Seiko Is the Glock of the Watch World

Seiko Movement

Why Modding Watches Feels Just Like Building Pistols

There’s a reason people compare Seiko to Glock: both are known for being simple, reliable, and incredibly mod-friendly. A few years back, I got into building pistols using Glock 19 clone parts. It didn’t take long before I was customizing every detail—grips, triggers, slides—to create something that fit me, not just the factory mold.

Fast forward to today, and I’m deep into the world of watch modding. To my surprise, the process feels familiar. The same creative freedom I enjoyed with pistols, I’ve now found in building custom watches—especially with Seiko parts.

The Modder’s Dream: Seiko NH Movements

I started collecting NH movements—mostly the NH35—through eBay, AliExpress, Alibaba, and Amazon. I quickly noticed a pattern: while the platforms differed, most sellers were based in China and shared long lead times. Out of all the platforms, eBay gave me the most trouble. Some movements arrived with broken stems or misaligned keyless works.

Returning them? A hassle. So I started tearing them apart and learning how to fix them myself.

At first, it was a little intimidating. But with the help of PDFs and YouTube tutorials, I began to understand the inner workings. The NH35 turned out to be a great base. It's nearly identical to its siblings—the NH36 (which adds a day function) and NH34 (which includes GMT). Once you understand the NH35, the others fall into place.

From Intimidating to Addicting

If you’re curious about learning the mechanics behind watches, I can’t recommend rebuilding a movement enough. Start on the dial side—it’s less crowded and easier to navigate. The movement side has more parts, but once you get the feel for it, it becomes intuitive.

The beauty of watch modding is that it offers endless customization. Cases, dials, hands, crystals—everything is up to you. It’s a creative process with very few limits. The only real constraint is your imagination.

A New Passion

Watch modding has become more than a hobby for me—it’s a passion. It combines creativity, precision, and a sense of personal style that I used to get from building pistols. Now, instead of range time, I find joy at my workbench, building something unique that I can wear every day.

If you're thinking of starting your own watch modding journey, I say go for it. And if you have questions, experiences, or tips to share, reach out! I'm always eager to connect with others who share the same drive to build, customize, and create.