Modifying a SEIKO Watch's Dial and Hands

Customising Seiko watches is an enjoyable way to customize their appearance and tailor them to one's individual tastes. While the process might appear daunting at first, all it requires are some quality watch tools and plenty of patience - which for watch enthusiasts and hobbyists is highly satisfying, and results in fresh customized timepieces as well as newfound skills!

Many Seiko watch owners opt to customize the hands and dial, as these design details make a timepiece even more striking. Here is an instructional step-by-step guide on changing these components.

Step One: Unlock and Open Your Case Back

Step two requires special tools designed to prevent scratches and slippage when opening cases, so insert them into their slots on the case back before twisting in an anticlockwise direction to open them up. Case holders are optional but offer extra grip during opening procedures.

Step Two: Conceal Movements

Once the case back is open, you can view your watch's inner mechanisms (its movement). Before unbolting it completely, gently dislodge crown and stem by pushing on lever with toothpick to gain access.

Pulling apart movements requires either a toothpick or small flat-head screwdriver, with gentle pivots of mechanisms out from their cases before placing them onto cushions or other cushions for easier modifications. Mechanical models should allow their mainsprings to run out of power reserve to make modifications easier.

Step 3: Disassemble Watch Hands

Before pulling them apart, it is best to align all the hands in an attempt at untie. A plastic film should then be laid over them both to prevent scratches; when ready, use a watch hand remover tool to disassemble them.

Step 4: Remove the Dial

To unhook and unsnap a dial from its brackets, use a small flathead screwdriver with its flat end facing out and carefully twisting outward from its home base. An alternative approach might involve pivoting it with toothpick. Please be cautious so as to not damage its legs during removal!

Step 5: Reinstall Dial

To reassemble, position the movement with its crown position, and locate two holes on the plastic bracket around it that match up to two legs on your dial that must fit through holes to fit back onto its arms. Insert them accordingly into their holes on either side.

Selecting an appropriate dial for the model you have can be daunting task, however. If its crown sits at four o'clock position, its dial must match perfectly since its legs may not fit through its bracket holes if not.

Step 6: Install the Hands

To secure and align the new hands into place, use cleaning putty or tweezers with carbon fibre tips as anchor points before setting them with a hand-setting tool. Begin with placing the hour hand first, followed by minute, second, and finally seconds hands; ensure they all align perfectly parallel and allow sufficient spacing between each set of hands.

Step 7: Install and Close Back the Case Back

Prior to installing the movement back, it's advisable to first clear away dust or debris using compressed air canister. Once that step has been accomplished, aligning your watch case to its movement should then follow quickly by pressing hard on its case for alignment with said movement and pushing back in to place firmly.

On the backside of your watch, ensure all parts are lined up before inserting stem and crown, followed by closing it by turning clockwise the case screw.

Why You Should Purchase an Exclusive Dial

An interesting watch dial can help express your personal style and distinguish you from the crowd, creating something truly distinct that speaks volumes about who you are and reflects who you are as an individual. Furthermore, customizing it with such an interesting dial may even add value and collectability for collectors; creating something truly personal! Overall, investing in one is fun and creative way of making sure that watch truly belongs to you!

Seiko mods is a fantastic way to refresh and modernise any timepiece while at the same time becoming acquainted with watchmaking's finer details. By investing time, patience, tools and materials to your project, you can personalise it perfectly to fit in with your own sense of style!

Seiko Lab provides high-quality parts to revitalize and modernise any Seiko dial in the UK. Shop with us now!