Where to buy an SKX007 Crown for Modding Seiko Watches?

SKX007 crowns are one of the easiest parts of a Seiko to change or upgrade. It is present in watches with mechanical movements as you use a crown to wind the watch or set the time. There's not really a lot of reasons for changing the crown, it's not a very high maintenance part, even if you have to use it to wind the watch movement. Most of the time, replacing it is done for the looks.

A crown is not one of the first parts you'll look at when viewing a watch. In fact, how it looks may not come to your attention unless you take a closer look. That said, this has not stopped some watchmakers from detailing their crowns.

Take for example the IWC Pilot crown. Breaking away from the stereotypical barrel shape, they've made it look like a ridged diamond when viewed from the side. A small change that made it look much more elegant. The shape also makes it easy to grip and pull on the crown to adjust the time. As is common with pilot watches, designs cannot just be for the looks - it has to have a function as well.

Another crown design that is not so subtle is Panerai's locking crown. It has one of the, if not the biggest crown guards in the world of horology, and quite divisive in the community. Others see it as a genius design choice that makes the Panerai look quite unique, while others perceive it more as a pain as the guard allows for shorter turns on the crown. No matter which side you're on though, there is no denying that it has made the watch only as popular as its trademarked, locked crown.

Another notable crown between these two is Cartier's jewel crown found on the Ballon Bleu. As if the crown is the centerpiece of the watch - it 'dents' the dial at the 3 o'clock marker and the crown guard is like Panerai's locking guard except the one on Cartier does not unlock. Very interesting to say the least.

Taking it back to Seiko watches, the SKX007 has a very 'classic' crown. It's not very special in any way, but that is an advantage in itself. It's simple to pull out and pull back in too. The first time you use it on your Seiko, you'll know exactly how to use it. There's no real learning curve as you would find on the Panerai or IWC. In this regard, Seiko made a very user friendly crown - as it should be for a watch as basic as the SKX007.

The fact that the crown is very user friendly does not mean however that it's not worth upgrading. For aftermarket watch modding parts, a crown can be changed if you are looking for a different color, or a different side pattern. Here at namokiMODS, we have a polished crown that has the same ridges as an OEM Seiko one has. It also comes in black or gold, or silver but with a red S logo. If you are going for a minimalist look, a sterile version could be for you.

A popular pattern is the knurled crown with patterns that look like diamond scales. This pattern actually makes it even easier to grip the crown, and is the perfect matchup if you are also using a knurled bezel.

For inquiries or concerns, please feel free to reach out to us at support@namokimods.com.

Happy modding!