Daywatch 4 Posted March 3, 2014 This is such a cool looking, reliable, shockproof and functional Seiko-watch when You see it in the metal that I decided to put up this post for any other member interested in reproducing this or a similar FFF/ Tudor. Below a compilation of related links on everything. This may be done without any previous experience and without specialized tools, found all in the homes drawers. Hope You like this. Enjoy the brief tour: History of Fifty Fathoms – borrowed from Hodinkee http://www.hodinkee....-fathoms-review The Blancpain Fifty Fathoms was the original modern dive watch. Yes, you read that correctly. While many people would instinctively give this title to the more well-known Rolex Submariner, the Fifty Fathoms actually debuted a number of innovations a year before the Submariner. While the first commerical Fifty Fathoms was released in 1953, the story goes a little further back than that. Captain Robert Maloubier and Lieutenant Claude Riffaud, commanders of the French Combat Diving School, were looking for a purpose-built watch to put on the wrist of the most elite dive soldiers on the planet and couldn't find anything to suit their needs. Remember, at this time there were no dive computers and a watch was absolutely necessary for ensuring both personal safety and coordinated timing during difficult missions. They drew up some requirements for this ideal watch and shopped it around to various companies, but none wanted to invest in what they saw as a niche market. Luckily, Blancpain CEO Jean-Jacques Fiechter was an avid diver and decided to team up with the commanders to create the watch they needed. The Base watch was a golden Seiko SNZH57 (the 55 is Silver) Thanks to Greg´s nice review I bought this in the first place, You may find it here, it says it all : http://www.rwg.bz/bo...opic=58791&st=0 and this is another review: http://bladebarrelbe...comment-page-1/ This is available on Amazon, the best price I found was with Creation Watches (Singapore) they ship for free with DHL in less than a week to EU (might have to pay local VAT on import but often they just go through). There is one "Made in Japan" model and a cheaper, somewhere else made one, noticeable on the dial lettering, basically it´s the same: http://www.creationw...watch-2718.html It´s such a nice classic looking watch that it doesn´t need any modding and an easy step is to just change the bezel ring, bought the lumed one from Yobokies here: http://forums.watchu...ble-784063.html Mod 1 - just change the bezel ring and put it on a Brady sailcloth strap with golden stitching Alternative hands/dials/bezel rings etc. are also available from 10watches/ Dagaz Here: http://www.10watches...ts/show/1854400 Mod 2: One evening did the bezel ring, the next finished the rest using these instruction links: Thx Maxwas – worked very well. http://www.rwg.bz/bo...showtopic=68624 Thx toehh – this is how it´s done: http://www.rwg.bz/bo...l=&fromsearch=1 one remark: the stem has to be completely pushed in to be able to press on the marked spot to push it completely out; and here are some tools – this helped a lot too: http://forums.watchu...ver-158771.html For the red second hand tip just used some red acrylic paint - it matches the "automatic" red quite well General info on all Seiko movements and specs: http://www.seikowatc...dex.html#divers Last but not least, the sailcloth Brady strap is fantastic with in-built lugbars and a fast release button on the backside, they come in different colours and stitching from here: http://bradystraps.c....php?id=33&=SID Thanks All for viewing, hope You enjoyed this. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
andyboy 5 Posted March 3, 2014 Great job mate. Looks really good. I have done a couple of mods on the SNZH and very pleased with them. Enjoy it mate. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Higs 73 Posted March 3, 2014 Lovely. Mine says hello.... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Bash64 17 Posted April 4, 2014 Really great post! The extra info makes it very easy for anyone wanting to try a mod on their own. Really nice pics also. Not everyone changes the bezel with the FFF mod, but I think yours really makes the watch. Nicely done! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Beefalope 0 Posted April 4, 2014 Great watch and outstanding photography. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Pharmo 33 Posted April 4, 2014 Fantastic work..looks abdolutely stunning. I have held off this mod for too long :( Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
James. 4 Posted April 4, 2014 Wore mine today, try it on NATO, mucho more'o comfortable'o than sail cloth'o Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Bash64 17 Posted April 8, 2014 Wore mine today, try it on NATO, mucho more'o comfortable'o than sail cloth'o i Is the leather NATO yours too James? Really like that one! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
James. 4 Posted April 8, 2014 Wore mine today, try it on NATO, mucho more'o comfortable'o than sail cloth'o i Is the leather NATO yours too James? Really like that one! Yup, it's like a faded grey colour. From a strap maker over on homageforum.com. Love it, currently on my Halios, FFF is back on SS Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ShovelnTC 31 Posted April 8, 2014 Great watches and mods, I've only done the dial and added the Brady but that returns so much bang for the buck it makes a lot of the Reps seem high cost. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Daywatch 4 Posted April 8, 2014 Hi James, that vintage leather nato really looks the part, have to get me one of those. Fantastic dial and seconds hand on Yours Thanks Guys, nice comments, haven´t been here for a while, using it on a black shark-strap with white stitching now, also great and these Seikos are fantastic quality with a quite silent, solid movement, always underrated them....a lot (price/quality value relationship is incredible compared to reps, outstanding specially with rep prices going fast up the hill) Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Quicklink 0 Posted April 21, 2014 Amazon has these snzh57's for $150 w free shipping. About to pull the trigger on one of these later this week! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
RUSH2112 11 Posted April 21, 2014 Thanks for posting the story behind the watch. Didn't understand what all the fuss was a until now. It's on the list. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Bertram 0 Posted April 21, 2014 Nice job! It looks great. I love my military version. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
tofurky1975 0 Posted April 30, 2014 Where did you get the Tornek-Rayville? I NEED TO KNOW!!! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Maahinen 0 Posted May 5, 2014 I would be interest too where to get these parts...... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites