If you’ve ever wanted to build your own watch, the ChronoWatch X2040 DIY watch allows you to do it the easy way with a Waveshare RP2040-Touch-LCD-1.28 touch LCD board, a 3D-printed case, a 3.7V LiPo battery, a few screws, and firmware using the Pico C/C++ SDK.
When Vishal Soni decided he wanted to build a watch, he initially planned to design a custom board, but since there are already several round LCD boards based on Raspberry Pi RP2040 MCU, he went with a Waveshare board, preferring to spend more time on firmware programming.
ChronoWatch X2040 parts:
- Waveshare RP2040-Touch-LCD-1.28 with Raspberry Pi RP2040 MCU and 1.28-inch round touch display – About $23 to $29 on Amazon, AliExpress, or the Waveshare store.
- 3D printed case designed with Tinkercad
- 3.7V 950mAh Lipo battery (35 x 25 x 10 mm)
- M2 4mm screw
- M2 heat inserts
- 2-pin MX1.25 connector
- 1mm heat shrink sleeve tube
- An Apple Watch strap or compatible watch strap
The firmware replicates the key functions of a traditional watch with time, date, 12-hour/24-hour formats, and implements features such as brightness control, a stopwatch, screen rotation options, and sleep timer settings. It also supports various watch faces and features a touch interface for control instead of buttons. It’s not a smartwatch, so there’s no mobile app and no internet connection needed.
The UF2 firmware has been published on GitHub, where you’ll find the links to the 3D files (free) and the source code, which Vishal has decided to monetize for $4.99. You don’t really need the latter, unless you want to study the code or modify it. Alternatively, you could roll your own firmware, but this will take more time… Instructions for the assembly and firmware flashing can be found on Hackster.io.
Jean-Luc started CNX Software in 2010 as a part-time endeavor, before quitting his job as a software engineering manager, and starting to write daily news, and reviews full time later in 2011.
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