What about swapping the day of the week wheel to black, but leaving the date wheel white? (lumed date wheel maybe?) That way you could preserve a bit of the visual balance of the date window instead of an index at 3. Seiko actually do this themselves - see the SRPC68, for example.
LOL "this is my new favorite Seiko - and I want to change every part of it including the movement!" I love your videos bud, it's just a good natured ribbing.
- I wouldn’t switch out the movement for the reason you suggest. I say the colour of the day/date complements the colour of the hour markers; making the DD black would make it look like a marker is missing. - If you don’t mind an experiment, might I suggest trying out the Forstner Komfit bracelet on this one? That one’s super-easy to adjust “on the fly” and adds a 1960s retro look. - I wonder if they make a sunburst gold dial for the 5KX?
I might have to buy the new Seiko 5 Field Watch... but I should sell some other watches first in order to make myself feel better about my purchase(!) 😅 Also, you could be a proper baller and have a solid gold bezel custom made! 😆
I'd do a sapphire, but in stead of a black date wheel, I'd consider a cyclops/candybar. I'd consider changing the clasp into a milled one - but only if I'd be able to keep to Seiko signed shell.
Double dome sapphire, keep the movement, just swap for a color matched day/date wheel. Put it back on that brown Horween . That strap looked really good with the gold and stainless steel. (Much better than I would have expected.)
Reminds me of my late grandfather's seiko solar watch he left me. As an earth scientist, I love renewable energy tech on the wrist. It happens to be the watch that led me down the rabbit-hole of watches, and so I am here!
Just got mine. As an owner of a Seiko Alpinist, for the price this Seiko 5 is hand down a GREAT watch on this lower price range and the yellow look sporty but also even more elegant than in photos/videos.
I have the grey one and I replaced the bracelet with with a fitted j-one from longislandwatch. They have a very nice taper down to 16mm and a slender clasp with 3 microadjusts. It is about the perfect balance for this small-ish watch. The bracelets from strapcode taper only to 18mm and are way more heavy and chunky and therefore unbalanced.
Jodi After changing the movement, crystal & band. You have effectively created an entirely new watch. Add the cost of the replacement parts plus what you paid for the watch and you could have purchaded a nicer watch to begin with.
I sometimes look at sapphire upgrades the same way I look at car seat covers. Do you put them on before the seats get damaged, or after to hide the damage? Do you wait until your hardlex gets scratched and then Swap it? To me, that’s a decent value watch as-is. I know you don’t look at these mods quite like us non-you tubers, but I don’t think there’s much bang for the buck in any of the proposed mods. But I’ll happily watch your mod video to see what you did!
That was my thought exactly. I think the watch is darn near perfect as is. Change the crystal if it ever gets mucked up, otherwise I could love this one without complaint.
Agree, the watch is great as is. Don't mind two-tone at all, it's a fun, slightly ironic look. If the IP coating on the bracelet starts to chip, it's easy to then swap it out - or you could deliberately scuff the hell out the watch so it develops a patina to match its retro style.
Whatever happened to the “pocket shot”. It was one of my favourites. Great vid. Seiko sure gets a lot of air time. Dump the crystal. Dump the bracelet. Use a strap you have in the drawer and call it a day! I think two tone will be too passé very soon!
I’m usually as thrifty as you so I wouldn’t change the crystal until it unused it. Then I can rationalize the money. The clasp is an issue due to not getting a good fit so a Strapcode clasp would be on the shortlist for me.
BTW, I agree with others here that a black date window will unbalance the dial. Don't change out the perfectly good movement for a dubious "improvement".
The new field watches from Seiko are also very good. Compared one in person to both hand-wind and auto Hamilton Khaki, and it's a very good half-way point between those two.
I have a black dial 55K1 that I installed a flat sapphire from Long Island Watch. I'm perfectly happy with the stock bracelet. I don't think milled clasps and solid end links are functionally any better. People were fine with pressed clasps and hollow end links until they discovered the internet. The aftermarket bracelets all seem to have male end links and I prefer the fit with the stock female end links.
Mine (the silver one) arrived this week and I must say Jody didn’t exaggerate how comfortable it wears! Also love the looks! I hate the bracelet and the chapter ring is slightly misaligned (so at least I’m sure it is a real seiko…). Will be replacing those and put in some sapphire. I think think a black date wheel will mess with the ‘balance’ of the dial since the indices are also in white and the marker at nine is also a square shape. But I hope you prove me wrong, looking forward to the result! I got a great deal on mine so the mods are worth it imo, wouldn’t recommend doing all this if you’ve paid anywhere near RRP, so many more options available…
The day date seems to be about the size of the 9 o’clock index, so I think the white date wheel balances out the index at 9 pretty well. So I don’t think a black date wheel movement would be worth it, especially not at $113. I say get a sapphire crystal and a better clasp and call it good
After the last mod vid I ordered myself parts from AliExpress and I just got done building it now, thanks for the inspiration, mine is a yellow dial oyster style watch
I would go on stages Jodi. Wait until you scratch the crystal and replace it and then wait until you need to change the movement for a service. That way you'd have a new watch every time you do something to it!
Two-tone strapcode clasp, sapphire cristal - definitely yes. Black day/date wheels - maybe. I'd wait for am aftermarket two-tone jubilee. Definitely no to a fluted bezel. Maybe you'd want to look for another dial for the sake of it?
Very very beautiful watch! The one you can use even in Buckingham palace or on the beach. Elegant. As I have said before, I am going more and more towards the old style.
I have only just purchased this watch from a Seiko retailer here in the UK on a sale. Originally priced at £290 but it was reduced to £170. I am really enjoying this watch. I don't think I will be modding it though but if I did I would just probably put in a sapphire crystal. Great review Jodey.
I've never been able to pull the trigger on a two tone myself, however I'd go with the double domed, NO fluted bezel and the gold clasp on a black Horween leather...that right there would be a crackin looking watch.
Sapphire definitely. Keep the smooth gold bezel.love it on the leather....it needs a black day date wheel. Done. Although not sure about the gold crown!!
Definitely a massive improvement and quite possibly my favourite out of the newer models. Might get my Tudor 36 fix with this for a while as it looks like a very affordable alternative. I'd definitely love to see this one with improvements you suggested
Bit late to the Party but I'd say Jubilee and crystal, clasp if you need it along with the Movement but leave it at that as it's one of those designs where less is more, I'd personally have it on a brown vintage leather most of the time as it compliments the gold tones without clashing with the silver. I keep getting more and more tempted to alter my SNKP27 as while I love it's appearence the lack of hand wind and Lume (seriously Seiko Lume would have cost you pence) make it a bit of a Sod to run frequently.
Just picked up the guilt one myself, I've found a gilt day/date wheel, going to add sapphire, gold cathedral hands and a gold rotar from namoki for a sporty/alpinist look.
I would go for flat sapphire rather than domed. Cut down on the scratches and reflections and better balance with a lighter strap. Then either rolled links or those cheap mesh straps from AliExpress that you promoted with the NTTD Pagani, maybe one gold and one silver? Also unlimited adjustments.
I've got the SRPE57K1F with the same dial as this one on a great sale too. $245 cdn at a department store. Which helped a lot cause they were an authorized reseller and Seiko fast shipped me extra links from Japan for free. All the watch stores wanted to charge me 40 bucks plus a 5-8 month wait as there was no stock. Yeah, no stock for the customers who don't buy watches from their stores but whatever I know better to contact Seiko directly in the future from now on.
I saw an identical watch to this one in a shop local to me. It wasn't two tone just stainless. It did have a gorgeous sun burst blue dial. Definitely an attractive watch and very, very tempting.
I now I have two of these, the blue dial and the black and gilt version, paid £120ish second hand last year for the black (came with aftermarket strap, which was utter crap) and picked the blue one last month for £130 new, so seems that price is the norm especially with your pick up. As for the mod, upgrade the crystal leave the rest.
Great video using this example watch to mod. Watch manufacturers are pretty skilled at cutting costs evenly across a watch. Replace the stamped clasp, but there are still the hollow end links, or the bracelet is not tapered, or it's 22mm and you should have bought a watch with 20mm. Or lug to lug is 50, and you really would like 47. You've got mineral crystal or sapphire with no AR, but you really want domed sapphire with AR. Now you want a ceramic bezel, or one with lume. You do all that, but then the primary lume still isn't great depending on watch. Or the watch is too heavy. A big complaint is watches that are all bezel and chapter ring with short hands and markers close together. Seiko Propex PADI solar has that problem. They could have made the watch much smaller with the same face! I think swapping bracelet/band is OK, and maybe swapping crystal, but since costs are cut evenly across the watch, it's more economical to simply step up a couple rungs and buy a more expensive watch. I'm still looking for a quality quartz non-diver with C3 lume.
i love the look of the hamilton khaki field automatic. but i haven't purchased one because of its poor waterproof capabilities. just saw this watch. love the case size, the comfort of the seiko build, reasonable price and service costs. plan to make my own field watch with the brushed silver model.
Get yourself a Seikosrpf20 dial and hands. Change the day and date wheels to black instead of the whole movement for some savings. Upgrade bracelet and clasp along with adding the double dome. And 💥you’ve got yourself a sweet iron man look that Mr. Stark would be envious of😉
I like the sailcloth belt but the two leathers, no; too rustic. Save your Horweens and your shaggy suedes for military watches. The black dial with the gold make this a dressy-ish watch in spite of the divey indices, but if you insist on something waterproof, go with the sailcloth or get a black silicone strap that evokes leather. A domed crystal, definitely. And I like Holtman's suggestion for the day/date wheels below.
Sorry for not following the alternatives, but I say retro stitched leather strap, double domed saphire, and snowflake hands. That's what I would do. Make it an Black Bay Homage.
No on the movement change. The white day date balances out the 9 o'clock index and is more readable. I would change out the clasp and the crystal though I'd probably wait until it got scratched up a bit. Definitely not on the fluted bezel.
Electroplate the whole case gold, change the day wheel to plain black, put the date in black background with white numbers (or even better gold). Change to gold bracelet.
You got this for a great price! That’s pretty much what I paid for a beaten up used one earlier in the year. I really like the DressKX. Absolutely perfect GADA watch and in typical Seiko style wears quite a bit smaller than the on paper dimensions would suggest. I voted for giving it the whole shebang! Crystal, clasp, bracelet, movement 🔧 Jody, you can rebuild it. You have the technology. You have the capability to build the world's first bionic DressKX!
I have to say, sir, that you could sell ice to an eskimo. 😄 Since that watch is a Seiko, it's therefore out of my realm of interest, but you always put a positive spin on just about everything. Instead, I can thank you for getting me interested (and purchasing) a Steinhart Ocean One Vintage Military, and putting the Tissot Seastar Pro 2000 on my wishlist (and probably a few others). You're one of the best watch channels on CZcams, hands down, regardless of your choice of watches. 👍
I have had several watches with mineral crystals, and as of yet I have never scratched one. I have used them when I worked in a heavy industrial setting.
Very nice watch! Still expensive in Turkey for some reason. Equivalent to us$350!! I'll wait or buy it when I go to Germany next year! I have an SRPD51K2 as a casual small dive style and yes, the lume is great on all these new Seiko 5 watches. Btw, the watch was fine for shallow diving , I took it to about 30m, no problem.
You're okay to keep the white date wheel. It suits a black dial with white hour markers. I think you'd actually find the overall appearance less symmetrical if you switched to black on black. I changed out the dial on my SARB035 to black and knew it needed the black wheel but that watch has no white on the dial with all metallic indices - different story here. Of all the ideas you showed I liked the fluted bezel.
I have the SRPE53 and changed to a double domed sapphire and a jubilee, both from Long Island Watch. If you're going to buy a new movement, keep the day wheel black but the date as white. That would look cracking. 👍🏼
Hi, mate. I would put a 120 click diver bezel, get rid of this crown, replace it with a steel screw one and replace the bracelet with a steel one... Don't forget to seal off to a diving activity... Regards from Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
Have been looking on Ali express at all the watch modding parts and am considering building my own custom SKXesque one by just buying a movement and then choosing my own dial, case, hands, strap etc... and assembling at home...
Yup, install sapphire, dump the gaudy bracelet, leave the movement, but change the crown for a polished stainless silver one. With straps, try out a gold buckle to match the bezel. That is all….
If I was to do anything, it would be to swap it out for a sapphire crystal, straps and bracelets I don't consider a mod. I know Marc from Long Island Watch, has put a formax clasp on a Seiko, another thing to consider, depending if you go for a good leather strap.
This watch came out before Rolex Explorer TT. I was surprised Seiko is able to homage a Rolex before Rolex launching. Just replace the hardlex with sapphire. Don't mess with it, it is a classic.
Two tone is not my style, but if I had this watch and a mod budget, I would do the fluted bezel, and find some way to source and fit a two tone jubilee style bracelet. Sapphire, yes. Black date wheel? A black day and white date might preserve the continuity of the dial better. But maybe not an option.
Oh my God Jodi you're killing me. I just just just can't justify buying one more watch and now you show me this. I went back and looked at the Blue version you did back in July and love that one too. Change the crystal to Sapphire change the clasp and call it a day. Then pull out that one brown leather strap you love so much and slap it on. Just curious if you go Sapphire will it be domed double-domed or just flat?
It looks 1000 percent better on any of those leather straps than that hideous bracelet. My first (and only) mod would be ditching the bracelet and clasp for a steel (not a two tone) jubilee. Then it will not look so much like the 1980's are calling :)
Well! I have had to many watches moded. I would say change the crystal to your double dome. Then dump the ss bracelet and go with your more formal straps. They all looked great. She reminds me of my Rolex ss and 18k Oyster Thunderbird. Shoot My entire 60 amazing amazing watches didn't cost what that comma kid cost. She rests in her coffin. Great vid and thanks for sharing. "Outback" has always been my restaurant of choice. By the way here in Florida we are up to 3 million Gators. With a new generation of crocks on the Horizon.
Sapphire crystal, yes please. Maybe a single dome just to be different. Changing the day/date wheels makes way more sense than swapping movements at this price range. I'd recommend a good quality leather strap, ostrich or lizard to play off the 'cheap-lux' look but make sure to add a gold tone buckle. I wouldn't bother w/ the DJ fluted bezel either.
Good looking out Sounders! Go D.C. United! It's a great watch that fits a dream. With a domed sapphire and a bracelet from Mark from long island watch (i like it better than the strap code) it would be perfect. . Addendum, No AR it can change the color tone of the dial. And definitely the long island watch bracelet.
It's a bit of a stretch, but... : Why not go all out and fit a two-tone bracelet with genuine 18k gold center-links? Come to think of it ... why not swap all gold plated parts for genuine 18k ones? Even if you ignore that slightly bonkers suggestion, I'd be interested to know how much one would have to spend to put it into practice... :)
Anther great video, Jody. I picked up the grey dial/brushed bezel back in May. I swapped out the OEM grey nylon strap for an Uncle Seiko President it looks absolutely brilliant. IMO, the best bracelet for the grey Dress KX. I say of you decide your Dress KX is going to be a keeper, go for the black date wheel. It would look pretty awesome. You are Do-It-Yourselfer so you would save some money. It would be great to see all of the mods you mentioned on this watch. Keep up the great work.
I've been eyeing this one a lot lately... I might get it for Christmas (or sooner if I don't want to wait😅) The one thing I know I will modify is the hands, I'll swap them for some golden dauphine ones to accentuate the dressy aspect of this watch. Everything else looks perfect to me.
- Two tone jubilee
- Sapphire crystal
- Fluted gold pvd bezel from long island watch
- Dial from the new limited edition pogue 5kx
💯
What about swapping the day of the week wheel to black, but leaving the date wheel white? (lumed date wheel maybe?) That way you could preserve a bit of the visual balance of the date window instead of an index at 3. Seiko actually do this themselves - see the SRPC68, for example.
Absolutely awesome idea! I’ve often thought about doing that on my own DressKX
Yup, black date wheel would be a great mod.
I’ve always wanted to do this on my 7S26 Seiko 5 to mimic the look of 60s Seiko 5s with the alternating day/date wheel color
Never seen that before until now. I kind of like that look as it is sort of balanced.
I would just like the date window to be framed like the old seiko 5's. No date frame just totally destroys the look of the watch.
LOL "this is my new favorite Seiko - and I want to change every part of it including the movement!"
I love your videos bud, it's just a good natured ribbing.
- I wouldn’t switch out the movement for the reason you suggest. I say the colour of the day/date complements the colour of the hour markers; making the DD black would make it look like a marker is missing.
- If you don’t mind an experiment, might I suggest trying out the Forstner Komfit bracelet on this one? That one’s super-easy to adjust “on the fly” and adds a 1960s retro look.
- I wonder if they make a sunburst gold dial for the 5KX?
I just checked out the Forstner Komfit. Normally, I don't like the shark-mesh styles, but, that one is NICE.
I might have to buy the new Seiko 5 Field Watch... but I should sell some other watches first in order to make myself feel better about my purchase(!) 😅 Also, you could be a proper baller and have a solid gold bezel custom made! 😆
I'd do a sapphire, but in stead of a black date wheel, I'd consider a cyclops/candybar. I'd consider changing the clasp into a milled one - but only if I'd be able to keep to Seiko signed shell.
Double dome sapphire, keep the movement, just swap for a color matched day/date wheel. Put it back on that brown Horween . That strap looked really good with the gold and stainless steel. (Much better than I would have expected.)
Reminds me of my late grandfather's seiko solar watch he left me. As an earth scientist, I love renewable energy tech on the wrist. It happens to be the watch that led me down the rabbit-hole of watches, and so I am here!
Just got mine. As an owner of a Seiko Alpinist, for the price this Seiko 5 is hand down a GREAT watch on this lower price range and the yellow look sporty but also even more elegant than in photos/videos.
I have the grey one and I replaced the bracelet with with a fitted j-one from longislandwatch. They have a very nice taper down to 16mm and a slender clasp with 3 microadjusts. It is about the perfect balance for this small-ish watch.
The bracelets from strapcode taper only to 18mm and are way more heavy and chunky and therefore unbalanced.
Jodi
After changing the movement, crystal & band. You have effectively created an entirely new watch. Add the cost of the replacement parts plus what you paid for the watch and you could have purchaded a nicer watch to begin with.
Where's the fun in that Robert?
I sometimes look at sapphire upgrades the same way I look at car seat covers. Do you put them on before the seats get damaged, or after to hide the damage? Do you wait until your hardlex gets scratched and then Swap it?
To me, that’s a decent value watch as-is. I know you don’t look at these mods quite like us non-you tubers, but I don’t think there’s much bang for the buck in any of the proposed mods.
But I’ll happily watch your mod video to see what you did!
That was my thought exactly. I think the watch is darn near perfect as is. Change the crystal if it ever gets mucked up, otherwise I could love this one without complaint.
Agree, the watch is great as is. Don't mind two-tone at all, it's a fun, slightly ironic look. If the IP coating on the bracelet starts to chip, it's easy to then swap it out - or you could deliberately scuff the hell out the watch so it develops a patina to match its retro style.
Whatever happened to the “pocket shot”. It was one of my favourites. Great vid. Seiko sure gets a lot of air time. Dump the crystal. Dump the bracelet. Use a strap you have in the drawer and call it a day! I think two tone will be too passé very soon!
+1 for the Pocket Shot. 📸
I suggest:
- sapphire crystal
- lumed day / date wheels and chapter ring
- new bracelet / clasp
- new hands (gold cathedral?)
I’m usually as thrifty as you so I wouldn’t change the crystal until it unused it. Then I can rationalize the money.
The clasp is an issue due to not getting a good fit so a Strapcode clasp would be on the shortlist for me.
BTW, I agree with others here that a black date window will unbalance the dial. Don't change out the perfectly good movement for a dubious "improvement".
The new field watches from Seiko are also very good.
Compared one in person to both hand-wind and auto Hamilton Khaki, and it's a very good half-way point between those two.
I have a black dial 55K1 that I installed a flat sapphire from Long Island Watch. I'm perfectly happy with the stock bracelet. I don't think milled clasps and solid end links are functionally any better. People were fine with pressed clasps and hollow end links until they discovered the internet. The aftermarket bracelets all seem to have male end links and I prefer the fit with the stock female end links.
Being a fan of the Sounders since their inaugural season, I LIKE YOUR CHOICE OF GARMENTRY THERE JODY!!
Sapphire crystal, new clasp, fluted bezel. Those are my votes. Good vid. Keep at it!
I have the green dial version. I put the bracelet from a dead SKX013 on it. I wears nicely and doesn't add much weight. Go Sounders!
Mine (the silver one) arrived this week and I must say Jody didn’t exaggerate how comfortable it wears! Also love the looks! I hate the bracelet and the chapter ring is slightly misaligned (so at least I’m sure it is a real seiko…). Will be replacing those and put in some sapphire.
I think think a black date wheel will mess with the ‘balance’ of the dial since the indices are also in white and the marker at nine is also a square shape. But I hope you prove me wrong, looking forward to the result!
I got a great deal on mine so the mods are worth it imo, wouldn’t recommend doing all this if you’ve paid anywhere near RRP, so many more options available…
I just got my Seiko SUR317P1 today. Its a quartz classic looking watch and I love it.
The day date seems to be about the size of the 9 o’clock index, so I think the white date wheel balances out the index at 9 pretty well. So I don’t think a black date wheel movement would be worth it, especially not at $113. I say get a sapphire crystal and a better clasp and call it good
After the last mod vid I ordered myself parts from AliExpress and I just got done building it now, thanks for the inspiration, mine is a yellow dial oyster style watch
I would go on stages Jodi. Wait until you scratch the crystal and replace it and then wait until you need to change the movement for a service. That way you'd have a new watch every time you do something to it!
I like the two tone.
Two-tone strapcode clasp, sapphire cristal - definitely yes. Black day/date wheels - maybe. I'd wait for am aftermarket two-tone jubilee. Definitely no to a fluted bezel. Maybe you'd want to look for another dial for the sake of it?
Very very beautiful watch! The one you can use even in Buckingham palace or on the beach. Elegant. As I have said before, I am going more and more towards the old style.
I have only just purchased this watch from a Seiko retailer here in the UK on a sale. Originally priced at £290 but it was reduced to £170. I am really enjoying this watch. I don't think I will be modding it though but if I did I would just probably put in a sapphire crystal. Great review Jodey.
Great little watch, I bought the 51 grey dial. I'm definitely going to swap the bracelet for an uncle seiko president. Great price you paid.
I've never been able to pull the trigger on a two tone myself, however I'd go with the double domed, NO fluted bezel and the gold clasp on a black Horween leather...that right there would be a crackin looking watch.
I have this and agree with your viewpoints. I have changed the clasp to the AliExpress milled version.
Sapphire definitely. Keep the smooth gold bezel.love it on the leather....it needs a black day date wheel. Done. Although not sure about the gold crown!!
I love Seiko. Bought a Seiko 5 Sport earlier this year, and it's very accurate with a solid build.
Definitely a massive improvement and quite possibly my favourite out of the newer models. Might get my Tudor 36 fix with this for a while as it looks like a very affordable alternative. I'd definitely love to see this one with improvements you suggested
Double Dom Saphir in Green , Nicer Clasp and go for the NH36 match colour date weel
Bit late to the Party but I'd say Jubilee and crystal, clasp if you need it along with the Movement but leave it at that as it's one of those designs where less is more, I'd personally have it on a brown vintage leather most of the time as it compliments the gold tones without clashing with the silver.
I keep getting more and more tempted to alter my SNKP27 as while I love it's appearence the lack of hand wind and Lume (seriously Seiko Lume would have cost you pence) make it a bit of a Sod to run frequently.
Just picked up the guilt one myself, I've found a gilt day/date wheel, going to add sapphire, gold cathedral hands and a gold rotar from namoki for a sporty/alpinist look.
Picked up my SRPE61 for $165 USD at Mimo’s in Long Beach, CA. I was also pleased to find that the chapter ring lined up!
I would go for flat sapphire rather than domed. Cut down on the scratches and reflections and better balance with a lighter strap. Then either rolled links or those cheap mesh straps from AliExpress that you promoted with the NTTD Pagani, maybe one gold and one silver? Also unlimited adjustments.
I love my blue dial on the bracelet. It also looks great on a variety of straps. So comfortable and looks great. Runs at +4 sec/day.
I've got the SRPE57K1F with the same dial as this one on a great sale too. $245 cdn at a department store. Which helped a lot cause they were an authorized reseller and Seiko fast shipped me extra links from Japan for free.
All the watch stores wanted to charge me 40 bucks plus a 5-8 month wait as there was no stock. Yeah, no stock for the customers who don't buy watches from their stores but whatever I know better to contact Seiko directly in the future from now on.
A gold rotor would look amazing and match the theme perfectly.
Petition to bring the pocket shot back!
Oh and maybe the gold rotor from the Cocktail Time series would be a nice addition to the watch...
I saw an identical watch to this one in a shop local to me. It wasn't two tone just stainless. It did have a gorgeous sun burst blue dial. Definitely an attractive watch and very, very tempting.
I now I have two of these, the blue dial and the black and gilt version, paid £120ish second hand last year for the black (came with aftermarket strap, which was utter crap) and picked the blue one last month for £130 new, so seems that price is the norm especially with your pick up. As for the mod, upgrade the crystal leave the rest.
I replaced the standard bracelet with a jubilee one. Honestly it looks so good on that new replacement bracelet.
Great video using this example watch to mod.
Watch manufacturers are pretty skilled at cutting costs evenly across a watch. Replace the stamped clasp, but there are still the hollow end links, or the bracelet is not tapered, or it's 22mm and you should have bought a watch with 20mm. Or lug to lug is 50, and you really would like 47.
You've got mineral crystal or sapphire with no AR, but you really want domed sapphire with AR. Now you want a ceramic bezel, or one with lume.
You do all that, but then the primary lume still isn't great depending on watch. Or the watch is too heavy.
A big complaint is watches that are all bezel and chapter ring with short hands and markers close together. Seiko Propex PADI solar has that problem. They could have made the watch much smaller with the same face!
I think swapping bracelet/band is OK, and maybe swapping crystal, but since costs are cut evenly across the watch, it's more economical to simply step up a couple rungs and buy a more expensive watch. I'm still looking for a quality quartz non-diver with C3 lume.
Great share. And looking to add in the collection as a desk diver. I like the two tone.
Put in a domed AR sapphire crystal and a matching black day/ date wheel 👌🙌
i love the look of the hamilton khaki field automatic. but i haven't purchased one because of its poor waterproof capabilities. just saw this watch. love the case size, the comfort of the seiko build, reasonable price and service costs. plan to make my own field watch with the brushed silver model.
I probably do the crystal, the two-tone clasp from Strapcode, and maybe the bezel.
Hey Jody! Greetings from the Pacific Northwest of USA, near Seattle. Thanks for your fabulous videos. Great shirt today! As always.
Get yourself a Seikosrpf20 dial and hands.
Change the day and date wheels to black instead of the whole movement for some savings. Upgrade bracelet and clasp along with adding the double dome. And 💥you’ve got yourself a sweet iron man look that Mr. Stark would be envious of😉
Keep it simple. Sapphire crystal and strapcode bracelet. It doesn't need to be two-tone IMO. All st. st. with gold bezel and crown will look nice.
I like the sailcloth belt but the two leathers, no; too rustic. Save your Horweens and your shaggy suedes for military watches. The black dial with the gold make this a dressy-ish watch in spite of the divey indices, but if you insist on something waterproof, go with the sailcloth or get a black silicone strap that evokes leather. A domed crystal, definitely. And I like Holtman's suggestion for the day/date wheels below.
I must admit, I like the video and Jody´s scottish accent much more than the ticker.
Sorry for not following the alternatives, but I say retro stitched leather strap, double domed saphire, and snowflake hands. That's what I would do. Make it an Black Bay Homage.
No on the movement change. The white day date balances out the 9 o'clock index and is more readable. I would change out the clasp and the crystal though I'd probably wait until it got scratched up a bit. Definitely not on the fluted bezel.
Electroplate the whole case gold, change the day wheel to plain black, put the date in black background with white numbers (or even better gold). Change to gold bracelet.
You got this for a great price! That’s pretty much what I paid for a beaten up used one earlier in the year. I really like the DressKX. Absolutely perfect GADA watch and in typical Seiko style wears quite a bit smaller than the on paper dimensions would suggest.
I voted for giving it the whole shebang! Crystal, clasp, bracelet, movement 🔧 Jody, you can rebuild it. You have the technology. You have the capability to build the world's first bionic DressKX!
Bionic DressKX! That's the name settled then.
I have to say, sir, that you could sell ice to an eskimo. 😄 Since that watch is a Seiko, it's therefore out of my realm of interest, but you always put a positive spin on just about everything. Instead, I can thank you for getting me interested (and purchasing) a Steinhart Ocean One Vintage Military, and putting the Tissot Seastar Pro 2000 on my wishlist (and probably a few others). You're one of the best watch channels on CZcams, hands down, regardless of your choice of watches. 👍
I have had several watches with mineral crystals, and as of yet I have never scratched one. I have used them when I worked in a heavy industrial setting.
Very nice watch! Still expensive in Turkey for some reason. Equivalent to us$350!! I'll wait or buy it when I go to Germany next year! I have an SRPD51K2 as a casual small dive style and yes, the lume is great on all these new Seiko 5 watches. Btw, the watch was fine for shallow diving , I took it to about 30m, no problem.
Sounders!!!! Scarves up!!!!!!!
Crystal Times double dome clear, movement with black day date, and new clasp. Nice summertime watch.
You're okay to keep the white date wheel. It suits a black dial with white hour markers. I think you'd actually find the overall appearance less symmetrical if you switched to black on black. I changed out the dial on my SARB035 to black and knew it needed the black wheel but that watch has no white on the dial with all metallic indices - different story here. Of all the ideas you showed I liked the fluted bezel.
Kanji Day Date gold on black, matching the dial.
I have the SRPE53 and changed to a double domed sapphire and a jubilee, both from Long Island Watch.
If you're going to buy a new movement, keep the day wheel black but the date as white. That would look cracking. 👍🏼
Hi, mate. I would put a 120 click diver bezel, get rid of this crown, replace it with a steel screw one and replace the bracelet with a steel one... Don't forget to seal off to a diving activity... Regards from Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
Have been looking on Ali express at all the watch modding parts and am considering building my own custom SKXesque one by just buying a movement and then choosing my own dial, case, hands, strap etc... and assembling at home...
The srpe53 is my first automatic watch and I'm absolutely in love with it.
It's too beautiful and a very good deal for the money.
Yup, install sapphire, dump the gaudy bracelet, leave the movement, but change the crown for a polished stainless silver one. With straps, try out a gold buckle to match the bezel. That is all….
SEATTLE SOUNDERS 😱🥰 Mate amazing to see that !
Anacortes,Wa.
I don’t even know if this is a possibility but try adding a screw down crown?
If I was to do anything, it would be to swap it out for a sapphire crystal, straps and bracelets I don't consider a mod. I know Marc from Long Island Watch, has put a formax clasp on a Seiko, another thing to consider, depending if you go for a good leather strap.
Every now and then I think about getting a DressKX (no two tone! 😂) and mod it with a sapphire crystal but with one that looks like the original one.
This watch came out before Rolex Explorer TT. I was surprised Seiko is able to homage a Rolex before Rolex launching. Just replace the hardlex with sapphire. Don't mess with it, it is a classic.
My bus to work in Chicago takes me past the Horween tannery every day - always thinking about Jody when I see it :)
Two tone is not my style, but if I had this watch and a mod budget, I would do the fluted bezel, and find some way to source and fit a two tone jubilee style bracelet. Sapphire, yes. Black date wheel? A black day and white date might preserve the continuity of the dial better. But maybe not an option.
Oh my God Jodi you're killing me. I just just just can't justify buying one more watch and now you show me this. I went back and looked at the Blue version you did back in July and love that one too. Change the crystal to Sapphire change the clasp and call it a day. Then pull out that one brown leather strap you love so much and slap it on. Just curious if you go Sapphire will it be domed double-domed or just flat?
I put my gilt dial dressKX on an Uncle Seiko waffle rubber strap and love it.
Please do the fluted bezel. I think it’s gonna be a little more dressier. Looking forward to your video👍
I’m always a big ol’ dial dork, so I think you’d do well to get a unique or showy dial on there along with your expected bracelet swap.
It looks 1000 percent better on any of those leather straps than that hideous bracelet. My first (and only) mod would be ditching the bracelet and clasp for a steel (not a two tone) jubilee. Then it will not look so much like the 1980's are calling :)
Alixpress offers NH35/36 black date/day wheels at U$S11
Well! I have had to many watches moded. I would say change the crystal to your double dome. Then dump the ss bracelet and go with your more formal straps. They all looked great. She reminds me of my Rolex ss and 18k Oyster Thunderbird. Shoot My entire 60 amazing amazing watches didn't cost what that comma kid cost. She rests in her coffin. Great vid and thanks for sharing. "Outback" has always been my restaurant of choice. By the way here in Florida we are up to 3 million Gators. With a new generation of crocks on the Horizon.
Love the Seattle Sounders FC T-shirt!
Man...so many options. I'll enjoy whatever the heck you do to it 😆
Sapphire crystal, yes please. Maybe a single dome just to be different. Changing the day/date wheels makes way more sense than swapping movements at this price range. I'd recommend a good quality leather strap, ostrich or lizard to play off the 'cheap-lux' look but make sure to add a gold tone buckle. I wouldn't bother w/ the DJ fluted bezel either.
A black rubber tropics style strap and saphire crystal would really dress this up nicely.
Good looking out Sounders! Go D.C. United! It's a great watch that fits a dream. With a domed sapphire and a bracelet from Mark from long island watch (i like it better than the strap code) it would be perfect. . Addendum, No AR it can change the color tone of the dial. And definitely the long island watch bracelet.
It's a bit of a stretch, but... : Why not go all out and fit a two-tone bracelet with genuine 18k gold center-links? Come to think of it ... why not swap all gold plated parts for genuine 18k ones? Even if you ignore that slightly bonkers suggestion, I'd be interested to know how much one would have to spend to put it into practice... :)
The super J bracelet is great. I have the Orient Kamasu version.
it's a nice watch, and the two tone looks good too! But the dark straps you put on made the watch look fantastic/
Love the shirt, nice to see MLS fans. I'm a NE revs fan, I live right near the stadium. Great vid!
Anther great video, Jody. I picked up the grey dial/brushed bezel back in May. I swapped out the OEM grey nylon strap for an Uncle Seiko President it looks absolutely brilliant. IMO, the best bracelet for the grey Dress KX.
I say of you decide your Dress KX is going to be a keeper, go for the black date wheel. It would look pretty awesome. You are Do-It-Yourselfer so you would save some money. It would be great to see all of the mods you mentioned on this watch. Keep up the great work.
I've been eyeing this one a lot lately... I might get it for Christmas (or sooner if I don't want to wait😅)
The one thing I know I will modify is the hands, I'll swap them for some golden dauphine ones to accentuate the dressy aspect of this watch. Everything else looks perfect to me.
Seiko two-tone take on a BB36. Very nice.