I turned my Skmei PRX into a Casio PRX
I'd had enough of the ill-matched stainless steel PRX-style bracelet on my Skmei 9288, so I finally got round to replacing it with the AliExpress silicon PRX strap which I also got for Christmas.
Thanks to @Fun_With_Watches whose video revealed that the Curran PRX homage's bracelet is also just held in with long split pins, I used the other end of my Bergeon springbar tool with more force than felt comfortable to push the pins out. To be honest, it was just as easy as he said it was, but I was worried about slipping and scratching the case of the Skmei even more than the factory did when they made it.
Then I unscrewed the little screws which held the horrid "quick release" springbars on the new strap in place (and got rid of those abominations after losing one of the screws forever on the carpet anyway). I threaded the split pins back through the case and strap to make it secure (and not worry about the quick release bumping itself open and the watch dropping on the floor ever again) then pressed the ends of the pins back into the case with a plastic toothpick.
It looks and feels like a Casio now, especially as this Skmei has a shiny chrome-painted case (calling it "plated" is a bit of a stretch) just like all the expensive Casios which I've already wasted far too much money on over the years.
The unsigned buckle is brushed/matt and not shiny because it appears to be made of plastic not steel, but I can always change that later.
It's all very comfortable and far more legible than it appears in these low-effort pictures, and I might even wear it now that it really looks nothing like a Tissot PRX at all.
Prior to this "mod", the Skmei reminded me too much of Danny Robins' top of the range Tissot PRX which he wears in the Uncanny series on iPlayer, and I can't have that. No ghosties for me!
Danny Robins is great btw, and I've thoroughly enjoyed his audiobook, but I don't share his taste in watches. £1800 just to get a fluted 18k rose-gold bezel on an otherwise normal Powermatic 80 PRX? That's even scarier than his stories!
So now, as you can see, I no longer have a fingerprint and dust magnet but a hair and lint magnet too! Yay for me!
I will now be perusing the AliExpress Anniversary Sale for a faux-leather PRX strap because that's a thing, and hopefully, there'll be a few new Skmeis as well.
I'm pretty much done with collecting now, but I've certainly got a good variety of affordable watches. As an occasional YouTuber, I'm a comedian not an influencer. Skmei is the new Casio!
I’m going to do the same to mine ,any ideas what would look good on these 2?one leather and one rubber suggestion please
I was stupid enough to buy the rose gold fluted bezel when I could’ve bought 3 powermatics .big regret but with the chocolate dial I will say that I get a lot of compliments on the looks.wish I held out though for the blue dial with RG bezel.
I’m going to do the same to mine ,any ideas what would look good on these 2?one leather and one rubber suggestion please
I can't believe you bought that two-tone one. OMG! LOL
Buy the official Tissot PRX straps in both cases because the AliExpress straps are the nastiest things you will ever handle. I don't recommend any of them.
Thanks
I can't believe you bought that two-tone one. OMG! LOL
Buy the official Tissot PRX straps in both cases because the AliExpress straps are the nastiest things you will ever handle. I don't recommend any of them.
Bought it 2 days after launch on impulse.had I waited 3 months I would’ve got the blue dial,but had I rather bought a Tiffany,Dave Willard and Gold Auto for the same price ,would’ve made me even happier lol
Bought it 2 days after launch on impulse.had I waited 3 months I would’ve got the blue dial,but had I rather bought a Tiffany,Dave Willard and Gold Auto for the same price ,would’ve made me even happier lol
For £300 more, you could have got a Tudor Royal. Tissot really pulled a nasty trick on people with that one.
For £300 more, you could have got a Tudor Royal. Tissot really pulled a nasty trick on people with that one.
I don’t know if it was a trick.i love the homage on the Rolex Oyeserquartz design.The bracelet and shape for me is more desirable than the Tudor.
I feel for the extra cost of the little gold they offer,they could’ve made the bracelet 2 tone down the middle and every second link to reduce costs.that would’ve been fairer.Its tough to sell this watch even at 50% below retail.
I don’t know if it was a trick.i love the homage on the Rolex Oyeserquartz design.The bracelet and shape for me is more desirable than the Tudor.
I feel for the extra cost of the little gold they offer,they could’ve made the bracelet 2 tone down the middle and every second link to reduce costs.that would’ve been fairer.Its tough to sell this watch even at 50% below retail.
I've noticed a lot of them on eBay recently at half price. There's a lot of buyer's remorse in the world over those now. Not as much as there'll be with the new Casiotron reimagining, but people buy what they want to buy.
Looks good to me, and changing a strap is easy for some, not for me, I am cack handed !
What’s the measurement on the strap where it meets the case? Am hunting third party options for a Tsuyosa, and its integrated nature is frustrating.
What’s the measurement on the strap where it meets the case? Am hunting third party options for a Tsuyosa, and its integrated nature is frustrating.
12mm for the small part where the springbars are and 26mm for the wider "shoulder" part. I think that's a standard for all the PRX style straps which are currently available.
Since the one I have is meant for a real Tissot PRX but it fits a cheap Skmei perfectly too, I assume they all use the same measurements, but I might be wrong.
12mm for the small part where the springbars are and 26mm for the wider "shoulder" part. I think that's a standard for all the PRX style straps which are currently available.
Since the one I have is meant for a real Tissot PRX but it fits a cheap Skmei perfectly too, I assume they all use the same measurements, but I might be wrong.
When I measured the Tsuyosa it came in at 9mm. Think I am going to have to get a strap designed for PRX and then trim it down in a really annoying fashion, aren’t I?
In fact, I think the Tsuyosa is also 22mm at the case edge… sigh.
Thanks. 🙂
When I measured the Tsuyosa it came in at 9mm. Think I am going to have to get a strap designed for PRX and then trim it down in a really annoying fashion, aren’t I?
In fact, I think the Tsuyosa is also 22mm at the case edge… sigh.
Thanks. 🙂
You could check out some of the Timex and Casio straps because there have been watches with those dimensions before especially the 9mm centre which is pretty much the standard link on Oyster bracelets. The longer shoulders seems peculiar to Casio and Timex designs too.
I found one on Amazon called "GOZAR Gold And Rose Gold Silical Gel Watch Band Watch Strap Compatible with Bvlgari Watch" with 9mm and 22mm but it's a horrible looking thing:
You could check out some of the Timex and Casio straps because there have been watches with those dimensions before especially the 9mm centre which is pretty much the standard link on Oyster bracelets. The longer shoulders seems peculiar to Casio and Timex designs too.
I found one on Amazon called "GOZAR Gold And Rose Gold Silical Gel Watch Band Watch Strap Compatible with Bvlgari Watch" with 9mm and 22mm but it's a horrible looking thing:
Those are quite handy, thanks. :)
Those are quite handy, thanks. :)
Have now killed two watch straps (a cheap one and a not so cheap one) trying to make one myself. Gah. Citizen need to release NATO adapters.