Hi all,
I know I have to contact yobokies. Have any of you guys had any experience converting your own?
Currently it looks like this
And i would like it to look like this
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/232227949419
Any advice and guidance would be appreciated.
Thanks,
Ed
Sent from my iPhone using TZ-UK mobile app
Doing the bezel and dial is relatively easy on your own, replacing the hands is the point at which most amateur tinkerers seem to run out of talent, I know that's been the final hurdle for me on several occasions and the watch has gone to a local watchmaker for that.
A set of cheap hand lifters and a hand setting tool can be had for £20- buy a cheap watch for eBay and practice removing and refitting- it's not so hard if your careful
Can I ask, what is a 55 fathoms?Is it a discontinued watch from Seiko?
Sent from my Moto G (4) using Tapatalk
I'm literally un-boxing one of these as I read this!
I bought it to mod and I've been in touch with Harold about my preferred dial and hand set.
First impressions are that it's way better built and better quality than I expected; sets nice and tightly, crown action is good, bezel is solid and lines up perfectly.
So I think I'll wear it for a couple of weeks and see if I still want to mod it and if I do I'll be sending it to my trusty watchman so I know it's done correctly, put back together properly and there's no debris under the crystal
A Homage to this
http://www.thewatchsource.co.uk/item...xgTxoCmYvw_wcB
It's an homage to a watch or style of watch made by Blancpain. The one in the eBay link has a more modern style bezel, though some go for a more vintage look.
The name comes from adding 5 (as in Seiko 5) to the 50 of Blancpain's 50 Fathoms, surely one of the best-looking watches ever designed.
Here's mine:
Dumb question but how would you replace the dial without replacing the hands?Originally Posted by Papa Hotel
Love mine. I started with a Black dial and pvd case.
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
I was surprised too. Although the bracelet feels a bit cheap. I put it on a nato and it feels like a much more expensive watch. I went for the J version. I'm actually wondering whether i should buy a K to mod and keep this one intact.
Sent from my iPhone using TZ-UK mobile app
You're obviously free to chose your own strap but the classic choice for a FFF has to be the Brady strap...
Definitely for the mod.You're obviously free to chose your own strap but the classic choice for a FFF has to be the Brady strap...
Sent from my iPhone using TZ-UK mobile app
The dial goes on the movement first. Think pants and trousers.
I did this a couple of times.
I needed help the first time, refitting the hands is a fiddle!
Details in this thread : http://forum.tz-uk.com/showthread.ph...y-Five-Fathoms
M.
Last edited by snowman; 1st March 2017 at 11:43.
I'm obviously easily confused this morning...The dial goes on the movement first. Think pants and trousers.
Trousers off - pants off - pants on - trousers on
Hands off - dial off - dial on - hands on
Isn't changing the dial without removing the hands like changing your pants with your trousers on?
Correct, it's the hands fitting that is the tricky parts.
I'm sure Dynamo could do it😏 Inside a glass bottle
Yep, hands come off first, I didn't think I'd need to say that!
Awesome. Exactly what i want.I did this a couple of times.
I needed help the first time, refitting the hands is a fiddle!
Details in this thread : http://forum.tz-uk.com/showthread.ph...y-Five-Fathoms
M.
Sent from my iPhone using TZ-UK mobile app
How did you do the gmt? (Sorry if stupid question... as i seem to constantly say... newbie here).I did this a couple of times.
I needed help the first time, refitting the hands is a fiddle!
Details in this thread : http://forum.tz-uk.com/showthread.ph...y-Five-Fathoms
M.
Sent from my iPhone using TZ-UK mobile app
I'm very tempted to go down the FFF route but I don't think it makes financial sense (yes I know this hobby doesn't!).
If I get the dial, hands and bezel plus all the postage and watchmaker costs it'll be at least another £150 which brings the total cost to £250 which is more than the watch will be worth.
The blue one was based off of a World Timer version of the Seiko 5 - I wanted the new movement (and black date window) for my black one, so just bought the cheapest 5 with the new movement (7S26?) I could find!
I ended up modding it, having found a blue dial at a good price and the hands came from the Phillipines for a few quid which is why it's a bit of an odd mix (sadly no-one does the 'crystal' bezel in blue, either).
Define 'worth'
If you can buy a 'new' Fifty Fathoms mod for less than £250 do that (a quick scan on eBay suggests you'll be doing pretty well for one with dial, hands, bezel and Brady Strap). Otherwise, it's a fair price.
If you compare it to the price of a standard Seiko 5, sure, it's dear, but you can argue the same about various watches with different ETA movements!
M
Last edited by snowman; 1st March 2017 at 13:06.
So Dagaz or yobokies? Penny for your thoughts?
Sent from my iPhone using TZ-UK mobile app
Oh and also is it worth me buying a Malaysian 5 to butcher and leaving my Japanese one intact?
Sent from my iPhone using TZ-UK mobile app
I've bought from Dagaz and Yobokies. Harold (the latter) is helpful but I'm not convinced there's any difference in the parts.
Likewise with Japanese vs other location (I thought it was Korea. Maybe they have moved production?)
M
Sent from my SM-G920F using Tapatalk
Last edited by snowman; 1st March 2017 at 14:01.
Breitling Cosmonaute 809 - What's not to like?
Dagaz is easier to buy from, Yobokies has the oddest business model on the internet.
As someone already said, I wouldn't be convinced there's too much difference between the parts.
Could you PM me Harold's email address by any chance? Obviously have seen his photobucket stuff but i'd like his advice.
Yeah i thought the K stood for Korea but apparently they're Malaysian.
Sent from my iPhone using TZ-UK mobile app
So what is the going rate for these. The Russian e-bay one is £350, but U.K. Sellers are selling for a little over £200, which doesn't sound a lot to me.
Also, as these are homage to Blancpain - why don't the anti-homage crowd jump all over these like they do whenever anyone dares to mention Steinhart. Are they somehow acceptable ?
No more or less acceptable than Steinhart IMO, but it's a cottage industry - You buy the parts and modify your own watch, rather than a manufacturer making a homage.
Obviously some on eBay are already made up - Either by a watchmaker or a previous owner, but you can't buy a Fifty Fathoms (in modded form) from Seiko - The basic watch is quite different to the Fifty Fathoms really.
Look to see what parts are swapped on eBay watches - Lots JUST have the dial changed - It's a £50 part, so £200-250 (even on a new watch) is about right.
If you've got hands, bezel and a Brady Strap, it's more like £120-£150 in parts and postage.
M.
I'm put off by the Dagaz branding whereas Harold has more sterile dials that appeal to me more. I agree his way of doing business is weird but wnever I've bought from him he's been spot on.
Sorry - I don't have it (I did this a few years ago), but I'm sure someone will have his current contacts.
M
WWWHHHHHHYYYYYY????????
I think these are great. Also the satisfaction of doing some of the work yourself although I would never have the patience or the dexterity to do it!
Can someone PM me Harold's email address if they have it? Cheers
Sent from my iPhone using TZ-UK mobile app
He's good to deal with, emails are "unconversational", but accurate and attended to promptly.
yobokies@yahoo.com.hk
Thank you sir!
Sent from my iPhone using TZ-UK mobile app
Harold for me, very quick to reply and shipping from the Far East is super fast
If I was an auto man - I'd defo mod one of there myself and wear it
When i was buying it (for a beater) i was looking at J vs K watched a few videos about the differences and the J was more expensive but i'm thinking if it basically has to be stripped right down and the main issues with the K are dial position and build quality but the same movement it might be a better idea to get a K for the mod... but i could be wrong
Sent from my iPhone using TZ-UK mobile app
Appalling grammar. Apologies gents.
Sent from my iPhone using TZ-UK mobile app
they pop up on ebay already modded for about £200, not sure what it would cost to mod but cant be much less than that surley
Just interested that this is a healthy debate about a mobbed homage and there are no negative comments. Go on any Steinhart thread and there are usually half a dozen people displaying their disgust and dislike of the product - usually calling owners Rolex wannabes.
I like this watch, might even ping a WTB.
I've secured prices today for the dial and hands delivered from Harold, the work to be done and RMSD out and return to the watchman and, including the purchase price of the watch, the total cost will be £205.
That's excellent, can I have first dibs when you flip it
Of course, I've already seen your WTB!That's excellent, can I have first dibs when you flip it
The issue I'll have is, do I want to put £205 into this watch or into something else like an SRP Turtle or a Smiths Everest? If I decide the latter then I won't go through the bother of modding it.
Thanks. I am lazy and would rather buy a mobbed one rather than going down the road you are, which I am sure is more fun and ultimately more satisfying.
Seen this on e-bay:
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Timefactor...sAAOSwSlBYswUY
Not satisfying at all really as I'll just pay Harold and then send the bits to Brendan and get a converted watch back lol.
Thanks for the link but at £183 and likely to get higher I think I'd rather buy a new one or get one from a trusted TZer for around the £160 mark.
Cheers.
My converted Seiko 5 from last year - apologies for the poor photo.
It sported a Brady strap originally but I found a simple black leather strap from the strap shop suited me best.
Fwiw - Harold was more than helpful and I would highly recommend yobokies. Good luck with your conversion whatever path you choose.
Last edited by cdbwhoop; 1st March 2017 at 19:52.
Seiko's are great to mod. this was previously a standard black Turtle but the new domed sapphire and PO style bezel have changed it for the better imo.
I contemplated doing this to my Seiko 5 before it arrived. Even then it was a bit difficult to get the parts; are they all available?
As it turned out, I liked it in standard form and became unsure about modding the watch simply to create a homage. I did get a Brady strap though... which I don't really rate. It's quite cardboardy feeling and the pattern isn't very sailcloth-like in the flesh; too smooth. I have mine back on the OEM Seiko bracelet now. I'm glad I didn't mod it. But the cost isn't enormous and it could be quite fun...
Last edited by Jobbo; 2nd March 2017 at 15:33.
Posting Permissions
Reply With Quote
