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Bauhaus 33mm — Ultra Thin Watch Case

Your parts arrive as one finished watch. Our watchmaker seats your movement, aligns crown & stem, presses the caseback and QC-checks the build. 3–5 business day lead time, assembled in Singapore.
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Bauhaus Watch Case 33mm Ultra Thin in polished steel

Minimalist Elegance. Ultra Thin. Unprecedented Size.

The Bauhaus Watch Case 33mm, part of our Ultra Thin Edition series, is engineered for the purist — the first, smallest, and thinnest NH-compatible watch case on the market today. A groundbreaking foundation for a custom dress build, with nothing on it that doesn't need to be there.

The Bauhaus design language is built on a single century-old idea: form follows function. Clean lines, pure geometry, an uncompromised focus on minimalism. This case captures that spirit exactly — a 33mm canvas of elegant, mid-century proportions, slipping effortlessly under a dress shirt cuff.

Achieving this profile around the robust NH caliber pushed the engineering hard. The result is sub-10mm in solid 316L stainless steel with a sleek polished finish — proportions most NH-compatible cases simply can't reach.

Sapphire pre-installed. Crown included. Ready to build.
The flat sapphire crystal ships pre-installed and aligned at our workshop, and the 6mm coin-edge crown is in the box. You add the dial, hands, chapter ring and movement — and you have a complete dress watch. A foundation that's genuinely yours, down to the millimetre.

The smallest of the line.
33mm diameter, 41.5mm lug-to-lug, 18mm lug width. The most compact case we make — a beautifully understated wrist presence, and the truest mid-century dress proportion in the Ultra Thin family.

Genuinely thin.
9.93mm with the solid caseback, measured on a vernier caliper. The engineering behind that number: a standard NH movement is 7.59mm tall on its own — which leaves barely 2.3mm for the crystal, caseback floor, walls and hand clearance combined. The thinnest case in our Ultra Thin line.

Form follows function.
No fluting, no bezel detailing, no imposed character — the Bauhaus is deliberately the most neutral foundation we build. Crafted from robust 316L stainless steel with a clean polished finish, it's pure geometry and nothing else.

A blank canvas for the purist.
The visible bezel is just 1.4mm — barely a frame. On this case the dial isn't a component, it's the entire statement. Whatever dial and hands you choose carry 100% of the design. Build accordingly.

Caseback Total Thickness Water Resistance Best for
Solid · HEADLINE BUILD 9.93mm 100m / 10 ATM The thinnest profile — daily and formal wear
Sapphire 10.9mm 100m / 10 ATM Movement display — show off the rotor

The solid caseback is the headline build — this is the case at its slimmest, sub-10mm. The sapphire caseback adds slight thickness in exchange for a view of the NH movement.

Heads up — sold separately

Chapter ring. This case requires a SKX013-spec chapter ring to seat the dial correctly — without it, the dial sits too low and hands won't clear. The case fits both normal and ultra thin chapter rings; the choice depends on your dial, not the case. If your dial has applied (raised) indices, choose ultra thin for clearance. If flat-printed, either works. When in doubt, ultra thin is the safer default. Browse compatible chapter rings .

The crown, caseback and sapphire crystal are all included with this case. You only need a dial, hands, chapter ring and movement to complete the watch.

For experienced modders only — TYPE M movements only

This case fits TYPE M versions of NH35, NH36, NH38, NH70, NH71, NH72 only. TYPE L will NOT fit. Due to tight clearance between hands and sapphire, this case is recommended only for professional watchmakers and experienced modders.

  • Dimensions

    1. Case Diameter 33mm
    2. Case Thickness 9.93mm (Solid Caseback) / 10.9mm (Sapphire Caseback)
    3. Lug to Lug 41.5mm
    4. Lug Width 18mm
    5. Visible Bezel 1.4mm

    Materials & Finish

    1. Quality Swiss Production Quality, ISO 9001 Certified
    2. Case Material 316L Stainless Steel
    3. Case Finishing Polished
    4. Crown 6mm coin-edge, screw-down (included)
    5. Crystal Flat sapphire with clear anti-reflective coating
    6. Crystal Size 29.5mm x 1mm

    Compatibility

    1. Movements TYPE M: NH35, NH36, NH38, NH70, NH71, NH72
    2. Dials 28.5mm
    3. Chapter Rings SKX013-spec (required, sold separately)
    4. Hands NH movement compatible

    Water Resistance

    1. Solid & Sapphire Caseback 100m / 10 ATM
  • New to Seiko modding? Here's everything you'll need for a complete, functioning watch — in the order you'd actually assemble it.

    What's already in this purchase:

    The case body with pre-installed flat sapphire crystal, the 6mm coin-edge crown, and your chosen caseback. That's the foundation. Everything below is what you'll add to make a wrist-ready watch.

    The 4 parts you'll need for a complete watch:

    1. Chapter ring — required first. The chapter ring seats the dial at the correct height; without it, the dial sits too low and the hands won't clear.
      (SKX013-spec — sold on a separate page. See the "sold separately" panel above for normal vs ultra thin guidance.)
      Browse compatible chapter rings
    2. Dial (28.5mm) — the face of the watch, and on this case, the entire statement. The biggest aesthetic choice you'll make. Match it to your chosen movement (date / day+date / no-date dial).
    3. Hands — paired with your dial. Most modders match lume colour across both hands and dial markers (BGW9 white-blue, C3 green, etc.).
    4. Movement — NH35 (date), NH36 (day+date), NH38 (no date), or source your own. The movement is the engine of the watch.

    Optional finishing touches:

    1. Decorated bridge + rotor (only visible with sapphire caseback) — replace the stock NH movement bridge and rotor with our Côtes de Genève decorated set, viewable through the sapphire caseback. Note: our bridges fit only our rotors (not OEM Seiko rotors), so they're chosen as a pair. Recommended for experienced modders only — or tick Assemble Watch below and we'll handle it.

    Want it built for you?

    Tick the Assemble Watch (+SGD $89) option above on this page and we'll handle the full build in our Singapore workshop — case fitting, movement seating, crown alignment, caseback press and function check.

    Heads up: assembled watches require 2–5 business days of workshop time before shipping.

    Once your parts arrive, see the How To Mod tab for assembly tutorials.

    1. 1x Watch Case Body (with pre-installed flat sapphire crystal)
    2. 1x Crown — 6mm coin-edge, screw-down
    3. 1x NH Caseback (Solid or Sapphire, per selection)

    All photos of watches with modification parts are for illustration purposes only and are not included with the case purchase.

    1. A Complete Guide On How To Mod Your SEIKO Watch Dial And Hands (Photos & Video)
    2. Fitting dials with four dial legs
    3. Seiko Modding: The Complete Build Guide (2026)

Questions, Answered

Everything worth knowing before you build.

Just how thin is it?

9.93mm with the solid caseback, measured on a vernier caliper — under 10mm. A standard NH movement is 7.59mm tall on its own, so the crystal, caseback floor, walls and hand clearance share just over 2mm between them. It's the thinnest case in our Ultra Thin line.

What comes in the box — do I need to buy a crown?

No. The Bauhaus 33 ships with the 6mm coin-edge screw-down crown, the caseback (Solid or Sapphire, per your selection), and a pre-installed flat sapphire crystal. To finish the watch you only need a dial, hands, chapter ring and movement.

Why is the bezel so thin?

By design. The visible bezel is only 1.4mm — the Bauhaus is built to get out of the way so the dial carries the whole look. If you want the case to frame the dial, this isn't the one; if you want the dial to be the watch, it's exactly the one.

What's the difference between Type M and Type L?

Type M and Type L are Seiko's two factory hand-fitting versions of the NH series. Type L sits higher than Type M — about 0.4mm taller from base to second-hand pinion. Because of the tight clearance between hands and sapphire in Ultra Thin Edition cases, only Type M will fit. Confirm your movement type before ordering.

Do I need to remove the sapphire crystal to install the chapter ring?

No — and that's the whole point of us pre-installing the sapphire for you. The chapter ring sits on top of the dial inside the case, not under the crystal, so the crystal stays where it is throughout the build. (If you ever do need to remove the sapphire — for example, to replace it — that's a workshop job we handle for you, not an at-home step.)

Should I choose the normal or the ultra thin chapter ring?

The choice depends on your dial, not the caseboth sizes fit every Ultra Thin Edition case. If your dial has applied (raised) indices, the ultra thin chapter ring is the better choice because its slimmer profile gives the indices clearance instead of resting on top of them. If your dial is flat-printed (no applied markers), either size works. When in doubt, the ultra thin chapter ring is the safer default because it works with both dial types.

What is an SKX013 chapter ring and why does it matter?

A specific size and spec used by Seiko in the SKX013 (discontinued 2019). The LA smaller-case lineup all uses this same spec, which means dozens of chapter ring designs work across every smaller case in the catalogue.

Will SKX007 dials fit?

Any 28.5mm dial will fit. Stock SKX007 dials may seat differently because the original SKX007 has a 4 o'clock crown position with offset dial feet, while Ultra Thin Edition cases are designed for 3 o'clock dial feet.

Does this case need a chapter ring?

Yes — every Ultra Thin Edition case requires an SKX013-spec chapter ring, sold separately. The chapter ring seats the dial at the correct height; without it, the dial drops and the hands will not clear properly.

Are the case and bracelet edges sharp, or are they rounded off?

They are rounded off — but they are still crisp, and we would rather say that than have you open the box expecting something softer. "Sharp" is genuinely subjective: a Rolex is sharp too, and where one person reads that as crisp and well-defined, another finds it catches. The bracelet clasp is the sharpest part of the whole package — that is the part to know about before you commit.

If a previous mod was painful to wear, it is worth working out what actually caused it: a poorly finished lug edge digging in is a different problem from a clasp catching on the back of your wrist. Email hello@luciusatelier.com and say which it was, and you will get an honest answer on whether ours will be better or much the same.

Do you customize cases? Can I have a case machined or finished to my own spec?

Cases ship exactly as listed — no custom machining, no changes to size, lug width or lug shape, no alternative finishes of an existing case, and no engraving (a local engraver or jeweller can engrave a finished part after purchase). What you can customize is the build: choose the case, dial, hands, chapter ring, bezel insert, crystal and bracelet you want and LA will assemble the finished watch for you. Bespoke design work — one-off dials, mockups or renders, designing a build to a brief — is not offered. For fully custom work, see the list of watch modification specialists.

What is the Ultra Thin Edition (UTE)?

UTE is shorthand for the Ultra Thin Edition — the Lucius Atelier case line engineered to stay near or under 10mm while remaining NH-compatible, where most Seiko mod cases on the market run 13–14mm. It includes the Bauhaus 33mm at 9.93mm with a solid caseback (the thinnest NH-compatible mod case on the market), the Explorer 36mm at 9.96mm, the Seikonaut 38mm at 10.0mm, the NH34 GMT-ready 1908 36mm at 10.75mm, the SKX013 Diver 38 at 10.86mm and the Pilot 34mm at 10.96mm. Ultra Thin cases take the standard 0.4mm dial spec, and both chapter ring sizes fit them.

Customers praised this ultra-thin watch case for its "excellent quality" and beautiful minimalist design. The 33mm size with 18mm lug width is ideal for custom builds and mod projects. Shoppers appreciated the detailed craftsmanship and turned-down lugs. One customer reported assembly issues with a tilted dial.

  • Excellent quality and excellent customer service.
  • Small and beautifully detailed. The lugs are just enough turned down from the case.
  • This case looks fantastic!
Delivery (positive)Design (positive)Lugs (positive)Quality (positive)Case (positive)
  • 5 stars: 6 (86%)
  • 4 stars: 0 (0%)
  • 3 stars: 0 (0%)
  • 2 stars: 0 (0%)
  • 1 star: 1 (14%)
L
Leo M. (San Diego, US)
Using this mod part for: Bauhaus minimalist 33mm
I chose the parts needed for my design using this

I chose the parts needed for my design using this Bauhaus minimalist case. The result is simply beautiful with a pink Mother of Pearl dial and gold indices with the ultra thin chapter ring in gold, all assembled by Adriel at Lucius Atelier Watchmaker.
It’s a gift for my daughter for Christmas purchased early so I can plan the addition of a bracelet and a strap. Very pleased.

C
Carlos C. (Oxford, GB)
As always excellent quality

As always excellent quality and excellent customer service. I really do love this case and so glad they did a Bauhaus style like this.

S
S. S. (Tokyo, JP)
Using this mod part for: Aftermarket case
Bauhaus Case

I was looking for a simple case complements my skeleton mod. Bauhaus 33 mm case was the answer.

M
Michael O. (Cherry Hill, US)
Case is smallbeautifully detailed

Case is so small and beautifully detailed. The lugs are just enough turned down from the case.

S
Steven D. (Lubbock, US)
Really cool case!!

I love anything Bauhaus, and this case looks fantastic!! It’s small, but if it was any bigger, the dial size would also have to increase.

A
A. A.D. (Portland, US)
Great case!

This is a great thin case. Love the 18mm lug width. Looking forward to putting it together!! Great customer service and fast delivery.

I
I c.a.i.t.d.i.t. (Hua Hin, TH)
I can't assemble it; the dial is tilted.

I can't assemble it; the dial is tilted.

Hi there,

The reason your dial is tilted is that your build is currently missing an essential component: the chapter ring.

As detailed in the build guide on the product page, a complete watch requires five main parts to fit together correctly: the case, dial, hands, movement, and chapter ring. For this specific Bauhaus case, the chapter ring serves as the structural spacer that firmly secures the dial and movement in place against the crystal. If it is not installed, there is empty space left inside the case, which causes the dial to tilt and shift around.

To get your watch assembled perfectly and securely, you simply need to install a compatible SKX013-sized chapter ring. You can easily find a suitable option to complete your design by browsing the SKX013 Chapter Ring collection directly on our website.

Best regards,
Adriel
Lucius Atelier | SEIKO Mod Parts

G
G

I love the case. I read through your notes on attaching the ultra thin chapter ring to the dial. But I'm not confident on how to proceed. Can you please recommend an adhesive or approach?

Adriel from LuciusAtelier.com

Hi G,

Thank you so much for the kind words! I'm really glad the case caught your eye!

Good news — this is more straightforward than it might seem, and adhesive is entirely optional.

If your chapter ring has no markers, you simply place it onto the dial and it gets sandwiched securely once the case and caseback are closed up. No alignment or adhesive needed.

If your chapter ring has minute or hour markers, the only extra step is aligning those markers correctly to the dial. You have two approaches here, so go with whichever feels more comfortable:

Non-adhesive: align the chapter ring on the dial and carefully encase everything. This may take a little trial and error to get the markers sitting just right.

Adhesive: place a tiny piece of thin double-sided tape (around 1mm x 2mm) on the underside of the chapter ring, then align and press it onto the dial. Any thin double-sided tape works fine here — its only job is to hold alignment while you assemble.

Either way, the key thing to know is that once the watch is closed up, the chapter ring is held tightly between the case and caseback. It will not move whether you used adhesive or not — the tape is purely an alignment aid during assembly, not a structural fix.

Hope this helps. Please let me know if you have any other questions.

Best regards,
Adriel
Lucius Atelier | SEIKO Mod Parts

I
I c.a.i.t.d.i.t.

When will the product be available for delivery?

Adriel from LuciusAtelier.com

Hi there,

Thank you for your interest in the new Bauhaus case!

The estimated shipping date for this pre-order is April 15th. As a quick reminder, since the cases have not arrived yet, you can still take advantage of the 30% pre-order discount if you secure yours now.

For future reference, you can always find these estimated shipping timelines and stock updates listed directly on the product pages in bold red text!

Best regards,
Adriel
Lucius Atelier | SEIKO Mod Parts

P
Peter

Hello,

What is the size of the crown for this new case? Thank you.

Adriel from LuciusAtelier.com

Hi Peter,

Thanks for expressing interest in my mod parts!

To answer your question, the crown size for the new 33mm Ultra Thin Bauhaus case is 6mm. I specifically chose this proportion to ensure you have a comfortable grip for setting the time and hand-winding the movement, while still perfectly complementing the sleek, minimalist profile of the ultra-thin design.

If you need any other specifications or have more questions while planning your build, please feel free to reach out. I am always happy to help.

Best regards,
Adriel
Lucius Atelier | SEIKO Mod Parts

J
James

What size dials work in this case?

Adriel from LuciusAtelier.com

Hi James,

Thanks for expressing interest in my mod parts!

To answer your question about the 33mm Ultra Thin Bauhaus case, it is designed to perfectly accommodate dials ranging from 28.5mm to 29.3mm in diameter. This gives you plenty of flexibility to use standard aftermarket or OEM Seiko dials for your build.

If you have any other questions or need a hand picking out the perfect dial to complete your project, please don't hesitate to let me know. I am always happy to help.

Best regards,
Adriel
Lucius Atelier | SEIKO Mod Parts