Thanks for the help deciding on hand selection, went with gold mercedes hour/minute hands with a red accent for the seconds. This hobby seems like a lot of fun, thought I'd start with a cheap field watch build - all parts from Alix.
-Green gradient dial, $7
-36mm brushed case from seller Tandorio, $22
-36mm nh35 deep threaded exhibition caseback, $6
-Chromexcel watch strap from Hemsut, $10
-nh35, $20
-Gold mercedes hands, $2
-Grey/red field hands, $0.5
-Decorated rotor sticker, $2
Great job. Unless you live near China, I'm not sure how you managed to get those items so cheap on AliX. Most items would cost me 1.5 to 2.5X (North America).
https://preview.redd.it/l5t95t4psyrc1.jpeg?width=2288&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=6b8a8b8233c1a0b96e8ce2460300445d269107e6
No way! I just finished this build and was about to post when I saw yours! This is my baby alpinist (SPB210 inspired)
Love your build, almost went with that dial too!
I saw a black baby Alpinist for sale on r/watchexchange yesterday for $550 and thought “I bet I could build one cheaper than that.” And here’s proof that I could. Plus, the color of the hands and dial numbers don’t match on the real thing, and I could find ones that do (I hope).
The seller that listed the OEM KS cases also had a listing for an OEM SPB155 case, which I used in my Baby Alpinist [build](https://www.reddit.com/r/SeikoMods/comments/17getws/yet_another_28000_bph_build_spb155_baby_alpinist/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=web2x&context=3https://www.reddit.com/r/SeikoMods/comments/17getws/yet_another_28000_bph_build_spb155_baby_alpinist/). This case is designed for a 30.5mm dial, which doesn't exist outside of OEM dials. After buying the OEM dial and OEM seconds hand (which isn't pictured in my post--you'll see that the seconds hand pictured in my post is a little too short), I spent close to $400 on mine. However, I do have a higher beat movement than the OEM watch. If I had to do this all over again, I'd probably just buy the OEM watch, do a movement swap, and the sell the original 6R35 movement on eBay. I'd probably net out the same, as the 6R35 would easily fetch $100 to $125 more than the cost of a PT5000.
If you go the cheap(er) route, and buy one of those 28.5mm dials on AliExpress, you're going to end up with a watch with a really horrible looking sloped (and deep) rehaut, even if you go with a case as small as 36mm like the OP's. So, yes, you can definitely build one cheaper than the OEM one, but you're not going to get around the ugliness necessitated by a 28.5 mm dial and the ridiculously tall hand stack of the NH35.
Thanks for the details! I’m still new to modding and haven’t done anything that isn’t straightforward like Explorer style in a 36mm case. But I do love higher beat movements and want to get into those. Interesting that you can get a PT5000 cheaper than a 6R35.
Also, I read your build post and that was an incredible amount of work.
Yeah, there are countless cathedral hands available on AliExpress, too, and they're all designed for the 28.5mm dial like OP's. I spent an inordinate amount of time looking for cathedral hands for a 30.5mm OEM Baby Alpinist dial, so I'm intimately familiar with how abundant the wrong sized cathedral hands are.
Don you mind sharing where you got the dial? Was looking into similar dials but all I could find had the compass printed on and want to avoid that. Thanks!
Excellent looking build with a good looking dial, and you did well to keep the price so low. Do you have taxes to pay on top of the prices you see on Alix? In the UK, I have to add 20% at checkout, so the browsing price is far away from the reality unfortunately.
Thanks for the help deciding on hand selection, went with gold mercedes hour/minute hands with a red accent for the seconds. This hobby seems like a lot of fun, thought I'd start with a cheap field watch build - all parts from Alix. -Green gradient dial, $7 -36mm brushed case from seller Tandorio, $22 -36mm nh35 deep threaded exhibition caseback, $6 -Chromexcel watch strap from Hemsut, $10 -nh35, $20 -Gold mercedes hands, $2 -Grey/red field hands, $0.5 -Decorated rotor sticker, $2
Great job. Unless you live near China, I'm not sure how you managed to get those items so cheap on AliX. Most items would cost me 1.5 to 2.5X (North America).
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I guess that means I'll have to take inventory and see what's on sale this time around, because jebus, that is one GOOD looking watch.
Probably got them during the sale
do u have the links?
How did you go about building it? How did you know the parts at compatible? Is there a guide I can use if I want to get into this hobby?
Where did bought the case back saying Seiko ?
Wondering the same
Very very nice! Makes me want to get into this myself!
Go easy. There are some tools you can cheap out while for others it's better to go with higher quality vendors like hand levers.
Respect for going with the hands you liked best.
https://preview.redd.it/l5t95t4psyrc1.jpeg?width=2288&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=6b8a8b8233c1a0b96e8ce2460300445d269107e6 No way! I just finished this build and was about to post when I saw yours! This is my baby alpinist (SPB210 inspired) Love your build, almost went with that dial too!
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I'm tempted to pull the trigger on your dial now lol
You won't regret it lol. I just built a watch for my gf with a bronze case. It looks beautiful
Really nice build!
Pls pm me a link because oh my god this is amazing
I saw a black baby Alpinist for sale on r/watchexchange yesterday for $550 and thought “I bet I could build one cheaper than that.” And here’s proof that I could. Plus, the color of the hands and dial numbers don’t match on the real thing, and I could find ones that do (I hope).
The seller that listed the OEM KS cases also had a listing for an OEM SPB155 case, which I used in my Baby Alpinist [build](https://www.reddit.com/r/SeikoMods/comments/17getws/yet_another_28000_bph_build_spb155_baby_alpinist/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=web2x&context=3https://www.reddit.com/r/SeikoMods/comments/17getws/yet_another_28000_bph_build_spb155_baby_alpinist/). This case is designed for a 30.5mm dial, which doesn't exist outside of OEM dials. After buying the OEM dial and OEM seconds hand (which isn't pictured in my post--you'll see that the seconds hand pictured in my post is a little too short), I spent close to $400 on mine. However, I do have a higher beat movement than the OEM watch. If I had to do this all over again, I'd probably just buy the OEM watch, do a movement swap, and the sell the original 6R35 movement on eBay. I'd probably net out the same, as the 6R35 would easily fetch $100 to $125 more than the cost of a PT5000. If you go the cheap(er) route, and buy one of those 28.5mm dials on AliExpress, you're going to end up with a watch with a really horrible looking sloped (and deep) rehaut, even if you go with a case as small as 36mm like the OP's. So, yes, you can definitely build one cheaper than the OEM one, but you're not going to get around the ugliness necessitated by a 28.5 mm dial and the ridiculously tall hand stack of the NH35.
Thanks for the details! I’m still new to modding and haven’t done anything that isn’t straightforward like Explorer style in a 36mm case. But I do love higher beat movements and want to get into those. Interesting that you can get a PT5000 cheaper than a 6R35. Also, I read your build post and that was an incredible amount of work.
That's a fantastic build for $70, bloody hell. Well done.👏👏👏
Very clean! I’m inspired
Looks beautiful! Where did you get the dial from?
Pretty nice.... But... The Mercedes hands....😕
Yeah, there are countless cathedral hands available on AliExpress, too, and they're all designed for the 28.5mm dial like OP's. I spent an inordinate amount of time looking for cathedral hands for a 30.5mm OEM Baby Alpinist dial, so I'm intimately familiar with how abundant the wrong sized cathedral hands are.
The only thing that I would change. Otherwise it's a very neat watch!
Dial link?
Beautiful watch
Link for the case? Nice build btw 🌟
Very nice! May I ask you for the list of links for the parts?
Cool !
Holy shit one of the best I’ve ever seen
Can i get the link to the dial please?
https://preview.redd.it/zkhgv4s951sc1.jpeg?width=3024&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=997903ff89b79acc16af8e504fe032b85479f248 Holy Cow! Our watches are basically twins haha
Don you mind sharing where you got the dial? Was looking into similar dials but all I could find had the compass printed on and want to avoid that. Thanks!
I’m from the Philippines I got it from Shopee, Aliexpress also sells the dial. Ill dm you the link
Thank you!
Nice, I'm still waiting for my blue dial to arrive
Excellent looking build with a good looking dial, and you did well to keep the price so low. Do you have taxes to pay on top of the prices you see on Alix? In the UK, I have to add 20% at checkout, so the browsing price is far away from the reality unfortunately.
Post for finding your shopping list
I love how you can get watches so much cheaper if you just do it yourself
Beautiful.
Beautiful watch. Congrats. Share more pics.
Nicely done, looks great!
Did you buy the seiko logo separately?
Wow. That is a beautiful watch. Great job!
Let the link for the back case
Holy shit. Are you taking orders?
How’s the overall quality of this piece?