Build Your Own Watch Online: How a Watch Configurator Works

This article is available in French only.

To build your own watch online, you pick a model, then choose each part in a configurator that shows the result live: case, dial, hands, bezel and strap. You can usually add your name or a logo on the dial and an engraving on the caseback. The watch is then assembled to order around an automatic movement and shipped to you. Before ordering, check the movement, the crystal, the water resistance, the warranty and the delivery time.

Step by step: designing a custom watch

Choose a model. It sets the case shape and size: dive-style, GMT, chronograph, integrated bracelet, field watch or skeleton.
Pick the dial. Color, texture, indexes and date window. This is the part people notice first.
Choose the hands. Their shape changes the character of the watch more than you would expect.
Select the bezel. A rotating dive-style bezel, a 24-hour GMT bezel or a plain ring.
Pick the strap or bracelet. Steel, rubber or leather.
Personalize it. A name, initials or a logo on the dial, a date or a message engraved on the back.

A good configurator renders every combination live, so you see exactly what you will receive. At Modus, the watch configurator covers ten models, from dive-style to skeleton, and each choice updates the preview instantly.

Which movement for a custom watch?

Most custom watches run on a Seiko Instruments movement: the NH35 for a three-hand automatic with date, the NH34 for a GMT, the NH70 for a skeleton and the VK63 for a chronograph. These movements are reliable and any watchmaker can service them. Read our NH35 guide for the details.

Adding a name, logo or engraving

On the dial: text is printed, usually limited to two short lines. Keep it to a name, initials or a year: the dial is what everyone sees.
On the caseback: engraved, for a date, coordinates or a short message. It stays private.
A logo: a company or club logo on the dial or engraved on the back makes a strong corporate or team gift.

What to check before ordering a custom watch

The movement, named precisely on the page.
The crystal: sapphire, for scratch resistance.
Water resistance: most custom watches are rated 5 ATM, which covers rain and hand washing, not swimming.
The warranty and after-sales service: who repairs the watch, and where.
The delivery time: a watch assembled to order takes longer than one shipped from stock. Plan ahead for a birthday or a wedding.
The return policy for a personalized item, which often differs from a standard product.

Custom watch or a model from the collection?

If you already know the style you want, a finished model is ready sooner. If you want a dial color or a combination nobody else has, or a name on the dial, the configurator is the way to go. Browse the collection first: it is also a good source of ideas.