We’ve been keeping an eye out for NASA-themed watches that commemorate the Artemis mission, and this one caught our attention. Custom Casio Royale mods have blown up over the past year. Builders have been turning the classic AE-1200 into all kinds of unique pieces, from retro-style collectibles to custom metal-cased builds. The affordable base watch and its modular design make it one of the most popular platforms in the modding community right now. Now, Nocturnal Time has released one that stands out from the rest. The “Artemis” is a custom Casio Royale that was originally built for a real NASA astronaut — and it’s now available to anyone starting at $135.
Price: From $135
Where to Buy: Nocturnal Time
Nocturnal Time says this watch was designed for an actual NASA astronaut. It’s inspired by NASA’s Artemis program, which aims to send humans back to the Moon. The Artemis program is NASA’s long-term plan to build a lasting human presence on and around the Moon, serving as a stepping stone for future crewed missions to Mars. That kind of ambition shaped the watch’s design — clean, easy to read, and purpose-built rather than flashy. Every detail feels like it was chosen for a reason, not just to look cool. The overall look leans into that mission-ready identity without going overboard on space-themed graphics. “Whether it makes it to space or not, it was built like it could,” the listing says.
What the Casio Royale Artemis Is Built On
Under all the custom touches, it’s still the same Casio AE-1200 that modders already know well. The 42.1mm digital case uses a Japanese quartz movement with a 10-year battery, 100 meters of water resistance, and an LED backlight. All the original features are still there: world time, five alarms, a stopwatch, countdown timer, day and date display, and 12/24-hour time. The mod doesn’t change any of that — it only changes how the watch looks.
The AE-1200 has been a favorite among budget watch fans for years, mostly because it packs a surprising amount of features into a small, lightweight package. At just 39 grams in resin and 91 grams in stainless steel, it sits comfortably on the wrist all day. It’s often compared to the Casio F-91W in terms of value, but the Royale offers a more complete feature set and a larger display. That combination of low price, solid specs, and a case that’s easy to take apart is exactly why the modding scene around it has grown so fast — the base watch already delivers a lot, so custom builders can focus entirely on design and materials.
Visual Mod and Customization Options
The Artemis has a printed graphic in the top-left area of the dial. It covers the small analog clock with a custom design that fits the space theme. The tiny analog subdial underneath is no longer visible, which gives the watch a bolder, cleaner look. If you never used the analog feature on the regular Casio Royale, you won’t miss it here. For most people, that subdial was more decorative than useful anyway, so trading it for a stronger visual identity makes sense. It’s one of the most common mods in the Casio Royale community, and Nocturnal Time’s take on it is one of the sharper executions out there.
The listing also describes a Negative Display mod, which swaps the standard reflective layer for a polarized one. The result is light digits on a dark background instead of the usual black-on-silver. It doesn’t change how the watch works — just how it looks — and the darker style fits the space theme nicely. Negative displays have become a popular mod across the Casio community because they give the watch a more modern, stealthy vibe. Check the product page to confirm current availability for this build.
You can also choose Text Removal, which gets rid of the printed labels like “WORLD TIME,” “ILLUMINATOR,” “5 ALARMS,” “10 YEAR BATTERY,” and “WR100M” for a cleaner finish. Without the text, the dial looks less cluttered and lets the Artemis graphic and display stand out more. It’s a small change, but it makes a noticeable difference in how the watch feels on the wrist.
NTMODS Add-Ons Are Sold Separately
Nocturnal Time’s NTMODS upgrades — including a custom case, faceplate, backplate, and bracelet — show up in the product video, but they’re not included with the base watch. Each part is sold separately and needs to be added to your cart if you want the full look shown in the promo materials. That’s worth knowing, because the complete NTMODS setup looks very different from the base version.
The NTMODS parts are designed to work together as a system. The custom case and faceplate change the shape and finish of the watch, while the backplate swaps out the rear cover for a matching look. The bracelet replaces the stock resin strap with something that feels more premium and holds up better over time. Individually, the faceplate and backplate run $40 each, the case is $90, and the bracelet is $60. If you’re on a budget, you can start with just the base Artemis mod and add NTMODS pieces later as your build grows.
What to Expect From a Handmade Mod
Every Artemis is built by hand, so small dust specks or light marks might show up on the finished watch. Nocturnal Time says this is normal and doesn’t affect how the watch works. That’s pretty standard for handmade mods — minor imperfections are part of the process and don’t take away from the quality of the build.
Photos are taken under bright lights, so colors may look a bit darker in person or at certain angles. If you’re choosing between the Black, Silver, or Gold case finishes, keep in mind that what you see on screen may not be an exact match to what arrives. That’s normal for product photography in general, but especially true for hand-finished pieces. Because the watch has been modified, the original Casio warranty no longer applies. However, Nocturnal Time offers direct support if you have questions or run into any issues after your purchase.
Price: From $135
Where to Buy: Nocturnal Time
The Artemis is available now from Nocturnal Time. Buyers can choose between Black, Silver, or Gold cases with a black rubber band, or a Silver case with a stainless steel band. Prices start at $135 and go up depending on which case and customization options you pick.
The Artemis isn’t the only NASA-themed watch we’ve been tracking. The Artemis II crew wore Omega Speedmaster X-33s on their wrists during the mission, and Timex dropped a $259 Q NASA edition timed to the launch. CircuitMess also released a NASA Artemis Watch 2.0 that teaches kids to code for $129. For the full gear breakdown from the mission, check out our feature on 8 Pieces of Tech the Artemis II Crew Is Taking to the Moon.
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(as of April 12, 2026 18:33 GMT -05:00 - More infoProduct prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on [relevant Amazon Site(s), as applicable] at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.)
