New Watch Cases

[GregC]

There are some people selling cases on ebay and aliexpress mostly for ETA 2824 and Unitas 6497.

[Clueless]

On 2/24/2021 at 2:19 AM, GregC said:

There are some people selling cases on ebay and aliexpress mostly for ETA 2824 and Unitas 6497.

Thanks Greg will take a look.

[WatchingOracle]

Hi everyone.

Finally had some of my watch repairing tools arrive in the mail.

Finally was able to get into a watch i've had sitting in a box for over 2 years. It was meant to be a Seiko 6309 but I honestly thought it was going to be anything but. It was from the Indian market so I figured it probably wouldn't be a Seiko movement in there, but low and behold it is a 6309 that looks to be in decent condition (I think). Im not sure if its worth doing much with (though I do love the dial on it), but the biggest thing that stopped me using the watch was that it wasn't waterproof and the case wasn't OEM and was just horrible.

I was having a look online and as I wasn't finding anything except lots of references to a specific Seiko diver that used the 6309 movement, it got me wondering if there are new aftermarket cases what would fit common vintage Seiko movements, or am I just going to have to hunt for a reasonable vintage case? A broader question from my total noobness is what do people with older movements do if they want a generic case that will work? Measure the diameter of the movement and find an appropriate case spacer ring/3d print one?

Anyhow apologies for the total noob question. You will probably have to get used to these from me, or ignore my posts lol now that I can actually start some practical hands on stuff hahaaha.

[spectre6000]

Seikos are one of the few watches where it is actually easy to get aftermarket parts. That said, I'm not sure about the 6309. The market is almost exclusively focused on the 7S26X and NHXX movements (same dimensions) found in contemporary 5s.

[WatchingOracle]

@spectre6000I noticed that... all 7s26 and NH35s/36s though heard there is a supply issue for the NH35 at the moment. I don't mind aftermarket stuff in general if its as good or better quality. Whatever this case is on the 6309 (though the back is a legit Seiko backing) the movement case isnt. I think that's also why this thing isn't waterproof in addition to having the thinnest gasket ever ive seen.

Edited August 22, 2021 by WatchingOracle

[jdm]

2 hours ago, WatchingOracle said:

If there are new aftermarket cases what would fit common vintage Seiko movements

Yes these are easily available on AliExpress, look for NH35 case. 

63xx, 70xx, 7Sxx, 4Rxx, 6Rxx and their SII counterparts are all the same basic size and can be cased across with minor modifications if any. 

[WatchingOracle]

@jdm So it is a matter of making sure its the same diameter movement then and the right spot for the crown stem? This thing I think has been modified as the crown stem is at 3 o'clock instead of the standard 4 o' clock position with the 6309.

[jdm]

5 hours ago, WatchingOracle said:

@jdmSo it is a matter of making sure its the same diameter movement then and the right spot for the crown stem?

As mentioned, basic dimensions, including diameter and height are the same, or very close.

 

5 hours ago, WatchingOracle said:

This thing I think has been modified as the crown stem is at 3 o'clock instead of the standard 4 o' clock position with the 6309.

No movement is built for a specific crown position. It is just rotated to fit the case.

The date ring is the same for both 3 and 4:15 crown positions, and changes only for a date window at 6. The day disc (if present) changes for each possible combination of crown and day window position. 

That is true for pretty much any watch movement, not just Seiko. 

[WatchingOracle]

See me and me silly noob questions. Thanks @jdm

[RedJim]

Dear All, A question about watch cases. There are loads of donor movements around but what about donor or refurbished cases? Is there anywhere I can find cases for movements? Struggled on Ebay to find anything, I was looking for something for an FHF96 movement but couldn't find anything. Can anyone point me in the direction of a supplier or source for donor/replacment cases? Thanks for your help and hope its not too daft a question.

[Nucejoe]

Do you have a dial plate?  if not you best get matching dial and case. 

FHF & ST 96 are the same. 

New Stainless steel cases and dial to fit for your movement are currently made and widely used in India. 

Many brand used ST96, so second hand Swiss made cases should be plentiful, not dials, however. 

Regs Joe

 

[RedJim]

Thanks Joe, I'm just struggling to find where to find the cases etc. from India, do you have a link or a website? I do have a reclaimed dial so OK for that. Thanks for your help.

Rgs Jim

[Nolan7171771]

I've been enjoying assembling my own mechanical watches. I bought my first case from Ofrei (#1) and it is quite nice. But I'm having trouble finding other generic cases in different sizes. Specifically, I need cases that will fit a 30mm dial and a case that is more of ladies' style than a gentleman's. I plan to use Sellita 220-1 for these. 

Ofrei so far has been the only supplier I've found to offer generic complete cases. Searches online are pretty worthless because I keep getting pre-made watches for sale or watch storage cases. 

I'm not interested in using a brand's replacement case since my watch isn't that brand. 

[DaveS]

I bought a brown dialed Seiko SRPC68 Bottle Cap. I hated the shiny copper-colored bezel, so I removed it. I assumed there would be dozens of aftermarket bezels available. Not only aren't there any aftermarket bezels available, but Seiko does not have any available. I would like to be able to transfer the 33.5mm dial and 4R36 movement to a different case. It doesn't even have to be a Seiko case, but it does have to have a 4 o'clock crown position. Please share a link to a watch case which will be compatible.

[jdm]

 

8 hours ago, DaveS said:

I assumed there would be dozens of aftermarket bezels available. Not only aren't there any aftermarket bezels available

There are for the models into which modders are focused, which are a few, always the same ones. e.g.:https://www.namokimods.com/

If another model Seiko bezel inner diameter is the same as one of the available ones, it should fit.

[Fissile]

On 9/9/2021 at 12:07 PM, RedJim said:

Dear All, A question about watch cases. There are loads of donor movements around but what about donor or refurbished cases? Is there anywhere I can find cases for movements? Struggled on Ebay to find anything, I was looking for something for an FHF96 movement but couldn't find anything. Can anyone point me in the direction of a supplier or source for donor/replacment cases? Thanks for your help and hope its not too daft a question.

The reason there are more old movements available than old cases is because many of those old cases were made of gold or silver.  When bullion prices were high a gold or silver cased watch was worth more for the scrap value of the metal in the case that its value as a functioning time piece.   That's especially true of pocket watches and the main reason you can purchase old pocket watches movements on eBay for next to nothing.  

[MartinF]

Cases. Right. I've been searching on AliExpress, Namokimods and a few other places for factory-new cases to go with the NH series, Miyota 9015/9100 series or perhaps a larger 7750 movement.

Elegant cases, that is. Preferably with glass backs so the mechanics can be seen.

But it seems this market does not exist. Two weeks of daily poking and prodding has brought me nowhere. Lots of Divers and Rolex'esque cases but nothing thin-ish and nononsense to be found.

Anyone?

Eventually, something will turn up. Perhaps by scrapping a relatively new elCheapo watch to replace the movement/dial with something else.

Then, I'll need a bespoke spacer ring. How do you come by spacer rings? I can't help but think that someone out there has already made parametric models of rings for various movements. Then, adapting and printing one would be a matter of opening the CAD-file for given movement, specifying outer diameter, inset(?) and click 'print'.

Anyone who knows about such things?

Edited July 12, 2024 by MartinF
Reformulate wish

[AndyGSi]

They're all fairly thick movements apart from the 9015 which is still relatively thick and that's why you can't find a thin case.

How thin a case were you hoping for?

Edit

By spacer ring do you mean movement spacer ring?

You can normally find something standard that may need a little modification.

https://www.cousinsuk.com/product/movement-spacer-rings?code=M9541

Edited July 12, 2024 by AndyGSi

[MartinF]

2 minutes ago, AndyGSi said:

They're all fairly thick movements apart from the 9015 which is still relatively thick and that's why you can't find a thin case.

How thin a case were you hoping for?

The inspiration for 'thin' came from a pre-made 9015 watch I bought. Way more elegant than the NH35 I've just assembled.

You may already have guessed it; I'm not a restorer but a builder. Eventually a maintainer if things work out. Meaning I'll be needing building materials. Currently I'm having a feast over at Calibercorner.com, reading up on all the delicious mechanical marvels that exist. Some of which can be bought on eg. AliExpress at reasonable prices.

My next build may likely be a Miyota 9015 based one. The 9015 is 3.9mm, so I hope to be able to aim for max 10mm. No bezels, no logos, no ornamentations. Minimalism.

[AndyGSi]

Be careful with AliExpress as things aren't always quite what they seem.

[MartinF]

28 minutes ago, AndyGSi said:

Be careful with AliExpress as things aren't always quite what they seem.

I know. However, unlike eBay, it's free from tax, toll and other surprises. I live in the EU, meaning UK, China in general and US/Canada is no fun buying from.

Still. Cases. Let's pare it down to a specific movement; Miyota 9015. None found. Slim minimalist case from anywhere in the world. Reasonable price.

[AndyGSi]

So if you're looking for less than 12mm (which they are on AliExpress) you'll need something like this?

https://www.namokimods.com/en-gb/products/nmk948-miyota-field-case-steel-finish?variant=42863100690607

Edit

Other option for the price is to just get something with a 9015 already like you've got and mod it to suit your taste, new dial etc.

Edited July 12, 2024 by AndyGSi

[spectre6000]

I just bought a 7750 case (and dial, hands, even TOP grade ETA movement) from a seller on eBay out of Switzerland. Quality seems good to me. For all I know, the cases are made in China, but half the Swiss watch manufacturing comes from China anyway. Who cares if the quality is there? He has a few options. The seller is decent to deal with as well. My shipment was badly abused en route, and the movements were damaged. The 7750 was crushed into the plastic movement case such that the rotor was jammed into the top and couldn't be removed without ultimately bending the rotor a bit. He not only sent me replacements (I returned the first pair), but he selected an especially tight movement that deep into chronometer spec territory (+/-1.5s/d). 

https://www.ebay.com/str/swissmadetime/CASES-GEHAUSE/_i.html?store_cat=748119011

 

[MartinF]

On 7/12/2024 at 7:41 PM, AndyGSi said:

So if you're looking for less than 12mm (which they are on AliExpress) you'll need something like this?

https://www.namokimods.com/en-gb/products/nmk948-miyota-field-case-steel-finish?variant=42863100690607

Edit

Other option for the price is to just get something with a 9015 already like you've got and mod it to suit your taste, new dial etc.

Hehe. The one I've made is 12mm thick, 40mm across and in that design. I feel it being 'chunky' yet not beefy, if you get my meaning. Reducing the thickness to 9.2mm is nice, but it comes with a smaller case - 38mm. This might just make your proposal a smaller version of what I've already got.

But yes. The right direction. Thank you - noted.

Edited July 15, 2024 by MartinF

[Fissile]

On 7/13/2024 at 11:13 AM, spectre6000 said:

I just bought a 7750 case (and dial, hands, even TOP grade ETA movement) from a seller on eBay out of Switzerland.

 

I bought stuff from this same eBay seller.  Stuff seems legit, but pricey.   I assembled this watch with case, dial, hands and ETA 2824 I bought from his Ebay store.