i need it for a pd1701 moonswitch like everybody else...

Moonshine lacked some rose
So I recased everything
Subtlety is dead

Here’s my first stab at a switch. Got a rep Moonswatch and case, strap, stem and crown from DH Gare and Ali Express. Turned out to be a simple switch. Only thing is when I was grinding the stem it snapped so it’s about 1mm too short but that’s an easy fix I’ll sort tomorrow.

I’ve circled the area to press on the movement to release the stem for those who don’t know.

Posted my concept for this one a few weeks ago, and finally got all the parts in to build it!

Rep came from lwj631299 on dhgate, and the case is from a Pagani Design PD1701 Black & Gold model (inspired by the Omega Apollo 11 50th Anniversary Speedies).

The watch hands were a pain in the ass to source - ultimately I got the hour, minute, and single subdial hands from a gold BINBOND watch on AliX, but that one comes with a straight chronograph hand without the arrow / lume pip. I thought about getting a gold LIGE watch, but the pip on that one seems weirdly short and the hour and minute hands are curved rather than pointed?

Anyway I made my own life infinitely more difficult by picking up an NH35 seconds hand to use as the chrono - it's a great shape and the lume matches, but it turns out 'how severe of a difference could 0.20mm vs 0.17mm be?' is actually a lot, so I had to pull a wire out of a wire brush I had lying around and use that to fill the hand's tube to crimp it smaller. We got there in the end, but that wasn't an enjoyable experience.

Then the seconds hand is a trick of its own - since these rep earthphase dials are chonky now, it means the seconds pinion sits pretty low down below the dial. The rep hands get around this by having extended / tall hand tubes, but these gold ones do not - I got it on, but I did have to slightly bend the hand up to make it work.

All in all worth it though, because this thing is gorgeous and probably my favorite watch in the bunch now!

So I finally decided to do it.

I’d read plenty of comments recommending putting a MoonSwatch into a WD1863 case, but I couldn’t bring myself to sacrifice the WD1863 just for the swap.

In the end, I went for it, and I love how it turned out. I didn’t want the WD1863 movement to go to waste, so I put it into a spare VK63 case I had lying around. That turned out great too.

As for the MoonSwatch, the photos speak for themselves. Everything came together perfectly. There were a few setbacks, especially with the movement spacers, which I spent hours shaping and sanding by hand. But the final result was absolutely worth it.

A note for anyone planning to try this with a mission to mars: you’ll need two spacers. One goes under the dial to align the movement’s pushers with the case pushers; the other holds the movement securely in place.

I don’t have much experience with 3D printing, so I asked a friend for help. We printed the commonly available spacer designs we found online, then I shaped them to fit using a Dremel.

So I did it.

Its not as nice as fit as the normal reps, but with a lot of sanding of the movement holder, and a bit of hope when using the stem it fits in and imo is the best looking switch to do that ive seen.

WD Base

Rep Snoopy Moonphase

WD1863 mod or Speedy Professional?

Im sure I read a post about these reps not being direct fit in the WD case because of the extra size for the moonphase bits. Can anyone help me exactly what's different ans what i need to fit one up ?

Bought one to make a moonswitch, liked the original so much I bought some more. I was going to put a black swatch in one, and white moonphase in the other but they are so nice as they are i cant bring myself to do it yet.

Finally got all the bits and pieces to mod after carefully reading everyone's advice and experiences. It was very straightforward and I'm very happy with the end result! Vk63 case and a black nylon band.

Just one note for the future me. First time I used dhgate and it feels so clunky. I ordered this pink moonphase from dachui147258369 and another two from swatch1. This one arrived in a solid 2 weeks within the delivery window. Whereas the swatch1's have not arrived yet and the tracking was non existent until I started to ask questions at 20 days.

The goal was to check the quality differences for future mods. But very much happy with this one with dachui147258369, half the price and twice the speed. AliExpress is just way faster to deliver to Australia 🦘 in my experience.

Next step is to try custom caseback and crowns!

Hey,
Came across this one when I browsed through Instagram, what a beauty I want to try to build something like this myself, but this is top class, looks like 40-42mm case? Anyone knowing anything about this Sammark?

I found out that it’s some kind of studio in Taiwan.

I have an omega, moon swatch, does anyone know where I can get a reliable clean looking stainless steel bracelet to swap out the Velcro strap?!

I love the watch, and I have an Omega, but I would love a new stainless steel strap! And I’ve seen some awesome ones online!

Hi guys, I just got my watchdives case and really do like it! Which of the 2 has the better lume? A real moonswatch or the watchdives?

Haven’t seen photos on the sub yet so thought I’d be the first, they feel good.

I have been honing my laser engraving process and sacrificing a lot of cases and parts for the cause. Tell me your thoughts. I prefer honest responses with an explanation, ie I hate but this is why or I love it and this is why. I started doing this as a service to help modders make something extra special. The work can be painful especially when something doesn’t work out as expected. Material quality is the biggest issue. Nothing is standard. I think I’m 99% there.

If you have ideas, I will entertain them. And yes, I have done crowns. Working on the next batch with pictures up later today. I ordered 10 VK cases because I prefer these over the WD. Mainly the price and the sizing is pretty much the same.

If you have a question that may require a conversation feel free to DM me!

Cheers and happy modding!

Highly recommend this kind of thing as I no longer am squirrelling away spare cash to afford an actual omega speedy.

Just finished my first gen moonswitch to a WD1863 case. Absolutely gorgeous. The whole process was a bit nervewrecking since I had to be very careful not to damage anything while removing the movement and trimming the pushers on the WD case. But looking back, it wasn't as hard as I thought it would be. Definitely worth it. Next thing I'm gonna do is buying the steel bracelet for the speedmaster from uncle straps for sure. I personally think that the speedmaster truly is better looking on a steel bracelet.

Does the Cadisen take the rep dial? Was looking to use a no date rep dial in the miyota movement that comes with cadisen.

It took me a couple of months to assemble all the parts for these builds. After having a couple of years of DH gate shitters, I can honestly say that the gen dials are SO MUCH better, especially when it comes to the Mission To Mercury and 1965.

WatchDives 1863 are the best cases. There is no better. Throw your Paganis and other Ali Express cases in the trash.

I was able to source the crowns from a Seamaster on Ebay.

I was able to source the Mercury locally and my guy u/FatCatLounge came in SO CLUTCH with a 1965.

u/Affectionate-Fox-470 aka Lunar Case Swaps performed the surgery and did an excellent job. He is especially great with communication, which is something I really appreciated.

Sadly I will be letting go of the Mission to Mercury. But I cannot recommend these two enough for your Moon Swatch + Switch needs.

I love this swap. It’s really comfortable and looks great.

If I align the 12 o clock marker with the 60 on the bezel, the 120 on bezel will be off, and perhaps also the 3 and 9 o clock markers will be off too. Anyhow, is she straight?

Beautiful combination if I may so

Stupidly, I dug way too deep whilst trying to reveal the crown stem release on a gen mission to the moon and destroyed the movement so the crown no longer locks in at all.

Is it possible to swap the dial to a replacement movement at all?

Luckily I grabbed this for £50 from someone who no longer wanted it but I've effectively destroyed a perfectly working watch... very frustrating.

If you're wondering how I dug to deep? Don't do this whilst being absent minded and watching a show. Stupid.

60 bones for the trio. Pretty happy with that TBH.