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Seikonaut

Seikonaut Questions, Answered

Everything worth knowing before you build — sizing, steel versus titanium, movements, and the parts you'll need.

Is Seikonaut a Lucius Atelier trademark?

No — and we wouldn't claim it. "Seikonaut" is a term the watch modding community coined for Seiko mods built in the integrated-bracelet luxury-sports style. We didn't invent the word; we designed our own case for the genre. What's ours is the design: this specific 38mm case, its geometry and its bracelet are all engineered in-house by Lucius Atelier.

Why does the case look bigger than 38mm?

The bezel measures 38mm, but the Seikonaut's flared side flanks push the full case width to 42mm — and to around 44mm with a 7mm crown installed. It's a deliberate part of the sports-luxury silhouette: a bold wrist presence on a case that still wears balanced.

Should I choose steel or titanium?

Both are the same 38mm case at the same 10mm-class thinness. Steel gives you classic tool-watch heft and a lower entry price; titanium is 29g — over 40% lighter than steel's 49.4g — harder than 316L steel, and naturally corrosion-resistant. Steel if you like the reassuring weight of a sports watch; titanium if all-day featherlight comfort is the priority.

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.

Does the Seikonaut need a chapter ring?

Yes. Both Seikonaut cases require an SKX013-spec chapter ring, sold separately. The chapter ring seats the dial at the correct height — without it, the dial sits too low and the hands won't clear. The case fits both normal and ultra thin chapter rings; the choice depends on your dial. If your dial has applied (raised) indices, choose ultra thin for clearance; if flat-printed, either works.

Will my Lucius Atelier dials and hands fit?

Yes. The Seikonaut uses the 28.5mm dial standard shared across the entire Lucius Atelier line, so any of our 28.5mm dials and NH-compatible hands will fit. Note that stock SKX007 dials may seat differently — the original SKX007 has a 4 o'clock crown position with offset dial feet, while our case is designed for 3 o'clock dial feet.

Do I need to press the crystal myself?

No. The flat sapphire crystal ships pre-installed and aligned at our Singapore workshop. The chapter ring sits on top of the dial, inside the case — not under the crystal — so the crystal stays put throughout your build.