International Parcel Hub @ LCCT : 5% SST On Watches

The 5% SST on watches came into practise on 1st September 2018. I had a shipment of 4 in-coming watches, which were anticipated to arrive by Christmas 2018; so when I received a call from Pos Malaysia informing me that the parcels were detained by Customs, I knew that a visit to the Customs was in the pipeline.

To be fair, Pos Malaysia had a service to clear the parcels from Customs; but at RM50 per parcel (not including the actual SST payment), I thought that I would do well to settle the matter myself. The personnel on the other line then informed me to proceed to KLIA given my confirmation that I would like to retrieve the parcels myself.

I would share my experience so that you could avoid the obstacles that I faced. Firstly, the instruction to clear the parcels at KLIA was a mistake. I drove there, proceeded to Pos Malaysia KLIA and was informed by the personnel there that the actual international parcel hub was at the old LCCT, which was some 20km away. The personnel informed me that they had to entertain many people whom go there to collect their parcels, only to be re-routed to LCCT thereafter.

Next, once I reached LCCT, I was informed that I should have my parcel IDs ready. The personnel there informed that the Pos Malaysia caller should have informed me the parcel IDs during the call; otherwise I would have to check from other departments to retrieve the IDs. While the departments were just a stone's throw from each other, I was sent running from one counter to another, to pass on some papers to and fro. It seemed that computers and phones had yet to see the light of the day over there.

After retrieving the parcels, one would then be required to bring the parcels over to Customs and open them for the checking. After the assessment of the purchase invoice (do remember to bring these along), the Customs would then state the SST amount payable and you could then make the necessary payment accordingly.

But well, now that the parcels were safely in my custody, I would be tinkering with them over the weekend :)

Mod Works : Seiko SKX007 "Planet Ocean"

Readers might remember that I had a couple of Omega Seamaster Planet Ocean with various calibers, in my collection. However, today's entry ain't about Omega's Planet Ocean, but about the versatile Seiko SKX007 and it's transformation into the Planet Ocean homage.

These were some of the Planet Ocean that I had over the years :

Wait a minute, that last picture ain't a real Planet Ocean! That sneaky SKX007 tried to pull a fast one on us all :)

To transform the classic SKX007 into the Planet Ocean, we would do well to get the parts ready in advance. In this example, the parts were all sourced from Dagaz as per the following :

Expect to pay top dollars amounting to USD191.50 / RM500 invested into the above parts, but the end result would be worth it. Just take a look at this baby in its current state. 

When the new NH35A movement arrives in due course and gets fitted into this baby, then the transformation would be largely completed.

Wrist Shot : SKX009J1

There were a few e-mails from readers for wrist shots of the SKX009J1. Well, here you go then...

Goodbye, Seiko SKX009J1...

Readers might know that Seiko had discontinued its evergreen SKX007 and SKX009, with the replacement being the Mini-Turtle (SRPC3/4x). As it was, collectors were snapping up whatever stock that were still there in the market, especially the Japan-made J-variant as could be seen by the "Made in Japan" print on the dial.

This was my SKX009J1 and I wrote about an in-coming SKX007 that would be under-going some mod works @ http://andywristwatches.blogspot.com/2018/11/psycho-about-seiko-part-deux.html. As we all bid goodbye to an everyday classic and one of our fave modding specimen, let us enjoy some pics of this beau piece. This SKX009J1 had been upgraded to a Strapcode Super Jubilee bracelet with solid end-links, which was miles better compared to the rubbish Z22 rubber strap or original Seiko oyster/jubilee bracelet with hollow end-links.

2 Pepsi pieces side-by-side but the Seiko SKX009J1's price was merely 10% of the Tudor's, yet the Seiko was truly a lot of watch for the entry-level price tag it carried.

What a great piece the SKX009J1 truly was! Goodbye, Norma Jeane...

Psycho About Seiko, Part Deux

I would apologise for the lack of entry over the last 2 weeks as I had been busy travelling again. Despite the hectic travels, I had been busy clicking here and there for online purchases; so I do have quite a few in-coming pieces though.

And the recent purchases were in some ways connected to the entry @ https://andywristwatches.blogspot.com/2018/11/psycho-about-seiko.html. There were watches, movements, and parts; and I can't wait to see the ensemble ready for the partake.

1) Seiko "MM300" SBDX023/SLA021

This Japan-made SBDX023 was the latest addition to wear the MM300 designation. Now improved over the previous itineration i.e. SBDX017, the SBDX023 received the long-awaited sapphire crystal and lumed ceramic bezel. The second hand and 300m print were now given the gold treatment, and Marinemaster print on dial was replaced with the Prospex logo. I had previously handled the SBDX001 and SBDX017, and was eagerly-awaiting this SBDX023.

2) Seiko "Sumo" SBDC031-MM300

This Japan-made SBDX031 was still under-going the transformation from Sumo to MM300. The parts that had arrived included the original dial, hands, and strap from the SBDX017, which were rather rare and costly. Ditto arrived was Crystaltimes' double dome sapphire crystal with clear AR. The watchsmith had modded the parts accordingly, and still pending receipt was LCBI's fully-lumed ceramic bezel insert. Once the last part of the puzzle was done, then I would have a pretty cool Sumo-MM300 added to my collection.

Point to note was that this has been a rather costly mod project given that the parts were not cheap, but I supposed spending RM4,152 to get a watch that was 90% akin to the MM300, was still a feasible option given that the SBDX017 was already discontinued and its NOS price was closer to RM8,500 these days. And our Sumo-MM300 version was actually closer to the upgraded SBDX023 in that it had the lumed ceramic bezel and sapphire crystal. If you were interested in undergoing a similar project, here was the breakdown of the cost :

- SBDC031 watch (RM1,899)
- SBDX017 dial, hands, and strap (RM1,527)
- Crystaltimes sapphire crystal (RM289)
- LCBI MM300 bezel (RM247)
- Labour cost (RM190)

3) Seiko "Blumo" SBDC033-MM300

This was a simple mod job, which would see the Blumo receiving a pair of after-market MM300 hands with blue lume.

4) Seiko SKX007J1

This was another mod job which would see the classic piece getting an upgrade in movement (from non-hacking and non-winding 7S26, to hacking and winding NH35), crystal (hardlex to sapphire), bezel insert (aluminium to ceramic), and a change of Dagaz hands.

This was how it might turned out to be.

5) Seiko SKX009J1

This was another mod job involving a change of after-market MM300 dial, Dagaz hands, and ceramic bezel insert.

6) Seiko Tuna SBBN015 Re-Craft

There were also a pair of Seiko Tuna mods in the pipeline, which would see NH35 movements fitted into after-market stainless steel and bronze Tuna cases accordingly. The dials and hands would be taken from Seiko and Dagaz accordingly, and this would be a rather mad-hatter project really.