I think it should be mentioned that it is common practice among many reputable watchmakers to repair vintage watches for which parts are no longer made with aftermarket or used hands, dials, crowns, stems, springs, etc. This practice goes back many decades. In this case, the point is to repair the watch to working order so it can continue to be worn, rather than preserve its' collectible value by restoring it to original factory condition. Wouldn't want anyone thinking their local watchmaker is a cheat or a hack just because they didn't use original parts for repair. That is why it is called watch "making". If you want only original parts, you should tell your watchmaker so and expect the price will go up or the work will be referred to the manufacturer if they are still around.
I buy franken watches for their movements ... this way I can get for example 6309 parts dirt cheap (I'm searching for a 6309 complete balance or endstones anyone have em ? ) But the fake or "improved" parts I take out and put in a box (somethimes I do experiments on the parts like practicing blueing various parts and how it would look) that said great video TGV! have a great day
I think t's worth mentioning that in the vintage world, it's common practice to swap in parts from a donor watch. This does not necessarily create a Frankenwatch! Visual parts such as hands, crowns, dials and internal parts, such as balance wheels, mainspring assemblies, screws, and springs, all very easy to swap to repair a watch. Complete vintage watches in bad shape can be cheaper than buying NOS parts so this is a common practice. But it won't be a Frankenwatch as long as it's done right.
Wearing A Rolex case with Oris Movement is similar to a wombat wearing a Patek taking subway to collect his dole, You know why wombat rating drop like Panerai? Because viewers know if they hang around with empty wombat and the gang talking bullshit much longer every one will want to buy something that can’t afford and soon have nothing to sell to survive.
Great video, TGV! Very informative. Thanks for taking the time to answer my question. You got me interested in modding my SKX, I'll have to do it someday. Happy to see people enjoying my RU-vid name too :D
Please go back to a 'warroom' and 'amateur' setting with the TGV homemade atmosphere. It is like a friend who invites you in his computer room(his most private space) and shares his new and most fun discovered watches. ps: love your videos and im a big fan
Funny, the next video is in the War room. It will always be on the channel, not sure. why you would think otherwise. Anyways, glad to hear you enjoy it. a lot more War room coming up. Thank you, Bes tregards, TGV
thx for article i would actually NOT mind a frankenwatch ! hey it would be better than replica eh ? i have a few nice REAL watches some accutron spaceviews, 214 , 218 etc i would love a navtimer franken watch or ? etc as i could AFFORD it them ! i want cool watches i can WEAR use NOT for collecting ! I actually bought a few replicas and returned them got my $ back as they did not look like the ones in the photos they showed ! ( buying w/ credit card is wonderful ! ) got any frankenwatches ? anybody deliberately sell them ? thx kind regards, Ned PS our family love your videos ! My lil bro went to Cheam school in UK as a boarder student 10-11yr old ! Cheam is one of HRH Charles alma Matters ! My bro said he was VERY kind and very funny but a poor student !
That's, as far as iam concerned is the olny thing one has to worry about. If you dont plan on selling it then by all means, have at it. And if you do sell it in future you MUST declare it. Thats the take away. Good video
Modified watches are watches broken on purpose. Cool hobby if you do the modifications yourself but to pay someone to break your watch is a peculiarity strange way to through away money. To each their own l guess. Cheers
A search for "vintage Seiko" brings up a massive result containing Mumbai specials. Some are so bad you can see the dials are hand painted. They come up with photos all taken in the exact same position so they're easy to spot. All listed from India and at very low prices. It's a shame ebay puts up with it. Great subject TGV
Great video and great format. Great shirt you are wearing, nice contrast to your Lacoste Polos. May I ask what brand/model your shirt in this video is? Unfotunatly New Dheli seems to flood eBay with Frankenwatches from Seiko, Citizen to Oris or Fortis. Most of them look pretty ghastly, overcolored diaks or poorly goldplated cases. As in most cases, I would not buy such a watch. Talking about modded watches - Well, the mod always reflects the personality of the original owner, so I would rather mod a watch for myself (or better let a watchmaker do this for me) than buy one that has been modded by someone else.
Interested in modded Seikos? Check out Ross' mods at wricerawce (pronounced wrist ross) on Instagram. Beautiful mods and he knows what he's doing! I highlighted some of his recent mods on my channel.
I've been watching your videos for a while just subscribe recently I must say you're really good at putting the videos together and everything menu put a lot into it thank you
Here's a question: why do quartz watches' second hands "tick" at 1bps (3600 bph). I have a battery-powered wall clock whose second hand has has a smooth sweep like a mechanical watch, so I know it's possible. Why did 1bps become the standard for quartz wristwatches?
Moving the second hand once per second uses less battery power. And strictly speaking, the average quartz watch runs at 32,768 cycles per second, not one.
Many people would find the ticking seconds handy for timing something, eg a countdown to starting something. If it was sweeping it would require looking very closely at the hand passing small markers. Maybe that's one reason watches not to go that route?
I think there is a big difference between modifying a mid level Seiko driver with a double sapphire crystal and a ceramic bezel and a watch band. Than doing a luxury watch. One company does it at point of sale and returns the orginal watch parts. Big difference than messing around with a Rolex etc. Except for a watch band. Wouldn't do anything.
Not that I'm an expert but if you buy from a reputable online business, they completely understand if the watch is not suited to you. Shameless plug we should hold Watchbox to that standard. A short time frame return policy returned damaged free with expectations to buy from in the future.
I tinkered with watches as a kid those watches broke and died but saved by a watchmaker but since it wasn’t worth repairs it was a cheap $20 thing it got put in the garbage. Now I’m going to tinker again but with research and knowledge from the web.
When i repair myself an old Rolex flooded with destroyed movment by salt water ... i replace movment by a myota or other cheap mov... ITS FOR MY PERSONAL USE......its not a fake. If i want repair a Ferrari with an Fiat engine...i can do it...
Glad you didn't cerakote your explorer. As someone who has spent quite some time dealing with firearms. Cerakote is not indestructible and it does scratch. If you have your watch parkerized or have a phosphate coating applied first as a base coat. Then after phosphate, applying cerakote it makes a much stronger bond. If it's applied to bare metal or sandblasted metal, cerakote is not as resistant to chipping or abrasions. While many firearms are not babied like some luxury watches, many also do not abuse them. I've seen some cerakoted firearms that are carried on a daily basis with the same amount of finish wear as the original factory finish of the firearm. Glocks factory finish is much more durable than cerakote in my opinion. It is some type of melonite coating which is a surface hardening treatment. Similar to what Sinn does with their tegimented treatment. Extreme surface hardening makes it very scratch and wear resistant. On a Seiko, I'd say do it. On a explorer? I don't know TGV that's risky business my man. I know it's yours and you won't sell it...still risky business though. Best of luck always.
People don't mod their watches for practical reasons, they do it to have something different. You make a lot of great points but the bottom line is modders give their customers exactly what they want, or at least, what they think they want.
Then again, ETA has this Up Yours -policy that they don't sell their parts anymore, but Seagull makes identical parts that you can get. I see no problem in using Seagull parts, as long as you are not trying to sell such watch as pricey original. I certainly wouldn't send a few hunderd € watch to an authorized service centre just to get original parts.
Just bought a vintage tag Heuer 1000 in blue, buyer told me he paid all the duties and taxes beforehand. Just been stung with a £200 customs charge, Watch Out For The Import And Tax.
Wow, that stings! I have been there too my friend. Anyways, enjoy the new watch. Thank you Max, deffo a point I should re-visit/mention again. Best regards, TGV
max wooolstencroft thats impossible, unless he means in his state and does’t understand customs going into other countries, if from the EU single market no extra tax
So, basically your equaating watches to cars. A modded watch would be the custom car a guy like Jay Leno has got the bucks to pour into whereas an Indian watch is the piece of shit an everyday working stiff customizes himself bit by bit as extra money becomes available. I rely on the Seikos that are unaffordable to me to come by way of India. They make the outside pretty while I rework (If needed) the inside. I've got a couple of 6105 Capt. Willards that upon Indian refurbishing they neglected to replace vital O-rings to make them water resistant. I deal with the same guy all the time and I always bitch at him "If you are going to refurbish do it all the way. It's a dive watch so that would mean it needs to be water-resistant"!
HI CAN YOU TELL ME IF MY klaus kobec IS CRAP ! I PAID 100 POUND BUT IVE HAD IT FOR TEN YEARS AND ONLY EVER NEEDED BATTERIES FOR IT. i like it , it suits me wear it pretty much everyday
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Hey TGV, Have you ever dealt with the Oris Divers 65. I would like to see a review in the future if you can get your hands on one. Thanks again for spending a lot of time on the channel to help people like me.
Sorry TGV, I know this is a tad bit late after upload, but what if I buy a new old stock dial for a pocket watch that EXACTLY matches the old, unreadable dial. Also, in addition to a replaced dial, what if I also replace the dented case with a case of the same year and model? Now, those examples are pretty specific, but that is because it is an example from my collection. Would it be acceptable to list that pocket watch on eBay if I included the modifications AND the old dial and case? Sorry for the the somewhat confusing sentences :p
Back in the days of pocket watches, it was common for dials and cases to be swapped/upgraded over the years. But if you are planning to sell, you are better off reinstalling the old dial and case because collectors like it that way. They get nervous when they see a lot of work has been done on a watch so the fewer changes from original, the better.
I have a frankenwatch seiko every single part is from a different watch i dont think its even a specific movement its random parts that fit the case is from something else and the caseback is from something else but its a nice looking watch
Until Merc officially recognized AMG, weren't they considered, in a way, Frankencar of Merc? IMO moded are franken in essence. The questions to ask would be; are they accepted by others As improvement over OG product? Is that particular mod being looked after by certain group of people continuousely like AMG? Shelby vs PimpMyRide? But..what do i know. Just my two cents..
Benjamin W. Song no they were modders, same with brabus,kleeman,weistec so not franken, if they had started to say fit different engine parts in from any old vehicle that fit then they would be more franken,
If i replace it by rolex mov... never its.recovery his authenticity.. im happy to regive life to a Rolex... Lamborghini Diablo works better with a V12.BMW E32 or E38 than original low Reliable 4L engine
I think basically anything the hurts other people or breaking the law should be criminal. Modding a watch that you own and intend to keep indefinitely, not so much. But thank you Paul, Best regards, TGV
It's only a Rolex. They make about 800,000 of them a year. Modding a historic vintage watch, now that's a problem because you are destroying an irreplaceable piece of history. Fortunately, the kind of people who like watch mods are not going to be vintage watch fans.
Benjamin Barrera Hah, yes, I totally agree with you, my comment was tongue in cheek. I have a soft spot for Explorers, so it would be painful to see one that has been PVD coated with luminous hands!! 🤣😭
Sorry fpr rhis unfitting question. Can anyone tell me whats the name of the strap on the explorer in 6:33. Would really appreciate it, due to my plans to give my seiko a new look.
Has anybody seen the news about the 22 year old in ibiza who had his £1million richard mile stolen by a pick pockets. It was a mclaren inspired 50-03. How has a 22 year old got a £1million watch lol
daniel hammond i have, not read into who it is, millions of reasons, rich family,grafted hard for it,dealer,on loan,reviewing,a freinds,brand ambassador. will look into if it mentions the name in the morning only caught the headline
Still have a Seiko laying around here as basis for the 55 fathoms mod. I have both a blue and gold/silver. Do you have a reco where best to buy the parts (hands, background)? I already bought all tools to do so myself. I just want to do it myself for the experience:)
Best of luck Erik, sounds like you are going to have a lot of fun. It's certainly harder then it seem, good luck. As for parts, eBay, etsy, but Watchmakers'4 should be bale to point you in the right direction. Thank you, Best regards, TGV
I just bought a vintage Benrus manual-wind with a Black and Silver Tuxedo Dial, looking very similar to the Tudor worn by Roger Sterling in Mad Men. I think it may be the ultimate “Mad Men Watch”! If you’re interested in seeing it, just contact me Tristano, and I’ll be happy to accommodate you! Wonderful video as always! Actually, the watch came in and it’s most definitely not in NOS condition.
TruTime yes. Clearly stated “NOS”. Scratches all over, scratches on the crystal, a dent in the back, a deep scratch on the side, and the stem/crown was bent.
TruTime you bet it did. EBay checkout wasn’t working so he technically sent it to me for free, I never paid. His reason for why it was NOS was because it never sold at a jewelry store that closed when he bought it.
Dear Gents. Owning the Alpinist (green version) and Sarb 033, I'm seeking my first real diver. Should I go for the SKX013 or go for the Steinhart Ocean 39? I'm trying to stay under 40mm. Thanks!
What about dial swaps? For example, a Rolex Milgauss (with the green crystal) had its original black dial replaced with an authentic Rolex Z-Blue dial. While the price is lower because of it (Hence why I am enticed to buy one), is it a wise decision?
Can you please tell me, and forgive me for going off topic of watch’s but I’m currently interested in your diet regime? I’ve followed you and your videos for sometime now and maybe I’ve just missed all the times you have ever spoken on it? But nonetheless, I’m curious and would like to get down to a lighter 80 pounds less then my current weight. And you’ve done such a good job at shedding pounds. I apologize if it’s a touchy or tough subject to speak about. Anyway I look forward to hearing from you on the matter. Thank you 🙏🏽
I recently bought a modded SKX from our friend Marc at longislandwatch.com. It has a double domed sapphire crystal, Strap Code bracelet, custom red hands, and a fully lumed ceramic bezel insert. I can’t say enough good about this service Marc is providing. The weaknesses of the SKX have always been the ‘rattle-trap’ bracelet, hardlex crystal, and non-hacking, non handwinding movement. I am OK with the movement, but was happy I could improve the crystal, bezel, and bracelet. I decided to go ahead and change to red hands as well, but the original hands would have been OK with me.
As far as modifying watches goes Frank Muller started out by modifying watches before becoming his own brand, also the Famed California dial was a modification that came from southern California watch makers.
I really enjoy your videos and agree with about 99% of your content, but, at the beginning of this video, you appear to be against converting pocket watches into wrist watches. Why? I've myself have looked into this topic very recently and it seems that most watch channels on RU-vid that have touched on this topic are vehemently against it. To me, it seems that wearing a vintage pocket watch today is a bit cumbersome and awkward. The idea of still using and appreciating a vintage movement by putting it into a marriage case (proper case, not super glue lugs on the original case to accommodate a band) would be a way to enjoy a piece of history and not have it sit in a drawer and not be used. My question is, are you against this and why? Thank you and keep up the great work!
Some wristwatch movements, like the Unitas 6497 were originally pocket watch movements. And some early wristwatches were designed to be worn on your wrist or as a pocket watch, so there's not really a good technical reason for this to be a problem. Ideally, thought, the movement would be moved into a proper wristwatch case instead of destroying a perfectly innocent pocket watch case. Also, there's the problem of having that huge pocket watch crown hanging off your wrist.
@@benjaminbarrera214 good points, but regarding size. Most marriage cases are 46mm that can accommodate size 16 and 18 pocket watches. There are still many "luxury" watch companies that make watches that dwarf that. My main point was what's wrong with moving a quality, at times beautifully decorated movement from one case to another when the alternative is a pocket watch from the very early 1900's sitting in a drawer, never to be used. What good is a watch if you dont wear/carry it?
The major difference I would say is that a franken watch is a non working/low performing watch someone is using scrap parts to make work and be able to sell for a profit. While a modded watch on the other hand is using a perfectly working watch and to modify it with bespoke parts making it more expensive for the sole purpose of the enjoyment of the current owner.
I have to disagree on Frankenwatches - I think some can be cool in a fashion sense. Buy what you like, just shop around and even consider doing it yourself on an inexpensive piece.
TGV what are your thoughts on replaced parts (the way rolex does when you get their watches serviced). I hear if the watch does not have original parts (i.e. dials hands) the value goes down, but are these pieces considered modded or franken? Sometimes they won't service it for fear of the movement getting damaged in the future
Hi, I´d like to know your thoughts on this new Citizen Caliber 0100, with +/- 1 sec per year accuracy. I believe that, what I couldn't believe is the outrageous price :S
I have a TAG Heuer Aquaracer, that someone bought for me. Being that it was what it was, and that it was bought for me by someone very important in my life, I wore it regularly as an EDC watch. I personally love the watch for the emotional value of the memories it accompanied, as well as the fact that it is actually a pretty attractive watch (for what it is, and horology-snobs be damned). What I hate about it is the finish; I don't need a watch with polished finish for EDC, and it annoys me that any scratches it catches are much more visible and obnoxious on the polished surfaces. I'm never selling it, not least because there's not much point, but also because I have no intention of trading objects of personal nostalgic value for a little money. For this reason, I'm considering have it bead-blasted. I realise that for a little more money, I could have it re-finished, but that would simply perpetuate my issue with the watch. I mean, it's still a fun every-day watch, and I do sometimes still use it as such. Any thoughts?
I have been watching for donkeys. Have my obligatory SKX. Similliar to the SKS. I collect firearms too, for those not familiar with the SKS it is a utilitarian rifle. Just like the Seiko SKX is a utilitarian watch. Robust and functional. Seiko watches are great! No denying that! No snobbery. Just solid function and practicality.. Both solid and well-made.Lately I have been admiring the technical achievements of the SEE051 "Astron" Seiko. GPS Solar. I think it is a great travelling timepiece that has some "smart" watch functionality without being a smart watch. Even though at its core it is just an expensive quartz watch. It IS a first among many firsts for Seiko. That's why I love Seiko! This one is a must have.
Great video. How can I contact your watch maker guy in order to modify a turtle with something like bezels and a sapphire crystal? Maybe even the movement.
God that skx looks so nice. I'm always on the hunt for matte watches but I guess they are hard to find and unfortunately I don't have the money for modding
Have you ever had any experience with the Seiko turtle, If so, what do you think about it. I've recently ordered one and I couldn't be more excited! I've had an Invicta/submariner homage on wrist for the last 2 years, and it has treated me well. But I'm really looking forward to wearing a watch that I will be truly proud of and can trust in any conditions. You make very informative and entertaining videos! I love them! Hope you will be happy working with watch box in Philadelphia
There are some amazing mods for Seikos around. I recently saw some beautiful painted dials on instagram that were also super luminova and had an incerdible effect.
Some guys (like Marc Goldberg) seem to swear by RU-vid as a marketplace for pre-owned watches. As far as I can see it's pretty much a 21st century version of a saloon bar in an old west mining town. By all means go strutting in there if you're the horological equivalent of Clint Eastwood. Otherwise one would be well advised to buy from gentlemen in Frisco (or, as I'm sure TGV would prefer) in Philly! :-P
Never thinking about selling my 1680 Submariner, what do you think about upgrading the Oyster bracelet?? Solid endlinks and a better clasp?? May be a new generation Oyster or Jubelee with solid links.
I'm totally addicted to your channel I love it thanks for all the help I'm totally addicted to watch as I have been for a long time people think I'm a little crazy glad to know there's other people out there like me
I was a sucker to a frankenwatch. A Fortis... Thankfully it was only the dial and was able to find another Fortis dial to that caliber.. I was lucky. I've seen some attrocities.There is an exception to Rolex. There is a person who modifies Subs into Milsubs who is expensive whose watches actually gain value.
