The short answer is yes! Below you’ll find what we discovered after taking the new watch apart and and testing every component with other similar models parts like the SRPD series and infamous SKX007. Shoutout to Eric Yoon of Lume Shot for helping diagnose compatibility and give insight into the modability of the new SSK.
SSK001 and SSK003 shown
Let’s dive in!
The Case: The case itself is pretty similar to the SKX007 7S26-0020 and SRPD Case appearance wise, but there are a few main differences when it comes to parts compatibility. The new SSK case bezel snap ledge does not support a click bezel and lends itself to not having an area to insert a click spring. The crown guard area is similar in shape but supports a push pull crown vs a screw down crown found on the 7s26-0020 case. In the crown area below we’ll get into what crowns are compatible and a link to one that Crystaltimes produces!
Movement: The new SSK hosts a GMT 4R34 movement. We found that you can transplant the whole assembly (movement, dial, hands) into an SKX007 or SRPD 5 Sports case, but what you run into is the second hand pinion bumping up against the crystal. Eric found that installing a double dome crystal solves this. Also, let’s say you have a cool assembly from another build that you want to put into the new SSK case – we did just this and it works perfectly. Keep in mind the rule about black spacers vs grey spacers when picking your case back which we will get into next. There is a twist when it comes to case backs on the new SSK case.
Case Back: The case back supplied with the new SSK case works great on SKX007 and SRPD cases, but when you take a standard SKX007 case back and try to put it on the new SSK case it does not fit. However, NH case backs fit on the new case, but that doesn’t do you any good unless you have a grey spacer. A note about case back gaskets: the SSK case back gasket is much thinner than the diver case back gaskets that are generally found on SKX models, and may create a small “raised” case back look but will not effect water resistance.
Crown and Stem: The new SSK has a push-pull crown with single gasket. We found that the SRPD Crown and aftermarket crowns like CT240 are compatible with the new SSK case. The CT240 crown boasts a triple gasket design enhancing water resistance. Also, the NH stems that are used for the NH35/36/38 4R35/36 etc. work with the new GMT movement! We have CT502 stems. The SSK crown works on SRPD models but not SKX and the like with screw down crowns.
Hands: The SSK Hour, Minute and Seconds hands are interchangeable between the new GMT and SKX/SRPD Movement models alike. SKX Hands are compatible!
Dials: The SSK Dial inner diameter is wider than most OEM and aftermarket dials that are on the market today to account for the added GMT wheel, so unless you are planning on boring out the inner diameter most of your SKX dials will not be compatible.
Bracelets and Straps: The SSK’s have a very nice bracelet on them, but bracelets are not cross compatible here. SSK bracelets do not fit on SKX0007 cases, and SKX007 bracelets do not fit SSK cases*. *the SKX007 bracelets fit in the lugs quite nice actually, but the issue is that you can only use the skinny spring bars that come with the SSK in the drilled lug holes. I know right – so interesting. The holes are drilled so small that you cannot get traditional or fat spring bars into the drilled holes. A nice NATO strap like CT901 fits great or other straight end rubber straps at 22mm.
Crystal and Crystal Gasket (This was our most anticipated portion of this exercise, obviously): We can confirm that SKX007 SRPD sapphire crystals fit! However, SKX007 gaskets do not. You would need to use the OEM gasket or SRPD gasket.
Chapter Ring: This one is interesting, and we were a little disappointed here. The SSK chapter ring is not cross compatible. The size is different and there are two pins on the underside at 24hr and 12hr positions in the middle of the chapter ring ledge. No modifications to chapter rings to make them work in either case.
Bezel Inserts: While they are very similar to the SKX007/SRPD bezel inserts, the Outside Diameter of the aluminum/glass insert that comes on the SSK is slightly larger. Can you still get away with an SKX007/SRPD insert on there, yes, but there would be a small gap between the outside diameter of the insert and the inside diameter bezel ledge.
We did a deep dive into cross compatibility between the SKX007/SRPD and the new SSK GMT 5 series. We had a great time exploring another incredible creation by Seiko. We hope this was helpful and that you enjoyed reading into modding the SSK!
It appears that one could not change out the BLACK dial of a ssk001 with a WHITE dial to emulate the look of an Explorer II Polar GMT. I would consider doing that and replacing the Hardex with Sapphire…if I could.
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It appears that one could not change out the BLACK dial of a ssk001 with a WHITE dial to emulate the look of an Explorer II Polar GMT. I would consider doing that and replacing the Hardex with Sapphire…if I could.