Seiko Field Watch
Almost exactly nine years after picking up a knackered SNX123 7S26-0440 on eBay with a shot movement and a smashed crystal the recent lockdown-enforced weekends at home led me to drag it out of the project drawers and use it as the base of a long considered mod.
The SNX123 has been referred to as the Seiko Explorer and shares some of its DNA with the Rolex Explorer that possibly inspired it. A 36mm case, a mix of numerals and markers on the dial and a three o-clock crown. There are also echoes of the Omega Railmaster to the SNX's dial with the sharply pointed hour markers. My inspiration for this watch was the 1950's and 60's adventurer's watches such as the Explorer, various Seamasters, the Railmaster and the Tudor Ranger. |
After extensive internet searching I found a suitable dial and a Sword handset from Raffles Time in Singapore and a domed flat-bottom crystal from Cousins in the UK. I replaced the knackered 7S26 with a hacking, hand-winding NH35 (also from Cousins) and slimmed down the case to allow for the use of a larger crown. The underside of the bezel was lightly filed to create a slight lip as on the vintage cases. The case and bezel were brushed, and with the addition of a generic president with custom fitted end links the watch was complete.
All that needs to be done now is to choose a name... the SNXplorer??? ...the Adventurer???
All that needs to be done now is to choose a name... the SNXplorer??? ...the Adventurer???