Project Hub /Basic Analog & Power Electronics/Designing a Smart watch using ESP32 – Part 1 Making Watch Faces

Intermediate

ESP32

₹1,500 – ₹5,000

3 – 6 Hours

Partial Kit

Designing a Smart watch using ESP32 – Part 1 Making Watch Faces

Learn how to start designing a custom DIY smartwatch using an ESP32 microcontroller and a 1.69-inch ST7789V TFT display in this first part of the series.

Originally published on CircuitDigest

View original tutorial

Parts You'll Need

This project is sourced from another site, not written by us — this list is our best match of their components against what we stock, not a verified bill of materials. Always check the original blog (linked above) for the actual parts list before buying.

ESP32 WiFi+Bluetooth CP2102 Development Board Rs. 520.00
Jumper Wire 10 Pin Male To Male 20cm Rs. 45.00
MB102 Adjustable Breadboard Power Supply Module (3.3V & 5V) for Arduino & Raspberry Pi Rs. 139.00
400 Points Mini Solderless Prototype PCB Breadboard High Quality Rs. 89.00
Jumper Wire 10 Pin Male To Female 20cm Rs. 45.00

Selected: Rs. 0.00

We don't carry yet: Battery (generic / unspecified)
TFT / Touch LCD

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How It Works

This DIY smartwatch project centers around an ESP32 microcontroller, which acts as the core processing and wireless communication unit. Connected to the ESP32 DevKit is a 1.69-inch TFT display driven by the ST7789V controller, responsible for rendering graphical watch faces and visual data. The software environment is managed using the Arduino IDE, leveraging specialized libraries like TFT_eSPI for high-speed graphics rendering and ESP32Time to maintain accurate internal real-time clock tracking. Power is supplied and managed via dedicated battery management components to ensure portable operation. During runtime, the ESP32 executes code that updates the local time and draws custom digital or analog watch faces onto the 3.3V TFT screen via hardware interfaces, combining microcontroller logic, display driver communication, and power regulation into a compact wearable system.

Why Build This

Design and program custom wearable IoT notification displays tailored to personal requirements.

Gain hands-on experience integrating microcontrollers with high-speed graphical TFT display controllers.

Develop portable battery-powered embedded systems suitable for personal health or fitness trackers.

Real-World Application

Custom wearable fitness trackers, IoT notification displays, portable health monitors, and personal gadgets.

Skills You'll Learn

Embedded graphics rendering

SPI display interfacing

Real-Time Clock management

Microcontroller power management

Wearable hardware integration

Safety Precautions

Ensure the 3.3V TFT display is connected strictly to the 3.3V rail. Connecting it to a 5V supply or 5V logic will permanently damage the display.

Technology Tags

ESP32

TFT DISPLAY

ST7789V

SPI

ARDUINO IDE

C++

WEARABLE TECHNOLOGY

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I connect the 1.69-inch TFT display directly to a 5V pin on the ESP32?

No. The TFT display operates at 3.3V and connecting it to a 5V supply or logic level will permanently damage the display hardware.

What software is needed to program the ESP32 for this smartwatch?

You will need the Arduino IDE installed along with the TFT_eSPI graphics library and the ESP32Time library to handle timekeeping.

Can this project run on battery power instead of USB?

Yes, the system includes power source and battery management components specifically designed to support portable wearable operation.

Gallery

This page is part of Kitkraft's Project Hub — a curated collection of electronics & robotics projects gathered from the maker community to help students and hobbyists discover and learn to build. Kitkraft does not claim authorship of the original project, and makes no representation as to the accuracy, completeness or safety of third-party source material. The summary and "How It Works" explanation above are AI-generated, rewritten with reference to the original tutorial — not a reproduction of it. Full credit and a direct link to the original source are provided above. If you're the original creator and have a concern about how your work is represented here, please contact us and we'll address it promptly.

Kitkraft Project Hub — curated from the maker community, credited at the source.

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