Interview with Mike – Maker of the first app for watch modders

Below you can read an unredacted full version of interview with Mike. Here is the link to the redacted version of the interview - CASIO BLOG

Hey everyone! Thank you for this opportunity — it's truly an honor to be featured on the pages of casioblog.com. Huge thanks to the guys behind the casioblog.com for everything you're doing for the Casio watch community.

My name is Mike Caplano, maker of MODDS.WATCH, I'm originally from Moldova, with roots in Ukraine — so a big hello to all the Casio fans and my family in Ukraine. Stay strong — everything will be Ukraine. My real name is Mihail Caplunov, but I go by Mike Caplano — it's just much easier for people to pronounce.

Currently, my wife and I are living in Malaysia — an amazing country with maybe the largest number of Casio fans. Honestly, it feels like every other person here wears a G-Shock — and that was definitely the first thing that inspired me to start collecting Casio watches and eventually create an app for watch modders.

Right now, my collection includes the Casio A168WA-1, Casio WS-1700H-5AV, Casio AE-1200WHD-1AV, and Casio F-91WG-9QDF.

And very soon, I plan to add one from the North American Casio MDV106 series with the iconic Marlin.

I know how many people who love the Casio Duro series are waiting for them to start planning their mods in the app. Some of these watches are already available to mod online, and the rest are on the way, because users voted for them, and let's be real, I just love having them in my collection too.

I agree, G-Shocks are an absolute must-have, and I can't help but dream about the "CoolEyes" GA-V01, "Jason" G-B001, DW-6900, "The King" GX-56RC, and GWX-5600 — they're all incredible. I also really love the look of the DW-5725B-7, and I'm dreaming about the GLX-5600KB-1.

But since I'm a digital nomad, it's tough to balance my passion for collecting Casio watches with frequent traveling between countries. I worry that carrying too many watches could cause issues at border checks, so I've had to hold back and postpone adding all these amazing G-Shocks to my collection — at least for now.

I started my collection with the Casio A168WA-1 because of its vintage look — it took me back to my childhood, when a watch like that was the ultimate dream for every kid. That nostalgic feeling pulled me deeper into the world of Casio watches. As I explored more, I discovered that thousands of people not only collect Casio watches but also modify them, creating unbelievably unique masterpieces.

I believe people turn to modding to break away from the ordinary and enjoy something truly personal and one-of-a-kind. Some take the tools and parts into their own hands, while others turn to professional modders — and in both cases, my app helps them get started.

It all begins with an idea, a sketch. And to make that first step easier, the canvas isn't blank — it's a photorealistic 3D model of a watch that modders can experiment with and customize freely.

The Casio Duro and Casioak have strong modding communities, but Royale AE-1200 and F-91W fans could easily compete with them — their communities are just as big, if not bigger.

But there's definitely no room for competition here, because the most important thing is that we all share a love for Casio watches. I'll definitely be adding all the models that are popular among modders to the app, to help create amazing mods easier, more precisely, and with even more and more creativity.

Of course, I wanted to create my own mod too — but I didn't know exactly what I wanted or what I needed to get started. There are thousands of examples online, with modders sharing their designs across social media. There are even well-known manufacturers of custom parts for Casio mods, like the amazing SKXMOD, and many other talented pro modders I'd love to connect with.

I believe we could grow this movement together and create some exciting collaborations. But for me, getting started wasn't easy. That's when I thought — what if I create a scene with 3D visualizations of the watches I want to mod? A place where I can easily change color filters, bezels, watch hands, materials, straps, bands, and upload my own images onto watch faces, cases, or even bands. What if I could stretch the limits of my imagination and bring my ideas to life visually — so that later, I could get the right tools and build a truly unique mod based on my own designs?

I already had a great experience as a professional 3D Artist for games and ads, and I thought — why not really make something like this? Maybe it won't just be useful for me, but for others too. So yeah, that's how it all began.

Exactly! Limited editions are awesome — I share your passion for the GA-2140RX-7 and I really love the entire transparent Casio series. But sometimes, nothing really catches your eye in the moment. That's when you start exploring mods. With mods, you're not limited to what official editions offer. You can try out different color combinations, band types, color filters, faceplates, and even custom materials — things the official lineup doesn't cover and maybe never will.

Modders are 3D printing parts, carving them from wood, machining them from metal — it's all about personalization. Watch mods reflect your taste, passions, and personality. So if you're a Casio watch collector, modding doesn't contradict collecting — it expands it. First, you enjoy the standard models. Then, you start looking for something unique, adding limited editions and custom mods to your collection.

Now in the app, modders can plan their watch mods by trying out different colors and materials for cases, faceplates, bands, hands, and bezels. They can even experiment with "stealth mode" — hiding the base decorative elements for a cleaner look.

My favourite part is the ability to upload your own images for watch faces and color filters. You can try different patterns, add pictures of your favorite characters, use interesting backgrounds or semitransparent gradients — anything to create the unique style you're going for. I can spend hours in the app testing different mods, and I already see many modders spending hours a day sketching and bringing their ideas to life.

And ther coolest part is that any modder can do it all on the go — most users are modding their watches right from their smartphone browsers. As soon as your watch mod is ready, you can activate "Photo Studio" to generate high-quality renders aka photos of your mod from any angle. Export them as square images or in 16:9 format to share on social media, gather feedback from your friends or potential customers, or send them to a professional modder to bring your idea to life.

If you're a pro modder, you can use these images as a reference to build the mod for your own collection, or to offer it for sale to your fans and followers.

I'm truly proud that I was able to create an app that helps modders not only generate more ideas through their imagination, but also expand their customer base and increase sales. I know how hard modders work, how many brilliant ideas they have — and they truly deserve to have their work appreciated by the people who love buying and collecting mods.

With the MODDS.WATCH app, pro modders no longer need to physically create every mod they plan to sell. Now, they can quickly and easily share their ideas with followers, gather feedback, receive orders, and start building only once there's real interest.

Yes! It is some kind of web Photoshop for watch modders as well. This is a place where an image editing tool and a 3D tool come together for watch modders, and it's even more than that — it's a 3D virtual space where modders can freely experiment with any idea, without complex tools or the need to learn special skills.

The beauty of the app is that watch modders can stay watch modders. You don't need to be a 3D modeler, have painting skills, or be a professional image editing tool user. You just need to stay who you are — and the rest is where the modds.watch app comes in to help.

Usually, adding a new watch model takes about a couple of weeks. It always starts with the community's choice — in the app's user dashboard, there's a Watch Voting tab where all the registered users can suggest watches they'd love to see in the app and vote on each other's suggestions.

The next step is sourcing the requested watch model. I usually buy it myself to add it to the app and to my collection (sometimes I joke that this might be the real reason I started building the app). That said, I'm always open to donations if someone really wants a specific watch model to be added to the app and is willing to sponsor the purchase. Some models — like the Seiko SKX007 and many popular G-Shocks — can cost over $200 each, which is beyond the current budget of the app. I don't have VC funding or investor backing — everything you see on the modds.watch has been built by me, using my skills and personal savings. So it's always cool to see people start using the app, support me, and leave good reviews.

And once I have the watch in my hands, I begin crafting the 3D model based on the real piece. It's essential for me to physically hold it — to feel the shape, the silhouette, the textures, and all the micro-details that make each part of the watch unique. That's why I bought a watch magnifier, so I can delve deeper into the details and see the smallest details. I've been doing this truly creative process for over six years now, and really love it. So now, thanks to the app, I can combine my two passions, which makes me really happy as a creator and entrepreneur.

Yes, exactly like this. Looking at a watch under a magnifying glass gives me great pleasure. There's so much detail and nuance. It's something invisible to everyone around you — you immerse yourself in this world and feel how much intelligence, labor, and talent went into creating each watch. It's truly impressive.

Of course, I love all the iterations of the Casio AE-1200 "NASA" mod. There are many great examples of this style, and one of the good examples is the one Adam Savage made.

I also love "MOON" or "LUNAR" mods

I especially love it when people create their own faceplates. It takes so much effort and passion to make something like that

And I also love mods that are inspired by TV shows, movies, or cartoon characters

I think the CASIO AE-1200 is a great canvas for watch modders to express their creativity. Casio definitely managed to create something unique, beautiful, and interesting — but at the same time, it makes you want to try something new: to add, remove, or change something.

But of course, it doesn't end with the AE-1200. There's also the F-91W, which people love so much to mod. There's the Casio Duro series, the Casioak, and several Seiko models, and of course, many G-SHOCKS that fans love to modify, giving them a unique look. Many of these models will also be available in the app soon. My goal is to cover all the favorite watches of the modding community — to help modders create with more confidence and even more fun.

As for why some models become incredibly popular among modders while others don't — that's more of a philosophical question. Sure, factors like cost and availability play a role, but I don't think they're the most important. What truly matters are the enthusiasts who, for one reason or another, start modding a particular model and inspire the community to follow. They create groups, subreddits, and threads where modders can share their creations and ideas. These people deserve support — they're the driving force behind the watch modding scene, the cogs in this big watchmaking mechanism that make watch collecting even more exciting.

Thank you for this amazing interview. It was a real pleasure talking to you — loved the interesting questions and the chance to speak directly to all the Casio fans. Wishing your blog all the best, and a big thank you for the work you're doing — you're really doing a lot for the community. I hope that more and more interesting people will join our hobby so that our community grows together with talented creators and collectors.