Dinara Watches: Limited Seiko hommage watches

The world of watch modification, known also as mod , may seem like a narrow niche at first glance, but behind it are curiosity, perseverance and a love of detail. That's how the story of Dinara Watches was born, out of a sincere fascination with mechanical watches and a desire to fix, customize and make something special. The beginning was simple: watching videos about restorations, first attempts at assembling homage models and discovering Seiko watches as the perfect base that is affordable, reliable and supported by a large community of watch enthusiasts.

Modification (mod) involves taking an existing watch and changing its appearance, such as the dial, hands, glass or other details, while a franken watch is created by combining parts from different models and even brands, creating a kind of “combination”.

Hommage refers to a model that is made as inspiration for an already known watch model, but is not a direct copy or counterfeit. This means that the design resembles the original (e.g. Rolex Submariner), but the watch comes from another manufacturer or is assembled from aftermarket parts, which means that part of the watch is not originally produced by the brand, but is produced by a third party.

In an interview with us, Dinara Watches reveals what drew him to this world, what his first mod looked like, where he finds inspiration, and why he believes personalized watches have a future.

How did you get into the world of watch modifications and why Seiko as a base?

Dinara Watches: It all started very simply. I've always loved watches, not just as an accessory on my wrist, but I've always been fascinated by the mechanism itself.

“For me, a mechanical watch is one of the pinnacles of human engineering: it works without a battery, yet it is precise and long-lasting. That has always been incredible to me.” - Dinara Watches

Dinara Watches: I started looking at and reading various sources about watch restorations and realized how much I was attracted to the idea of someone taking apart and bringing something “dead” back to life. After that, I moved on to assembling watches, the so-called homage models. And why Seiko? Seiko is a great base. They have a large community, parts are available, and the mechanisms are reliable and grateful for projects.

Do you remember your first mod? What did it look like and how did it feel when you finished it?

Dinara Watches: It was terrible. Hours and hours of reworking, tons of mistakes, losing patience and nerves. I was putting together a modified Seiko Daytona and when I finally put it on my hand, the feeling was incredible. It was really special because it was the work of my hands, the product of all that pain.

Otherwise, Dinara Watches procures parts exclusively online, daily researching new and sufficiently high-quality options. Quality components are not difficult to come by, but it is necessary to invest a lot of time in studying manufacturers and offers. That, along with assembling the watch itself, is one of the most demanding parts of the job, Luka tells us.

Is there any mod you're particularly proud of?

“I am especially proud of the watch I made for my dad.” - Dinara Watches

What is the most challenging project you've had so far and why?

Dinara Watches: The most demanding project so far was the Day-Date, a homage to the Rolex model. Working on it was particularly demanding due to the very sensitive hands, especially the seconds hand, which required great precision and patience.

Dinara Watches states that there is no waiting list. From the time of ordering, the maximum waiting time is about four weeks, but this can vary depending on the volume of work.

The price of a custom mod is mostly determined by the prices of the components. The rarity or complexity of the watch does not significantly affect the price, meaning a simpler watch will not necessarily be cheaper.

How can interested parties contact you if they want to order their custom mod or learn more about your work?

Dinara Watches: My works, as well as my contact information, can be found on the Instagram page @dinarawatches , where I publish all my works. Since I'm still in the beginning, the gallery is not too big, but it is growing day by day. Instagram is also a channel through which you can consult and order your unique watch.

Thank you Luka for this pleasant interview!

Images: dinarawatches