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Take one Seiko SKX007J (or K*),
one machined bezel,
one Seiko 7S26 fit MkII Plongeur dial (day/date variant)
Image credit: MkII Watches
one set of Seiko SKZ211K hands (we’ll see what these look like shortly) and proceed as follows:
1. Remove bezel and bezel click spring
2. Remove the bezel gasket from old bezel, clean, grease and refit to the new bezel
3. Fit new bezel, taking care not to pinch the gasket
4. Remove movement, dial and hands, replace day/date wheels with white on black, fit new dial and handset, refit to case and stand back and admire:
5. Enjoy for a bit and then foolishly sell.
* the K variant of the SKX007 likely emerges from the same factory as the J variant and that factory may or may not be located in Japan. The K probably refers to different destination market rather than implying that models so designated are somehow inferior to those with the J.
Adventures in Amateur Watch Fettling 
Looks great, where can i get that dial?
The dial was bought from MkII watches (www.mkiiwatches.com) a few years ago but they are no longer selling watch parts separately, concentrating instead on making their own line of watches.
Looks fantastic!
I’m new to this, where did you get the watch hands and the new bezel from?
Thanks, Rich
Thanks! In principle, you may be able to find the hands from a watch materials house such as Cousins in the UK or Jules Borel in the USA, but in this case I sourced the hands from a supplier in Holland (www.monsterwatches.nl). The bezel came from an engineering firm in the US called Murphy Engineering.
Martin
The most remarkable Seiko 007 mod I’ve ever seen and an inspiration to mod mine too.
Forgot to ask. Did you use the default hardlex on this mod or a sapphire (maybe even domed)?
This one used the original crystal but I am in the process of doing two more, one of which will use the same pilot bezel and one a coin-edge rotating bezel. On one of these new project watches, I am going to fit a double-domed sapphire. Depending on how that turns out, I may opt for a sapphire on the second too.
Martin, thanks for the reply. Looking forward to your next projects. As mentioned earlier, by far the nicest SKX-mod I’ve seen.
Many thanks – much appreciated!
This is a great piece, thanks for sharing! Like the commenter above, it has inspired me to start a project I’ve thought about for some time. I have a question regarding the black day and date wheels. I’ve had some trouble finding them, but I’ve noticed that the 7s26C movement from a Seiko SNK809 has black wheels. Is that movement interchangeable with the one in my SKX007 (7s26-0029) that I’ll be modifying? Thanks!
The day/date wheels from all variants of the 7S26 and 7S36 should be freely interchangeable but of course you need to take care with the intended crown position when sourcing the day wheels. The SNK809 has its crown at 3.45 and so the parts from this movement should be a straight drop in for an SKX diver.
Thanks Martin. Do you think the entire movement from the SNK09 could be dropped directly into the SKX?
Hi MIke. Because of the different internal dimensions of the two cases, you may need to change the dial spacer before fitting the movement from the SNK809. This in turn ideally requires the removal of the date wheel which requires removal of the date dial guard which itself, on earlier versions of the 7S26, is secured by the smallest, fiddliest screw in all of human history. You can remove the dial spacer without removing the date dial guard, but at risk of damaging the date wheel. I am not sure at what point they changed the design but the 7S36 is definitely much easier in this regard.
Since the cost of of the black wheels is only about 8 USD less than the SNK809, I’m going to pick up one of those and do a little experimenting. You’re advice is much appreciated, thanks Martin!
I love this mod and one of the nicest I’ve seen! Is there any way I can purchase one from you?
This one sold some time ago and the only other variation of this theme that I still have
is not currently for sale I’m afraid.
Ok no worries, just thought I would ask. I just found your site today and I’m so impressed with your mods and restorations. Let me know if you do decide to make and sell any of your watches as I would be very much interested in buying. Keep up the great work!
Hi Martin, I’m a huge fan of this watch, your 30 min mod of the SKX007, I hope you don’t mind but I’m getting into watch modding and I’d like to try and emulate it. I can’t seem to find anybody that has the yellow hands off the SKZ211K, would you know of any place that would have them? I have found some dials that very closely resemble the MKII dial and I have the Pilot bezel on the way. Any help would be great, thanks.
Malen
Malen, as I recall, I’ve had a couple of sets from monsterwatches and possibly a set from chronograph.com. But it’s been a while since I bought my last set. Good luck!
I don’t have the guts to try my own hand at modding yet, but I wanted to tell you that the photos of your mod here inspired me to order a modded 007 with a lot of the same feel as this one. It won’t be as fulfilling as doing it myself, but I am really looking forward to just having an SKX (my first, and been thinking about it for months).
This kind of combination that you did — some of the fine qualities of a pilot watch (dial, bezel) but the boldness of a diver (hands, 007 case) are really nice and I honestly wished Seiko did this kind of stuff themselves! It’s amazing that some mods like this are so much better than their stock designs. Enough rambling – great job and thanks for the inspiration again!
Hi Robbie,
I am pleased to hear my efforts have served as some sort of inspiration for you to seek out something similar. I was very pleased with these SKX pilot mods, but as is generally the case with me, I can never get comfortable with watches much larger than 40mm and they find their way into other people’s hands.
Martin
Definitely understand what you mean Martin! I had wanted to try one on in person before buying to see if the size was right, but the local Seiko boutique nearly laughed at me when I asked about this “lower end” watch.
It is nice they are doing things like the Mini Turtle to appeal to smaller wrists though.
I’d love to own that watch just as pictured. It could loose the date and day, but else: perfection! Does anyone know someone who can build such a beauty for me?
I have one I modded a couple years ago. Might pass it along to a new home.