-
Tired of adverts on RWI? - Subscribe by clicking HERE and PMing Trailboss for instructions and they will magically go away!
The Moonswatch metal mod aka Project Alaskswatch
- Thread starter Eddio
- Start date
You just need a new PE50 stem, which come LONG from the factory. The one used for the watches_77 moonswatches is shorter than it needs to be for use with the metal VK63 case. You can try it first, but I could not get any to work as they were all too short.
Finally, I succeeded too! Somehow. Almost.
So, the PE50 movement replacement delivered the other day, for me to cannibalize the crown stem.
I managed to cut the stem the correct lenght, went on with ease on the VK63 crown.
I printed myself a copy of Caboose movement holder design in PLA.
Unfortunately one of the chronograph hands went off in the meantime, I tried multiple times putting it back on but it wasn’t easy and always seemed loose enough to go off again just by activating the chrono. I’ll probably have a true watch repairer have a look at this hand but… job is over and the final result is stunning.
I have to thank both Pinion Minion and Caboose for most of this to become possible for a noob like me.
So, the PE50 movement replacement delivered the other day, for me to cannibalize the crown stem.
I managed to cut the stem the correct lenght, went on with ease on the VK63 crown.
I printed myself a copy of Caboose movement holder design in PLA.
Unfortunately one of the chronograph hands went off in the meantime, I tried multiple times putting it back on but it wasn’t easy and always seemed loose enough to go off again just by activating the chrono. I’ll probably have a true watch repairer have a look at this hand but… job is over and the final result is stunning.
I have to thank both Pinion Minion and Caboose for most of this to become possible for a noob like me.
Finally, I succeeded too! Somehow. Almost.
So, the PE50 movement replacement delivered the other day, for me to cannibalize the crown stem.
I managed to cut the stem the correct lenght, went on with ease on the VK63 crown.
I printed myself a copy of Caboose movement holder design in PLA.
Unfortunately one of the chronograph hands went off in the meantime, I tried multiple times putting it back on but it wasn’t easy and always seemed loose enough to go off again just by activating the chrono. I’ll probably have a true watch repairer have a look at this hand but… job is over and the final result is stunning.
I have to thank both Pinion Minion and Caboose for most of this to become possible for a noob like me.
I bet you can get that hand on yourself- the key is to have the watch at eye level- put it up on a shoebox or kneel in front of your bench. I use a sliver of Rodico at the distal end of the hand and push it on with a wooden stick onto the shaft. Then hold the hand down with the stick while removing the Rodico
Unless you broke the collet off the hand I bet it will go on. You do have to be gentle recasing after putting the hands on- I have had them fall off myself several times.
Last edited:
Congrats!!! Good to see my Alaska project still inspires people. And i am yealous of that movement holder, my option was unfortunately just basic thick isolation tape. Not perfect but it works kind off.Finally, I succeeded too! Somehow. Almost.
So, the PE50 movement replacement delivered the other day, for me to cannibalize the crown stem.
I managed to cut the stem the correct lenght, went on with ease on the VK63 crown.
I printed myself a copy of Caboose movement holder design in PLA.
Unfortunately one of the chronograph hands went off in the meantime, I tried multiple times putting it back on but it wasn’t easy and always seemed loose enough to go off again just by activating the chrono. I’ll probably have a true watch repairer have a look at this hand but… job is over and the final result is stunning.
I have to thank both Pinion Minion and Caboose for most of this to become possible for a noob like me.
Yeah great job, nice to see people inspired by my AlaskSwatch mod. And yes the basics is not difficult at all, i am also not an experienced modder. The stem is the tricky part and when using the slimmer case creating a movement holder yourself requires some creativity. For the case it just slips in.I was able to use the stem that came with the original. Also, for those who are on the fence about undertaking this, don't be! This took me all of 10 minutes and other than a pin vise for the crown removal from the stem (which isn't required). You just need to be careful when removing the movement as others have stated because the dial will hit the chrono pushers on the way out and it will pull off the dial and hands. Lift up on the opposite side to avoid this. Enjoy!
Enjoy this piece!!!!
can a kind soul please measure the two dimensions in red please please?
Could you be more specific? Looking for diameters? That drawing is not much clear to me, sorry.
I managed to get it on, the collet is fine but, it seems not engaging the shaft the right way or engaging the shaft not tight enough, ending up lost as soon as the shaft starts twisting or recasing. But now is definitely on, also seems to stay put during normal wear… I am just too afraid to push the chrono start button and loose it again for maybe the 6th time ahah!
Hit me up with a PM if you need one in EU, I could print and send you one via regular mail I guess!
hi
diameter of crown
height of crown
diameter and height of the part of the crown collet that goes into the case
Crown diameter 6.8mm, height 3mm.
The inner part diameter is 1.8mm, height is hard to tell having now cut and mounted everything back, but is more than 2.5mm for what I can tell.
Remember all of these measures refer to a VK63 crown.
My take on the build:
Pagani design v5 vk63
Swapped over the PE50 set with dial
PE50 longer stems from eBay
Put longer stem on Omega plastic crown
—-I’d like to to find a metal crown that has O S logo on it
Going to widen the lugs .3, or look for that correct metal crown for my liking
(PE50 plastic crown 6.2, pagani metal 5.9)
Need to be completed hopefully tonight:
- cut down stem length
-figure out crown situation
-grind/sand? down caseback pagani logos or find new caseback
Need to look up how to do these things tonight, but having fun over here
Photos
Pagani design v5 vk63
Swapped over the PE50 set with dial
PE50 longer stems from eBay
Put longer stem on Omega plastic crown
—-I’d like to to find a metal crown that has O S logo on it
Going to widen the lugs .3, or look for that correct metal crown for my liking
(PE50 plastic crown 6.2, pagani metal 5.9)
Need to be completed hopefully tonight:
- cut down stem length
-figure out crown situation
-grind/sand? down caseback pagani logos or find new caseback
Need to look up how to do these things tonight, but having fun over here
Photos
Can you not remove the old stem from the Pagani crown for some reason?My take on the build:
Pagani design v5 vk63
Swapped over the PE50 set with dial
PE50 longer stems from eBay
Put longer stem on Omega plastic crown
—-I’d like to to find a metal crown that has O S logo on it
Going to widen the lugs .3, or look for that correct metal crown for my liking
(PE50 plastic crown 6.2, pagani metal 5.9)
Need to be completed hopefully tonight:
- cut down stem length
-figure out crown situation
-grind/sand? down caseback pagani logos or find new caseback
Need to look up how to do these things tonight, but having fun over here
Photos
Also, the caseback engraving looks pretty neat.
Nobody found an omega logo crown that’ll fit these yet? That’s too bad. Who is gonna be the first one to slap a Chinese moonswatch into one of these? I guess I could sacrifice one of my gens for it if I was going to spend this much on a case 
eBay Omega Speedmaster Case
eBay Omega Speedmaster Case
the thing is that until you get the actual case and measure your own, it's difficult
everyone of us has bought something different off AliX. Now, my view is that a 5.5mm or 6mm crown will be good.
it's not like it need to be 1:1 to anything.
everyone of us has bought something different off AliX. Now, my view is that a 5.5mm or 6mm crown will be good.
it's not like it need to be 1:1 to anything.
Yeah just minus the edge of the pagani part, it aesthetic is lame to me, even just that part removed
I removed the stem from the pagani crown, and could use it
But don’t like the pagani logo either on it,
Also to be clear I could have bought a gen moons watch, for what I have into these hahaYeah just minus the edge of the pagani part, it aesthetic is lame to me, even just that part removed
I removed the stem from the pagani crown, and could use it
But don’t like the pagani logo either on it,
I have 3 that will be pagani based case builds
3 that will be some random rep Omega case
And now I’m looking for one more case or a bezel swap for an orange bezel for the sun dial build
Probably could have bought more than half a set of Gen for this…. But metal cases and doing it yourself is better
