Luckily, we have a foolproof method for installing adhesive backing to your bezel inserts and a video demonstrating how it all comes together. The whole process takes less than thirty seconds (when you're not narrating a video 😜. Video is below the instructions or visit our YouTube channel and subscribe for more tips like these.
No special tools are really required apart from a pair of sharp tweezers and a 38mm coin case. However, if you plan on cranking out more than one of these at a time, I highly recommend:
Use a hobby knife to remove the center of the pre-scored adhesive ring.
Assuming you're right handed, place the adhesive ring on the left side of a clean work surface. To the right, place the bottom of the 38mm coin case with the foam insert sitting inside.
With your left index finger, press hold down the smooth backing paper containing your adhesive ring. Using your right hand, take the curved tweezers and carefully slip one tine under the left edge of the ring, but just slightly. The the tip of the tweezers should be in the center of the adhesive ring (between inner and outer edge).
Gently lift the tweezers from left to right and suspend the ring in air. Gently lower the backed side of the ring (non-sticky side) on the outside left edge of the coin case. While slowly lowering the tweezers and dragging the them across the coin case, you'll drop the ring into the protective foam center. To release the tweezers from the adhesive, simply turn your wrist counter-clockwise so only the tiniest part of the tip is in contact. Lift up and there should be enough friction between the ring and the foam its sitting in to keep it in place.
Flatten the ring in the coin holder as best you can with the tips of your tweezers. It doesn't have to be perfect -- just as flat as practical and in as few jabs as possible.
Hold the bezel insert level above the coin holder. Gently lower the insert into the foam so that it remains centered. Push the insert down to make contact with the bottom of the coin holder and the adhesive ring is installed.
Practice this a half dozen times and you'll have it down to less than 30 seconds. Good luck and happy modding!
]]>How to mod a Seiko diver, why Seikos are great for modding, and how to get started. Complete with links to third-party resources and communities to get you modding in no time!
More recently, Seiko dive watches have inspired a new generation of watch enthusiasts to customize their Seiko divers with a seemingly endless and growing array of options available in the aftermarket.
The rise in Seiko modding is attributed to a couple of factors: the quality and design aesthetics of Seiko divers are a big selling point for starters. That, combined with low cost but high quality movements (sold by Seiko Instruments to the trade) and the advent of aftermarket parts suppliers servicing this demand, means that you can now pretty much build any watch you'd like based on an aftermarket Seiko case-and-movement combinations out there.
Watch modding or Seiko modding is short for “modifying”. It is the process of changing your watch’s aesthetics, and at times, mechanics, from the original factory design to your preferred one.
Watch modding is a relaxing, meditative hobby that provides a lot of room for growth and going deep.
There are a number of watches you can modify, most all of them are in the lower end of the market where mistakes while learning aren't so costly. But the 800 pound gorilla in watch modding is the Seiko SKX007 platform, followed closely by Seiko Turtles. The options available for these case types make Seiko a great choice of entrée into the world of watch modding.
Here’s why:
If you are new to the world of modding Seikos, then you might find getting started a bit overwhelming. However, don’t worry, the Seiko modding community is here to help you out and share advice.
To start with modding, you first have to decide the modification path that you want to take. This could be either of the two below:
As you would have gathered from the name, the complete modification of your Seiko watch would involve an entire (or nearly entire) overhaul. Sounds daunting. Rest assured it's well within your capabilities to do this!
Start with your chosen Seiko model — we recommend starting with an SKX007 mod starter kit like this one — and let your imagination take over. This gets you the basics in one kit:
From there, you've got the basics in hand and it's now time to style your watch to your specifications. You'll need to choose its bezel, bezel insert, chapter ring, dial, hands and more.
Want your Seiko diver to sport an Omega-style dial and a Rolex-style bezel insert? Go for it!
This option involves minor changes without switching multiple parts. Common mods include a crystal swap, or changing out the bezel and insert. These are relatively simple operations. A bezel swap can even be done without any specialty tools, but tread lightly otherwise you risk scratching up your case trying to pry the bezel off.
Even though these modifications are subtle, they have a massive impact on the overall look of the watch. We even keep a few bezel-and-insert combos on hand to swap with our daily wearers to refresh the look of a base dial-and-hands combo we like. Keeps things fresh and won't break the bank!
Seiko Modding is a slightly technical process, and thus, requires certain tools for support. As you can imagine, the range in both price and quality of tools is quite large, as you might imagine. You can start with cheap kits from China (available all over eBay and Amazon) and use those for your first few mods. But if you really get the bug, you'll want to upgrade some strategic parts of your toolkit to Swiss or higher-end tools that can speed up your work and ensure fewer errors, hassles, and scratches compared to their cheap counterparts.
Watch Modding Tool Kit Essentials:
The good news is you can get a more-than-serviceable watch tool kit for under $80 that will last you through a good portion of your learning curve. I've got recommendations for "strategic upgrades" in the toolkit that will GREATLY enhance your watch modding experience and I'll post more on tools and recommendations in an upcoming post.
The best way to learn how to mod a watch is to check out resources on YouTube, like tutorials and videos from Eric at LumeShot. I also recommend lurking around watch modding communities like r/seikomods on Reddit; they're a little more forgiving when you're starting out than more hardcore horological communities.
Either way, you'll open up a world of possibilities with members of the modding community who are generally happy to share their passion for modding, impart modding wisdom, and share how they've successfully solved challenges others are likely facing.
Let's walk through the basics of modding a Seiko, so you can identify the steps when watching modding videos on YouTube to learn the craft. Remember, these are just basic steps for hand, crystal, and dial replacement, and might require further additions based on your modding plans.
I've found that the Seiko modding community offers an easy "on ramp" with a lot of support. You can also go very deep with the skills you build as you modify more and more watches. Once you get Seiko mods down, you'll open up endless possibilities that can lead you into creating watches with Swiss movements, cases, dials and more -- the possibilities are truly endless, making this one hobby you'd be had pressed to out grow.
If you have a specific Seiko watch design on your mind but aren’t keen on modding it on your own, we recommend reaching out to a modder whose work you like (we offer modding services, custom builds, parts and more at NXTSKO). The modder might already have one similar to your taste in his or her collection, or will modify your watch as per your requirement. The majority of them have years of experience, and thus, won’t disappoint you!
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