Swatch "Gold Top" Day-Date

You can read the story on the ~~mutilation~~ mod in this post from last night.

First a disclaimer! As several folks pointed out in the linked thread, Swatch lugs have been known to break in normal use. And, apparently, the "middle lugs" were added to address a serious problem with broken lugs. Even so they still occasionally break.. Bro. dano0 can attest to this. Smile

So I am not advocating this mod as a generally Good Thing. Indeed, it should be used only as a Last Resort, I think, and always keeping in mind that it inevitably compromises the structural integrity of the lugs.

Luckily, not many will have need for such a drastic mod. Again, the only reason I did so is that my wrist measures 8.3 to 8.5 inches (21 to 21.6 Cm), depending, and OEM

straps simply won't fit me. Period. Frowning

OK, with all that out of the way, let's see some photos. Smile

Click HERE for larger photo or HERE for Mega-sized photo
Not too much to say.. except it's a Swatch. Smile

Most of y'all are familiar with them, I'm sure, and this is the standard size at 34mm X 38mm, 9mm thick, with 17mm wide lugs. But, of course, a Swatch is all about the styling! I love gray dials, so I had a soft spot for this one right off the bat. But it's gray with a Swatch touch! - it has a metal-flake luster that is quite understated in most light, yet in some conditions looks quite flamboyant. They got the reddish-orange seconds hand just right, too, IMHO. Somewhat to my surprise, I even dig the mix of Roman and Arabic numerals. I think of it as a sort of "hillbilly California Dial" Laughing

and I enjoy it enough that I may have to rethink my position that true California Dials are abominations. Rolling on the floor laughing my a.. off

Note that this is not the most common type of Swatch case you'll see. Rather than being 100% plastic resin (which I think of as a "Type A", like the chrono in the earlier thread) this one has a stamped metal 'bezel cap' that fits over the resin base, extending to the C/L of the lug holes. Let's call it a "Type B" Swatch case.

Swatch "Gold Top" Day-Date

Click HERE for larger photo
Swatch "Gold Top" Day-Date

Click HERE for larger photo or HERE for supersized photo
You can see the joint between the metal 'bezel cap' and the resin base in the photos above. While I do realize the metal cap is intended as a decorative feature, I'm hoping that it will also serve to strengthen the lugs. Once I Dremel-ed off the offending "middle lugs", regular springbars fit perfectly. But that's an 18mm strap I've got crammed into the 17mm lugs, and it did require some significant pressure to achieve the fit. If it survived that, I'm thinkin' it's gonna be A-OK. Wink

But, again, only time will tell. I will say this.. y'all have me a bit worried about the long-term durability of the lugs. Smile

To the point that I thought better of pulling the strap out to take an unobstructed photo of the back, as I would have done if it were a metal-cased watch, tight fit or no.

Swatch "Gold Top" Day-Date

Click HERE for larger photo or HERE for supersized photo
In conclusion - while I don't recommend this mod unequivocally, I am personally most pleased with the result. The combo is comfortable as can be with the nylon MilStrap and, IMHO, it fits the character of the watch very well. More importantly it fits me fat wrist Laughing

, making this the first

that I have ever been able to wear, properly.

So I leave ye with a Hairy Wrist Shot inside!

since that was, after all, the whole point of this exercise. Wink

Click HERE for larger photo or HERE for supersized photo
Thanks for readin'!

Cheers!

-Ricky

Live long and prosper.

Messages In This Thread

on the Desecrated Swatch. Now with Actual Photos!	Ricky Lee	445	May 26, 2011 07:32PM
Good job, nice result. (n/t)	Paul J Costa	70	May 27, 2011 05:41AM
Very good work Ricky and a fine watch! (n/t)	IF	68	May 27, 2011 02:50AM
Good show, Ricky! I see what you mean using Dremel is a necessary evil to get a NATO on there. Looks good! (n/t)	Nuvolari	79	May 27, 2011 12:25AM
Now I see your point a lot better Ricky. I like this mod a lot (n/t)	Reto	62	May 26, 2011 10:15PM
As the old country boy would say, Ricky....'YA DONE GOOD!" EXCELLENT job! (n/t)	EdH	69	May 26, 2011 09:24PM
Good job, Nice combo. (n/t)	DanB	67	May 26, 2011 09:15PM
Nicely done (n/t)	Dave P	71	May 26, 2011 09:05PM
Looks like it's meant to be! Great job (n/t)	Need_Omega	74	May 26, 2011 08:59PM
It looks good, Ricky. Hopefully, that metal>> >>will assist in the strength.	Dave Murphy	80	May 26, 2011 08:24PM
I think you did REAL good Bro Ricky!!! Its not all plastic resin...which was 90% of the problem as you said.. Even though its half and half, I think you should be A o.k! The nato will also help with the integrity....less pull on the lugs.....Spot on! Now..if I could only Resurrect my Croccante!!	dano0	64	May 26, 2011 08:04PM
well done...most folks wont even give it a second glance, but us watch types know a lil more and will give u a "two thumbs up" fer sure! (n/t)	tingrin	78	May 26, 2011 11:02PM
Re: well done... mate. Quote tingrin most folks wont even give it a second glance.. It does look OEM, I fancy.. Quote tingrin ..but us watch types know a lil more and will give u a "two thumbs up" fer sure ! Except, as you say, to WIS types, who will immediately say "WTH?! "	Ricky Lee	60	May 28, 2011 09:03PM
Good job & a good combo. Interesting to see you used springbars. (n/t)	Adam in NYC	70	May 26, 2011 07:38PM