So, I’ve been tinkering with watches for a while, and today I decided to dive into something pretty cool, the OMEGA Speedmaster Skywalker X-33. You know, the one that screams “space” but also looks like it could handle a dive, even though it’s not a diver. I’m not sure if I should call it a project, really, more like me just messing around and trying to make it look like the classic Moonwatch.
First off, I grabbed my tools. Nothing fancy, just the usual stuff you’d use to swap straps and maybe poke around a bit. The goal? Give this high-tech, quartz-powered beast a bit of that old-school charm. I’ve always liked how the original Speedmaster looked, you know, the one that went to the moon and back, so I thought, why not?
I started by opening up the back. Now, this watch is powered by the OMEGA calibre 5619, which is a quartz movement. It’s got all these fancy functions, multiple time zones, alarms, and all that jazz. It’s pretty slick, but I wanted that classic vibe. I did some searching on the internet and found the details of the 5619 movement. I used this information to familiarize myself with this watch.
Next up, I carefully took off the bezel. This part was a little tricky because I didn’t want to scratch anything. The tachymeter scale on these things is pretty precise, and getting it back on just right is crucial. I noticed that the original Moonwatch has these sharp markings, so I paid extra attention to how everything lined up.
- Open the watch back. I carefully removed the back, exposing the quartz movement.
- Remove the bezel. This was a bit nerve-wracking. I used a small tool to gently pry it off, making sure not to damage the tachymeter scale.
- Inspect the dial and hands. I compared the Skywalker’s dial and hands to images of the classic Moonwatch, noting the differences.
- Swap some parts. I had some old parts from another Speedmaster, so I replaced some components.
The dial was the next challenge. The Skywalker has this digital display mixed with analog hands, which is cool but not what I was going for. I had an old Speedmaster dial lying around from a previous project, so I thought, “Let’s see if this fits.” It wasn’t a perfect match, but with a bit of fiddling, I managed to get it in there. It’s not going to fool any watch experts, but it definitely gave it more of that classic look.
Then came the hands. The Skywalker’s hands are designed for its digital-analog setup, so they look a bit different from the classic Moonwatch hands. I swapped them out with some vintage ones I had. This was probably the most satisfying part. Seeing those classic hands on the Skywalker dial really brought the whole thing together.
Putting it all back together was a bit of a pain. Getting the bezel to snap back on just right took some patience, and I had to make sure the new dial and hands were aligned properly. After a few tries, it all clicked into place.
The Result
And there you have it. The OMEGA Speedmaster Skywalker X-33, modded to look more like the classic Speedmaster. It’s not perfect, and some people will probably say I’ve messed it up, but I think it’s pretty cool. It’s got that vintage feel with the modern tech inside. A bit of the old with the new, you know? Plus, I got to spend a day tinkering with watches, which is always a good time.
What do you guys think? Did I totally ruin it, or is it kind of neat? I know it is not going to be everyone’s cup of tea, but for me, it’s a fun little project that turned out pretty well. I’m not claiming it’s a masterpiece or anything, but it’s unique, and that’s what matters to me.
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