last active: 1 day ago
5.98” / 15.19 cm
They're your watches, do what you want with them. Especially if you plan to keep them and enjoy them.
The only reason I can see that someone else might care, is if it's an extremely rare watch, and they want a chance to buy/preserve it themselves.
They're your watches, do what you want with them. Especially if you plan to keep them and enjoy them.
The only reason I can see that someone else might care, is if it's an extremely rare watch, and they want a chance to buy/preserve it themselves.
This is the exact idea I had though I was wondering why I've saw a lot of people on YouTube hating on moded watches and calling em Frankenstein watches. It doesn't make much sense to me why someone would be so opposed to the idea of modifying their hard bought watch customized to themselves, unless they wish to sell it later on. Though that's what sparked my interest to see what people think about the idea
I’ve bought my Casioaks just so I can mod them. Reminds of my younger days when I’d buy those horse power boosting stickers for the Acura Integra.
This is the exact idea I had though I was wondering why I've saw a lot of people on YouTube hating on moded watches and calling em Frankenstein watches. It doesn't make much sense to me why someone would be so opposed to the idea of modifying their hard bought watch customized to themselves, unless they wish to sell it later on. Though that's what sparked my interest to see what people think about the idea
The community has a weird fetish with leaving watches original, even what parts are clearly damaged and needing replacement.
Imagine someone selling badly stained used mattress as a "tropic" mattress... 😂
Again, agree with @KristianG. They are yours, do what you want. I do also prefer not to mess with rare hard to come by pieces that, by modding them, it essentially takes another out of circulation. There is something fantastic about seeing a pristine old piece, sort of like seeing an old car no one would care about, but the owner took such great care of. That’s the story I want to hear at a car show. 100x more than the dude in a Hawaiian shirt and cargo shorts with their barely driven 1 of 1,000,000 Corvette or the Lambo bro.
I also don’t believe there is that much hate for modded watches short of those who (fiscally and arguably visibly) ruin an expensive piece by modding or icing it out. Again, one should do what they like with their money and watches and tastes vary. To each their own. Personally, the idea of spending $10k+ on a watch, modding it for thousands more, only to then have it be worth a fraction of the MSRP, if lucky, is fiscally silly to me.
As long as you aren’t ruining a historically important piece, modding is great. I have a Seiko mechaquartz chronograph that was a “special edition” without any lume. The original polished dauphine hands were difficult to see in most lighting conditions, so I replaced the hands with some lumed fence post hands that improved legibility 100%.
Moding of the watch I think depends individually on each watch. Some of them is worth to mode while others not really. I mean if I would pay 5k+ for watch then why in a first place I would spend so much money for something I dislike and has to be moded instead I would likely spend those money on something else
Matter of your own taste and skill. I love tweaking my stuff when I can figure out how. I wouldn't if the design is incredible and especially if I only have one, but I would also say that is a matter of personal taste and ability (and tools, materials).
I’ve bought my Casioaks just so I can mod them. Reminds of my younger days when I’d buy those horse power boosting stickers for the Acura Integra.
UwU may I see a picture of your moded casioak?
The community has a weird fetish with leaving watches original, even what parts are clearly damaged and needing replacement.
Imagine someone selling badly stained used mattress as a "tropic" mattress... 😂
Its one of the things that never made any sense to me to not make your watch in the most functional and long lasting shape or even maintained. That's why I made this post asking for peoples POVs
Again, agree with @KristianG. They are yours, do what you want. I do also prefer not to mess with rare hard to come by pieces that, by modding them, it essentially takes another out of circulation. There is something fantastic about seeing a pristine old piece, sort of like seeing an old car no one would care about, but the owner took such great care of. That’s the story I want to hear at a car show. 100x more than the dude in a Hawaiian shirt and cargo shorts with their barely driven 1 of 1,000,000 Corvette or the Lambo bro.
I also don’t believe there is that much hate for modded watches short of those who (fiscally and arguably visibly) ruin an expensive piece by modding or icing it out. Again, one should do what they like with their money and watches and tastes vary. To each their own. Personally, the idea of spending $10k+ on a watch, modding it for thousands more, only to then have it be worth a fraction of the MSRP, if lucky, is fiscally silly to me.
I understand ruining a watch's whole aesthetic with icing or others and totally agree with you. But my point was for example somone switching hands on their watch or maybe the case back for a see through case back, ETC. I never got the extreme hate some people show towards such actions, hence why I wanted to hear everyones opinions on it.
As long as you aren’t ruining a historically important piece, modding is great. I have a Seiko mechaquartz chronograph that was a “special edition” without any lume. The original polished dauphine hands were difficult to see in most lighting conditions, so I replaced the hands with some lumed fence post hands that improved legibility 100%.
What I aim to understand is how we define "ruining" a watch by moding. Closest thing I can think of are ricers from the car community, though I'm intrested in understanding your view on it.
Very respectable. Keep the original parts just in case
Moding of the watch I think depends individually on each watch. Some of them is worth to mode while others not really. I mean if I would pay 5k+ for watch then why in a first place I would spend so much money for something I dislike and has to be moded instead I would likely spend those money on something else
I think same as you can spend 100K on a lambo for example but modify it to suit your needs. I personally believe its fine to mod a watch, as long as the moding is reversible and as long as you'd mention the moding if you plan on reselling. Though I wish to understand more about your POV
UwU may I see a picture of your moded casioak?
Metal Casio Mod - Supposed to make it look like a GM-B2100D-1A
CasiOak Mod
This isn't really a mod, but I replaced out the rubber strap for a NATO strap.
I think modding a watch gives you a new appreciation for design decisions that were made on the original. Sometimes you don't know what you had until you change it. Changing and modding luxury pieces will give you pause but creating a piece unique is personal and it adds to the story of the piece. There will be mistakes and broken things but I think the journey is definitely worth taking.
You'vemade me extremely intruged to give modding a try in the future. Maybe when I'll have the resources for it al give it a shot. Thank you so much for your reply :)
Hi, I do a lot of mod’ing. I’ve bought watches specifically to mod. I’ll never open any of my “luxury” watches but Seiko or anything with a Seiko movement is begging for it, if they weren’t there wouldn’t be so many companies supplying parts.
Start slow, have fun and like another Crunchers said, “they’re you watches.”
A couple pointers from experience, for me second hands are the hardest part and wear finger covers of some type, you would be amazed how the slights contact will show up long after you close the case. Take your time and you can never clean too much as you go.
Hi, I do a lot of mod’ing. I’ve bought watches specifically to mod. I’ll never open any of my “luxury” watches but Seiko or anything with a Seiko movement is begging for it, if they weren’t there wouldn’t be so many companies supplying parts.
Start slow, have fun and like another Crunchers said, “they’re you watches.”
A couple pointers from experience, for me second hands are the hardest part and wear finger covers of some type, you would be amazed how the slights contact will show up long after you close the case. Take your time and you can never clean too much as you go.
Thank you so much for your reply. I'm hoping one day al give modding a try when I have the resources for it. I'll probably come to you for advice by then if you don't mind :D
What I aim to understand is how we define "ruining" a watch by moding. Closest thing I can think of are ricers from the car community, though I'm intrested in understanding your view on it.
Your watches are all vintage. A vintage pie-plate Omega Constellation is a historically important piece...so I think you should try to keep it original or close to it (keeping parts to make it reversible). A vintage Cyma or Waltham, not so much, so modding the hand set (sword to syringe), replacing the movement, or more "permanent" mods like replating with a different color, making the spring bars fixed, brushing or contouring the lugs, etc. (which might "ruin" the Omega) is cool if it makes it yours.
A vintage Seiko diver or Hamilton field watch (Vietnam era to late '90s) is in that gray area of possibly important (depending on rarity and point of view), but not super valuable. If you wanted to do major mods (movement swaps, PVD coating, dial replacement), you might "ruin" any historical importance it may have had (to you or others), but increase its value to you. For example, The Urban Gentry modded a mil-spec '82 Hamilton field watch with black Cerakote and increased the value of the watch to him. He plans to keep it forever, so that's cool with me.
Your watches are all vintage. A vintage pie-plate Omega Constellation is a historically important piece...so I think you should try to keep it original or close to it (keeping parts to make it reversible). A vintage Cyma or Waltham, not so much, so modding the hand set (sword to syringe), replacing the movement, or more "permanent" mods like replating with a different color, making the spring bars fixed, brushing or contouring the lugs, etc. (which might "ruin" the Omega) is cool if it makes it yours.
A vintage Seiko diver or Hamilton field watch (Vietnam era to late '90s) is in that gray area of possibly important (depending on rarity and point of view), but not super valuable. If you wanted to do major mods (movement swaps, PVD coating, dial replacement), you might "ruin" any historical importance it may have had (to you or others), but increase its value to you. For example, The Urban Gentry modded a mil-spec '82 Hamilton field watch with black Cerakote and increased the value of the watch to him. He plans to keep it forever, so that's cool with me.
I have to admit I'm not as knowledgeable, as you or most people probably in the watch community are so forgive me for not relating much to the pieces you mentioned.
I understand where your coming from and its respectable to want to keep the history of a watch intact. Though to me I find it a bit centered, as at the end of the day I bought this watch with my own cash. It strikes me as a similar argument I hear in car communities of "I should've owned this sports car to treat it as it should" ish. I don't mean it disrespectfully, but I'm trying to better understand your argument.
To me no matter if its a 1:1 or 1:1000000 at the end of the day its your own piece and it will have your story on it. However shape you wish to shift it, its your piece. Though its not above criticism if it looks like shit afterwards cough iced out watches cough
Thank you so much for your reply. I'm hoping one day al give modding a try when I have the resources for it. I'll probably come to you for advice by then if you don't mind :D
Last week I built a Submariner copy, cost <$100, Seiko NH35 Seiko movement. Everything lines up fine, slight camera angle taking the photo. Pretty easy but you need the right tools.
This is similar to the acceptance of the “restomod” in the automotive world. There are “purists” who decry any alteration from how a car came out of the factory vs. those who take an old car and rebuild it with updated components. If the alterations make the car more pleasant and safer to drive, I’m all for it. Upgrading old marginal drum brakes to modern discs and replacing an old polluting, lethargic, thirsty engine with a newer cleaner more efficient one isn’t a crime, it’s an improvement.
Last week I built a Submariner copy, cost <$100, Seiko NH35 Seiko movement. Everything lines up fine, slight camera angle taking the photo. Pretty easy but you need the right tools.
Looks amazing my friend
This is similar to the acceptance of the “restomod” in the automotive world. There are “purists” who decry any alteration from how a car came out of the factory vs. those who take an old car and rebuild it with updated components. If the alterations make the car more pleasant and safer to drive, I’m all for it. Upgrading old marginal drum brakes to modern discs and replacing an old polluting, lethargic, thirsty engine with a newer cleaner more efficient one isn’t a crime, it’s an improvement.
Totally agree with the enhancement of old automobiles and hence why I see watches, as no different
i see nothing wrong with modifying a watch if that’s what you want to do. lots of people do it. and you own the thing, so you can / should do whatever you want to it.
having said that, modding is not for me. i like enjoying the watch the way it was made and designed. i’m not even that big into changing the bracelet or strap. when i buy a watch, i usually evaluate the whole package - do i enjoy the entirety of the watch? if not, then i probably wouldn’t have purchased it to begin with.
the only watches i have for which i would change the straps are my older / vintage watches, where the strap either wore away or maybe it didn’t even come with the original OEM strap anyway. in that case, i’ll swap straps and “mod” the watch to that extent. but i still avoid any more permanent mods. but that‘s just me. to each their own…
i see nothing wrong with modifying a watch if that’s what you want to do. lots of people do it. and you own the thing, so you can / should do whatever you want to it.
having said that, modding is not for me. i like enjoying the watch the way it was made and designed. i’m not even that big into changing the bracelet or strap. when i buy a watch, i usually evaluate the whole package - do i enjoy the entirety of the watch? if not, then i probably wouldn’t have purchased it to begin with.
the only watches i have for which i would change the straps are my older / vintage watches, where the strap either wore away or maybe it didn’t even come with the original OEM strap anyway. in that case, i’ll swap straps and “mod” the watch to that extent. but i still avoid any more permanent mods. but that‘s just me. to each their own…
Fully respect your opinion my friend and thanks for taking the time to comment and elaborate on the poll :)
I think it's fine to modify watches you intend to keep, especially cheaper / fun watches. And while I would prefer a nice, original vintage watch, there's always that one or two small things you'd wish you could change even on what you'd consider a 'perfect' watch design... sometimes I do think about cobbling together a part-custom, part-Frankenstein's monster of a vintage Omega that fits my ideals exactly, and to serve as a daily-wearer and not something to sell off later.
I think it's fine to modify watches you intend to keep, especially cheaper / fun watches. And while I would prefer a nice, original vintage watch, there's always that one or two small things you'd wish you could change even on what you'd consider a 'perfect' watch design... sometimes I do think about cobbling together a part-custom, part-Frankenstein's monster of a vintage Omega that fits my ideals exactly, and to serve as a daily-wearer and not something to sell off later.
Why not go for it and give it a shot. Make your own piece
I'm a big fan of this. If I get my hands on a vintage watch that's not perfect but possibly savable (and not worth too much restored) I'd modify it. It's yours, and I see this as giving tired old machines a breath of life, like giving an arthritic pensioner cyborg legs. They're still the same granny or grandpa as before, just faster.
I'm a big fan of this. If I get my hands on a vintage watch that's not perfect but possibly savable (and not worth too much restored) I'd modify it. It's yours, and I see this as giving tired old machines a breath of life, like giving an arthritic pensioner cyborg legs. They're still the same granny or grandpa as before, just faster.
It kinda strikes me in the same area. Like putting a new LS in an old mustang.