Like Vince says, the Asian clones often have "true 4 o'clock" crown locations that nessitate special dial feet locations and unique date wheels to align.You would be better off, as in less expensive and more compatible, to use a case from a new SPB Willard, an original 6105-811x case is $500+ for just a case and bezel. If you shop you can buy a used SPB for under $750, well shopped. If you are talking about cheap chinese copies, they can be had for $100 or so, but all of the parts out there are not going to fit and in the end what will you have? A cheap chinese copy. Nowadays you can but a new 5KX for under $180 and start with that as your platform for a Mod, sky is the limit for dial, hands, bezel, crown and crystal choices. My own experience was that "mods" were all about the build and once done I ended up getting bored and flipping the watch, this is one I did in 2001 that I truly wish I still had, but apparently not enough to build another one
View attachment 496758
One option you may want to consider: 6105 Homage Build Project | The Watch SiteCurious what would be the best way to put together a franken willard?
Get a original case, upgraded movement? saphire crystal?
Not sure since I haven't done a mod before.
Bearing in mind the crown will be at “3:18” or “4:22” but not “true 4 o’clock”If you want to go with all-new parts, Namoki sells Willard cases designed for NH35/36 movements, along with pretty much everything else you might want or need. I'd assume some of the other Seiko mod parts sites have something similar.
And, after reading some of the reviews and looking closely at posted images, the case is definitely more rounded than a Willard. Still, since this would be your first mod project, going this route eliminates a lot of challenges.Bearing in mind the crown will be at “3:18” or “4:22” but not “true 4 o’clock”
I wouldn't recommend that for one's first mod project, but that is undeniably very, very cool.Of course you can always go this route: .
![]()
True 4 O'clock Crown cased New Willard Mod Watch
Disclaimer: We know there is some 'controversy' surrounding the notion of a WIS building himself a Real Dial Homage Case ("RDHC" as has been coined, credit to SeikoPsycho2 on that one). So I accept this build is understood to be skating on thin ice for some members. That said, it's not for...www.thewatchsite.com