Post by peterr on Sept 20, 2021 6:01:02 GMT -8
Well, this watch, stock, is very close to the original. If fails mainly in being
a bit slab-sided, the side walls of the stock case are taller than on the original,
i find this to be a very easy condition to remedy, i just file down the caseback
side of the wall. In this case, i went a bit further, and made the sidewalls
slimmer than on the original, and i also removed excess metal all around,
before bead-blasting the watch. the dimensions of this finished watch are
now 46.5mm x 41mm x 13.4mm. I love the size, it's smaller than stock,
and it sits on the wrist very beautifully.
I wear it on shark mesh with a ratcheting diver's extension, the weight
distribution around the whole wrist is pretty perfect, so the watch really does
sit on the wrist very well.
The replacement dial is controversial, to say the least, but i was unable to live
with the Rdunae logo, and a sterile dial was not an option. So i bought a Seikosis
dial, and had it relumed by Kent at Everest with BGW9, which is distinctly blue,
mainly so that it would not be confused with an original. ( Also, it should be noted,
the Seikosis lume is sub-par, anyone contemplating using one ought to know that.)
The hands are stock Rdunae, and i really like them, there's a nice pop with the bright
green lume of the hands, and i like that the bezel pip matches the hands. It's very
legible, and the lume makes it through the whole night. I'd say the lume is as good
as stock Seiko, which is high praise.
( It should be noted, If you don't mind the stock Rdunae dial, you could save
$220 on this project. Rdunae lume is just a half-step below Seiko quality,
definitely not something that needs to be fixed, really very good! )
I swim with this quite a bit, with no worries, and i would not mind having this as
a one watch collection, were that my goal. What i know is that if this watch is ever
lost or damaged, i can replace it, with a little bit of labor, for under $450. This
includes professional dial reluming and bead-blasting, which is $190 of the
total expense. It's got a really decent sapphire, a modern movement that is easily
replaceable and keeps very good time, and it still makes me perform a double
take when i look at it, it's that close to the original 6105-8000 that i used to wear,
and honestly, could not afford not to sell. Prices are ridiculous, and i am not a
happy guy when i have a watch worth $2,000 on my wrist.
I don't think anyone would confuse this with original, though. It's got a Rdunae
caseback, and too many modern upgrades for that to ever happen. If Seiko ever
produced a $500 6105-8000 remake that came in at 13mm or less, i would have
gone that route, certainly, but i know that any remake will cost 13 or 14 hundred
bucks, and i'm tired of spending that kind of dough on a watch. And this one gives
me the satisfaction of having had my hands involved in the modification process.
I'd be happy to talk anyone through this aspect of the mod. I am a sculptor, but
i don't consider the work to be difficult to perform.
I am very happy with this watch, it has really become one of my all-time favorites,
so it is my sincere wish that my sharing of it not create any rancor, or verbal commotion.
It's just a modded watch that's unique in all the world, but is also reproducible by
any Seiko fan who would like to have one.
Peace,
Peter
I feel more like the proverbial monkey at the typewriter
