First Dive Watch - To Mod or Not to Mod?! 7002-700A

14076 Views 43 Replies 15 Participants Last post by JonathanHutson, Nov 24, 2015

Gaz.

Discussion Starter · May 6, 2014

3

So I've been waiting a fair few weeks for an early 7002-700A to arrive from Australia. It has finally dropped through the door today. I'm not big on divers but I figured I should at least give them a go, especially with a holiday abroad fast approaching and hoping to do some snorkelling.

Crown screws down about 1.5-1.75 turns, no big issue as long as it'll seal for a few metres.
Bezel no longer clicks into position, crystal looks like somebody went at it with an axe, obviously the bezel insert is faded and it would appear the hands are starting to corrode.
Movement is running, date change works, but a service probably won't go amiss.

So first thoughts are to maybe try and stay true to how it came, but then there's so many modding options that it could any way!

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ivorbiggin

· #2 · May 6, 2014 (Edited)

That looks pretty original to me, though im no expert.
Its hard to tell with all the scratching on the crystal, but the dial looks to be very clean.
The problem with putting AM hands on is, they are either a very light colored lume that hardly glows at all and just dont look right, or the lume color matches the dial, but they glow like Fukashima reactor No3.

If it were mine, new AM crystal, change gaskets, Yobokies bezel insert, clean hands as best i can and keep it as original as possible.

pollyc

· #3 · May 6, 2014

I would second ivor's advice especially if the dial is good and try to get some flat pattern hands and relume them so at least the colour matches. Or keep the dial and hands as is if the patina matches as a new crystal alone will improve the looks.

I have gone off modifying:93:

Gaz.

Discussion Starter · #4 · May 7, 2014

I think that trying to save the hands may work best, I can't imagine reluming some other hands going particularly well.

What do you guys use to clean them up usually?

Also what is the score with Yokobies, all I ever found was a photo bucket account?

skg7548

· #5 · May 7, 2014

I saw this yesterday and forgot to comment.
My thoughts were as Ivor and Mike's that a Crystal and a Yobokies insert is all it needs. The dial and hands look that they may be quite good under the glass and even if not perfect would still make for a nice honest and presentable watch.
Wish it was mine as that's exactly what I'd do.

Gaz.

Discussion Starter · #6 · May 7, 2014

I'll have to whip the movement out to see the hands better but they do look like they're corroding away.

skg7548

· #7 · May 7, 2014

To me it's not the end of the world to have after market hands but as Ivor says they don't always match in colour or lume. Bettter to have a set of those over scabby ones in my opinion. If your hands are clean enough to satisfy you them you should keep them but if past their best then I'd settle for AM's.
Sadly I have maybe two divers at best where I have original hands. I'd love to have originals but I can't live with corrosion.

ivorbiggin

· #8 · May 7, 2014

Do some window shopping in Yobokies photo bucket account, drop him an email asking if he has stock and how much, he usually gets back to you within a day or so, then send him the funds with a description of your order via paypal to his email address. i cant remember his email addy off hand but its probably in photobucket somewhere.

Re cleaning the hands.
http://www.thewatchsite.com/34-watchmaking-tinkering/95218-advice-needed-lume-rot-7548-hands.html

Gaz.

Discussion Starter · #9 · May 8, 2014

For some reason, that link sends me to a citizen catalogue thread!

Sounds like a ballache, are the Yokobies bezels something special over the ones Dagaz do, or even the ones on eBay?

ivorbiggin

· #10 · May 8, 2014

Gaz. said:
For some reason, that link sends me to a citizen catalogue thread!

Sounds like a ballache, are the Yokobies bezels something special over the ones Dagaz do, or even the ones on eBay?

Yobokies bezels are excellent quality and a close match for the original, ive not used Dagaz, but i understand that they too are excellent quality. These are the ones to use if your trying to keep the watch as near to original as poss.
Fleabay ones tend to be hit or miss, sometimes not fitting properly and falling out unless glued in. Often they are poor quality, But if your modding, a bit of cutting, shutting and gluing is acceptable:grin:
Imo, Mountapo Merchant on ebay offers some reasonable quality inserts.

Dont understand why the link wont work, check out the "Watch making and tinkering" part of the forum.

jringo8769

· #11 · May 12, 2014

i love all the mods..but something that nice i would keep it original...there are many you can mod and not feel bad about it...just my 2 cents

Gaz.

Discussion Starter · #12 · May 13, 2014

Struggling with gaskets, am I right in thinking there's a bezel, crystal, case back and crown gasket? Stefan has none of either.

Patrinos2003

· #13 · May 13, 2014

Gaz. said:
Struggling with gaskets, am I right in thinking there's a bezel, crystal, case back and crown gasket? Stefan has none of either.

yep exactly, do your hands look like these on my photo attached?

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Gaz.

Discussion Starter · #14 · May 13, 2014

They look like this, can't get any closer with the phone's camera unfortunately...

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Patrinos2003

· #15 · May 13, 2014 (Edited)

not 100% sure but they look like mine which must have been corroded due to moisture/humidity that entered the case.
So I am interested too in what measures have to be taken in order to get them clean.

Gaz.

Discussion Starter · #16 · May 13, 2014

I'd say it's moisture related on mine aye.

Gaz.

Discussion Starter · #17 · Jun 2, 2014 (Edited)

Almost finished! Excuse the lack of images, I was in the mind to just crack on.

I've used a 7S26 crystal & a Sternkreuz L325 Crystal gasket. New bezel insert came from a UK seller on eBay, supposedly genuine but I suspect it's a good copy. Also got a new bezel gasket, bezel click spring & ball & a new caseback gasket. Just a crown gasket to source & a strap to get now.

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ivorbiggin

· #18 · Jun 2, 2014

Looking good.

Patrinos2003

· #19 · Jun 2, 2014

looks great, you did a a very good job!

Gaz.

Discussion Starter · #20 · Jun 3, 2014

Thankyou guys.

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