Fresh off the Bench: My first StealthYacht-Master
I've assembled a lot of Seiko Mods, but this is my first blacked out model. There is lume on the hour markers and the Mercedes-style hands, but I have yet to test that out fully. I like to blast the face (the watch's face, not my own) with light just before turning out the lights for bed and when I wake up, I'm hoping that I can read what time it is. I call that the nightstand test. The second hand is just about invisible in this pic, but it is a blacked out lightning bolt with a red tip. So far, in the light, I've had no issues reading the time, but I know the whole dial will disappear in low light. I'm not sure I'll really bond with this thing, but I know a lot of Seiko lovers enjoy the stealth look so I had to assemble one. I'll be evaluating the performance of the NH36 that I regulated down to .1ms of beat error and +5 secs per day by running it 24/7 for a week to 10 days. I'll see if I enjoy the overall experience of owning a StealthYacht-Master or if it's heading to eBay in a couple weeks. No matter what, I love the process.
I'm a recovering Sci-Fi author who took up Seiko modding just last year, and now I have a new addiction.
It's very satisfying. I've built more than 40, sold most of them (begrudgingly, but I can't keep them all), and the worst part is waiting for the pieces to arrive in the mail.
Where do you source your parts?
Where do you source your parts?
I get most from eBay or Aliexpress. I've also bought dials from Watchmodz, Crystaltimes, and Long Island Watch Company. You have to be observant when you're looking at vendors from overseas. They don't always state everything accurately, so I find myself scrutinizing pics closely and asking questions.