vishal soni
When I was a child, I had a dream of making my own smartwatch. At that time, I had no knowledge of engineering, electronics, or 3D design, but my imagination was full of ideas. So, as a kid, I created a watch from cardboard. It was not a real working watch, but it gave me something even more valuable, joy, excitement, and the confidence to dream big. That simple cardboard watch was the beginning of my journey.
Now, the time has come to turn that childhood dream into reality and build a real watch. It may not be smart enough to count footsteps or measure heart rate, but it does something just as important — it simply shows the time.
In a world full of notifications and constant connection to the internet, this watch offers something different: simplicity, focus, and freedom from distractions. It is more than just a watch; it is a reminder that sometimes the simplest things are the most meaningful. This is my first real step toward completing the journey I started as a child.
So, I created the ChronoWatch X2040 — a custom watch powered by the Raspberry Pi RP2040 microcontroller. It features a round display and a specially designed 3D-printed case, making it comfortable to wear on the wrist like a real everyday watch.
By the way, Subscribe to my YouTube channel for more projects like this. I also update my upcoming projects on Instagram.
buy me a coffee! ☕: Donate
To make it more personal and stylish, I added multiple watch faces inside the device, allowing the look of the watch to match different moods, vibes, and environments. Whether classic, modern, or minimal, the ChronoWatch X2040 can adapt with a simple change of style.
For this project, I used a WaveShare RP2040 Round Touch Display, which became the heart of the ChronoWatch X2040. To give it the look and feel of a real wearable device, I designed a custom 3D-printed case using Tinkercad — a simple yet powerful software that makes 3D designing easy and accessible for creators of all skill levels.
The watch is not just about hardware; it also includes a fully functional settings interface. Users can easily adjust the time, date, and switch between 12-hour or 24-hour formats directly from the watch. It also comes with several useful features such as brightness control, a stopwatch, screen rotation options, and sleep timer settings for better battery management. Best of all, everything can be controlled through the touchscreen interface — no mobile app, no extra device, and no internet connection needed.
The modern wristwatch became popular in the late 19th century, with one of the earliest known wristwatches created in 1868 by Patek Philippe for Countess Koscowicz of Hungary. In the beginning, wristwatches were mainly worn by women as elegant fashion accessories and jewelry rather than practical timepieces. Everything changed during World War I, when soldiers needed a quick and convenient way to check time while keeping their hands free. Wristwatches proved far more practical than pocket watches, and soon became popular among men as well.
Since then, the wristwatch has continuously evolved through many generations — from mechanical watches, to quartz movements, then digital watches, and now advanced smartwatches used all around the world. From a simple tool for telling time to a symbol of style, technology, and personal identity, the wristwatch has come a long way.
Thomas Ruschival
Orlando Hoilett
Markus Hüttner
Julius Curt