Nowadays, everybody’s into collecting watches - buying a timepiece that fits for an occasion or outfit. However, it is not practical, especially if you don’t have enough funds. That is why some watch collectors resort to mod their watch instead. 

The watch modification industry recently boomed. It is a hobby that is worth trying. There is no need for expertise and too expensive tools. Furthermore, the modification parts from Seiko are accessible and affordable. 

Whether you want to change the watch look or replace a broken part, always get the right mod parts and tools. But how will you know these if you do not know the basics? It is better to understand the watch anatomy first before you mod. Let us walk you through about the different parts of the watch. 

Before you begin the watch surgery, understand the basic parts of a watch first. 

A bezel is the outer ring of the watch case that secures the crystal in place. It can either be a flat-edged surface or rounded connected to the lugs. It is either made of metal or ceramic. 

Bezels vary on the style and design of the watch. It can be plain, decorative, and functional. Some bezels have embellishments like precious gemstones, while others have a different metal than the case itself - two-tone watches. For dive watches, the bezel rotates to convert elapsed time underwater. 

The case is a structure holding the internal working parts of the watch - movement and dial. It is like housing that protects from normal wear and tear and other elements. It takes light shocks that a watch receives daily.

A watch case comes in different materials. Some are stainless steel cases that are resilient and do not tarnish. Others are from precious metals like gold or platinum that give an extravagant look. Some watch cases are plastic made for sports watches. 

Depending on the watch style, the case comes in different finishes like matte, polished, smooth, or combination of any. 

The crown is the tiny knob outside the watch case and serves several functions. For a mechanical watch, it winds or stops the wristwatch for power save. For watches with a date window and a second-indicator, it sets or changes the time, day, and date. 

Water-resistant watches have a crown screw-down into the case. It provides additional water protection. In some cases, the crown features embellishments like precious stones that indicate luxury and attention to detail. 

The crystal is the transparent cover on top of the dial. It is like a window that protects the dials and hands from dust and dirt and reduces glare. A clear crystal allows time to be visible and readable. 

A watch crystal comes in different materials. Plastic crystals do not break easily; that is why it is common for children’s watches. Mineral crystal or Hardlex is more impact-resistant than plastic. Sapphire crystal is famous for being more scratch-resistant and durable. 

The dial displays the actual time. It is the most descriptive part that is why it is called the face of the watch. The flat surface beneath the crystal comes in several colors, textures, materials, and marker combinations. 

A digital watch displays time in a numeric digital display - 12hour or 24hour time. An analog watch contains hour markers and hands. Hour markers are often Arabic or Roman numerals while the watch hands consist of the hour, minute, and sometimes second hands. 

There are several watch dial styles to choose from - enamel, guilloche, crosshair, skeleton, and tapisserie. 

The hands are easy to recognize. These are thin sticks that point to the hour markers to indicate the time. Most analog watches have three watch hands - the hours, minutes, and second hand. Sometimes, a second hand is not present. 

The hour hand is shorter compared to the minute hand. These two hands are sometimes luminous to be visible even in the dark. Meanwhile, the second hand is the thinnest and usually color red. 

From the name itself, the indicators mark out the hours. The hour markers indicate the time in various types. 

The majority of the watches use Arabic numerals - 1 to 12 that comes in different forms. Most of the time, the numbers from 1 to 12 appear to represent each hour. Sometimes, only numerals at 3, 6, 9, and 12 o’clock positions. In rare cases, others use a single 12-o’clock Arabic numeral marker. 

Aside from that, Roman numerals are used as hour markers as well. It is a combination of letters from the Latin alphabet - I to XII. The display is the same with Arabic numerals. 

Some lady watches use other types of indexes - diamonds, arrows, or round. It looks luxurious and aesthetically appealing. 

Lugs or horns are a small metal attachment that secures the watch bracelet to the case. The style of the lug depends on the straps - plain or decorative. The lugs and strap keep the whole timepiece intact. 

The width of the lug is necessary when changing the strap. Measure the space between the lugs with a caliper - millimeter unit. The most common sizes range from 18mm to 24mm. 

The watch strap secures a watch to a wrist that comes from different materials. Some are even interchangeable to dress it up or down for a change in the watch look. No wonder it is the most fun part to modify. 

A metal bracelet is the most popular option - stainless steel, gold, or titanium. Leather strap follows, which typically comes from calf skins, alligators, or crocodiles. Nylon straps are for active sports watch wearers while satin straps are for fashion. Rubber straps are the best choice for diving watersports. 

Learning the different parts of the watch and understanding how it works is essential when you mod. Choosing the best replacement parts is easy. You get the appropriate tool use for modding. 

Seiko provides all the modification parts at an affordable price. Save time, money, and energy by checking the items. Choose the one suited for its purpose so you can work efficiently.