How to solve the Hanayama Cast Square - there are actually TWO solutions?!

The Hanayama Cast Square is a 5 star (out of a maximum 6 stars) puzzle in the Hanayama metal puzzle series. The build looks elegant and the corners are rounded so it looks less intimidating.
I think this is one of the easier 5 star puzzles as it only requires 2 moves to take it apart, once disassembled it is rather easy to put it together again as the mechanism will be laid out in plain sight.
After some research I see that most solutions for this puzzle are shown as the "official" solution, but then I was playing around with it and have come up with an alternative solution, which is not as elegant yet more efficient.
Let me know if you can solve your puzzle with my alternative method in the comments below! Keep puzzling!
I have joined the Amazon Affiliates program and will get a rebate if you get the puzzle through this link: amzn.to/3o3sGs2