Bead Blasted Watches? ...and some other questions.

[KrabbyKakes]

Skip to the bold if you don't care about my story .


I just sold my Seiko SNK807 because the 36mm face was just too small on my 8.25 inch wrists. My budget is around $160 and I found the perfect watch, almost. The watch in question was the Seiko SNZH53, Seiko's tribute to the Blancpain Fifty Fathoms. The only problem is the finish. It appears to be a polished look, which I'm not fond of, at all. So, I researched bead blasting services and the cheapest I could find was $80. Like I said earlier, my budget is only $160, and the total for the watch and service would be almost $250. Way more than a 15 year old like myself would want to spend.

So, on to my actual question, do any of y'all know of watches that come bead blasted from the factory?

The only ones I have seen are Bertuccis, which I don't necessarily like, and I would have to buy a bead blasted bracelet, which seem to be nonexistent. I wouldn't mind a PVD watch either, so long as it isn't super tactical looking. The only ones I have seen had a glossy coating, which seems to make the "non reflective" black coating useless.

Also, the SNZH has a 44mm face, which I thought would be the perfect size for my wrist. That was until I learned that my dads submariner had 40mm face. I just cut out a peice of paper 44mm across and it looked kinda big. I would go try one on, but all the stores around carry prices of jewelry, not mid priced Seikos. I would love to try on some Breitlings or Tags, but I still have several of my lifetimes to go before I can buy one of those .

Here are my requirements:
1. Under $160, may go over some.
2. At least a 39mm face, no more than 44mm
3. At least 100m water resistance (I don't dive but I frequently swim, sometimes in places with strong currents).
4. Non reflective (Bead Blasted, sand blasted, PVD etc.)
5. Preferably mechanical or solar, not to fond of quartz.

OR

An affordable bead blasting service.


Thanks!
-Kris

P.S. - Sorry for the long post

 

[Piso Mojado]

So, on to my actual question, do any of y'all know of watches that come bead blasted from the factory?

Vostok Amphibians. The ones with an "M" at the end of the model number have a "matte" finish case which is bead blasted, not brushed. For example, 090916M:

But the bezel is chrome-plated brass and you would want to replace that. Meranom sells a clean stainless steel replacement, but he is out of stock right now. I think you will find something similar if you look around. A lot of people replace those bezels.

The only ones I have seen are Bertuccis, which I don't necessarily like, and I would have to buy a bead blasted bracelet, which seem to be nonexistent.

The Bertuccis I've seen don't have spring bars. They have welded steel posts like military watches, so you have to use a NATO or Zulu or an open-ended leather strap. And their men's watches have 22.5 MM lug width so let's face it, you are going to use a Bertucci strap.

Watchadoo sells polished, brushed and bead blasted bracelets. Bead blasted costs twice as much but it is definitely available. Don't know if I would pay another $60 for it but that may be your cheapest option. I own three (brushed) and I like them. Very comfy.

One thing you should know is that most (not all) Watchadoo bracelets use Seiko fat spring bars, and he ships them with "real" aftermarket Seiko spring bars that only work on Seiko diver watches. For other watches, you need to buy fat spring bars with skinny tips for non-Seiko watches. Strap dealers sell them online for a few dollars.

 

[KrabbyKakes]

I'll take a look at the Vostoks, but I think I'm just gonna buy a diver and send it in to be bead blasted. I know that Maprik on here does some pretty awesome bead blasting, I just haven't asked him if he could something like a watch. I know some guys over at WatchUSeek do some custom work so I'll be asking around there.