From an SKX009 to a....
Discussion
...rather tasty mod!
Rather than clog up "Incoming" with a whole load of photos I thought I'd give this it's own thread which I've C&P'd from my thread running on TZ. It's taken a while to finish off, but I think it's been worth it. Enjoy
Ok, here goes My apologies for the inconsistancy of the photos, some are from my SLR and some my 'phone! Got a macro ring stuck on my SLR lens and my GF nicked the compact for something "more important" :lol:
Firstly, I have to say that the cerakote finish is outstanding, it really has been applied so accurately and evenly that you'd think Seiko did it themselves. Even the knurled crown, which was originally DLC'd, has come up so well that you'd think that the crown material itself was black. I haven't tested it's durability (and, TBH, I'm not intending on doing so :lol: ) but it looks tough enough and after some careful strap changes there's not the slightest sign of marking.
The quality of workmanship also shows in the second hand, this was originally white but I'd asked for the hand to be blackened meaning that the lume had to be re-applied. The lume is perfectly rectangular and the hand, like the case, bezel and crown, has been exceptionally well blackened. This has had the rather cool effect of the lume 'floating' around the dial such is the invisibility of the hand under certain light conditions and it contrasts well with the plongeur hands as it passes over them.
The lumed bezel pip is top dead centre, the domed crystal has been perfectly pressed into place and is flawless, there's not a hint of lint, fluff, fingerprints or dust, the hands line up perfectly, the crown winds in/out as it should - basically Jay at MCWW has done the job so well that you'd think that it was all completely O.E.E. :salute:
On a purely subjective note, I think that the orange ring works fantastically! It's sutble in low light and also really caught the bright sunlight we've had today. I'm actually quite surprised as to how well the the whole watch has cosmetically come together, in the minds eye I thought it'd all work but it's still a great relief to see it on the wrist looking as great as it does. I'm glad that I took as long as I did to decide on the spec, and although it took quite long time to come to fruition now it’s here the delays have all been forgotten.
I’ve tried the watch on three different straps and I’ve also got an orange stitched black sailcloth strap on the way. The copper kevlar strap is a perfect match for the orange ring but looks a bit gaudy on the wrist, the Extreme is lives up to it’s name but it’s the Toshi that does it for me, the matt black leather and the orange stitching match the case and hands really well.
All in all I’ve been impressed by the way that the whole watch has turned out. The spec was spot on and Jay’s work was worth the wait, and I’d do it all again should funds allow and there wasn’t another 100 or so watches out there I’d like to try at some point
Rather than clog up "Incoming" with a whole load of photos I thought I'd give this it's own thread which I've C&P'd from my thread running on TZ. It's taken a while to finish off, but I think it's been worth it. Enjoy
Ok, here goes
My apologies for the inconsistancy of the photos, some are from my SLR and some my 'phone! Got a macro ring stuck on my SLR lens and my GF nicked the compact for something "more important" :lol: Firstly, I have to say that the cerakote finish is outstanding, it really has been applied so accurately and evenly that you'd think Seiko did it themselves. Even the knurled crown, which was originally DLC'd, has come up so well that you'd think that the crown material itself was black. I haven't tested it's durability (and, TBH, I'm not intending on doing so :lol: ) but it looks tough enough and after some careful strap changes there's not the slightest sign of marking.
The quality of workmanship also shows in the second hand, this was originally white but I'd asked for the hand to be blackened meaning that the lume had to be re-applied. The lume is perfectly rectangular and the hand, like the case, bezel and crown, has been exceptionally well blackened. This has had the rather cool effect of the lume 'floating' around the dial such is the invisibility of the hand under certain light conditions and it contrasts well with the plongeur hands as it passes over them.
The lumed bezel pip is top dead centre, the domed crystal has been perfectly pressed into place and is flawless, there's not a hint of lint, fluff, fingerprints or dust, the hands line up perfectly, the crown winds in/out as it should - basically Jay at MCWW has done the job so well that you'd think that it was all completely O.E.E. :salute:
On a purely subjective note, I think that the orange ring works fantastically! It's sutble in low light and also really caught the bright sunlight we've had today. I'm actually quite surprised as to how well the the whole watch has cosmetically come together, in the minds eye I thought it'd all work but it's still a great relief to see it on the wrist looking as great as it does. I'm glad that I took as long as I did to decide on the spec, and although it took quite long time to come to fruition now it’s here the delays have all been forgotten.
I’ve tried the watch on three different straps and I’ve also got an orange stitched black sailcloth strap on the way. The copper kevlar strap is a perfect match for the orange ring but looks a bit gaudy on the wrist, the Extreme is lives up to it’s name but it’s the Toshi that does it for me, the matt black leather and the orange stitching match the case and hands really well.
All in all I’ve been impressed by the way that the whole watch has turned out. The spec was spot on and Jay’s work was worth the wait, and I’d do it all again should funds allow and there wasn’t another 100 or so watches out there I’d like to try at some point
Edited by CardShark on Thursday 15th September 20:30
Edited by CardShark on Thursday 15th September 20:40
Excellent, and great write up - I know what you mean about the floating seconds, it's a great effect isn't it. I thought you were being a bit brave with the dial spacer if you don't mind me saying so, but it actually works very well in practise and makes the watch quite individual.
After having spent so much attention to detail to a watch (even down to the dial spacer!) does it make you look at manufactured watches differently at all - i.e. did you get a taste for certain aspects that you now find you have a preference for? Some people don't like black dials with black on white date wheels for example, others see differences in hand sets as being important - are there things you would look for in a manufactured watch in particular? Finally, is this your 'perfect' watch or did you have to compromise on anything?
Sorry.
-ish.
Very similar dial - and floating hands:
After having spent so much attention to detail to a watch (even down to the dial spacer!) does it make you look at manufactured watches differently at all - i.e. did you get a taste for certain aspects that you now find you have a preference for? Some people don't like black dials with black on white date wheels for example, others see differences in hand sets as being important - are there things you would look for in a manufactured watch in particular? Finally, is this your 'perfect' watch or did you have to compromise on anything?
Sorry.
-ish.Very similar dial - and floating hands:
Edited by andy_s on Thursday 15th September 21:15
NeMiSiS said:
Fantastic, I like the orange haze on the domed crystal.
I personally would put it on a black flattened link mesh. ( Ploprof style )
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/22mm-Retro-Ploprof-Flatt...
Are you going to divulge the time away and price of the mods, don't worry if you don't, I'm just nosey.
I gave a quick summary a few pages back on "Incoming", it wasn't cheap by any means but the costs were spread over a few months so it was relatively easy to manage. The watch was away for about three months total which was a couple of weeks or so longer than quoted, MCWW came with a good rep though and Jay was very helpful with my initial enquiries so I thought I'd give them a go. A full write up of the build can be found here - http://www.tz-uk.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=24&...I personally would put it on a black flattened link mesh. ( Ploprof style )
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/22mm-Retro-Ploprof-Flatt...
Are you going to divulge the time away and price of the mods, don't worry if you don't, I'm just nosey.
andy_s said:
Excellent, and great write up - I know what you mean about the floating seconds, it's a great effect isn't it. I thought you were being a bit brave with the dial spacer if you don't mind me saying so, but it actually works very well in practise and makes the watch quite individual.
After having spent so much attention to detail to a watch (even down to the dial spacer!) does it make you look at manufactured watches differently at all - i.e. did you get a taste for certain aspects that you now find you have a preference for? Some people don't like black dials with black on white date wheels for example, others see differences in hand sets as being important - are there things you would look for in a manufactured watch in particular? Finally, is this your 'perfect' watch or did you have to compromise on anything?
Sorry. -ish.
Very similar dial - and floating hands:
Cheers!After having spent so much attention to detail to a watch (even down to the dial spacer!) does it make you look at manufactured watches differently at all - i.e. did you get a taste for certain aspects that you now find you have a preference for? Some people don't like black dials with black on white date wheels for example, others see differences in hand sets as being important - are there things you would look for in a manufactured watch in particular? Finally, is this your 'perfect' watch or did you have to compromise on anything?
Sorry.
-ish.Very similar dial - and floating hands:
Edited by andy_s on Thursday 15th September 21:15
The orange ring was actually one of the first things I decided on when I first saw it, the rest of the watch was built around that though I know what you mean about being brave! Even though it was an early decision I knew that it was still a bit risky
Yes it was a detail, but I'd say that the most "detailed" I got was the choice of hands. Notice in the 5th picture down you can see that both the minute and hour hands both have tails? All bar one supplier had plongeur hand sets with the tail missing from the hour hand... I guess that I do look at the physical aspects of watches a little differently now, with this mod *everything* that can be seen and touched was changed and I think I got a feel for what does and doesn't work together, in my mind anyway. I've always been drawn towards a clearly legible face and hand combination and things like tachy scales and suchlike can look too fussy though I don't always follow my own rules hence such purchases like my Sea-Gull. The use of colour comes into it and the reasons for colours being used eg orange for diver's hands (being the most visable colour underwater and therefore chosen for safety reasons) and yellow and black stripes on a small hoop on the end of a minute hand (I think) of a Bremont that represented the hand pull on an ejector seat in a warplane (in fact, I think that particular watch was given to any pilot that had been unfortunate/fortunate enough to have actually needed to use one). I like relevant detail but not all, the 007 you sometimes see on the hands of SMPs is naff, IMO.
The colour of the day/date wheel did come into the equation, I'd rather a white on black set up with a black face, the 009 has a black on white set up. I could have got a 7s26 movement with a white on black wheels but I decided that I actually preferred the look of a symmetrical face for this mod, if I was to do another I'd probably include a day/date window with wheels matching the face.
Movements come into it though my knowledge isn't strong on technical detail or being able to recall the names of movements in any particular watch. I do like having a mix of types though eg handwind, auto, quartz, solar and so on, again this was another reason why I bought the Sea-Gull as it would be my only handwind chrono and I could learn something with it having the display rear case.
Is this mod my "perfect" watch? Well I didn't hold back on it, I knew from the start that if I was going to do a mod then I'll do it how I want it with cost coming in second, within reason. The case is lovely, the shape and size is probably not too far from perfect on my wrist, and I think I got this particular watch as good as I could get it and it ticks all the visual boxes for me but the perfect watch....? Is there such a thing?
Edited by CardShark on Thursday 15th September 23:50
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