Math Campbell’s smart pocket watch pairs a circular touchscreen with an ESP32-S3, displaying the time, weather and tides. It takes its visual cue from the Neo-Victorian world of Neal Stephenson’s The Diamond Age; it is a custom electronics project, not a ready-to-buy watch or a replica of a specific device from the novel.
What the watch is—and what it is not
Hackaday’s Tyler August describes the design as capturing the novel’s “Victorian High-Tech vibe.” The distinction matters: readers discussing the project asked whether it was meant to be the Primer, but the Primer is a separate object. Campbell says the protagonist’s pocket watch is the inspiration for the watch concept; the project is not presented as a reproduction of a canonical artifact. Hackaday’s project report covers the build and the creator’s comments.
Hardware and current functions
The project is built around the Waveshare ESP32-S3 Touch AMOLED 1.75-inch development board. Its round 1.75-inch touchscreen and ESP32-S3 are joined by an onboard six-axis IMU, real-time clock (RTC), microphone, speaker and microSD card reader, according to Hackaday. Campbell’s Smartwatch-V5 repository also identifies the Waveshare board as the platform.
The firmware currently presents the time, weather and tidal information. The repository describes a standalone smartwatch interface written with Arduino, PlatformIO and LVGL. It supports the round AMOLED screen and touch panel, brightness controls, dimming, sleep and wake behavior, and user settings stored in LittleFS.
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- 🔥【Dual Mode & High Performance】 The ESP32-S3 development board features integrated dual-core xtensa 32-bit LX7 microprocessor, clock speed up to 240 MHz, with 16MB Flash and 8 MB PSRAM. Perfect for Arduino IoT projects requiring stable wireless communication with ultra-low power consumption.
- 🔧【Easy Programming & Debugging】 Equipped with dual USB Type-C ports, this ESP32-S3 board supports both USB and UART modes for effortless programming, firmware flashing, and debugging.
- 🌐【Versatile Wireless Connectivity】 Built-in Wi-Fi (2.4GHz) and Bluetooth 5.0 (LE) dual-mode ensure seamless connectivity with a wide range of smart devices, making it ideal for IoT, smart homes projects.
- 🚀【Flexible Download Options】 Supports dual download methods — USB direct download or USB-to-serial download — offering flexibility and convenience for different development needs.Ideal for beginners and developers working with ESP32-S3.
- 🔋【Advanced Power-Saving Modes】 Designed for energy-efficient applications, with 3.3V SPI voltage, the ESP32-S3 board supports multiple low-power modes, allowing you to extend battery life based on different usage scenarios.
The repository frames custom watch faces, sensor integration and notifications as possible future extensions—not as a list of features that are already complete. The reported feature set is therefore more modest than the board’s built-in hardware might suggest.
Case design and files for a build
Campbell designed the case in Fusion 360 and had it 3D printed in stainless steel. He said he planned to make a final version by hand in sterling silver. The repository now lists STL files for the main case, back, crown, IO button, reset button and RF insert, so readers can inspect or use the enclosure parts rather than relying on the original report’s earlier note that the files were not yet available.
Rank #2
- ESP32-S3-DevKitC-1-N16R8 SPI voltage: 3.3v, ESP32-S3-DevKitC-1 is an entry-level development board equipped with Wi-Fi + Bluetooth module ESP32-S3
- Most of the I/O pins on the module are broken out to the pin headers on both sides of this board for easy interfacing. Developers can either connect peripherals with jumper wires or mount ESP32-S3-DevKitC on a breadboard.
- The ESP32-S3-DevKitC development board equipped with ESP32-S3-DevKitC-1-N16R8, a general-purpose Wi-Fi + Bluetooth LE MCU module that integrates complete Wi-Fi and Bluetooth LE functions.
- ESP32-S3-N16R8 cable can be used: USB Type A to Type-C cable or CC cable Note the distinction between the commonly used USB A port to Type-C cable that can only be charged, which cannot be used for communication between YD-ESP32-S3 and the host.
- USB-to-UART Port and ESP32-S3 USB Port (either one or both), default power supply (recommended)
The build also needs a battery and a case in addition to the development board. The reporting does not specify battery capacity, chemistry, dimensions, connector or model. Check the board documentation and project files before choosing one; the available information is not enough to establish that a particular battery will fit or work.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.What to buy—and what you would need to build
This is not a complete off-the-shelf pocket watch. The clearest starting point for a reproduction is the Waveshare ESP32-S3 Touch AMOLED 1.75-inch board named by both the report and the repository. A build also involves sourcing a battery and making or fabricating the custom case, then adapting or using the project software.
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- 【Low-power performance】: The AYWHP ESP32-S3 Core development board integrates a 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi and Bluetooth 5 (LE) dual-mode communication module, perfect for Arduino Internet of Things (IoT) projects.
- 【Simple programming and debugging】: The ESP32-S3 module makes it easy to program and burn in your ESP32-S3 board via dual USB Type-C ports, with a choice of USB or UART modes.
- 【Multiple Power Saving Modes】: The ESP S3 development board supports multiple low-power modes, which can be configured according to different application scenarios to provide longer battery life.
- 【Dual download modes】: The ESP S3-1 module supports both USB direct connection download and USB to serial port download, providing more flexibility and convenience.
- 【Diverse connectivity options】: The ESP32-S3-1 supports dual-mode Wi-Fi and Bluetooth 5.0 (LE) connectivity for a wide range of smart devices, making it ideal for Internet of Things (IoT) applications.
The published material does not establish a price, battery runtime, water resistance or timekeeping accuracy. Those specifications should not be inferred from the project’s appearance or from the development board’s feature list.
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- 【GOLD EDITION — IMMERSION GOLD PCB】The Lonely Binary Gold Edition features a black PCB with lead-free immersion gold (ENIG) plating and clear silkscreen — the signature finish of the Lonely Binary Gold Edition line. RoHS-compliant.
- 【16MB FLASH + 8MB PSRAM】Large memory capacity for OTA updates, large programs, and AI/ML tasks — more headroom than 4MB boards for data-intensive IoT and automation projects.
- 【EXTERNAL IPEX ANTENNA】External IPEX antenna can be positioned for extended WiFi and Bluetooth signal coverage — for remote applications like weather stations, robots, or enclosed builds.
- 【DUAL USB TYPE-C PORTS】Separate power and data ports for macOS, Windows, and Linux. Power via USB-C (5V) or VIN pin (5–12V); do not exceed 5V on the USB-C ports.
- 【FLEXIBLE PROTOTYPING PINS】2x40-pin GPIO headers compatible with breadboards and sensors. Supports external ToF sensors via I2C for distance sensing.
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- 【ESP32-S3 PERFORMANCE】Dual-core 240MHz processor with 16MB Flash and 8MB PSRAM for IoT, AI, and machine learning projects.
- 【WIRELESS CONNECTIVITY】Onboard antenna for 2.4GHz WiFi and Bluetooth 5.0 LE — for smart home devices, no external antenna needed.
- 【LEAD-FREE GOLD EDITION DESIGN】Immersion gold (ENIG) plating for durability and conductivity. Lead-free, RoHS-compliant — for long-term prototyping.
- 【PRE-SOLDERED, PLUG-IN DESIGN】ESP32-S3 boards come with pre-soldered headers and plug directly into the included expansion and terminal boards — no soldering required.
- 【MULTI-PLATFORM COMPATIBILITY】Works with C++, MicroPython, ESP-IDF, Raspberry Pi, and STM32 — with online tutorials for quick start. Power via USB-C (5V) or VIN pin (5–12V); do not exceed 5V on the USB-C ports.
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