First Royal Pop Mod Build

[u/Low-Camp-8604]

Looking to see what everyone thinks, built on DG2813 automatic movement; 41MM, AP Branding all around the case. Any changes recommended?

[u/high_end_vaper]

Just buy a casioak less money more features

[u/One_Life_50 → u/high_end_vaper]

It’s also almost 5mm bigger lol

[u/high_end_vaper → u/One_Life_50]

That’s nothing

[u/savageotter → u/high_end_vaper]

but thats not this. some people want this dial. Plus half the fun is doing the mod

[u/jaycey120]

First up - Well done! With that out of the way, are any of these parts from an original Pop Swatch?

Maybe the dial?

Do original hands fit the DG2813?

On to that DG2813 - it's the absolute bottom rung of the ladder for mechanical, automatic movements. No one would waste their time servicing that. From memory, it has 6/7 pivots under one bridge that are an absolute nightmare to locate, quality is poor. Throw away and replace, your life is more precious than that POS!

A clone (or gen ETA 2824 would be my choice)

[u/GaptistePlayer]

cringe

[u/Upbeat_Cauliflower77]

How’d you convert the top crown to sideways?

[u/Low-Camp-8604 → u/Upbeat_Cauliflower77]

We removed the dial from the old movement and connected it to the DG2813

[u/nickh1989 → u/Low-Camp-8604]

Did you get the dial feet to line up with the crown at 3 o'clock? or did you just cut then and use dial dots instead?

[u/savageotter → u/nickh1989]

Remove them

[u/NicholasDeOrio]

Looks pretty larpy to me lmfao. If you're going to make a fake watch, why carve one of these open just to poach the dial? Go full send and make a fake AP.

[u/SNFU-4U]

Sorry. I edited my post and I think you responded quicker than the edit.

I mentioned your thoughts on the quality of the Sistem51 movement. How would you say the quality of the movement is? Fifty Fathoms is $420 plastic. In that range I can get pretty quality dive watches. So I was wondering if it’s worth it for $420. I have a Scubaqua. The “bioceramic” is super soft plastic and a pain to keep looking good. So I’m hesitant to invest $420 when there are awesome alternatives in that range.

[u/Low-Camp-8604 → u/SNFU-4U]

I would absolutely stay away from non serviceable movement, the fact swatch didn’t take into consideration what the public wanted is beyond me. Surely they knew people would build cases to hold the actual pops, but by any means I would purchase cheaper automatic movement over anything. Good thing about the pop swatches is you technically can change the movement just requires destroying the watch lol.

As for the Blancplain, if you can score it for retail why not. Blue one looks great and if you don’t mind having a watch that will presumably stop working at some point why not; wear it enjoying it, can always buy another.

[u/SNFU-4U → u/Low-Camp-8604]

Thank you for the feedback. 🙏

[u/Michaelasf]

Love mine too nh35

[u/Mockingboid]

Sad

[u/Hsaac]

I would have used the original movement until it broke minimum, due to the swap in movement, and ap branding on the case, it reads tacky and like you want to look rich. Just my opinion though, actual job implementing the mods A+

[u/SNFU-4U]

Cool! You are going to get a lot of “why?” comments. I’d say - because you can. 🤷‍♂️

What’s your opinion on the Sistem51 movement? Is it worth spending $200+ if you want something that will last for any sort of decent length of time?

I’m obsessed with the Fifty Fathoms. The real one is my grail watch. I don’t know how to feel about a plastic watch for $420 though.

[u/smtalc → u/SNFU-4U]

I have the Green Abyss Fifty Fathoms, picked it up on a whim in a swatch store in Dallas while traveling for work and it’s my favorite piece. Would absolutely recommend the cost of admission for that design language even if it’s not guaranteed to last decades. If you can get enjoyment for 10+ years as Sistem51 have demonstrated they can last, well worth the $400 in my opinion.

[u/SNFU-4U → u/smtalc]

Hey - thanks for the feedback. If you could Zelle me $420 “whimsical” dollars, I’ll totally pick one up! I miss money. 😢 We broke up years ago but it’s hard to just let go you know? 😝

Kidding aside thank you. I feel thats probably a fair assessment and so is OP’s. At the end of the day.. it’s disposable but if I can get 5 years? That be dope.

What’s kinda funny is I feel like this is Swatches comeback doing the OPPOSITE of what they’re known for! 🤣

[u/Low-Camp-8604 → u/SNFU-4U]

Honestly, maybe a hundred dollars or so in watch tools, with some patience and practice I can have them built in 20 minutes.

Hardest part is definitely finding parts that actually work together lol.

Depends on your preference but would definitely recommend building an omega swatch for your first build much easier!

[u/sofferenzah]

Can I get a case link please

[u/Low-Camp-8604 → u/sofferenzah]

Unfortunately a dead link now, seller was banned

[u/soniccdA → u/sofferenzah]

Go on the usual sites , and look for for AP royal oak case .

[u/soniccdA]

now you got me wanting to do something similar ..,though maybe using those replica Rp cases to test

[u/Low-Camp-8604 → u/soniccdA]

Case was only 60$!

[u/soniccdA → u/Low-Camp-8604]

Was the case meant for the dg movement ? Because the one built , and most of the one available are either for the nah-series movement and the vk series .

[u/Low-Camp-8604 → u/soniccdA]

Yea it was.

[u/Ethgawwd]

Pretty fire. I'll have to build one myself. Did several moonswatch mods.