r/custommadewatches

Put together a buying guide comparing the four movements that come up most in mod builds. Here's the TL;DR:

NH35A — 21,600 bph · +10/-15 s/day · $28–50 · Best for: beginners

Miyota 9015 — 28,800 bph · +/-10 s/day · $55–90 · Best for: intermediate builds

ETA 2824-2 — 28,800 bph · +/-4–12 s/day · $130–220 · Best for: premium/collector

Sellita SW200 — 28,800 bph · +/-5–12 s/day · $90–145 · Best for: Swiss quality without the ETA premium

All four have hacking and hand-winding. The jump from NH35 to Miyota 9015 is the most cost-effective accuracy upgrade. ETA vs Sellita is mostly a brand preference call — the movements are near-identical.

Full breakdown (origin, power reserve, jewel count, recommended skill level, where to buy) here:

👉 https://tokimodder.com/en/blog/guia-compra-movimientos-seiko-mod

What are you running in your current build?

Like a lot of you, I was watching the Royal Pop launch last week and thinking:

that octagonal bezel and tapisserie dial look incredible — but I want it on my wrist,

not hanging from a lanyard.

So I built one. NH35 movement, Royal Oak-inspired 40mm case, blue grande tapisserie dial,

gold hands, integrated steel bracelet. Total cost: around $200 depending on where you source.

The build is straightforward if you've done a Seiko mod before, but there are a few

gotchas — especially around the integrated bracelet attachment and the octagonal crystal

press-fit. The bezel screws look great but are purely decorative on most aftermarket cases,

so don't try to unscrew them.

A few things I'd highlight for anyone planning this build:

• The NH35 is the right choice here — 28.5mm diameter fits the case perfectly,

hacking + hand-winding both work, and you can find them for $38–55.

• The tapisserie effect on aftermarket dials is surprisingly good if you source

carefully. Look for 'grande tapisserie' in the listing and check close-up photos.

• Integrated bracelets are trickier than a standard lug setup — give yourself

extra time and a fine-tipped spring bar tool.

• O-rings: always replace them. The crystal gasket and caseback gasket both matter

for basic splash resistance.

I wrote up the full build guide on my site — parts list, step-by-step assembly,

waterproofing notes, and a FAQ. Link below if you're thinking of doing this build.

Happy to answer questions in the comments.

Full guide: https://tokimodder.com/en/blog/mod-royal-oak-nh35