Enhancing Your Seiko SKX With A Bezel Insert Mod

Made from a reputable Japanese brand, Seiko watches are booming in popularity due to its reliable mechanisms and budget-friendly price tag. The SKX models, in particular, are designed to be foolproof against daily wear-and-tear.

The modding community is becoming a subculture within the watch collector’s world as enthusiasts transform low-priced watches into something that looks and functions as if it were worth more than it really was. Take the bezel, for instance.

A Closer Look at Bezels

Before going on a dive into the water, the red arrow on the bezel is placed on the 12 o’clock position on the watch. It’s essential to be aware of the graduations on the bezel (which can show from 0 to 60 or from 60 to 0) because these indicate how many minutes in an hour have passed during a particular dive.

This is so that you can take note of your remaining time and have an estimated measure of the sufficiency of oxygen needed to support you on your ascent back to the surface. A diver’s underwater time or “bottom time” is considered a vital statistic for any diver because after a certain time passes, the body tissues will start absorbing compressed Nitrogen.

How Bezels Help Divers

When a diver has been underwater for quite some time, it’s critical for them to avoid immediately ascending to the surface. Instead, they must wait for a certain period at a certain depth to decompress or “off-gas” the accumulated Nitrogen in the body. With this, divers usually follow a “120 Rule” which indicates that the maximum time in minutes spent by the diver at a certain depth is equivalent to 120 minus the maximum depth.

Like for instance, for an 80-foot dive, the no-decompression limit on a diver’s bezel is 40 minutes. If the diver exceeds this limit, it’s necessary to spend extra time underwater as a penalty. Still, while at penalty, it’s important to stay vigilant of the amount of your oxygen so you can have sufficient enough upon your ascent. That is why the first 15 to 20 minutes on the bezel are highlighted.

Updating the Look of Your Bezels

The Seiko SKX007 is designed to let you customize using available mods. It doesn’t require you to be an expert of watches nor a professional modder because, with the right tools and ample patience, you can certainly manage to do it yourself.

Here’s what you’ll need to do:

Step #1:

First up, get the right tools. You can easily buy these online at a fair price. Once you’re fully equipped, thoroughly clean your workspace because even a grain of dust can damage a watch’s interior. Make sure that there isn’t any oil or substances around that could alter the movement of your watch’s mechanism. A soft non-slippery surface to work on would be perfect because it keeps components from rolling off or getting lost easily.

Step #2:

Use a strap remover to carefully separate the strap. Then, remove the back case cover precisely using a back case opener. Do it carefully and make sure that the opener is set smoothly because it may cause scratches if it is loose.

Step #3:

Now, prevent the rotor from moving by gently putting on a tiny piece of tape over it. It’s advisable to wear gloves or finger cots to avoid any debris or oil from tarnishing the components.

Step #4:

The next step is removing the crown. Keep the crown set at the 0 position. Then, press the release notch and pull the crown at the same time. Once the crown has been removed, take out the movement.

Press out the crystal and remove the chapter ring.

Step #5:

Now that the parts are separated, use a bezel removal tool to remove the bezel. Insert it in between the bezel and the case before gently twisting until the bezel pops out. Once the bezel is removed, gently get a sharp edge underneath the bezel and bezel insert. Gently move the edge around until the insert comes off. The insert is held down by either contact cement or an adhesive sticker, so it will be slightly difficult to salvage the old insert unless you heat the insert up first.

Once you’ve got the insert off and the bezel cleaned up you can now get that chapter ring back in there and press the crystal in. Once the crystal is in place and level, you can now press the bezel on with the press. Once the bezel is in place you can apply the new bezel insert into place so it all lines up!

Step #6:

After you’re done putting all the internal workings back, insert the crown, tighten the case back, and then connect the straps.

In Conclusion

The Seiko brand is a leading giant in the world of watchmaking today. With its robust and reliable build, the masses can make the most of quality watches without the need to burn holes in their pocket.

Different mod parts are also available in various stores, allowing watch collectors and modders a chance to give their handy timepiece a much-needed upgrade. With that in mind, the guide above should clue you in on how to equip your Seiko SKX watch with a new bezel mod.

Should you want to switch up parts on your Seiko watch, get in touch with us today for Seiko mod parts in the USA. We’re happy to help!