Everything about Seiko Mod watches: the SKL workshop FAQ

The heart is the same, the dressing changes. A Seiko Mod uses a genuine Seiko calibre, fitted into a case, dial and bracelet chosen by the workshop. An original Seiko comes entirely from the brand's factories. The Mod opens up designs the brand does not offer.

"Mod" is short for modification. The term describes a watch whose dressing has been transformed around a Seiko movement. It was born in enthusiast communities, where people customised their own watches. SKL turns it into a workshop craft, with quality controls and a warranty.

Its movement, yes. The calibre is a genuine Seiko, made by Seiko Instruments. The complete watch is assembled by SKL Watches, an independent workshop that selects every component. That is why we present it as a Seiko Mod: a real Seiko calibre, a workshop creation.

No. Seiko makes and sells its calibres; it plays no part in modified watches and does not cover them. That is precisely why SKL provides its own 3-year warranty. We are an independent creation, with no affiliation to Seiko or any other brand.

For its reliability, availability and ease of servicing. The NH35 calibre has powered millions of watches since 2011. Its parts can be found everywhere, and any watchmaker knows it. It shrugs off everyday knocks and regulates easily. No other automatic movement offers this balance of robustness and price.

Since the 2000s, among enthusiasts swapping dials and hands on forums. The movement took shape around 2015 with dedicated parts suppliers. Today, independent workshops like SKL assemble complete watches, with inspection and a warranty.

In the workshop, by hand, in five steps. Component selection, preparation of the Seiko calibre, fitting of the dial and hands. Then casing under sapphire crystal, regulation and testing. Every watch is inspected one by one before going into its box with its authenticity card.

A Seiko calibre, a 316L stainless steel case, a sapphire crystal, a dial, hands, a bezel and a bracelet. At SKL, every component is chosen for its quality. A transparent case back reveals the movement on most models.

Yes, and increasingly so. Our 36 mm models are designed for slim wrists and for women. The Fluted, Arabic Dial and President ranges come in 36 mm. Champagne, powder pink, ice blue or textured white dials. Elegance comes from size and colour, not gender.

Yes. A Seiko Mod is a watch assembled around a genuine Seiko calibre, with new components. It is a workshop creation, with its own number and its own warranty. Buying, wearing and reselling a Seiko Mod is as legal as for any independent watch.

A counterfeit copies an existing model entirely, with fake components and a fake movement. A homage watch borrows classic watchmaking codes within its own creation. A Seiko Mod is a creation powered by a real Seiko calibre, with a dressing chosen by the workshop. At SKL, every watch is a creation, never a copy.

Because the great silhouettes of watchmaking have become a shared language. Fluted bezel, integrated bracelet, diver with a rotating bezel: these shapes have existed for decades across many brands. SKL interprets them with its own dials, colours and workshop signature.

Through the transparent case back and the authenticity card. A Seiko calibre carries its engraving on the rotor and the main plate, visible through the back. At SKL, the numbered digital card certifies the fitted calibre. In case of doubt, a watchmaker identifies it in seconds.

By five signs. A mineral crystal instead of sapphire. Steel that is unspecified or below 316L grade. Misaligned hands or an off-centre dial. No water-resistance testing and no regulation. And no serious warranty. A quality workshop documents every one of these points.

The original calibre, the sapphire crystal and the final inspection carried out in the workshop. Each watch receives a unique number linked to its digital card. This number activates the 3-year warranty and makes resale easier. The card cannot be lost: it is digital.

Yes, as reliable as a production automatic watch fitted with the same calibre. The NH35 is known for tolerating shocks and temperature changes. At SKL, every watch is also regulated and tested before shipping. The 3-year warranty covers the movement.

Decades with normal care. The calibre is mechanical, not a battery: it does not run out. A service every five to seven years preserves its performance. The 316L case and sapphire crystal age very well. A Seiko Mod is made to be passed on.

The difference lies in the components and the work. At €100, you get a mineral crystal, unspecified steel and no regulation. At €250 or €300, you pay for a sapphire crystal, 316L steel and a quality dial. Plus an inspected assembly and a real warranty. The price reflects what is inside.

Between €220 and €370 depending on complexity. A three-hand automatic with sapphire and 316L sits around €250. A chronograph, a GMT or a skeleton costs more: their calibres are pricier. At SKL, every price includes the 3-year warranty and workshop inspection.

The calibre first, then the sapphire crystal, the 316L steel, the dial and the bracelet. A well-printed dial, applied indices and an adjustable solid-link bracelet make the difference on the wrist. Finally, workshop time: regulation, testing, inspection. That last item is invisible but decisive.

316L resists corrosion and allergies far better. It is surgical-grade stainless steel with a low carbon content. It withstands sweat, seawater and the years. Lower-grade steel tarnishes and can mark the skin. Every SKL watch is made of 316L.

Sapphire resists scratches, mineral glass does not. Synthetic sapphire rates 9 on the Mohs hardness scale; only diamond is harder. Mineral glass scratches on contact with a key. Every SKL watch uses sapphire. It is the first sign of a serious Seiko Mod.

Almost never in normal use. A desk edge, a key or a zip will not mark it. Only diamond and certain ceramics can scratch it. It can, however, crack under a violent blow to the edge. Sapphire needs protecting from impacts, not from rubbing.

At SKL, yes, every one. Dial and hand alignment check, rate regulation in several positions. Winding and hacking-seconds check, bracelet and clasp inspection. The watch leaves tested and regulated, in its box.

Yes, without difficulty. The Seiko calibre is standard and its parts are available worldwide. Any independent watchmaker can service it. During the 3-year warranty, contact SKL first: the service is included.

An automatic movement made by Seiko Instruments in Japan since 2011. It beats at 21,600 vibrations per hour on 24 jewels. 41-hour power reserve, manual winding, hacking seconds, date at 3 o'clock. It is the reference calibre of Seiko Mods, and of most SKL watches.

None in practice. NH35A is the full technical reference, NH35 its common name. The "A" indicates the calibre's version. Both names refer to the same movement: 24 jewels, 21,600 vibrations per hour, 41 hours of reserve.

It is designed by Seiko Instruments in Japan. Production takes place in the group's factories, notably in Malaysia, to Seiko standards. Every calibre carries its original engraving. This industrial setup explains its excellent balance of reliability and price.

By its engravings and its finish. The rotor and main plate carry the calibre and maker's markings. Screws are crisp, bridges clean, and the rotor spins freely. A transparent case back allows the check. At SKL, the authenticity card certifies the fitted calibre.

Between minus 20 and plus 40 seconds per day according to the manufacturer's data. In the workshop, SKL regulates each watch in several positions, often bringing the deviation down to a few seconds. An automatic watch is not quartz: a few seconds a day is normal.

41 hours when fully wound. Worn every day, the watch never stops. Left on a table for a full weekend, it stops on Sunday. A few turns of the crown restart it, and daily wear keeps the reserve topped up.

About twenty clockwise turns, with the crown in the closed position. This charges the mainspring. Manual winding is designed in by the maker: winding your watch every morning carries no risk. The mechanism disengages by itself at full charge.

Yes. The NH35 rotor is known for a light whirr when it spins freely. It is a characteristic of the calibre, not a fault. It becomes inaudible on the wrist during a normal day. A sharp metallic noise or a blockage, on the other hand, deserves a check.

Yes. When you pull the crown to the setting position, the seconds hand stops. You can set the time to the second, against a time signal or a phone. This detail, missing on many entry-level calibres, is one of the NH35's assets.

Check for magnetisation first. A calibre exposed to a magnet, a speaker or a bag clasp can gain several minutes a day. A demagnetisation at a watchmaker's fixes it in minutes. If the deviation persists, contact SKL: the warranty covers the movement.

Yes, that is the workshop's job. The regulator lever allows the rate to be adjusted. SKL regulates every watch before shipping, in several positions. A watchmaker can refine this later, notably after a service. Do not attempt it yourself: it requires tools.

Often less than servicing a Swiss calibre. The NH35 is simple and its parts are common. Two options: a full service at a watchmaker's, or replacing the calibre with a new one, sometimes more economical. SKL advises you according to the watch's age and condition.

The day of the week. The NH36 adds a day window alongside the date. Both share the same base: 24 jewels, 21,600 vibrations, 41 hours of reserve. The NH35, more understated, powers most SKL watches.

The fourth hand. The NH34 is the GMT version: an independent 24-hour hand tracks a second time zone. Adjustable via the crown, it serves travellers and those working with other countries. Same reliable base as the NH35. It is the calibre of our GMTs.

The absence of a date. The NH38 is an NH35 without a window, for a purer dial. Same reliability, same power reserve. It powers some dress and square watches where a date would have broken the dial's symmetry.

The skeleton calibre of the family. Its bridges are cut away to reveal the mechanism from the dial side. Same base as the NH35, same power reserve, no date. It is the movement of our skeleton watches, where the balance beats in the open.

Both are Japanese and reliable. Seiko's NH35 has manual winding and hacking seconds as standard. Citizen's Miyota is prized for its slimness on dress watches. SKL uses the NH35 for its sports models and an automatic Miyota for its President range.

A Seiko meca-quartz chronograph movement. Quartz drives the time with precision, around 15 seconds per month. A mechanical module drives the chronograph counters, with a crisp, instant reset to zero. No winding, one battery every three years. It is the calibre of our chronographs.

No, it runs on a battery. Its chronograph section is mechanical, hence the term meca-quartz. This compromise gives quartz precision with the pleasure of real pushers. A fully automatic chronograph would triple the price. The VK63 is the rational choice.

It depends on use. The NH35 for a classic automatic with date. The NH34 to track a second time zone. The VK63 to time events with precise counters. All three are Seiko calibres. Every SKL product page states its own.

Resistance to a pressure of 3 atmospheres, roughly 30 metres in theory. In practice, a 3 ATM watch handles rain, splashes and hand washing. Not showers or swimming. The figures in metres do not describe a real diving depth.

Resistance to 5 atmospheres, about 50 theoretical metres. In real life: showering, surface swimming and water sports without prolonged immersion. No diving, no diving boards. It is the rating of most SKL sports watches.

With a 5 ATM model, yes, at the surface. Pool and sea are fine, rinsing the watch in fresh water afterwards. With a 3 ATM model, no. Check the water resistance on the product page before entering the water. No SKL watch is designed for diving.

Yes with a 5 ATM model, provided you rinse the watch in fresh water after bathing. Salt attacks the gaskets and dulls surfaces if left to dry. 316L steel resists it, but rinsing remains the right habit. Keep sand away from the crown.

Yes, on models that have one. A screw-down crown compresses the gasket and seals the case. Left open, it lets water in. Check it is fully screwed down before a shower or a swim. On push-crown models, push it fully home.

With a pressure test in the workshop. The watch is placed in a chamber put under pressure, then checked. A gasket fault shows immediately. At SKL, this check is part of the pre-shipping tests on models rated 5 ATM.

Take the watch out of the water and contact SKL quickly. Light condensation may clear in dry air, but it signals moisture getting in. Do not heat the watch. A gasket check is needed. Under warranty, the service is included unless the watch was used beyond its water-resistance limits.

Every three to five years, or as soon as a pressure test fails. Gaskets dry out and lose their suppleness over time. Replacement is done during the calibre service. After a violent knock to the crown, a check is wise.

Yes, it is the historic size of men's dress watches. On a wrist under 17 cm, 36 mm is even the most elegant choice. It slips under a shirt cuff. Recent trends are returning to these measured diameters.

A 39 or 40 mm. It is the most balanced diameter for this measurement, the most common among men. A 40 mm diver, a Fluted 39 or an Arabic Dial 39 sits perfectly. A 41 mm remains possible with a slim case.

A 40 or 41 mm. SKL's integrated bracelets, chronographs and GMTs come in this size. They fill the wrist without overhanging. Below 40 mm, the watch would look lost on a broad wrist.

Not above a 17.5 cm wrist. Below that, it visually overhangs at the lugs. The rule is simple: the lug-to-lug distance must not exceed the width of the wrist. Measure before choosing, a tape measure is enough.

A 36 mm model, in a soft or luminous colour. Our favourites: the Fluted Champagne 36, the Fluted TwoTone Gold Pink 36 and the Fluted Ice Blue Roman 36. Not forgetting the Arabic Dial Baby Blue 36. For more presence, the Fluted Gold Crystal Champagne with set indices. All carry the same calibre as the men's models.

Yes. The Arabic Dial collection comes in 36 mm, the ideal size for slim wrists. Baby Blue, White, Green or Gold Black. The Eastern Arabic numeral dial wears just as well in 36 as in 39. It is one of our most gifted watches.

With a soft tape measure, or a string measured afterwards against a ruler. Place it just below the wrist bone, without tightening. Note the measurement in centimetres. Under 16 cm: 36 mm. 16 to 18 cm: 39 or 40 mm. Above: 41 mm.

The length of the watch from one lug to the other, where the bracelet attaches. It is the measurement that decides whether a watch "overhangs" the wrist. A 40 mm with short lugs wears more easily than a 39 mm with long ones. It appears on our product pages.

Oyster for robustness and sport, Jubilee for elegance and comfort. The Oyster has three rows of wide links and a sober design. The Jubilee has five rows of fine links, suppler and dressier. On our divers and GMTs, the choice is yours at checkout.

Yes, that is its main strength. Its five rows of small links hug the wrist and follow its movements. It is slightly lighter than an Oyster. Its only drawback: fine links hold more dust, a soft brush is all it takes.

By removing links. SKL bracelets use solid links held by pins or screws. A jeweller's tool or a watchmaker does it in ten minutes. The clasp then offers fine adjustment. Remove links from both sides to keep the clasp centred.

The Jubilee, or a leather strap. The Jubilee brings the finesse of a dress bracelet without leaving steel. On a fluted-bezel watch or a champagne dial, it is irresistible. The Oyster still works on a sober black-dial watch.

Yes, with the right lug width. Our watches use standard spring bars; a spring-bar tool is all you need. The width is stated on every product page. A rubber strap turns a diver into a summer watch, leather dresses a square watch in an instant.

A soft cloth after wearing, nothing more. On 5 ATM models, a fresh-water rinse after the sea or the pool. Keep the watch away from strong magnets and thermal shocks. A service every five to seven years extends its life.

With warm soapy water and a soft toothbrush. Work between the links, where dust settles. Rinse with clean water and dry with a soft cloth. On a 3 ATM watch, remove the bracelet before washing, or clean it without wetting the case.

Not if you wear it. Wrist movement recharges it. If you rotate several watches, give it about twenty turns before wearing it again. Daily winding does not harm it: the mechanism disengages by itself at full charge.

Only if you own several automatic watches and hate resetting them. For a single watch worn every day, it serves no purpose. For a collection, it keeps each piece on time and on date. Choose a model that alternates rotation direction.

In its box, away from humidity and magnets, crown closed. It will stop after 41 hours, which is normal and harmless. Wind it before wearing it again and set the date while avoiding the 9 pm to 3 am window.

Pull the crown out one click for the date, two clicks for the time. Before touching the date, set the hands to 6 o'clock: the mechanism is then disengaged. Set the date, then the time. Never set the date between 9 pm and 3 am.

On a screw-down crown, yes when unscrewing: it resists by design. Unscrew it gently, set the watch, then screw it back without forcing. If it jams in the pulled position or grinds, do not force it and contact SKL. A crown never needs force.

On brushed surfaces, a fine polishing pad along the grain softens micro-scratches. On polished surfaces, a jewellery polishing cloth. For a deep scratch, a watchmaker repolishes the bracelet. Light scratches are part of a steel watch's life.

Wind it twenty turns and watch. The NH35 has a shock-protection system that absorbs most impacts. If it restarts and keeps time, nothing to do. If it stops or gains a lot, contact SKL. A knock to the crown or crystal deserves a check.

Worldwide. The store shows prices in your currency and calculates shipping for your country. Every parcel ships with a tracking number. Full delivery times, from making the watch to delivery, are in our home page FAQ.

Within the European Union, the displayed price is the final price. Outside the European Union, local taxes may apply on receipt. They depend on the destination country and are borne by the recipient.

From the "Track my order" page on the site, with your order number. You also receive an email with the tracking link as soon as it ships. Every parcel is tracked until it is handed over in person or at a pickup point.

Bank cards, Apple Pay, Google Pay, PayPal and Shop Pay. Payment is secure. Available methods appear according to your device and country. SKL Watches never stores any banking details.

Yes, as long as it has not entered the workshop. Contact us within the following hours with your order number. Change of size, bracelet or address: we take care of it. Once the watch is assembled to your options, changes are no longer possible.

In its SKL box, protected by a reinforced shipping carton. The watch keeps its protective films on the crystal and case back. The authenticity card is digital, nothing can get lost. The parcel is plain, with no mention of the contents.

Contact us with your authenticity card number and a description of the problem. We diagnose the issue, then repair or replace the watch. The warranty covers the movement and assembly defects for 3 years. Scratches, impacts and water damage are excluded.

Yes, within 14 days of receipt, in line with European law. The watch must come back unworn, with its protective films, its box and its accessories. The refund is issued after inspection in the workshop.

No, except for a defect. Engraving personalises the watch permanently; it can no longer be sold to another customer. That is the rule under European law for personalised products. Read your engraving text carefully before confirming, the preview is there for that.

Photograph the parcel and the watch before handling anything, then contact us within 48 hours. We take care of the exchange or repair. Every watch leaves the workshop inspected and protected in its box, so shipping incidents remain rare.

Yes, as an option at checkout. A preview appears as you type your text. Engraving turns a watch into an heirloom: initials, a date, a message. It is done in the workshop before shipping.

Yes, for the amount of your choice. You can send it straight to the recipient, on the date you choose, with a personal message. It is valid across the whole store. Ideal when you are hesitating over the model.

Yes, with the SKL Pack. Put together a set of two to five watches and the pack price applies automatically. It is the answer for wedding gifts, teams and collectors who like to alternate.

An engraved watch, in a diameter suited to the wrist. For him, an Arabic Dial or a Fluted in 39 mm. For her, a Fluted Champagne or an Arabic Dial Baby Blue in 36 mm. The date engraved on the back makes it an object that crosses the years.