Seiko: Even the ugliest of watches have potential with a few mods...

[ThinkBachs]

Reprint from WuS

Jack did a phenomenal job!


It started out as a stock, SKX171. First thing I did was buy a bracelet from chronograph.com. I didn't like the clasp on the president, so I bought a Seiko 2 hole, double locking clasp from Yobokies. I also got an extra little piece that I needed to attach the clasp to the bracelet. I bought the hands and the aluminum chapter ring from Yobokies as well as the clasp. I then bought a domed Sapphire from MKII. After I had all my parts, I swapped out the bracelet and clasp myself, and then packed the rest of it up and sent it to IWW to get the real work done.

Jack swapped out the bezel for a black EXP bezel that still rotates, which is pretty awesome and fun to play with. He painted the hands with a beautiful combination of glossy red and flat black, which really makes them "pop". He installed the Sapphire and chapter ring. To top it all off, The case and bracelet were Aluminum Oxide blasted. This is by far the coolest/weirdest finish I have ever seen on a watch. I love it, but i can see how it might not be for everybody.


oh yeah, I guess some of you might want to see pictures...


What I started with.

All the parts.

New bracelet and clasp installed.

And how it looks today.

Here is a color comparison between the AlOx blasted bracelet and my Ti Samurai.

I just want to say thank you again to Jack at IWW, and all the other people who made this little project of mine so easy. Thank you!

Just goes to show how even the ugliest of watches IMHO can be turned into something beautiful with a little work...

 

[joegrimm]

the aluminum oxide blasted finish looks pretty cool. I wonder if a different color can be applied using this method?

 

[Q5?]

I like it. I told a guy who was wearing a Seiko diver about MKII.
He thanked me a few months later

 

[trandy16]

One word for that watch: Badass.

I really like it.

 

[boostin20]

Looks 10x better bead blasted. Maybe I should do that to my orange monster!


Whenever you're ready to part with that, let me know.

 

[RobbDizzle]

I don't think it looked all that bad to begin with, and the bead blasting makes it look even better.

Sent from my HTC Glacier using Tapatalk

 

[trandy16]

Whenever you're ready to part with that, let me know.

Ditto on my end too.

I've been staring at the pics for the last few minutes....and that is a very nice looking watch.

 

[levelmanroger]

THat's a watch model I already like, but he took it to a whole new level of awesome! He should send pics to Seiko and ask for royalties when they produce and sell a load of them.

 

[Aza]

Love the finish on that!
Keep wanting to send my Seiko Monster to these modders:
http://motorcitywatchworks.com/index.html

 

[RobbDizzle]

Love the finish on that!
Keep wanting to send my Seiko Monster to these modders:
http://motorcitywatchworks.com/index.html

Don't show me that!!!! It's going to rekindle my Seiko obsession and divert funds from my rep budget

 

[smascarinas]

Ha.... you had a Seiko obsession too?

Don't show me that!!!! It's going to rekindle my Seiko obsession and divert funds from my rep budget

 

[RobbDizzle]

still do...just in remission

 

[Wiz]

:jaw:

OMFG THIS LOOKS FREAKING AWESOME !!!!

This is one of the most good looking customs Seiko project I've seen in a while. Wear it well mate, I would love to be able to design such an awesome custom project.

 

[ThinkBachs]

It doesn't take much guys! Start here 10watches.com >>>>

Pick out your parts, make sure they will work with your selected watch, and send it out to be put together.

Some more sources:

CUSTOM SEIKO PARTS

10Watches http://www.10watches.com/apps/webstore/
Yobokies - Harold Ng – [email protected] Some stuff to look at: http://www.thewatchsite.com/index.php?topic=1820.0
Noah Fuller – [email protected] - http://www.10watches.com/
Swedefreak – Jonathan - [email protected]
Bill Yao (MKII) - [email protected] - http://www.mkiiwatches.com/
Seiko/Citizen - Chronograph.com - http://www.chronograph.com/store/index.asp

WATCH PARTS HOUSES

Cas-Ker Co. - http://www.casker.com/horological-parts-tools.htm
Jules Borel & Co. - http://www.julesborel.com/enter.htm
Ofrei - http://www.ofrei.com/
Cousins Material House - http://www.cousinsuk.com/
Livesays - http://www.livesaysinc.com/contactUs
Chronograph.com - http://www.chronograph.com/store/index.asp

Other Sources

Yukiwatch http://www.yukiwatch.com/index
Helenarou Homage Watch http://www.helenarou.com/index
ND Trading http://ndtradingcorp.com/zen/
Watch Tool https://www.watchtool.co.uk/
WatchPart http://watchpart.co.uk/
Gatat Watch Co. http://www.siswatch727.com/index.do
Watch Material http://www.watchmaterial.com/
MotorCity WatchWorks http://www.motorcitywatchworks.com/index
2Geek http://www.2geek.net/eMart/index.php?c=21
Rodico The Original Green Putty Cleaner Watch Repair Tool http://www.esslinger.com/rodicotheoriginalgreenputtycleanersoldperea.aspx

Straps

k-straps http://k-straps.com/index.php
Time Factors http://www.timefactors.com/
Tungchoy http://www.tungchoywatch.com/
Chronograph http://chronograph.com/store/searchproduct_l.asp?listno=15
Strap Code http://www.strapcode.com/store/index.php?osCsid=ipjnp35uau3dji01sja8n4g563
Exotic Watch Bands http://www.exoticwatchbands.com/
Stone Creek Straps http://www.stonecreekstraps.com/page13.php
Watch Obsession http://www.watchobsession.co.uk/index.php?route=common/home
AltStraps http://www.altstraps.com/
WatchStyle http://www.watchstyle.co.uk/assets/own/safedataframe?fsrc=http://www.watchstyle.co.uk/
Freda Watch Straps http://www.fredawatchstraps.com/index
Broad Arrow http://www.broadarrow.net/maratac.htm
Watchband Center http://www.watch-band-center.com/shop-watchstrap
Gnomon Watches http://www.gnomonwatches.com/index.asp

Services

Industrial Watch Works http://www.industrialwatchworks.com/
MotorCity WatchWorks http://www.motorcitywatchworks.com/index
2Geek http://www.2geek.net/eMart/index.php?c=21

Lume

NoctiLumina http://www.noctilumina.com/
B@rt's Tritium http://www.cpfmarketplace.com/mp/showthread.php?242634-B-rt-s-Tritium-Thread-Part-Deux&
Luminova http://www.ofrei.com/page972#18907
UltraGlow http://unitednuclear.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=28_45&products_id=384
Glow Inc http://glowinc.com/glowinc.com/

Forum Recommended Modders

Our rep friendly folks http://forum.replica-watch.info/vb/forumdisplay.php/watchmakers-and-horologists-204

 

[smascarinas]

wow... good info

It doesn't take much guys! Start here 10watches.com >>>>

Pick out your parts, make sure they will work with your selected watch, and send it out to be put together.

Some more sources:

CUSTOM SEIKO PARTS

Yobokies - Harold Ng – [email protected] Some stuff to look at: http://www.thewatchsite.com/index.php?topic=1820.0
Noah Fuller – [email protected] - http://www.10watches.com/
Swedefreak – Jonathan - [email protected]
Bill Yao (MKII) - [email protected] - http://www.mkiiwatches.com/
Seiko/Citizen - Chronograph.com - http://www.chronograph.com/store/index.asp

WATCH PARTS HOUSES

Cas-Ker Co. - http://www.casker.com/horological-parts-tools.htm
Jules Borel & Co. - http://www.julesborel.com/enter.htm
Ofrei - http://www.ofrei.com/
Cousins Material House - http://www.cousinsuk.com/
Livesays - http://www.livesaysinc.com/contactUs
Chronograph.com - http://www.chronograph.com/store/index.asp

 

[ThinkBachs]

The list above is most of the sources I've collected, if you have some that I forgot, let me know and I'll add it to the master list.

wow... good info

I added lots more since this post!

 

[boostin20]

Great list!

 

[RobbDizzle]

CUSTOM SEIKO PARTS

10Watches http://www.10watches.com/apps/webstore/
Yobokies - Harold Ng – [email protected] Some stuff to look at: http://www.thewatchsite.com/index.php?topic=1820.0
Noah Fuller – [email protected] - http://www.10watches.com/
Swedefreak – Jonathan - [email protected]
Bill Yao (MKII) - [email protected] - http://www.mkiiwatches.com/
Seiko/Citizen - Chronograph.com - http://www.chronograph.com/store/index.asp

I havent been on those sites in months...thought I was clean...now I'm browsing them again and remembering all the Seikos I want to build! This is bad, I've got a 177 that I need to rehab first...


Sent from my HTC Glacier using Tapatalk

 

[desfacil]

My Monster is in Jay's hands waiting for a Cerakote coating and other stuff. Looking forward to have it back!

 

[ThinkBachs]

My Monster is in Jay's hands waiting for a Cerakote coating and other stuff. Looking forward to have it back!

Make sure to add some photos- here! Can't wait to see what you get.