Assembling a Complete Custom Bronze "Root Beer" Seiko SKX - Seiko Mod

Seiko Mods have become an accessible hobby among watch enthusiasts and collectors. A community and parts supply chain has formed around modifying Seiko SKX series watches. While the SKX has been discontinued - even Seiko quietly acknowledges this by making their new Seiko 5 diver line fully compatible with SKX parts. Watch me build and describe the process while putting together my Bronze "Root Beer" SKX Build from aftermarket parts, and regulate the movement.
Tools I used in this video:
Inexpensive watchmakers toolkit: amzn.to/3920XTx
Hand setters: amzn.to/3lX61fG
Timegrapher: amzn.to/36R8t0Y
These are affiliate links, using them benefits this channel.
Watch components in this build:
Case, bezel, case back, click spring, crown: watchandstyle....
Dial: luciusatelier....
Hands: www.dlwwatches...
Chapter Ring: www.dlwwatches...
Crystal (for sloped bezel inserts): www.dlwwatches...
Bezel Insert: www.dlwwatches...
Movement: www.dagazwatch...
Strap: monstraps.com/...
Thanks for watching!
Special thanks to Graz Makes for helping me shoot the intro.
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idealgrain.com
/ ideal_grain
/ idealgrain
etsy.com/shop/...

[@Aaron48219]

Listening to this, I couldn't help but think Badger from Breaking Bad took up watch making. Awesome vid for someone who might be new to this though, well done!

[@IdealGrain]

You are not the first person to make that comparison!

[@sergelegault6027]

So true!

[@imMATTure]

Yoo thats so specific but facts. Badger has such an iconic voice

[@essextwo]

I can totally hear it.

[@ziodro]

Amazing piece of work. Very tasteful!

[@ExtraLeben]

Awesome ^^.. i've always wanted to see that particular bronze style dial on a watch.. ^^

[@drewbrown9678]

"Second had needs to be aligned at exactly 12 o' clock." Minute and hour hand should be aligned. Second can be installed anywhere in relation to the other hands.

[@IdealGrain]

You’re right, my mistake. With two cameras going I had a ton of footage to scrub through. Probably wasn’t thinking straight by the time I recorded the voiceover.

[@AanGozall]

I like this kind of rawness in your video. No crazy editing, and honest with every attempt you’ve tried. Thanks for sharing

[@ruwanthaperera710]

Great video! Small feedback. Place the camera angles in a bit more content viewable position

[@jkgkjgkijk]

Dude, you have some next level skills and in some areas you fail in an epic manner--e.g., next time, draw out a 1/4 inch by 1 inch noodle of Rodico. Use it to grab the end of each hand for placement. Use an eye loop. Never clean mounted hands. Use finger cots, instead of gloves. Use Rodico to clean the glass. Buy a Burgeon dial guard to use when setting hands.

[@IdealGrain]

I've since gotten the dial guard! And started using finger cots. I'll look into the rest if I do another build! I think I've decided I just don't like how SKX's sit on my wrist. Maybe I'll do a custom SNK.

[@shafiqkarmand5585]

how much cost a custom Root Beer seiko ? thanks

[@SeikoModder]

Love your work shop set up. Excellent build too!

[@demodakid1]

Great build!! I been wanting to do a root beer but it seems like seiko has a very limited selection of brown dials.. the one you picked out perfectly fits that watch 👌🏾

[@stevie9361]

Looks like the tudor heritage black bay

[@monty1957]

great effort Jack.. gud video mate...luv it

[@DramaLabUK]

Awesome video. Gonna' try some moddin. Loved it

[@skiptabor]

Had a great time watching this video. Nice work.

[@jameswells8114]

Is is possible to have a movement adjusted on the timegrapher before install? Like perhaps at a local jeweler.

[@IdealGrain]

Movements can be adjusted in a holder, but without the hands preinstalled it may not be worth having done. Even installing a movement in its case can change its beat rate slightly. It’s easy to adjust after assembly, just take it to your local watchmaker.

[@scottpendry2620]

So nice

[@juvasaditya6384]

What’s the exact model number for the silver watch (black dial) he’s wearing? Can’t find it online.. if someone could let me know I’d appreciate it thanks.

[@IdealGrain]

SBGR053- the “Grand Seiko SARB033”

[@juvasaditya6384]

Ahh great. thanks for the quick response!!

[@dillonresidence9690]

Very well done keep them coming.

[@troynasello2085]

Use rodico to place hands. Much easier than tweezers. And Im not sure why you said the second hand has to be placed right at 12. It makes no difference where it points when you install it. What's your reason for this? It makes no sense to me.

[@MaartenAnna]

Stunning watch mate, I'm about to embark on a similar build, with a subby style bronze case, blue dial & blue bezel insert. I'll be sure to look into a time graph regulator as well, seems useful. Thanks again mate.

[@De4thInc4rn4te16]

nice work bud, some constructive comments though, try to keep the item you are displaying/working on fully in frame, i know this can be difficult when filming top down but it does make a difference when watching, also please use finger cotts/gloves ;) keep up the content as you have a good style

[@bintangsena2249]

More !

[@blathum9]

I am basing one of my next builds on your other watch in the video as I think it look so cool with the blue strap and hands on the white face. You can PM me and I will send you the pictures when it is done?

[@scoop4fiddy]

If you were building a Rolex with aftermarket Rolex parts the Rolex guys would be all bent out of shape about it.Talking about how if you can't afford a real Rolex your just lying to yourself wearing a fake and bla bla bla.Its all good to build a aftermarket Seiko though.No one cares.

[@randomhobbyist99]

Is this an easy hobby to get into?

[@IdealGrain]

I’d say so. Used Seiko SKX and some compatible knock offs are really cheap. And a $30-40 tool kit on Amazon all you need to to the basics.

[@bugsy74]

You should make a seikonaut video! Awesome content bro

[@essextwo]

Very relaxing and informative video. Thanks mate.

[@GrazMakes]

watched! good job on the video!

[@IdealGrain]

Thanks Graz!

[@Aaron48219]

Pun intended? If so, let me give you a hand

[@skiptabor]

You beat me to the puns. Still had to leave the comment tho.

[@Aaron48219]

@@skiptabor It's never a bad "time" to leave a comment. Even if it's at the last "minute".

[@IdealGrain]

@@skiptabor It would have brought balance to the comments section. I see the comments as a bit of an escapement from reality...

[@aboutphotography]

Great video!

[@undamned]

Great color scheme. Love me some rootbeer!

[@Steven_M.]

Cool video I’m starting out modding soon myself.

[@blathum9]

Nice video easy to understand and to the point thanks a lot for sharing

[@cv600rr]

There's actually no need to install the seconds hand at 12.

[@Watchandcutgearchannel]

Great video

[@Pwart109]

Can you make me one serious inquiry.

[@IdealGrain]

Unfortunately I’m not really interested in building them for others at this time. It’s over $500 in parts that I would have to buy up front and I’m not prepared to accept that liability/risk unless it was for a price that is too high to make sense. All the parts/suppliers and tools are linked in the description!

[@Pwart109]

@@IdealGrain I respect that

[@ballaz7307]

Sadly nobody sell them 😞

[@simlowsb]

How much is this Custom?

[@tinkeringrocks]

Really cool Jeff! A whole new universe to explore. Venn diagram-wise, is there much overlap between mod community and watch repair community? I ask because it may paint my great uncle in a whole new light. He was pretty cool before, but now he’s like O.G. Maker cool 😎

[@IdealGrain]

Thanks Sean! I see modding occasionally leading somebody down a path toward real watchmaking (and repair) but not often. Unfortunately though, it’s become one of those careers that has been left behind. Most “real” watchmaking jobs are for manufacturers - and there’s only one in the US properly making their own watches: Weiss Watch Company. Otherwise it’s repair shops and jewelers that just don’t pay that well despite mostly doing service and sales on luxury products. Those that wind up doing it as a career these days are likely those that have the most serious passion for it, or have been doing it since at least the 80s, probably early 70s before the “quartz crisis”. I might get some cheap movements to practice on to do my own service, but I have a couple watches that I would even be afraid to work on my own. There are a few “modders” that have made a name for themselves and do these Seiko based mod builds as a service. There’s also a number of suppliers of parts in Singapore, China, Thailand, Taiwan and Japan (linked in the description) who are likely getting tooling and raw materials for their products from manufacturer factories, and are either ex employees or moonlighting with these mod parts.

[@9mmtotheMellon]

Good job fella...

[@jkgkjgkijk]

You have a great voice and style. Keep learning, your subs will grow.

[@IdealGrain]

Thank you!

[@UnburdenedByWhatHasBeen]

Does the ne15 and nh35/36 take the same size hands?

[@IdealGrain]

Yep! Same everything pretty much. Only difference is a better mainspring and hairspring in the NE15, and some minor decoration. You get slightly improved accuracy when regulated, and a 50hr power reserve instead of 41. There may be some variation in the number of jewels depending on which versions of the NH35/35 or NE15 you're talking about.