How to Make a Salmon Pink Seiko Mod
The men’s watch market is heavily dominated by black and steel, so when you see a watch that’s not a neutral color, you bet it’s going to stick to memory. And that’s very true for watches with salmon dials. These are not a novel color to horology by any means, with plenty of classic examples from Swiss brands like Rolex, Chopard, or Patek. But these days, watches with this peach-pink-bronze-ish tone seem more available for women’s watches.
We’re hoping to change that by giving you inspiration for a pink salmon dial Seiko mod along with some part recommendations. The soft, warm color feels simultaneously vintage and modern so it’s perfect for a timepiece designed to stand out without being too flashy. And you don’t even have to think hard for the design because this color is easy to style!
Salmon Watch Mod Inspiration
Tissot Salmon Dial Watch
Source: Anonymous Watch Guy on YT
The Tissot Heritage 1938 Automatic COSC is a great example of how old-school and modern designs can mesh together in one sexy watch. Its piece de resistance is of course, the matte salmon dial - a soft, dusty pink that’s going to initiate conversations without being too flashy for anyone’s tastes. It brings back the charm of 1930s dress watches while still looking fresh on a modern wrist.
At 39mm wide and 11mm thick, the case size hits that sweet spot for most wrists, and inside runs a COSC-certified ETA 2824-2, offering top-level accuracy that’s rare at its price bracket. The rest of the design is just as thoughtful, with details like a railroad-style minute track, bold Arabic numerals, and clean sword hands.
Oris Salmon Dial Watch
Source: Oris
The Oris ProPilot X with a salmon dial isn’t your typical pilot’s watch… and that’s the point. With a bold pink dial, clean design, and no oversized lume markers, it tosses the usual “tool watch” specs out the window . Instead, it feels fresh, modern, and confident. Made from lightweight titanium, the 39mm case and sharp bracelet design look like something straight out of a sci-fi movie.
The pink dial changes shades depending on the light, sometimes soft and subtle, other times vibrant and eye-catching. Inside, it’s powered by Oris’ in-house Caliber 400, a high-tech movement with a five-day power reserve, anti-magnetic parts, and a 10-year warranty if registered. It’s super accurate too, running at just -3 to +5 seconds a day which rivals COSC movements but without the actual certification.
Seiko Salmon Dial Watch
Source: u/sagartolaney on Reddit
The Seiko SNXA11 has earned a cult following thanks to its stunning salmon-colored dial. Depending on the light, the dial shifts between soft pink and warm copper, giving it a unique, eye-catching look. It’s one of the few affordable automatic watches with this kind of color, which is why it’s become harder to find—and even more valuable among collectors. The SNXA11 inspires a lot of watch modders because of its retro vibe and simple, graceful dial.
Its warm tone brings to mind classic dress watches from the past, making it a favorite for those who want that “baby Grand Seiko” look. While owning an original SNXA11 is getting more difficult, the good news is that you can still use it as a guide when designing your own mod. With the right parts and a bit of creativity, you can capture that same charm in a modern, custom-built Seiko.
Building Your Own Salmon Dial Watch
Choosing Your Case
Start with the case and choosing the right dial will be much easier - for this our recommendation would be to go for smaller sized cases, around 36-39mm which will be a great fit for most wrists while keeping its wrist presence. If you want to go for a really dressy look, the best one we can suggest is the NMK953 Polerouter-inspired case, which has garnered a lot of love from our modfam already for its size, finish, and that iconic fluted inner ring. And speaking of fluted, the NMK937 cases are another great choice for a salmon Seiko mod. It’s a 36mm case that’s inspired by the Rolex Datejust and is a great base for dress watches.
If you don’t want it to look like a ‘special occasion watch’ and want something that you can wear on more casual days, a sports watch is next on the list. Integrated bracelet steel sports watches are one of the hottest trends this year so you can jump on that and create a sporty Salmon Seiko mod with either the NMK945 or the NMK926. The first one is based on the Tissot PRX and is a plug-and-play 36mm case that doesn’t scream formal but will still turn heads on the next watch meetup. The 926 is inspired by the Nautilus and is a more luxurious and natural option for a salmon dial.
Picking the Right Salmon Dial
Source: @bikeswatchescustom on IG
In our store we offer two beautiful options which will go great with any case you have decided on. One is the GS Dress Sunburst dial, its notable feature is its gorgeous finish that plays nicely in the light, allowing the dial to subtly shift its hue. It has polished indices for hour markers and very minimal typography, making this an excellent choice for a build that leans on the dressy side.
The other option is a Sector Salmon dial that, granted, is also great for dress watches, but it features a more subtle finish. Specifically, it has a finely grained center section and a brushed outer circle that can be further toned down or dressed up with complementing parts.
Other parts
For the hands and bezel, we’d suggest going for cleaner options to really let the dial shine. Use polished silver or white hands, or use gold for a more retro-luxe look. If you want the dial to pop even more, go for a sapphire crystal with blue AR coating.
Finally, decide whether you’ll go for leather (grey or brown) to really max out the dress watch aesthetic, make it more casual with an FKM rubber strap, or go for the classic stainless steel.
Wrap Up
You probably already own a watch with a black dial. Even blue and green are starting to feel a bit too safe. But salmon? That’s where things get interesting. It’s classy, unexpected, and has just enough flair to stand out in a sea of Seiko mods.
Check out our catalog for your next Salmon build, or be bold and go for even more outstanding colors like red or yellow! If you want something more traditional, we have dial options for those too, available in different styles like diver, sporty, tool watch-specific, or even sterile dials for a true blank canvas. We’re not all about dials though, we also offer crowns, cases, bracelets, and everything in between.
Happy modding!