This Idea Turned into Two Watches: Kosuke Kawamura Seiko Mod
I've had this idea in mind for some time now: building a Kosuke Kawamura Seiko Mod with a twist. Kosuke Kawamura is known for his wild collage art, blending punk aesthetics with digital and analog techniques in unexpected ways. When he collaborated with Seiko in 2022, they produced an amazing timepiece based on the classic Seiko 5 Sonar from the 70s.
Today I want to pay homage to this collaboration by building my very own SRPJ41 Kosuke Kawamura Seiko!
My Take on the SRPJ43 Black and Green Dial Seiko Kosuke Kawamura Homage
For this build, I chose a classic submariner watch case with a black bezel insert. The movement is an NH36 day-date in black, and the dial is the Kosuke Kawamura dial. I have something fun planned for the hands to match the overall style.
The Build Process
Case and Movement
This case is the most expensive I've ever purchased, and I'm impressed with the quality. It's more expensive than all the other Seiko watch parts combined, but worth the extra cash. Even the clasp mechanism feels top-notch. I chose the black NH36 with the Japanese version of the day for authenticity.
Dial and Hands
The dial is interesting with loads of subtle details and depth, thanks to the outer minutes ring. After placing the face on the movement and checking everything is working as intended, I positioned the hands at midnight. The hands I chose fit the retro-futurist watch design of the dial perfectly.
Assembly
Preparing the Case
The case is rated to 300m water resistance. While I don't plan to test this beyond a swimming pool, I lubricated the rubber o-ring to ensure it won't dry out. After cleaning the inside of the case and glass, I installed the movement and prepared the stem and crown.
Installing the Movement
After cutting the stem to the right length, I installed it and checked that nothing was rubbing inside. Everything turned as it should, and the crown screwed nicely into place. A dab of Loctite secured the crown, and I reattached the bracelet.
The Final Result
The watch looks amazing with the black day-date wheels and the domed sapphire crystal with blue AR coating. However, something felt off. After wearing it for a couple of days and sharing a picture on Reddit, I realized the dial was floating inside the case, lacking the complex outer bezel and inner chapter ring of the original Kawamura watch.
The Solution
I swapped the dial and movement into a smaller, simpler 36mm titanium watch case. This new case turned the watch into a more discrete, sporty design that works well with the crowded dial. A simple black silicone strap highlighted the final design, making it my daily driver.
Conclusion
While the original case now houses a classic champagne metal dial, creating a completely different watch, I love both designs. If you enjoyed this post, check out my video on making my very first watch here.
Thanks for reading! I hope you learned something and enjoyed the journey. See you soon for more crafting!