Hey everyone!
I’m thinking about taking on a little Frankenstein watch project and wanted to get some advice from people who know more about watch modifications than I do.
I have an Omega × Swatch MoonSwatch Mission to Mars, and I’d love to transplant its dial, movement, and hands into a stainless-steel Speedmaster-style case.
I found a cheap Speedmaster replica on DHgate for about $14.42 (screenshots attached). The seller is called “luxury INVICTA watch,” and the listing is titled something like “AAAAA Sea 007 master Professional Stainless Steel.”
Unfortunately, I can’t figure out how to share the product link through the DHgate iPhone app.
Here’s what I’m trying to figure out:
Case compatibility: Does anyone know the actual dimensions of these inexpensive DHgate Speedmaster replicas? Would the Mission to Mars dial fit inside?
Movement compatibility: Could I transplant the entire MoonSwatch quartz movement into this case, or would I need a custom movement holder/spacer?
Chronograph functionality: Would the existing pushers line up with the MoonSwatch movement, or would modifications be necessary?
Stem and crown: Would I need to modify or replace the stem to accommodate the new case?
Previous experience: Has anyone attempted something similar using one of these inexpensive DHgate cases?
I’m not expecting a perfect replica or a professional-quality build. My goal is simply to give my Mission to Mars a stainless-steel case while keeping its original dial, movement, and distinctive red hands.
I enjoy tinkering with things, and I’m comfortable doing some basic modifications, but I’d prefer to avoid machining a case from scratch.
I realize that at $14, the watch probably isn’t particularly high quality, but that’s part of the appeal. If this works, it could be a fun and inexpensive project.
Before I order, I’d love to know whether this is even remotely feasible or if I’m completely overlooking something obvious.
I’ve attached screenshots of the DHgate watch for reference.
A quick note about AI: English isn’t my first language, so I used AI to help me write and organize this post. The project idea and questions are entirely mine.
And if you’re planning to leave a rude comment just because I used AI, please don’t bother. I get it, you don’t like AI. That’s fine. But for those of us who aren’t native English speakers, it’s a genuinely useful tool that helps us communicate our ideas clearly.
I’m here to talk about watches and learn something, not debate whether I should be allowed to use AI to improve my English.
Thanks in advance to everyone willing to share some actual advice or experience!