Short answer: a Seiko Datejust mod is a dress-style watch in the classic date-window silhouette, usually with a fluted bezel and a jubilee-style bracelet, built on a genuine Seiko NH35 automatic under sapphire crystal and carrying no luxury brand's name. Ours come in 36mm, 39mm or 41mm (approximate) and in more than thirty dials. This guide groups them so you can choose, explains the Wimbledon dial everyone searches for, and covers the details that make a dress watch feel right: dial finish, bezel, bracelet and size.
The dial families · The Wimbledon dial · Which case size · Bezel and bracelet · Movement · FAQ
The Datejust dial families
| Family | What it is | Examples |
|---|---|---|
| Roman numerals | The traditional route. Reads formal and classic | Black Roman, Blue Roman, White Roman, Green Roman, Grey Roman, Royal Blue Roman |
| Arabic numerals | More modern and quicker to read at a glance | Arabic Olive, Arabic Black, Arabic White, Arabic Blue, Arabic Royal Blue |
| Wimbledon | Dark grey dial in the Wimbledon colourway, in steel or two-tone | Wimbledon Grey, Wimbledon Two-Tone |
| Single colours | One strong dial colour, from classic black to purple and bronze | Classic Black, Blue, Sunburst Grey, Rhodium, Purple, Bronze |
| Two-tone | Gold and steel, warmer and more confident | Two-Tone White Roman, Two-Tone Chocolate, Two-Tone Arabic Champagne, Two-Tone Red |
| Gem-set | Gem-set dials for a dressier, evening look (36mm or 39mm) | Blue Gem, Gem Black, Rose Gold Gem, Two-Tone Gem |
| Day-Date | Day and date display on a Miyota automatic, 39mm or 41mm | Day-Date Blue Roman, Day-Date Rose Gold Green, Day-Date Rose Gold Roman Chocolate |
Every dial is in the Datejust-style collection.
The Wimbledon dial, explained
"Wimbledon" is a nickname, not a model: a slate grey sunburst dial with green Roman numerals, almost always on a Datejust-style case. The colourway first appeared on a Swiss luxury dress watch in 2009, and collectors named it after the tennis tournament. No brand has ever used the name officially, which is why people searching "Seiko Wimbledon" get confusing results.
Why it took over. Most dress dials pick one idea. The Wimbledon runs two at once and gets away with it. The grey is a sunburst, so it is not flat: it goes near silver where light catches it and closes to charcoal in shade, which gives a formal watch some movement. Then the green numerals do something quietly clever. Roman numerals read as traditional; green does not. Together you get a watch that looks correct in a meeting without being boring.
Our two Wimbledon builds. The Wimbledon Grey puts a dark grey dial under a silver fluted bezel on a silver jubilee-style bracelet: the clean interpretation, and the one dress watch that goes with everything you own. The Wimbledon Two-Tone swaps in a gold fluted bezel and a two-tone bracelet, which warms the whole watch up and makes the grey look deliberate rather than safe. If most of your watches are steel and you want this one to be noticed, take the Two-Tone. Both come in 36mm, 39mm or 41mm.
Which case size
Measure your wrist. Under about 16cm, take 36mm. Over about 17cm, take 39mm or 41mm. In between it is preference, and the smaller size is the safer buy: a dress watch that sits slightly small reads deliberate, while one that overhangs the wrist reads borrowed. A fluted bezel pushes the eye outward, so the watch wears a little larger than the number suggests. All sizes are approximate and follow the reference model. Gem-set dials come in 36mm or 39mm; Day-Dates in 39mm or 41mm.
The details that make a dress watch
The dial finish
You look at the dial every day up close, so it decides how the watch feels. A sunburst finish, a fine brushed texture radiating from the centre, catches light differently as your wrist moves. A flat, lifeless dial is the giveaway of a cheap build.
Fluted bezel and jubilee bracelet
Two details define the classic look. The fluted bezel's ring of fine grooves throws light around the edge of the dial. The jubilee-style bracelet uses five smaller links per row, so it folds over your wrist instead of sitting on top of it and feels dressier than a plain bracelet. Prefer something sportier? The three-link oyster-style bracelet is flatter and more robust. If you want to change bracelets later, our guide to jubilee vs oyster vs president bracelets covers how each changes the watch.
The date window
The date sits at 3 o'clock. Check any listing photo for a cleanly cut window and a crisp, properly aligned date.
Movement
Datejust-style builds run a genuine Seiko NH35 automatic: 21,600 beats per hour, roughly 41 hours of power reserve, hacking seconds and hand-winding, with a factory rating of -20 to +40 seconds a day. Day-Date builds use a Miyota automatic to drive the day display. Either way it is a self-winding mechanical movement, powered by your wrist, with no battery. Most builds have an exhibition caseback so you can watch it work, and rotor upgrades are available on request. More on the movements in NH35 vs NH36 vs Miyota.
Water resistance
The standard build is splash-resistant: rain and hand washing, not swimming. A Swim-Ready (5 ATM) option is available on each product page. What those ratings mean.
Is a Datejust homage a fake?
No. A counterfeit puts a luxury brand's name on the dial and lies about what it is. A homage borrows a design language and is honest about every part inside. The rule never changes: a luxury brand's name on the dial means counterfeit. More in are Seiko mods fake?
What you get
Every Datejust-style watch is built to order, quality-checked and regulated before it ships, and you see photos of your finished watch before it leaves us. Shipping is free worldwide, and every watch carries a 2-year warranty. Build and dispatch times are on our shipping policy page, so order early for gifts and events.
Frequently asked questions
What is a Seiko Wimbledon?
A nickname for a slate grey sunburst dial with green Roman numerals on a Datejust-style case. It is a colourway, not an official model. Ours is a Seiko mod on the NH35 automatic, in steel or two-tone.
Which case size should I choose?
Under about 16cm of wrist, 36mm. Over about 17cm, 39mm or 41mm. In between, the smaller size is the safer choice for a dress watch.
What is the difference between a jubilee and an oyster bracelet?
The jubilee-style bracelet uses five smaller links per row for a dressier, more supple feel. The oyster-style uses three flatter links for a sportier look.
What movement is inside?
A Seiko NH35 automatic in the Datejust-style builds, and a Miyota automatic in the Day-Date builds. Both are self-winding.
Can I wear it every day?
Yes. It is slim enough for a shirt cuff and topped with sapphire. The standard build is splash-resistant, with a Swim-Ready (5 ATM) option if you want to swim in it.
How long until it arrives?
Each watch is made to order. Build and dispatch times are published in our shipping policy.
Sources
- Time Module NH35 specification sheet (PDF) - rate, power reserve and jewel count.
- Time Module (Seiko Instruments) NH-series product line-up - NH-series specifications.
