Beginner's Guide: How to Plan Your First Seiko Mod Project

There's something special about wearing a watch you've customized yourself. Sure, wearing a stock Seiko is great, but having a one-of-a-kind piece that you've personally modified? That's something you can show off to your friends and really be proud of. 

If you're a watch enthusiast who’s developing an interest in the world of Seiko modding, you've probably spent hours scrolling through a lot of Instagram photos of gorgeous watch mods. While these custom timepieces might look intimidating, getting started isn't as scary as you might think. All it takes is  proper planning! 

In this guide, we'll walk you through everything you need to consider before diving into your first Seiko mod project. We'll keep things beginner-friendly and focus on the essential groundwork that'll put you on the right track. Whether you're dreaming of a simple bezel swap or planning a complete transformation, or maybe even a full custom build from scratch, this guide will help you avoid common mistakes and make smart decisions before starting out.

Choosing Your Base Watch 

Source: @watchfan38 on IG

Let's start with the most basic of basics, which is picking the right watch to modify. The Seiko SKX007/009 was long considered the go-to choice for modding, but since it's discontinued, prices for a second hand unit may not be the most logical choice. These days, many modders start with the more affordable Seiko 5 Sports series (also known as the 5KX) which are the spiritual successor to the SKX. 

When choosing your base watch, you'll need to decide between buying new or used. While used watches can save you some cash, make sure you can verify the condition. A bargain isn't really a bargain if the movement's busted or the case is beat up for its age. Budget around $150-$300 for a new SRPD or NH35-based watch, or potentially less for a used piece. Just remember: the base watch is only part of your total budget!

Source: @blackpawstrap on IG

Another option is to get a fully modded watch from us - we have homage watches starting from $238 that are fully compatible with our hundreds of watch modding parts. These are ready to wear, but you can customize them whenever you want.

Understanding Compatibility and Parts Selection 

Here's where things can get a bit technical, but don't worry, we'll keep it simple for now to avoid an information dump. The most important thing to understand is that not all parts might fit with each other. Sizes may seem like a fit on paper, but may not be compatible when the actual parts are tried on together.  If you’re unsure if one of our parts will fit your watch, it’s best to send us an email and confirm.

Most modern Seiko mod parts are designed around a few common case sizes, with the SKX007/SRPD style being the most popular. When you're shopping for parts, you'll see terms like "SKX007/SRPD compatible"  which usually means the part is meant to fit the original SKX007 from Seiko, as well as aftermarket cases with SKX007-style measurements. 

In our store, we have a lot of these “hybrid SKX” cases (SKX size, but totally different look), but we also have custom designed cases that are only compatible with the parts that they are bundled with. An example is our BB58-inspired case - the bezel is slimmer than our other options and is tailor-made to match the sleek profile of the case. Another example is the Alpinist-inspired case which has an inner chapter ring that cannot be replaced with other chapter rings from our catalog.

Essential Tools and Equipment 

You don’t have to go Bergeon-branded on everything right at the start! We’re not against getting the cheaper tools when you’re just getting a feel for the hobby - for most of them, the economic choice gets the job done just as much as the professional-grade one. 

Some of the essential tools for your tool kit would be the bezel opener, caseback opener, hand remover and setting tools, and the movement holder. Some nice to haves would be a loupe (so you can see better during hand installation), blower (to remove dust from your dial), dial protector (to avoid scratches during hand removal/installation), and watch screwdrivers (if you want to resize bracelets or mod the movement rotor). If you’re not sure where to source all of these, you can take a look at our watchmaking tool kit which includes all of these, along with other extras.

If there’s one thing you should splurge on though, it would be the crystal press. The cheap ones on Amazon might be good for a couple uses, but they tend to break after a while which could also potentially damage the watch you’re working on.

You'll also want to set up a proper workspace. Find a clean, well-lit area with plenty of space and no carpets nearby (dropping tiny parts on carpet is a time waster). A parts organizer is super helpful for keeping track of small components, but be sure to keep the movement away from magnetic mats as these can affect accuracy. Pro tip: grab some rodico (watchmaker's putty) - it's amazing for handling delicate parts without leaving fingerprints. 

The Fun Part: Putting it All Together

You now have your base watch, your mod parts, and your tools. It’s finally time to work on the mod - you’re giddy with excitement! How much time is this going to take? If it’s just a simple insert swap, 30 minutes should be plenty. If you’re building a full watch with our watchmaking kit, you can expect to finish assembling it in around 1-2 hours.

You may encounter some issues while modding - this is normal and happens even to long time veterans! One of the most common points of frustration is seating the crystal into the case, which requires the crystal to be perfectly level for it to slot in. For your first try, you might pinch your gasket so it’s best to order some spares just in case! This is something you don’t have to worry about with our kit as the crystal is already pre-installed on the case.

Another challenging part of modding is installing the seconds hand. A loupe will hopefully make it a bit easier, but it all just boils down to patience and finesse. Make sure you’re carefully handling the hand to avoid scratching it as well as the dial. Instead of tweezers, plenty of modders usually hold the hand with rodico and push it in with the hand setting tool. Be gentle with this step, as the post on the seconds hand is quite fragile!

These two steps aside, everything else should be a walk in the park.

Remember to document everything with photos as you go. This helps you remember how things went together and gives you something to share with the modding community if you need advice. Plus, it's fun to look back at your progress later!

Wrap up

Your first mod doesn’t have to be overwhelming - with the right knowledge and preparation, you’ll be well on your way to a personalized watch that exactly matches your style! 

Remember that even experienced modders face challenges so don’t get discouraged if things don't go perfectly on your first try - that's all part of the learning process and dare we say half of the fun! If you hit a snag that’s keeping you from finishing the mod, you can visit the Seiko modding Subreddit or the Discord server for advice from the helpful community. You can also send us a message at support@namokimods.com and we’ll try our best to help you out. Do also check out our Seiko Modding 101 Guide for Beginners for more starter tips.

Happy modding!