Dial Maker Fruit Slices: Unique Dials for Custom Builds | Veloce
The Journal
Dial Maker Fruit Slices: Unique Dials for Custom Builds
By Nick·October 29, 2026· 4 min read
Dial Maker introduces "Fruit Slices" dials, turning your watch face into a photorealistic cross-section of fruit. These aftermarket components are perfect for DIY watch modders using the Seiko NH35 movement, adding a playful twist to custom builds.
0 views
2 min listen
0:00 / 2:25
Loading narration of Dial Maker Fruit Slices: Unique Dials for Custom Builds Transcript
Ever thought about wearing a slice of fruit on your wrist? Dial Maker, a component supplier based in the UK, is now offering aftermarket dials that do exactly that. These dials transform your watch face into a photorealistic cross-section of an orange, lemon, kiwi, watermelon, or strawberry.
Priced at just forty-one dollars each, these dials are made for the growing community of DIY watch modders who build around the robust Seiko NH35 movement. The brand uses vibrant, textured printing to mimic the pith, segments, and seeds of real fruit. They remove all conventional markers, so there are no applied indices, no printed numerals, and no date windows, letting the fruit's natural details serve as an uninterrupted backdrop for the watch hands. This design choice pushes the aesthetic of a custom build into a distinctly playful and eye-catching territory, moving away from traditional horology.
Dial Maker offers the collection in two sizes: a twenty-eight point five millimeter diameter, which fits most aftermarket cases designed for Seiko's NH-series movements, and a larger thirty-four point five millimeter version for oversized cases. The smaller dials come with pre-installed dial feet for both three o'clock and three point eight o'clock crown positions, giving builders flexibility in how they configure their case and crown setup. This compatibility is key for modders, ensuring a wide range of options for their custom projects. Each dial is designed for a no-date movement, simplifying the assembly process and maintaining the clean, unobstructed fruit aesthetic.
The NH platform has essentially democratized custom watch building. Calibers like the NH35, NH36, and NH34 are reliable, affordable, and built to standardized dimensions. This standardization has led to a vast, decentralized supply chain of compatible parts, allowing dialheads to create watches that are truly unique, from diver-style cases to dress watches. These fruit dials add a distinctive, whimsical option to that already expansive parts market, letting builders infuse personality into their creations.
Ready to see how these fruit-slice dials can inspire your next build? Head over to the Veloce Journal for the full breakdown and more details.
For $41, the UK-based component supplier Dial Maker is offering a series of aftermarket dials that turn a watch face into a photorealistic cross-section of fruit. This collection provides a playful, unconventional canvas for the growing community of DIY watch modders building around the workhorse Seiko NH35 movement.
The collection consists of novelty dials designed to replicate the anatomy of an orange, lemon, kiwi, watermelon, or strawberry. Dial Maker utilizes vibrant, textured printing to mimic the pith, segments, and seeds of real fruit. By removing all conventional markers—there are no applied indices, printed numerals, or date windows—the fruit’s natural details serve as an uninterrupted backdrop for the watch hands.
Sizing and Compatibility
Dial Maker offers the collection in two sizes to accommodate different build architectures. The 28.5mm diameter fits the vast majority of aftermarket cases designed for Seiko’s NH-series movements. These feature pre-installed dial feet for both 3 o'clock and 3.8 o'clock crown positions, allowing builders to simply clip off the unused posts. A larger 34.5mm version is available for oversized cases, equipped with two dial feet specifically positioned for a 3 o'clock crown.
The Broader Modding Ecosystem
The watch modification scene is built heavily on the modularity of automatic movements made by Seiko Instruments Inc. (SII). Calibers like the NH35 (date), NH36 (day-date), and NH34 (GMT) are reliable, affordable, and built to standardized dimensions. Because the hand pinion sizes and dial diameters on these movements are uniform, a vast, decentralized supply chain of compatible parts has emerged.
The DIY community utilizes this standardization to build watches that would be difficult to justify in a mainstream brand’s catalog, but are perfectly suited for custom, one-off projects.
Dials are just one piece of this puzzle. The modding community routinely customizes nearly every physical component of a watch. Builders frequently swap standard aluminum bezel inserts for luminous ceramic or scratch-resistant sapphire. Factory flat mineral glass is regularly upgraded to domed, anti-reflective sapphire crystals. Handsets are swapped to introduce contrasting colors or classic shapes like "Mercedes," "Snowflake," or "Broad Arrow" styles.
Beyond external aesthetics, modders dive into the movement itself. It is common to see builders swapping standard white date wheels for color-matched or luminescent alternatives, installing custom-engraved winding rotors, or upgrading chapter rings with precision-machined metals. Some even specialize in applying artificial patina to dials and hands to create a vintage, distressed aesthetic. The NH platform effectively democratized custom watch building, turning mass-produced architecture into a canvas for infinite combinations.
Compatible with 3 o'clock & 3.8 o'clock crown positions
Dial Feet (34.5mm)
Compatible with 3 o'clock crown position only
Price
$41 USD (per dial)
Frequently Asked Questions
What movement do I need for these dials?
These dials are specifically designed for the Seiko Instruments (SII) / TMI NH35 movement platform. This also includes related calibers like the NH34, NH36, and NH38, which share the same core dimensions for dial and hand fitting.
What does 'dial feet for 3 and 3.8 o'clock crowns' mean?
Dial feet are small posts on the back of the dial that fit into holes on the movement to keep it aligned. Watch cases can have the crown at different positions, most commonly at 3 o'clock or slightly offset at 3.8/4 o'clock. The 28.5mm dials have four feet, allowing the builder to use the pair that matches their case's crown position and clip off the unused ones.
What other parts do I need to build a complete watch?
To complete a watch using one of these dials, you will need to acquire a case, a movement (like the NH35), a handset compatible with that movement, a crystal, a crown and stem, a caseback, gaskets for water resistance, and a strap or bracelet.
How much does a full custom watch build typically cost?
The total cost varies widely based on the components you choose. An NH35 movement can cost around $30-$50, while cases can range from $50 to over $200 depending on material and finishing. With hands, a crystal, and other parts, a complete build could range from approximately $150 to $400 or more, not including tools.
GALLERY
WRITTEN BY
Nick
I originally started VELOCE to put my skills to work, hone my app design and web development practices, and dive deeper into the world of horology. I wanted to learn more about the watches, the brands, and the incredible people behind them - the creators, the designers, and the collectors. I love discovering new timepieces and sharing their stories with the world. VELOCE is my ultimate passion project and hobby, the creative space I head to after my full-time job to build something I truly care about.
By Nick·October 29, 2026· 4 min read
