Build/modify a Wrist Watch! a Great Gift or Just for Yourself!

Tired of boring run of the mill wrist watches? Make one yourself! Impress that special someone or make one for yourself. Cheap and easy. All you need is a broken or working wrist watch, a donor digital watch and some creativity!

Step 1: Materials and Tools

Materials:
You'll need a wrist watch preferably made of stainless steel (personal reference).
I chose a broken automatic. I bought it on a trip in the Philippines for cheap a couple of years ago. Its automatic movement doesn't like the winter, it constantly stops when its 40 degrees outside. A watch like this is perfect for this project because It has a handsome case and strap but a junk internal movement.

You'll then need a donor watch that has a working "heart". A good donor is a digital wrist watch. I picked a cheap timex at Goodwill for $1 . Make sure or guesstimate that the internal components of your digital watch will fit inside the case of other watch.

You'll need super glue, wires, watch battery.

Tools
Small screwdriver set or a case opener for opening watches
Soldering Iron and solder
Wire cutter
Long nose pliers

Step 2: Prep the Recipient Watch

First thing to do is to remove the band/strap so we can work on the case easier. 

Open the watch by using watch opener if your watch has a rotary type inclosure. Some watch are held together by screws or a snapping mechanism so you only need a screw driver to open those. Remove the components of the watch. The component will be connected to the knob, To remove it, just pull it off. If your watch is chronograph like mine, use super glue to cover the holes and glue the knob back in place.

Step 3: Prep the Donor Watch

Open and remove the component of the donor watch.
Here is where you have to be creative. You can leave the digital component as it is or hack it up to make something more unique.

What I did with mine is I stripped the component to its bare minimum. I ditched the stock battery compartment and made my own "battery holder" to make the watch more raw! lol I did this by soldering some cheap battery (dollartree) together with some wire. I also removed the background reflector (I dont know what is is called =) off the digital display to give that floating look.

Step 4: Assembly

Glue the digital component to the back cover of the recipient watch. Now is the time to adjust the time. lol Use a pointy object to push the contacts of the digital component. 

Step 5: Done

Assemble the back with the watch and its done!


*The only thing that sucks about this kind of setup is you have to open the watch every time you need to change the time. Who needs to change the time anyways, just make another one for day light savings time or if you are flying to a different time zone. lol