This is what happens when somebody calls you while modding...

... and you have to take the call. I was actually supposed to work, but work was slow on a Friday, so why not assemble another watch, since parts just arrived today?

I felt a little playful, and went all blue. I had seen this dial and hands set combination before, but mostly in divers. I thought it might look good in a regular case. 

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It think it works, and seems to go okay with a CNS leather strap. I find myself more and more impatient when it comes to modding. The watch was completed within 30 minutes of the handset arriving,  I took a call while doing so, and the watch stem had to be trimmed, as it was a new case.

I think I really need to pace myself. Does anybody have any strategies for doing so? More expensive components? Re-working existing watches? I'm definitely open to suggestions. 

In any case, I will re-do two of my mods. They are okay, but I'm only 70% feeling it. We shall see ...

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Whoa is that a mother of pearl dial or a trick of the light?

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K.evin

Whoa is that a mother of pearl dial or a trick of the light?

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No, definitely not a trick of the light.

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I dig the case! What kind of movement did you fit in there?

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I had this issue too! I also was assembling a watch in the middle of a call and trimming a stem haha. The way I paced myself was by taking on more complex projects. I disassembled a manual movement for service, and that took a looong time. So long in fact I have not done it in a while. Good and bad since I'm not tinkering but also not producing watches like a factory.

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I change up personal builds fairly often.   I also look for deals on r/secondhandmods for random parts.   I think now I'm sitting on maybe 15 extra dials, 10 sets of hands, and a couple cases.  Also ordering custom dials can be surprisingly affordable and building that way can really stretch out the process.

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Maybe do an invicta 8926ob build where you grind down the case to remove the embossed logo?

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sohail

I dig the case! What kind of movement did you fit in there?

That is an NH35, pretty much the standard movement I use. (Mainly because of of parts availability.)

The case was an inexpensive Tandorio 36mm case.

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tonmed

I had this issue too! I also was assembling a watch in the middle of a call and trimming a stem haha. The way I paced myself was by taking on more complex projects. I disassembled a manual movement for service, and that took a looong time. So long in fact I have not done it in a while. Good and bad since I'm not tinkering but also not producing watches like a factory.

I haven't take a whole movement apart yet. Maybe that's what I should start with, just in order to slow things down a bit. I really need only two more types of lubricants, and I should be good to go, well, unless I would want to disassemble/reassemble the mainspring housing. 

Maybe I should start with a movement that actually needs servicing. 😉

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Fiatjeepdriver

I change up personal builds fairly often.   I also look for deals on r/secondhandmods for random parts.   I think now I'm sitting on maybe 15 extra dials, 10 sets of hands, and a couple cases.  Also ordering custom dials can be surprisingly affordable and building that way can really stretch out the process.

I have two watches earmarked for an upgrade at the moment. One dial is one the way, but I'm not 100% sure it will suffice, but I shall see. You're right, it will simply add to an assortment of dials, and I already have a few. (Unfortunately two of them with a logo when I didn't want one.) 

I have also not yet modded my Seikos, at least not the dial. It would feel a little sacrilegious. 

Where do you order your custom dials, if you don't mind me asking? 

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Fiatjeepdriver

Maybe do an invicta 8926ob build where you grind down the case to remove the embossed logo?

I modded an 9094 Pro Diver before, but left he logo intact. I thought it was kind of funny, as the watch now has snowflake hands. But yeah, I could grind it down if I wanted to, but I'm not sure I would put that effort into a case that really isn't all that special, if it wasn't for the lolz. 

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hbein2022

I have two watches earmarked for an upgrade at the moment. One dial is one the way, but I'm not 100% sure it will suffice, but I shall see. You're right, it will simply add to an assortment of dials, and I already have a few. (Unfortunately two of them with a logo when I didn't want one.) 

I have also not yet modded my Seikos, at least not the dial. It would feel a little sacrilegious. 

Where do you order your custom dials, if you don't mind me asking? 

No problem sharing at all.  Ideally I'd like to get my own fiber laser but $2,500+ is more than I want to spend right now.   I've experimented with paper dials though we only have a business Laserjet so they've been really simple. 

I've ordered from these people:

https://instagram.com/leszek_guilloche?igshid=YmMyMTA2M2Y=

https://instagram.com/red5watchworks?igshid=YmMyMTA2M2Y=

https://instagram.com/watchnoted?igshid=YmMyMTA2M2Y=

I plan on getting stuff from

https://instagram.com/sergeyshherban?igshid=YmMyMTA2M2Y=

https://instagram.com/seikonda_custom_india?igshid=YmMyMTA2M2Y=

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Fiatjeepdriver

No problem sharing at all.  Ideally I'd like to get my own fiber laser but $2,500+ is more than I want to spend right now.   I've experimented with paper dials though we only have a business Laserjet so they've been really simple. 

I've ordered from these people:

https://instagram.com/leszek_guilloche?igshid=YmMyMTA2M2Y=

https://instagram.com/red5watchworks?igshid=YmMyMTA2M2Y=

https://instagram.com/watchnoted?igshid=YmMyMTA2M2Y=

I plan on getting stuff from

https://instagram.com/sergeyshherban?igshid=YmMyMTA2M2Y=

https://instagram.com/seikonda_custom_india?igshid=YmMyMTA2M2Y=

Oh yes, very nice. A few of the dials I've seen before, but a lot of them are really unique. That would definitely be a step up from a design perspective. That gives me a lot to think about. It's much appreciated. 👍

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hbein2022

I haven't take a whole movement apart yet. Maybe that's what I should start with, just in order to slow things down a bit. I really need only two more types of lubricants, and I should be good to go, well, unless I would want to disassemble/reassemble the mainspring housing. 

Maybe I should start with a movement that actually needs servicing. 😉

You can find lots of cheap vintage watches on ebay and etsy. I went with Vostok because they have lots of parts availability (you have to steal from other movements sometimes).

Also get a magnifier of some sort if you dont have one already.

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tonmed

You can find lots of cheap vintage watches on ebay and etsy. I went with Vostok because they have lots of parts availability (you have to steal from other movements sometimes).

Also get a magnifier of some sort if you dont have one already.

Vostok may indeed be an option, but at the same time you can get an NH35 for $30, and they would be what I would have to work on, anyhow. I have loupes, but they are not that comfortable over longer periods of time, and I would probably get a stereoscope. 

It is definitely something to keep in mind.

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Fiatjeepdriver

No problem sharing at all.  Ideally I'd like to get my own fiber laser but $2,500+ is more than I want to spend right now.   I've experimented with paper dials though we only have a business Laserjet so they've been really simple. 

I've ordered from these people:

https://instagram.com/leszek_guilloche?igshid=YmMyMTA2M2Y=

https://instagram.com/red5watchworks?igshid=YmMyMTA2M2Y=

https://instagram.com/watchnoted?igshid=YmMyMTA2M2Y=

I plan on getting stuff from

https://instagram.com/sergeyshherban?igshid=YmMyMTA2M2Y=

https://instagram.com/seikonda_custom_india?igshid=YmMyMTA2M2Y=

The first should already be on its way ... this was definitely tempting.

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hbein2022

The first should already be on its way ... this was definitely tempting.

What did you order?

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Fiatjeepdriver

What did you order?

You will find out once all the parts are in. 😀

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Fiatjeepdriver

What did you order?

Oh, the dial arrived, packaged in something that resembles Origami. A very nice touch, indeed. Again, thanks for the tip.

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hbein2022

Oh, the dial arrived, packaged in something that resembles Origami. A very nice touch, indeed. Again, thanks for the tip.

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I got a few new dials in this week,  as well as a ti one coming soon. 

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Fiatjeepdriver

What did you order?

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I'm not sure if I will keep it in that case, but it surely is a different look. Thanks again for the inspiration.

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hbein2022
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I'm not sure if I will keep it in that case, but it surely is a different look. Thanks again for the inspiration.

I really considered that dial.   I had this one made for me but I think I want to paint it as I didn't like it in the case when I tried. 

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Fiatjeepdriver

I really considered that dial.   I had this one made for me but I think I want to paint it as I didn't like it in the case when I tried. 

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I like that dial, might look great in a retro-style diver. But yes, it's funny: You put the dial in a case, and suddenly it looks completely different.