Seiko mod watches, with US prices and US shipping
A seiko mod is a watch built around a Seiko automatic movement, with a case, dial, hands and strap picked by the maker. Modus designs its own and fits the Seiko NH35 in most models. Catalog watches run $349 and up; the configurator starts at $349. Free DHL Express shipping to the US, duties and taxes included, 3-year warranty.
Ten collections, priced in dollars
What a Seiko mod is
In the US, the term covers two things: hobby builds assembled from separate parts, and finished watches that use the same ingredients. Either way, a Seiko Instruments movement does the timekeeping and the maker chooses everything around it: case, dial, hands, bezel, crystal and strap.
A Modus watch carries our name and our dial. Seiko supplies the movement and nothing more, so we call it a mod watch with a Seiko movement and never a Seiko watch.
Which movement for which watch
All of them are Seiko Instruments calibers made in Japan. The exact caliber is listed on every product page.
- Seiko NH35
- Three-hand automatic with date: 24 jewels, 21,600 beats per hour, 41 hours of power reserve, hand winding and hacking seconds. It powers most models, including DEPTH, AXIS, ATLAS and FIELD.
- Seiko NH34
- The NH35 base with an independent 24-hour GMT hand, to read a second time zone. It powers the MERIDIAN.
- Seiko NH38
- An NH35 without the date, for a cleaner dial. It powers some PRISM dials.
- Seiko NH70
- Automatic with an open dial that shows the gear train and the balance wheel. It powers the ORBIT skeleton watches.
- Seiko VK63
- Meca-quartz for chronographs: quartz accuracy, a chronograph hand that sweeps the dial, an instant reset. It runs on a battery, so it is not automatic. It powers the INTERVAL and COSMOS.
Seiko Instruments rates its automatics at −20 to +40 seconds per day. That is the range for the movement alone; a unit in good condition usually runs well inside it.
The Seiko NH35 movement
Most Modus watches run on the Seiko NH35, an automatic caliber from Seiko Instruments. It winds from the motion of your wrist, shows the date and has hacking seconds, so you can set the time to the second. 24 jewels and a 41-hour power reserve, and a watchmaker anywhere can service it.
Depending on the model, we also use the NH34 (GMT), the NH38 (open heart) and the NH70 (skeleton). Our INTERVAL and COSMOS chronographs run on the VK63, a meca-quartz movement.
All our movementsWhat a mod watch is, and what it isn't
A mod watch takes its cues from the great watchmaking classics: the dive-style watch, the dual-time GMT, the chronograph, the skeleton watch. It never uses another brand's name or logo. Every Modus watch carries only the Modus Horlogerie name, on the dial and on the caseback.
Build your own mod watch
Pick the case, dial, bezel, hands and strap in the configurator and watch the preview update as you go. Add a name or your logo on the dial, or an engraving on the caseback. The price is shown in dollars, duties included.
Open the configuratorHow to choose a Seiko mod
When you order online, you cannot try the watch on first. Five checks before you buy, whoever the seller is:
- The crystal
- Sapphire crystal resists scratches far better than mineral glass. All our watches have one.
- The case
- 316L stainless steel, the reference grade in watchmaking. If a seller only writes “alloy” or “metal”, ask for the grade.
- Water resistance
- 5 ATM at Modus: splashes and rain, not swimming or diving. That is why we say “dive-style” for the watches with a rotating bezel.
- The dial
- A dial without another brand's name or logo. On a Modus, only the Modus Horlogerie name appears.
- The warranty
- 3 years at Modus, an identified after-sales service and a service recommended every five years.
- The price
- Catalog watches run $349 and up, the configurator $349 and up, options extra. Check that duties and taxes are included, or the final bill can be much higher.
Shipping to the US and returns
Shipping to the US is free by DHL Express, with duties and taxes included: nothing is due at delivery. A catalog watch arrives in 2 to 5 business days, a custom watch in 9 to 11 days.
You have 30 days after delivery to change your mind. Return shipping is at your expense unless the watch is faulty or not as described, and the price of the watch is refunded.
Looking after a Seiko mod
An automatic winds itself with the movement of your wrist. If it has stopped, give the crown 20 to 30 turns, then set the time. Do not touch the date between 9 pm and 3 am, while the mechanism is changing it.
With 5 ATM water resistance, avoid hot water, showers and baths. Plan a service every five years. On a VK63 chronograph, the battery lasts about three years and is replaced by a watchmaker.
Keep reading
Frequently asked questions
Do I pay customs duties when I order a seiko mod from Modus in the US?
No. Duties and taxes are included in the price you see, and DHL Express delivers to your door with nothing to pay. Shipping to the US is free, with no minimum order, and every parcel has a tracking number.
How long does delivery take in the US?
A catalog watch arrives in 2 to 5 business days by DHL Express. A watch built in the configurator is made to order: allow 9 to 11 days, delivery included. You have 30 days after delivery to return it; return shipping is at your expense unless the watch is faulty.
What is a Seiko mod?
A mod watch (from “modding”) is an automatic watch built from parts chosen one by one: case, dial, hands, bezel and strap, around a proven movement. The idea comes from enthusiasts who customized their own watches; when the movement is a Seiko, they call it a “Seiko mod”. At Modus, every watch carries our own brand and our own dial.
Which Seiko movement powers a Modus watch?
A Seiko automatic movement, made in Japan by Seiko Instruments: the Seiko NH35 caliber in most models, the Seiko NH34 in the GMTs, the Seiko NH70 in the skeletons and the Seiko VK63 in the chronographs. The watches are designed and sold by Modus Horlogerie.
Why the Seiko NH35 movement?
The NH35 is a 24-jewel automatic caliber with a date and hacking seconds. It's known for its robustness and it's easy to service: any watchmaker can work on it. It's the best choice for a reliable automatic watch under $450.
Does a mod watch carry another brand's name?
No. A Modus mod watch carries only the Modus Horlogerie name. It can take inspiration from the great watchmaking classics (dive-style, GMT, chronograph), but it never passes itself off as another watch or uses another brand's logo.
Is a Seiko mod reliable?
The movement is: the NH35 is mass-produced by Seiko Instruments, well documented, and any watchmaker can service it. The rest depends on the watch: 316L steel case, sapphire crystal, a well-made crown and gaskets, regulation and a warranty. Every Modus watch is covered for 3 years.
What is the difference between the NH35 and the VK63?
The NH35 is automatic: it winds itself with the movement of your wrist and has no battery. The VK63 is a meca-quartz: it runs on a battery (about 3 years) and drives a chronograph, with a seconds hand that sweeps the dial and an instant reset. It is more accurate than an automatic, but it is not automatic. Our INTERVAL and COSMOS watches use the VK63.
Can I build my own mod watch?
Yes. The Modus configurator lets you choose the case, dial, bezel, hands and strap, and add an engraving or your logo, with a live preview. A custom watch costs $349, plus any options you pick.
What does the warranty cover?
Three years on the movement and on the stated 5 ATM water resistance. If something goes wrong, our own workshops diagnose it within 5 days, then repair or replace the watch at our expense.
How do I look after a Seiko mod?
Wear it, or give the crown 20 to 30 turns if it has stopped. Do not set the date between 9 pm and 3 am. Avoid hot water and showers: water resistance is 5 ATM. Plan a service every five years, by a watchmaker or by our after-sales team.
