NSH-002

Custom Watch: “Minute Vector”

I wanted to build my own version of the discontinued SKX013. The goal was a stealthy, non-reflective design with high readability. I selected hands that work best for me—a prominent minute hand and an almost invisible seconds hand. Nothing reflective except AR-coated sapphire.

Finding the right parts took time. It wasn’t easy to get non-shiny components that still looked clear. I tried out different dials, hands, and cases, making sure they all worked together. The challenge was keeping everything low-key but still functional.

Case Material Stainless Steel
Width 38 mm
Thickness 12.6 mm
Lug to Lug 44 mm
Weight (Watch Head) 68 grams
Strap Width 20 mm
Movement NH36
Lume C3 (Green)
Crystal Sapphire with Clear AR
Bezel Unidirectional Count-Up
Bezel Insert Fully-lumed Ceramic
Crown Screw-Down
Lowest Water Resistance 100 m (Due to the the slim caseback)

Gallery

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Parts

Part Description Cost Supplier Notes Alternate Part
Bezel SKX013 Coin Edge Bezel - CT236CE Black $36 Crystaltimes Watch & Style
Bezel Insert CI0044 SKX013 Ceramic Bezel Insert - Flat Lumed SKX Style $45 Watch & Style Good quality Best quality
Case SKX013 Watch Case - CT706 Black $50 Crystaltimes Watch & Style (includes caseback, gasgets, spring bars, etc.; a great value)
Caseback SKX Slim Caseback – CT273 Black $20 Crystaltimes Caroline Mods Store
Chapter Ring 030 SEIKO AFTERMARKET BLACK CHAPTER RING MINUTE TRACK SKX013 DIVERS 7S26-0030 $21 Generic OK quality; a little "blue"; some registration issues with the printing near the date cut-out Crystaltimes; A great quality piece, but it was too dark to match the OEM dial, so I went with the generic replacement
Crown SKX013 Crown – CT210 Black + S $26 Crystaltimes Bigger than most SKX013 crowns, but a great size: 4.0mm long × 6.1mm ø
Crystal 28 * 2.8mm Flat Big Chamfer Sapphire Crystal - Clear AR $20 Generic
Dial SEIKO OEM Dial SKX013 $85 Tokeilab Cha-ching! There are many knock-off dials, but I think they're inferior (smaller lume area, weaker lume, etc.)
Hands Green Luminous Watch Hands for NH35 NH36 Movement Watch $4 Fashional Watch Online Store Only used the hour and minute hands; Excellent lume; I hand-painted the base of the hour hand black.
Hands Watch Hands C3 green super lume Luminous fit NH35 $3 Mechanical Watch Assembly Store Only used the second hand; hand-painted the center of the hand because there was a brass post hole
Movement Made in Japan NH36 Movement, Seiko NH36A Dual Calendar Mechanical Movement 3/3.8 o'clock Crown, Watch Repair Replacement Parts $34 AliExpress Had non-OEM day wheel and needed to be replaced; see note on Day Wheel entry
Movement Wheel, Day NH36A 4 o'clock Kanji Day Wheel Disc (White) $23 Namoki Mods Any OEM 3.8 O'Clock day wheel; non-OEM wheels have a different color and text weight and will not match the date wheel
Strap Quick Release FKM Watch Bands Men Women Diving Watch Accessories Premium Grade Fluorine Rubber Watch Strap 20mm $11 Generic These are good, generic FKM straps; 20mm
$378
Notes
  • Links are provided as helpful suggestions only; I have no affiliate relationship with any vendor or supplier.

  • Gaskets, springs, adhesives, stems, and other "consumables" are included with each item unless noted otherwise.

  • Prices are in US dollars.

  • Listed prices do not factor in tax, shipping, and discounts.

  • Updated July, 2024

Build Notes

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The back of the hands is painted with titanium white acrylic artist's paint to increase the lume’s opacity and brightness.

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The base of the hour hand is painted with Mars black acrylic artist's paint to prevent the white from showing behind the minute hand. The brass post of the second hand was visible from the face, so it was painted black too.

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Removing the stem once the hands are installed is awkward, and dropping the movement into a holder risks damaging the dial or hands. This technique acts as a third hand.