Watches and Wonders 2024: namoki Recap Part 1 (Grand Seiko, Tudor, Rolex)
Watches and Wonders 2024 has just concluded, with a dizzying amount of new releases from top horology brands that is sure to delight all manner of watch enthusiasts. It was a full week of new dive watches, watch-jewelry hybrids, chronographs, and more, and it’s quite easy to get drowned in the flood of information. No worries though, as the namokiTEAM is here to help you navigate the news.
In this article, we bring you the most exciting new launches from Rolex, Tudor, Grand Seiko, and more so you can get your quick fix for watch updates. With the sheer number of awesome timepiece debuts, and even if we’re just sticking with the best of the best, we’ve had to split this coverage into multiple articles so be sure to keep an eye for more articles releasing this week.
Without further ado, let’s get to the Watches and Wonders 2024 Recap.
Grand Seiko Evolution 9 Manual Wind Watch
Source: Grand Seiko Asia Pacific
As a Seiko mod parts supplier, we feel obliged to start the list with a spotlight on the illustrious Grand Seiko, who has released possibly the most precise GS watch yet in WnW 2024. Seiko’s luxury sister brand is well-known for their tech-advanced movements and beautifully finished watches, but the just released SLGW003 (Short for Grand Seiko Evolution 9 Collection Manual-winding Mechanical Hi-Beat 36000 80 Hours SLGW003) is a milestone watch that comes with the first new high-beat movement in 5 decades.
Yup, 50 full years.
The Caliber 9SA4 is only the third movement in the 9S mechanical movement lineup, offering 36,000 vph resulting in a buttery smooth hands sweep, coupled with over three days of power reserve. It is also a manually wound movement to allow the wearer to be more involved with the watch functionality. Unlike the automatic watch that is mostly set-and-forget, the SLGW003 needs your touch to continue living. Isn’t that poetic?
This mechanical marvel is housed in a 38.6mm Brilliant Hard Titanium Case with a mix of high polished and brushed finishes, matching the look of its “White Birch” patterned dial. A crocodile leather strap finishes the ensemble. This timepiece is now available for $10,700 as of this writing.
Modding Inspiration
You can definitely call a Seiko mod going after the Grand Seiko SLGW003 look ambitious, but it’s not impossible. With the right part combinations, you can still make an homage that evokes the look of this luxury piece.
The most similar-looking case from our catalog would be our NMK940 GS Dress Watch Case, measuring just 37.3mm and featuring an elegant, vintage-inspired design. While it uses a top hat crystal and a slightly chunkier crown, the balanced look of the case and the included leather strap gives it a classy vibe that goes after the Evolution 9 series watch.
For the dial, our suggestion would be the GS Wave Snow dial. While the SLGW003 dial was inspired by the white birch tree forests near the Grand Seiko studio in Japan, we think our dial has a similar captivating look inspired by the winter waves. You can round off the mod with Dauphine style hands and you’re golden!
Tudor Black Bay 58 18K Yellow Gold Dive Watch
Source: Time and Tide Watches
A surprise debut at Watches & Wonders 2024 was Tudor's first ever solid 18k gold dive watch with an open caseback - the Black Bay 58 18k. Unlike Tudor's steel and gold models with gold-wrapped center links, this timepiece is crafted entirely from solid 18k gold for the case, bracelet, bezel, and crown. An all-gold watch may seem too dazzling for the average modfam, but leave it to the Swiss watchmakers to make it look classy as ever.
Despite its precious metal construction, the brushed and blasted matte finishing lends the watch an unexpectedly understated look. Even details like the gold hands and hour markers don't scream luxury. Adding to the low-key aesthetic is the option for a fabric strap instead of the gold bracelet, although you’re already rocking a gold watch - why try to dial it down?
The "golden green" aluminum bezel insert and dial tie the military-inspired color scheme together. Powered by the in-house MT5400 movement with 70 hours of power reserve, the watch is a COSC-certified chronometer with the movement visible through a sapphire caseback. Pricing starts at $18,000 on an alligator leather strap or $32,100 on the solid gold bracelet. We think there’s not too many people who will actually go diving with this golden dive watch, but if you do, it’ll at least be easy to spot under the sea if it accidentally dislodged from your wrist. Silver lining?
Modding Inspiration
A Seiko mod inspired by the 18K Tudor BB58 can be achieved with our gold variant of the NMK939 Fifty Eight Case. Note that this is just gold-plated and not actual gold though, or else we’d have to charge an arm and a leg. The sheen of this modding case is a bit flashier compared to the more subdued look on the golden Tudor watch, but aside from that, we think it captures the look really well.
You can get this case together with a matching Oyster bracelet (which by the way is custom-sized for this case, no other steel bracelets are compatible), or if you want it with a fabric strap, you can get just the case and also order a Black Pilot Leather Strap.
Anticipate that the green dial and insert combination will be a bit harder to source parts for, as most BB58-inspired dials are either available in navy blue or black, the latter probably being the more popular combo with a gold case. If you still want to go after the gold and green look of the new Tudor release, you can check out our Oak Sunburst Dial in Forest Green, and match it with one of our 11 green bezel insert variants.
2024 Rolex Oyster Perpetual Deepsea 18kt Gold
Source: Rolex
While Watches and Wonders is the place to unveil new and unique ideas, it seems like two brands got the same concept of creating a fully golden dive watch. It’s not just Tudor with this kind of offering; in a first for the ultra-tough dive watch line, Rolex unveiled an 18k yellow gold version of the Oyster Perpetual Deepsea. Tipping the scales at a hefty 320 grams, the solid gold case measures 44mm and is water-resistant to an incredible 3,900 meters.
The blue “Cerachrom” bezel insert with ceramic 60-minute graduations complements the blue lacquered dial with "DEEPSEA" printed in yellow. This patented material is made of virtually scratchproof ceramic that is corrosion-proof and unaffected by ultraviolet rays, making sure it will remain as vibrant many years later as it has out of the box.
Powered by the in-house caliber 3235 with a date display, the movement is a Superlative Chronometer certified by Rolex after casing for exceptional -2/+2 seconds per day accuracy on the wrist. The watch is packed to the lugs with other professional dive watch details including generous Chromalight lume, a helium escape valve, and the robust Oyster bracelet with a Glidelock clasp.
Modding Inspiration
The Rolex Deepsea is basically a Submariner on Steroids,so if you were inspired by the new 18kt gold dive watch from this Swiss powerhouse, you’ll be able to pull it off relatively easily compared to the other watches in this list. The “SeikoSub” is after all, the most popular homage watch.
Check out our gold-finished NMK941 Case, which by the way, is designed to work great with the NH34 in case you want to upgrade your mod to a GMT. You can pair this with a Fifty Eight Navy dial which looks very close to the Divemaster. For the insert, you can’t go wrong with the Sub style Blue/White, but note that the markers will be different from the Deepsea Sea Dweller style insert. And of course, it wouldn’t be a Rolex-inspired mod without the Mercedes hands.
Finish off your mod with a stylish gold brushed Oyster bracelet for that classy look and voila, homage complete!
Wrap Up
These are just three of the most attention-catching releases from this year’s Watches and Wonders, but there are still more watches out there that you simply have to know about. Stay tuned for more of this recap series, and we hope that our picks so far got the creative juices flowing!
While you’re here and ideating for your next mod, be sure to check out our catalog of over a thousand premium quality watch mod parts that are trusted by professional modders around the world. From homage parts to unique new designs, we have a lot to offer Seiko modders.
Happy modding!