Topic: 31MAS (Read 1385 times)

axb · « **on:** May 17, 2011, 10:47:29 AM »

This one's been a while in the making:

With judicious use of power tools, a Ramon special SKX031 (with one major flaw - more later) and parts from various parts of the world and the bottom of the parts drawer - I just put the last bits together tonight and I couldn't wait to post the finished result so here are some Q&Ds:

Cost a lot less than the real thing...

jkchua · « **Reply #1 on:** May 17, 2011, 10:55:41 AM »

Nice homage!

Loyswatch also had a 7002 custom built into a 62mas. Sold for $240+ at the bay

DAHASCO · « **Reply #2 on:** May 17, 2011, 11:10:36 AM »

I really like that Custom Watch

I have a similar project in my future. Must have been fun working on that one

SurfingSeiko · « **Reply #3 on:** May 17, 2011, 12:30:53 PM »

Nice work Alex!!!!

Looks fantastic.

Mark

otr002 · « **Reply #4 on:** May 17, 2011, 12:35:06 PM »

Awesome work and very creative, just wish I'd have thought of it first

Rod

Aurelius · « **Reply #5 on:** May 17, 2011, 01:24:59 PM »

That looks fantastic!

Cannop · « **Reply #6 on:** May 17, 2011, 01:51:04 PM »

Now that I like!

Well done

Are you going to post a step by step artictle on how you acheived it? That I would like to read.

tunafied · « **Reply #7 on:** May 17, 2011, 02:18:35 PM »

Quote from: Cannop on May 17, 2011, 01:51:04 PM

Now that I like! Well done
Are you going to post a step by step artictle on how you acheived it? That I would like to read.

+1 sure curious on hw u manage to get this mod project done..sure look like lots of effort needed..

d1ck_browne · « **Reply #8 on:** May 17, 2011, 09:20:41 PM »

Nice one - I'm halfway through that very mod with a 7s26

The donor case arrived a few weeks back, from Ramon, and the crown guards have been removed, just need to get a decent polish on it, how did you do yours?

Another bunch of parts arrived today all packaged up as a complete watch, described as not-running, it was ticking out of the envelope, and is keeping good time, so I'll service it, and transfer the rest of the parts onto the donor case, and see how it all goes.

Still waiting for a 6217 dial from the Phillipines

maybe tomorrow?

Isthmus · « **Reply #9 on:** May 17, 2011, 09:41:39 PM »

Very clever mod alex. Finally I see something done that might get me to buy an 031. You rock man. Thanks for the awesome idea.

funkster · « **Reply #10 on:** May 19, 2011, 09:20:19 PM »

Lovely mod mate!

Let me know first if you decide to sell!

seiko5man · « **Reply #11 on:** July 09, 2011, 03:40:51 AM »

Great work!

bubba295 · « **Reply #12 on:** January 13, 2012, 01:02:35 AM »

Now that is a nice mod. God Job!!

bluloo · « **Reply #13 on:** January 13, 2012, 05:41:24 AM »

Good looking mod.

pollyc · « **Reply #14 on:** January 13, 2012, 08:32:30 AM »

Nice one Alex, that was well worth the effort. Thank you for letting us know and the pictures. Been thinking about the same modification myself for a while as I can not possibly afford a genuine 62MAS and what with ready made replicas being expensive for what they are, you have convinced me to make one also.

Also DIY is fun!

Cheers
Mike

David Bali · « **Reply #15 on:** January 22, 2012, 05:32:47 AM »

Hi alex, nice job! Wanna ask where did you surced the dome crystal? Thanks!

axb · « **Reply #16 on:** January 23, 2012, 08:13:35 AM »

HI David, the crystal is a domed "optic" crystal from a local watch supply house here in oz, and although it does the job I'm considering swapping it for either one of Harold's (yobokies) crystals or, probably an appropriately sized acrylic to be more in keeping with the original 62MAS.

I should really take some decent shots of this one in it's current state, I'll see if I can get to that soon....

A

Chino Cudeiro · « **Reply #17 on:** February 06, 2012, 02:47:53 PM »

Wonderful watch. Honestly stunning.

I'm modding (lightly) a SKX031 of mine and I'm interested in a bezel like the one you used here, one with dots (a la SKX007). Where can I find one like these online? Or is there a bezel for other model that fits the SKX031?

Thanks a lot for your atention.

axb · « **Reply #18 on:** February 07, 2012, 01:04:00 AM »

Quote from: Chino Cudeiro on February 06, 2012, 02:47:53 PM

Wonderful watch. Honestly stunning.

I'm modding (lightly) a SKX031 of mine and I'm interested in a bezel like the one you used here, one with dots (a la SKX007). Where can I find one like these online? Or is there a bezel for other model that fits the SKX031?

Thanks a lot for your atention.

Pm sent, and thanks for the kind words!

For the sake of others who might be interested, here's the text of the message I sent...

Quote

There are a couple of options for getting a bezel insert to fit the skx031. All of the aftermarket Rolex submariner bezels fit, and those made and sold by Alpha watches for their submariner lookalikes. For the look of the 62MAS, the only option is to carefully resize a 6309 bezel insert. The one that I used was a cheap genic insert sold on the bay for seiko divers , but the ones that Harold (Yobokies) sells are much better quality and aren't as shiny...I'm planning to redo my watch with one of harold's inserts.

The simple technique is to gradually sand the edge oh the insert whilst turning it constantly, you only need to take off a small amount, less than 1mm if I remember correctly, all the way around. The gap by the crystal will be a little larger than the original skx031 bezel insert, but it's hardly noticeable...

otr002 · « **Reply #19 on:** February 07, 2012, 01:54:43 AM »

Hey i've been thinking, have you thought of drilling the lugs all the way through…...

axb · « **Reply #20 on:** February 07, 2012, 10:20:14 PM »

Hi Rod,

I seriously considered drilling the lugs, and after reading as many posts as I could find, and having a practice run on an old case from the parts drawer, I decided that it's outside the capabilities of my workshop (or just my capabilities!). I noticed that our old friend Loy has since sold a similar mod on the bay with drilled lugs - but I'm sure he has more and better tools than I...

Still, it'd be pretty cool!

Alex

otr002 · « **Reply #21 on:** February 07, 2012, 11:17:58 PM »

Mate sounds like a very good excuse to go out and buy serious tooling

and your right it's a great mod and one i think will be copied

axb · « **Reply #22 on:** February 07, 2012, 11:42:35 PM »

Here's a little bit more info on the bezel insert resizing for a SKX031.

First here's a chart of the different bezel insert sizes that I put together a ferw months back:

Here is a link to Randall's great post on the old SCWF on replacing a bezel insert:

http://www.network54.com/Forum/78440/message/1028681588/Lets+change+that+bezel+on+the+300M+%28destructions+and+pics%29%26gt%3B%26gt%3B%26gt%3B

I seem to remember that Gabe posted his simplemethod of resizing a bezel insert to fit the 031 on the old SCWF, but for the life of me I can't find it anywhere. Basically you hold the edge of the insert against some fine grit sandpaper and turn it around, continuing in the same direction so that you gradually reduce the diameter. As you'll see from the above table it's really only a tiny amount that needs to come off, so it doesn't take very long...

The other couple of optiona are 10watches (of course) where Jake makes a few inserts to fit the SKX031, or this inspirational post that
i've had bookmarked fo a while:
http://www.suukko.com/ps/

Hope this is of use...

axb · « **Reply #23 on:** February 07, 2012, 11:45:00 PM »

Quote from: otr002 on February 07, 2012, 11:17:58 PM

Mate sounds like a very good excuse to go out and buy serious tooling and your right it's a great mod and one i think will be copied

Thanks Rod, the difference between this one and the couple of similar mods I've seen on the net since completing it, are the judicial (and extreme) use of the dremel, not only to remove the crown guards, but also to shape the sides of the case to give them a similar profile to the original 62MAS...

I'll try and take a few better shots to show what I mean...

Alex

axb · « **Reply #24 on:** February 08, 2012, 05:40:08 AM »

OK - got half an hour to take some better photos...

Author Topic: 31MAS (Read 1385 times)