Mod Watches

  • What is a mod watch? What makes them special?

    A mod (modification) watch is a custom watch that mixes and matches parts
    from existing watches to create an interesting or unique aesthetic.

    My watches are powered by OEM Seiko NH34 and NH35 movements. The watches are built around these movements using high-quality aftermarket parts. In other
    words, the heart of my watches beats a genuine Seiko movement. The case, dial, bezel, hands, and bracelets are premium aftermarket components purchased from various watch suppliers.

  • Who builds them?

    I do! These watches aren't mass produced in a factory. I personally build each watch with care in my workshop. After the watch is built, I run a series of functional and performance tests to ensure you're receiving the highest quality.

  • How's the quality?

    Great! Most of the aftermarket components I use are higher quality than
    stock parts. For example, my crystals are sapphire as opposed to mineral glass,
    most of my bezels are ceramic as opposed to aluminum, and my bracelets all
    feature solid links and machined clasps.

Seiko Movements

  • What is an automatic watch?

    An automatic watch is a type of self-winding mechanical watch. A mechanical watch movement uses a traditional spring and clockwork geartrain to tell time. This differs from a quartz movement that draws its power from a battery. A mechanical watch is a more refined class of watch. Additionally, since the watch beats at 21,600 BPH (6 beats per second), the second hand moves incrementally six times each second. This provides a more visually appealing sweep of the second hand.

    Once you begin wearing a mechanical/automatic watch, you're not going to want to go back to a quartz.

  • How to keep it powered

    There are three ways to keep your watch powered.

    1) Energy from the wearer's movements will power the watch. If the watch is worn daily, it will remain powered. The power reserve of the Seiko NH3X series of movements is about 41 hours, so you can leave your watch on the bedside table at night and it will be running in the morning.

    2) The watch can be manually wound by rotating the crown clockwise. Screw-down crowns will need to be unscrewed first by rotating the crown counterclockwise.

    3) A watch winder can be purchased (they're inexpensive) to keep the watch wound when not in use.

  • Why use Seiko movements?

    All of my mod watches are powered by Seiko NH34 or NH35 Automatic movements. I choose to build my watches around these movements for a few reasons.

    1) Legendary durability. They can take a beating and still tell great time for years without service. Seiko movements are also have strong shock resistant capabilities, allowing them to maintain timing stability during vigorous activity or accidental bumps.

    2) Easy to maintain. They don't require regular servicing to maintain time. In case of an issue, parts are inexpensive and abundant. In fact, it's usually more cost effective to replace the entire movement than provide a full service.

GMT Watches

  • Why do some of your watches say GMT? What is a GMT watch?

    A GMT is a watch complication that introduces a 4rth hand, in addition to the classic 3; hour, minute, second. Take a closer look at the product photos and you'll see the fourth hand, usually in a color to compliment the bezel. This fourth hand is called the GMT hand. It makes one complete revolution every 24 hours. By referencing the 24-hour bezel, the GMT hand can be used to track time in a second time zone.

  • But wait, there's more!

    The GMT hand can be used a number of ways.

    1) It can be set to local time as a nice 24 hour reference. And by rotating the bezel, a second time zone can be tracked. Whatever number the GMT hand points to on the bezel is the 24 hour time of the second time zone.

    2) The bezel can remain centered in the 24 hour at midnight position, and the GMT hand independently set. Whatever number the GMT hand points to on the bezel is the 24 hour time of the second time zone.

    3) Both the GMT hand and the bezel can be adjusted, and three time zones can be tracked!

  • What's the catch?

    No catch. The GMT only adds extra functionality to the watch. There's no tradeoff. It's a fantastic feature.