[AdamJ]

Hi

New here at the forum but for the last couple of months been studying various posts here. And of course, finally made my choice concerning a divers watch. U see, I have always liked watches and in 2002 I purchased an omega chronometer 300m with the black dial. Lovely watch and it fully saturated my need for watches. About a year ago the local policy concerning hand higene changed seriously tightening regulation and resulting in me not being able to have my watch during work hours... Now this of course ment that my omega was worn less and of course it just kept on stopping. So after ten years of not thinking about other watches I have realised that I need a batt powered watch. Searching and searching I came across the ecozilla and finally purchased it. Titanium version its perfect, almost. Of course have ordered the suppa adapters however to my surprise and shock I have noticed that this watch does not have the rfn stamp and the ring around the bezel is fully not unscrewing in the clockwise direction also have noticed that the serial no is not stamped on my watch but rather laser engraved suggesting to me that the new ones in titanium will all have a pressed ring around the bezel. Now, who cares, right?? Wrong... I apparently care... So have been wondering, if I purchase the autozilla, can I swap the insides (of course by havin it done my a watch smith) ending up with a autozilla watch with the ecozilla insides?? Autozilla looks just a tad better then the ecozilla and of course this way I could not wear my watch during work hours and still have it running
Looking forward reading some comments and hopefully and answer

Cheers
Adam

 

[E8ArmyDiver]

Hi AJ...Sorry,can't answer your question but their will be someone here that can,I just wanted to welcome you to the forum...Take care...

 

[hansomegq67]

Only the Autozilla's ring unscrews. The Ecozilla's does not. I heard the Ecozilla pre-2008 ring unscrews. Hope this helps. Put the tools away now. lol.
Why would you purchase an Autozilla 1000m, remove the movement, and install it in an Ecozilla 300m (if possible). It makes absolutely no sense what's so ever. :-s
So I'll pass on that answer.
I will say that I have seen ETAs installed in an Ecozilla that's been modified for the ETA to fit.

 

[dmcutter]

I had a ti Ecozilla and the ring unscrewed, but you couldn't remove the bezel like on the auto, so I don't really see the point. I just got an auto and I have to say that it has even supplanted my trusty Sinn U2 as the new favorite. The dial and domed crystal are much nicer than the eco, and I think the bezel lock and easily removable bezel are design genius. I actually got some extremely fine silt under the bezel of my ti eco and it played hell with the bezel action. The ability to remove and clean under the bezel is wonderful. I have a silly question-why not get the auto and just hand wind it daily? Takes all of about 30 seconds...

 

[Nighthawk]

It's unlikely thet you could replace the Autozilla's internals with the guts from the Ecozilla. Since the Ecozilla is solar powered, the dial has openings to allow tne solar cell to charge. The Autozilla would obviously have no need for such openings, so your Frankenzilla (?) would not be able to charge sufficiently, if at all. Sorry…

 

[aafanatic]

Welcome Adam,
you are in the right place. May all your watch dreams come true ;-)

 

[AdamJ]

It's unlikely thet you could replace the Autozilla's internals with the guts from the Ecozilla. Since the Ecozilla is solar powered, the dial has openings to allow tne solar cell to charge. The Autozilla would obviously have no need for such openings, so your Frankenzilla (?) would not be able to charge sufficiently, if at all. Sorry…

Was thinking about changing all the guts including the dial...

 

[AdamJ]

I have a silly question-why not get the auto and just hand wind it daily? Takes all of about 30 seconds...

Yes, agree, however in practise i just forget now and then, then it stops and then i just stop wearing it... so would prefer a quartz...autozilla..

 

[aurora]

Other than the crown guard, isn't the titanium Ecozilla essentially an Autozilla case with the Ecozilla quartz movement??

 

[AdamJ]

Other than the crown guard, isn't the titanium Ecozilla essentially an Autozilla case with the Ecozilla quartz movement??

Well, kind of hoping that it is!!... Waiting to see if anybody has actually taken apart both watches... Get the feeling that there are quite a handfull of watch smiths here...

 

[lexvil]

I find this whole concept odd, can't wear your watch at work so it stops, do you work more than 16 hours a day? This seems more of a case of justifying another watch otherwise why the Autozilla? Citizen makes a lot of Eco divers in the same size and style as your Omega but it seems you feel the need for a huge watch which you knew wasn't what you were looking for since it isn't battery powered. Why not just wear the watch before and after work or buy a winder? This just makes no sense.

Hi

New here at the forum but for the last couple of months been studying various posts here. And of course, finally made my choice concerning a divers watch. U see, I have always liked watches and in 2002 I purchased an omega chronometer 300m with the black dial. Lovely watch and it fully saturated my need for watches. About a year ago the local policy concerning hand higene changed seriously tightening regulation and resulting in me not being able to have my watch during work hours... Now this of course ment that my omega was worn less and of course it just kept on stopping. So after ten years of not thinking about other watches I have realised that I need a batt powered watch. Searching and searching I came across the ecozilla and finally purchased it. Titanium version its perfect, almost. Of course have ordered the suppa adapters however to my surprise and shock I have noticed that this watch does not have the rfn stamp and the ring around the bezel is fully not unscrewing in the clockwise direction also have noticed that the serial no is not stamped on my watch but rather laser engraved suggesting to me that the new ones in titanium will all have a pressed ring around the bezel. Now, who cares, right?? Wrong... I apparently care... So have been wondering, if I purchase the autozilla, can I swap the insides (of course by havin it done my a watch smith) ending up with a autozilla watch with the ecozilla insides?? Autozilla looks just a tad better then the ecozilla and of course this way I could not wear my watch during work hours and still have it running
Looking forward reading some comments and hopefully and answer

Cheers
Adam

 

[aurora]

Well, kind of hoping that it is!!... Waiting to see if anybody has actually taken apart both watches... Get the feeling that there are quite a handfull of watch smiths here...

What I was getting at is the LOOK of the titanium ecozilla case is VERY similar to the Autozilla, except for the crown guard. You have a titanium Ecozilla with the solar-powered Eco-Drive. So what's the point in trying to switch movements? You basically already have what you're trying to create. I may not totally understand this, but that's my two cents. Good luck with your endeavor and welcome to the forum!

 

[dmcutter]

I think that his issue with the ti ecozilla is that the bezel ring is not removable, although as I said above that feature seems to be of limited utility if you can't remove the bezel proper. And come on, lexvil, why do you want to discourage someone from pursuing an interesting project? The acquisition process is at least as satisfying as the ownership, isn't it?

 

[lexvil]

I don't discourage it Because it is a silly idea {it is in my opinion} but because the excuses are inane, I need a battery powered watch so I bought another automatic, I can't wear an automatic enough to keep it running but I need a removable bezel? This reminds me of the anecdote about the space pen {untrue story but fits this}; The US spent a million dollars to develop a pen that would write in space, the Russians used a pencil! If the guy wanted to do the movement swap just to see if it can be done I would be interested in the result but why the silly excuse?

I think that his issue with the ti ecozilla is that the bezel ring is not removable, although as I said above that feature seems to be of limited utility if you can't remove the bezel proper. And come on, lexvil, why do you want to discourage someone from pursuing an interesting project? The acquisition process is at least as satisfying as the ownership, isn't it?

 

[AdamJ]

I find this whole concept odd, can't wear your watch at work so it stops, do you work more than 16 hours a day? This seems more of a case of justifying another watch otherwise why the Autozilla? Citizen makes a lot of Eco divers in the same size and style as your Omega but it seems you feel the need for a huge watch which you knew wasn't what you were looking for since it isn't battery powered. Why not just wear the watch before and after work or buy a winder? This just makes no sense.

See your point, however life is never this simple
Must admit that i am a diver and love the sport. Am tired of seeing everybody here in sweden running around with omegas and not even know that they are a "divers watch". Yes, i do realize that you dont need to be a tech-diver just to have a watch so go easy on this comment. The ecozilla really is brilliant. Big, chunky and seriously not common here. So i feel it defines me in some sense. No, dont work 16h days however wearing an self wound watch while sitting in the car to work and then coming home where i most of the time take off my watch is just not enough. Could wind it manually but seems that i dont have the discipline... Besides, what better excuse is needed for getting a new watch?? Have also thought about the self winders just am shocked at the price that these come at. Much rather put that money on a new watch.
So back to the issue, its a thought that i have. Would not want to destroy either watch just come to the conclusion that an ecopowered autozilla would be the perfect watch for me and my day to day habits... thats all

 

[AdamJ]

I don't discourage it Because it is a silly idea {it is in my opinion} but because the excuses are inane, I need a battery powered watch so I bought another automatic, I can't wear an automatic enough to keep it running but I need a removable bezel? This reminds me of the anecdote about the space pen {untrue story but fits this}; The US spent a million dollars to develop a pen that would write in space, the Russians used a pencil! If the guy wanted to do the movement swap just to see if it can be done I would be interested in the result but why the silly excuse?

Well, thats where the whole idea started from. Autozilla is nicer and with the removable bezel more funcional. Ecozillas batt power would make life slightly easier. So, combining the two to make a perfect watch was just a thought. Everything starts with an idea... this is how this one started. Oh, and i did not get autozilla, i got the ecozilla... but to my disappointment the bezel is not removable... Now, this is where the silly part is, why do i care? well, it simple cause my mind was set that its one of the brilliant functions of this watch. It makes so much sense in my mind to be able to clean it yourself. The bezel albeight stuck on the former ecozillas was removable by wedging it with a small knife... So, if dirt gets stuck you can handle it. That is brilliant! Why remove that just so that the Titanium and professional diver's 300m text always is always aligned... Thats silly in my opinion...

 

[dmcutter]

Well, I wish you the best of luck with the endeavor. But I think if you saw an autozilla in person you would be struck with how much nicer the dial is than the eco...and as a diver myself, I question how you can have the discipline to maintain and check your gear and stay alive underwater, yet not have the discipline to wind a watch!:-d

 

[lexvil]

I think you should start a campaign with Citizen to produce the eco drive in the Autozilla case or In my personal wish list the 20th anniversary movement in the autozilla case. We do need more solar powered options, I agree.

Well, thats where the whole idea started from. Autozilla is nicer and with the removable bezel more funcional. Ecozillas batt power would make life slightly easier. So, combining the two to make a perfect watch was just a thought. Everything starts with an idea... this is how this one started. Oh, and i did not get autozilla, i got the ecozilla... but to my disappointment the bezel is not removable... Now, this is where the silly part is, why do i care? well, it simple cause my mind was set that its one of the brilliant functions of this watch. It makes so much sense in my mind to be able to clean it yourself. The bezel albeight stuck on the former ecozillas was removable by wedging it with a small knife... So, if dirt gets stuck you can handle it. That is brilliant! Why remove that just so that the Titanium and professional diver's 300m text always is always aligned... Thats silly in my opinion...

 

[AdamJ]

Well, I wish you the best of luck with the endeavor. But I think if you saw an autozilla in person you would be struck with how much nicer the dial is than the eco...and as a diver myself, I question how you can have the discipline to maintain and check your gear and stay alive underwater, yet not have the discipline to wind a watch!:-d

yes, been thinking that i might just fully fall for the autozilla... have not seen one in real life yet. concerning winding the watch... you got me...

 

[Chris-John]

The rule of watch modification is: "if you have to ask, don't do it".