We’ve featured many watch projects on the Hackster blog. But to be honest, there weren’t many designs that the average person would want to wear. While style and function are definitely important factors, perhaps the biggest problem with DIY designs is bulk. The miniaturization required to cram so much technology into a small watch package requires resources beyond the reach of most enthusiasts. But Drfailov has managed to pull it off and created this impressive ESP32-based watch that you’ll actually want to wear.
Drfailov’s DRM Watch 3 looks great. Yes, it’s quite wide, but that’s a result of Drfailov’s choice of screen, which is what makes this watch so appealing. However, Drfailov’s packaging is very impressive and this watch is quite slim. And this is a great-looking watch that doesn’t give off any “DIY” vibes. You would have believed us if we told you that this is a consumer device that has just arrived on the market.
The key component is the amazing display, a 2.7-inch Sharp Memory Display that combines some of the best features of LCD and e-ink displays. Sharp’s memory displays have only begun to gain traction in the manufacturing community in the past few years. It consumes very little power, is very easy to read in sunlight (like an e-ink display), and updates quickly (like an LCD). It’s a great choice for devices that need to minimize power consumption without sacrificing refresh rate. It also has a unique appearance of black on a gray background, giving it a clean look.
Most Sharp memory displays, including this one, don’t have a backlight, so Drfailov had to add one. He created this using electroluminescent panels cut to size to fit the display’s footprint.
This display and backlight sandwich sits atop a custom PCB that is densely packed with all the components necessary for the watch to operate. This includes, most importantly, the ESP32-S2 microcontroller. The ESP32-S2 features Wi-Fi for connecting to networks and Bluetooth for connecting to the user’s smartphone. Power comes from a 450mAh lithium battery, which Drfailov says can last about two weeks between charges.
While the enclosure can be 3D printed, the front panel can also be CNC machined from aluminum, steel, or more exotic metals for a premium look.
