Is Seiko Modding Illegal? Everything You Need to Know

Despite how popular it is, there are still many misconceptions attached to Seiko modding. One of the most questions we get about Seiko mods is if it’s in any way illegal to change the parts of your watch. While the answer to this question may be seemingly obvious, there’s more to it than you may think. To help you learn more about this, here’s a brief discussion on everything you need to know about Seiko modding and its legal implications. 

What Is Watch Modding?

Modding refers to the act of modifying a watch from its original state. Basically, any changes (no matter how small) made to a watch that alters it from how it originally came from the factory counts as modding. Modding is a popular activity among watch enthusiasts as it lets them create a unique timepiece that is totally different from anything that’s available on the market.

Seiko modding, in particular, is extremely popular, and its modding’s popularity can be attributed to the watch’s timeless design. Couple this with the fact that they are easy to modify, and it’s easy to see why Seikos are the go-to choice of watch enthusiasts who are looking to get into the watch modding scene.

Is Seiko Modding Illegal?

To put it simply, watch modding is 100% legal. While we understand that people’s concerns stem from copyright issues, the thing you have to understand is that modding doesn’t infringe on a company’s intellectual property. If you mod a Seiko watch, you’re not creating a new Seiko watch. Essentially, if your only goal is to change your watch’s parts, then you have nothing to worry about from a legal standpoint!

Now, things change when you’re trying to sell a watch and claim that all of the parts are original equipment manufacturer (OEM). Mislabeling parts and misleading people into thinking that they are OEM is extremely illegal.

What Parts Can Be Modded?

Just about every part of a watch can be modified. Commonly modded parts such as the dial, hands, and crystal are rather easy to handle, which makes them perfect for people who have just entered the watch modding scene. And while it is possible to modify a watch’s movement, this is something that’s best left to the professionals as modifying a watch’s movement components can get rather complicated.

Where Can You Find Mod Parts?

There are a couple of ways you can approach sourcing your mod parts. One option is to upcycle parts from other watches. This is appealing as sourcing your parts from official Seiko watches gives you access to OEM parts. Another great option is to source your parts directly from a mod part provider. We here at Crystaltimes USA have a complete inventory of Seiko mod parts as well as a wide variety of Seiko mod parts for your modding enjoyment!

Conclusion

We hope this article has helped you better understand modding and the legality behind it. In the end, watch enthusiasts who want to modify watches should not be worried about any legal repercussions. As long as you don’t mislabel parts and pass them off as OEM parts, then you should be in the clear!

Crystaltimes USA is your best source when it comes to quality watch mod parts at reasonable prices. We carry mod parts from Seiko as well as other components fit for other watch brands. If you’re looking for a specific Seiko mod part or tool for your watch modding project, you can check out our collection today!