Is anyone into "building" watches?

Very different, but I do quite a lot of digital (mainly Casio) watch modding, and find it very theraputic. I source parts from Ali Express also, and have always fancied building one myself, just need to decide what.

Most of the watches I own (outside of the Mods) are sports/diver style pieces, so thinking maybe ill go for something like that to start with, and then try something different depending on how it goes.

Glad I found this thread on here; there are some great examples of builds already, so well done chaps, very nice work!
 
If you give building a try please post pictures and details and any tips or problems.

In the meantime, how about some pictures and a write up of your modded digital watches? :D
 
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Ok, so as promised, here are a few of my mods. As you will see, I developed a certain 'look' that I liked the most :p I don't build these to sell or anything like that, and I wear all of these (and more) in a rotation with my non digitals. Apologies for the quick dirty (and noisy) pics.

I suppose the first one should be the one I messed with the least; AE1200 with no changes to the module or faceplate, but I've upgraded the case to a stainless steel one, and a dark brown leather strap from Vario in Singapore. All of the mods after this have had some text removed from the faceplates using isopropyl alcohol and then sprayed with a matt lacquer.

55177062167_1b6ce49dfc_z.jpg


I then started to experiment a bit more and found I really enjoyed the look of the negative display, and did this conversion a fair few times (sometimes full conversion, sometimes half and half) on AE1200s and AE1300s. The straps are a mixture from Vario and some Amazon finds, and again all stainless steel cases purchased from Ali Express.

55178351750_3e6918ec34_z.jpg
55177950401_e434b739f0_z.jpg


55177062447_d2ecea56ff_z.jpg


I then found a stainless steel faceplate on Ali Express and thought it would work well...

55178206704_edc60594ae_z.jpg
Very difficult to photograph this one :D

So most recently, I've also been experimenting with custom painting the faceplates. I think these two turned out ok, and the blue one is what I was wearing today (y)

55178118463_9d972b34e6_z.jpg
55178118478_c2382f1b3e_z.jpg


...oh, and I also modded a WS-1700. Stainless steel case and khaki Cordura strap from Vario...again :D

55177062432_fbee6e71f9_z.jpg


As mentioned earlier. I do definitely want to attempt a 'proper' build, but in the meantime I've really been enjoying doing these ones.

Thanks for looking.

Nick
 
There's a chap in (I think) the States who mods Casios. Started as one-offs but has done a fait few batches for weddings, advertising etc. too. Next time I come across of of his u-choob shorts, I'll try to remember to post a link.
 
Nod said:
There's a chap in (I think) the States who mods Casios. Started as one-offs but has done a fait few batches for weddings, advertising etc. too. Next time I come across of of his u-choob shorts, I'll try to remember to post a link.
Click to expand...
Great thanks. Id be interested to see that (y)

I finished off another one last night.

55181636559_afdd2f6c3b_z.jpg
 
Found it and clicked through to get to his website.

jellylabwatches.com

Casio Mods & Custom Casio Watches | JellyLab Watches

Casio mods, custom Casio watches & mod parts - built to order by Jelly Lab Watches. Browse off-the-shelf builds or design your own. Ships worldwide.
jellylabwatches.com jellylabwatches.com
 
Wow...

Good luck to him, I genuinely wish him success, but some of the prices he is charging are ridiculous considering the level of Mod.
 
Nikon_Nick said:
Ok, so as promised, here are a few of my mods. As you will see, I developed a certain 'look' that I liked the most :p I don't build these to sell or anything like that, and I wear all of these (and more) in a rotation with my non digitals. Apologies for the quick dirty (and noisy) pics.

I suppose the first one should be the one I messed with the least; AE1200 with no changes to the module or faceplate, but I've upgraded the case to a stainless steel one, and a dark brown leather strap from Vario in Singapore. All of the mods after this have had some text removed from the faceplates using isopropyl alcohol and then sprayed with a matt lacquer.

55177062167_1b6ce49dfc_z.jpg


I then started to experiment a bit more and found I really enjoyed the look of the negative display, and did this conversion a fair few times (sometimes full conversion, sometimes half and half) on AE1200s and AE1300s. The straps are a mixture from Vario and some Amazon finds, and again all stainless steel cases purchased from Ali Express.

55178351750_3e6918ec34_z.jpg
55177950401_e434b739f0_z.jpg


55177062447_d2ecea56ff_z.jpg


I then found a stainless steel faceplate on Ali Express and thought it would work well...

55178206704_edc60594ae_z.jpg
Very difficult to photograph this one :D

So most recently, I've also been experimenting with custom painting the faceplates. I think these two turned out ok, and the blue one is what I was wearing today (y)

55178118463_9d972b34e6_z.jpg
55178118478_c2382f1b3e_z.jpg


...oh, and I also modded a WS-1700. Stainless steel case and khaki Cordura strap from Vario...again :D

55177062432_fbee6e71f9_z.jpg


As mentioned earlier. I do definitely want to attempt a 'proper' build, but in the meantime I've really been enjoying doing these ones.

Thanks for looking.

Nick
Click to expand...
Very nice Nick. If you don’t mind me asking where did you get the case from for the last one ?
 
Ta-Dah!

Sorry about the hairy arm :D

1-20260402_212347.jpg

Phone snap. That speck in the upper right between 12 and 1 is just on the glass and not in the watch.

This is an old Explorer type dial and hands and a Miyota 8215 movement in a 36mm case.

I do like this watch.

I had a few problems with this. Firstly the dial and movement were loose in the case with the supplied metal spacer in place. I ordered some movement clamps and screws and a plastic spacer just to be sure. The plastic spacer packaging said it was the right one but it wouldn't fit so I used the supplied metal spacer and fitted the clamps and gosh those clamps and the screws are small but the movement still moved in the case so I made a ring from a solid copper wire and fitted that on top of the spacer (when viewed from the back) and that stopped the movement in the case.

My cheap AliExpress tweezers were rubbish. I got two, a straight pair and a pair with angled tips. The angled one went straight in the bin as the ends were different lengths and the straight one went in the bin today when one of the ends snapped.

I thought the first Seiko NH38 I built was no challenge but this one was a challenge and was a faff on. I think something is wrong and possibly a wrong part, case, dial, metal or plastic spacer, I don't know what but something must be wrong so my bodge will have to do.

I have a dial for a Seiko NHxx so I'm going to build one more probably into a 36mm case and that might be enough for me at least for a while. I'll need some new tweezers though.
 
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