dasher
Timekeeper
Waiting on 6:00 pm
Posts: 966 
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Post by dasher on Jan 27, 2015 20:56:57 GMT -8
So I've been totally smitten with the original Fifty Fathoms watch, the Blancpain, but I don't have an extra $40K laying around. Therefore, what is a budding modder to do? Well, here's what THIS budding modder did:
Start with a SNZH55 (Seiko 5 Sports) either in Gold or Stainless. For this mod, I chose the Gold one:
I then got in touch with Harold Ng, also known as Yobokies, or Seiko Boy backwards. He's a master at creating Seiko mod dials, hands, rotating ring inserts and all such other things. I couldn't decide at the time which dial I wanted to go with so I got one of each; date and no date (respectively):
I ended up going with the "no date" because I like the vintage look of the 1950's Blancpain Fifty Fathoms. Plus, who really cares what the day is when you're under water?
Dial decisions made, I removed the bracelet and got the patient ready to have the case back removed and the stem taken out:
Yeah, I know, that picture's not so sexy. With the movement out we can then appreciate the gold tone on the dial and hands - Seiko should be very proud of this model watch:
The hands came off and the dial just pops right off, there were no screws to be turned. Putting the hands back on can really challenge the obsessive compulsive in you, you must make sure to set them on at exactly 12:00, otherwise your time will be off every hour! (Guess who learned this one the hard way??)
Here we are with the new dial and old hands back in place: In the case:
and on the wrist:
All in all, a very rewarding experience. You can only guess what I'll be sporting on tomorrow's WRUW thread! Thanks for reading!!
Dan |
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jringo8769
WIS
The life we have is a Gift from God....live it to the fullest every day...Thank God for it...
Posts: 1,570
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Post by jringo8769 on Jan 28, 2015 4:43:20 GMT -8
well that looks great....very cool to make a newer watch a very classic look...
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trandy
Needs a Life!
Posts: 3,274
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Post by trandy on Jan 28, 2015 5:08:45 GMT -8
Very nice....Harold built this one for me several years ago....I opted for the "date" dial and some of his custom hands...though I really like it I hardly ever wear this one for some reason:  |
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Post by russtmurray on Jan 28, 2015 9:32:59 GMT -8
Until these homages started to appear a while ago I wasn't aware of the original Blancpain version probably because I wasn't familiar with the brand either! Nevertheless, yours looks like a faithful salute to a nicely crafted classic at a fraction of the cost. That is a great combination and a terrific mod.
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sdoocms
Is a Permanent Fixture
Carl
Posts: 5,296
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Post by sdoocms on Jan 28, 2015 13:32:31 GMT -8
Congrats on a nice mod!
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Post by Groundhog66 on Jan 29, 2015 16:10:20 GMT -8
I really like that mod, nice job. I was looking into doing one a couple years ago, but never made it happen for some reason.
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Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
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Post by Deleted on Jan 29, 2015 17:06:02 GMT -8
I love the looks of this watch in it's various configurations. It takes me back to James Mason as Captain Nemo in 20,000 Leagues Beneath the Sea and his Nautilus submarine...it just has that cool vibe about it.
If I was going to go after one, I would love it to have the snow flake hands.
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Post by earthphase on Feb 17, 2015 6:53:22 GMT -8
It always appears to me that this watch has a glass bezel - it doesn't correct?
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Post by mwbuss8 on Mar 16, 2015 9:02:52 GMT -8
It always appears to me that this watch has a glass bezel - it doesn't correct? I don't have one personally, so I can't be sure but I think it is. I know that Harold makes (or made?) Replacements that are lumed from the underside. Again, I haven't seen them in person, but they look quite nice in pics and make for great lume shots. |
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Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
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Post by Deleted on Mar 16, 2015 12:09:35 GMT -8
Mine is away with Blancpain having a rather expensive service right now! I was left it in a will by my dive buddy and best friend and truly didn't know what I had for years. I just thought it was another dive watch until someone wised me up to what I had.  |
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Post by thianwong on Mar 16, 2015 12:57:48 GMT -8
Nice job! At the time I bought the gold version model just for the heck of it, thinking I might have JakeB mod it...but the watch sits alone in the drawer:(
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Post by C4L18R3 on Mar 16, 2015 16:56:17 GMT -8
The FFF is a great mod. Nice job on that one! Here were the ones I had made in honor of the Fifty Fathoms...   Both are no longer with me though  |
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Mr.Jones
Needs a Life!
Hamburg, Germany
Posts: 4,679
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Post by Mr.Jones on Apr 28, 2015 7:24:33 GMT -8
I opted for the modern version of the Fifty Fathoms:  Although it has the parts (dial and sapphire crystal) from Dagaz, not Yobokies. I did order a new bezel insert from Harold, though. Just need to put it in some day... Say, does your bezel click 120 times and very even? Mine only clicks 60 times but has a slight bump inbetween. Maybe the bezel is not seated correctly? I also own an all-black SNZF that clicks 120 times. |
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