A Different Blue Manta Ray !

[sys12345]

A rare and discontinued Alba 200m diver, a.k.a. The Blue Manta Ray has the following specs:


Model No: AL-4005X
Diameter: 44mm (without crown), 46mm (with crown)
Lug-to-lug: 47mm
Thickness: 14mm
Lug width: 22mm



This blue dial version only comes with an Alba signed diver strap and this is what the watch looks like brand new from a watch retailer.





Its a nice watch but it can be better if

a) The uncomfortable rubber strap is replaced with a SS bracelet

-AND-

b) The slim hour and min hands are replaced with a set of decent diver's hands that offers a better lume.




So what happens if i attempt to make the above mentioned improvements? Well, i ended up with a watch that looks like this ...







The hour and min hands with a chrome surround are white in daylight, nicely matching the indices giving it a stock look.





A 22mm polished straight ended Anvil bracelet





The area between the lugs is nicely finished and polished. It looks fine even without the a folded curved end link










Solid links and solid end links with the original fat spring bars





A folding clasp ...





The flip-lock clasp has a polished finish. There's probably too much bling here, i may just brushed it out later





Lume junkies, go knock yourselves out !!!





A wrist shot ...





I'm not someone who likes to mod watches, preferring to go along with the original parts. Things changed when i had my hands on a Blue Manta Ray. Somehow, i just had the urge to fix things that arent quite right with this watch. Thanks to the members of WTW who helped me with the choice of bracelet and hands (so its your fault if it turns out horrible! ), i think the watch looks much better after the mod. Its now a different blue Manta Ray!




Thanks for viewing!

[OrchidDR]

Awesome modifications - I think it's perfect now! Well done.

[crossplatform]

Whats the story on those watches? Are they made anymore? Japanese?

Originally Posted by sys12345

A rare and discontinued Alba 200m diver, a.k.a. The Blue Manta Ray has the following specs:


Model No: AL-4005X
Diameter: 44mm (without crown), 46mm (with crown)
Lug-to-lug: 47mm
Thickness: 14mm
Lug width: 22mm



This blue dial version only comes with an Alba signed diver strap and this is what the watch looks like brand new from a watch retailer.





Its a nice watch but it can be better if

a) The uncomfortable rubber strap is replaced with a SS bracelet

-AND-

b) The slim hour and min hands are replaced with a set of decent diver's hands that offers a better lume.




So what happens if i attempt to make the above mentioned improvements? Well, i ended up with a watch that looks like this ...







The hour and min hands with a chrome surround are white in daylight, nicely matching the indices giving it a stock look.





A 22mm polished straight ended Anvil bracelet





The area between the lugs is nicely finished and polished. It looks fine even without the a folded curved end link










Solid links and solid end links with the original fat spring bars





A folding clasp ...





The flip-lock clasp has a polished finish. There's probably too much bling here, i may just brushed it out later





Lume junkies, go knock yourselves out !!!





A wrist shot ...





I'm not someone who likes to mod watches, preferring to go along with the original parts. Things changed when i had my hands on a Blue Manta Ray. Somehow, i just had the urge to fix things that arent quite right with this watch. Thanks to the members of WTW who helped me with the choice of bracelet and hands (so its your fault if it turns out horrible! ), i think the watch looks much better after the mod. Its now a different blue Manta Ray!




Thanks for viewing!

[sys12345]

Thanks!

Originally Posted by OrchidDR

Awesome modifications - I think it's perfect now! Well done.

[sys12345]

They have been discontinued since a few years back and they are rarely seen pre-owned. BNIB pieces are even harder to find!

Originally Posted by crossplatform

Whats the story on those watches? Are they made anymore? Japanese?

[crossplatform]

Wonder why they were discontinued....

[sunburst]

Never seen a polished Anvil bracelet.
Did you get it from Harold?

[sys12345]

Cannibalising on the sales of Seiko divers perhaps?

Originally Posted by crossplatform

Wonder why they were discontinued....

[sys12345]

No, i got it from Stella instead. I dont think Harold has the polished version and one with a clasp w/o the Seiko emblem.

Originally Posted by sunburst

Never seen a polished Anvil bracelet.
Did you get it from Harold?

[crossplatform]

Cwhere an I buy one or find it?

[everose]

Sys..........Fantastic match of the new hands to the hour markers.

Now i know why you have not been logged on for a couple of days!!!!!

You know what though......i still wonder what a nice pair of swords would look like????? ....but your match really looks so good!!!!

If i can find swords to match as well as your hands,maybe i will i will go for it.

Anvil is such a great choice.......i told you i saw a Black Alba with OEM ss bracelet.

Well after seeing your Anvil i will not bother to try to get the OEM.

Congrats and wear in good health.

[Latrodectus]

What a good looking watch. Keep it like it is, the bracelet looks very good polished I think!

[crossplatform]

How do I find one? Seiko was stupid for discontinuing a popular diver line.

[sys12345]

Please check your PM.

Originally Posted by crossplatform

How do I find one? Seiko was stupid for discontinuing a popular diver line.

[sys12345]

I have not come across a pair of sword hands from the Seiko parts bin that

1) has a chrome surround
2) is white in colour
3) has a diver's lumibrite lume


You can try getting a set of sword hands from Yobokies BUT i have a feeling that the lume isnt quite on par with Seiko's lumibrite. My experience with decent C1/C3 lume, even those with a thickly applied layer is this: U may get a lume which is almost as bright, lasts through the night as well BUT... its not as sensitive as lumibrite. Seiko's lume can be charged easily with a brief exposure to indoor lighting, i cant say the same for the Swiss lume.

Originally Posted by everose

Sys..........Fantastic match of the new hands to the hour markers.

Now i know why you have not been logged on for a couple of days!!!!!

You know what though......i still wonder what a nice pair of swords would look like????? ....but your match really looks so good!!!!

If i can find swords to match as well as your hands,maybe i will i will go for it.

Anvil is such a great choice.......i told you i saw a Black Alba with OEM ss bracelet.

Well after seeing your Anvil i will not bother to try to get the OEM.

Congrats and wear in good health.

[sys12345]

Thanks! I'm really getting used to having a shiny bracelet, not bad for a change.

Originally Posted by Latrodectus

What a good looking watch. Keep it like it is, the bracelet looks very good polished I think!

[everose]

Hey sys...

I really want the lume to match....now im thinking Sumo hands...chrome surround and matching lume.

OR....even better...... the hands on the new "solar" diver SBCB013 look like they may be exactly the look i want....but they have just launched,i probably would not be able to get them for a while.

That OEM ss has weird endlinks...not flush with the lugs!!!!...


Thanks for setting the bar so ridiculously high!!!


Pic from Chino

[sys12345]

Whats wrong with TRF? I couldnt log on for a few days!

TBH, before swapping in the hands from a Samurai Ti, i was thinking of using the Sumo hands instead. The reason why i dont think the Sumo hands are suitable is because of the colour. If u take a closer look at the Sumo hands, u'll notice that they are milky white in colour with a tinge of GREEN! If u swap this set of hands into the Alba, it'll be pretty obvious that the hands dont belong to the same watch.


The hands from the solar diver may be a better choice but u'll have to check if the hands are interchageable. AFAIK, the hands from a quartz movement are not interchangeable with the hands from an automatic movement. Here's another alternative (though i'm not sure if the colour matches):






I'll be looking forward to some pics of your customised Alba diver once u are done with it. Meanwhile, here's a few more pics of mine ...

Originally Posted by everose

Hey sys...

I really want the lume to match....now im thinking Sumo hands...chrome surround and matching lume.

OR....even better...... the hands on the new "solar" diver SBCB013 look like they may be exactly the look i want....but they have just launched,i probably would not be able to get them for a while.

That OEM ss has weird endlinks...not flush with the lugs!!!!...


Thanks for setting the bar so ridiculously high!!!


Pic from Chino