Huy Vector rebuilt the 2013 N|Watch as the NWatch C3, a brass-framed smartwatch that adds iPhone notifications over Bluetooth and keeps its connections visible for do-it-yourself builders. It shows the time, changes watch faces, and includes free firmware, wiring maps, and a browser installer on the project page.
The brass tubing serves as both case and ground path, trimming extra wiring while leaving the battery, display, and board easy to reach. An ESP32-C3 with 4MB of flash gives the port more room than the original watch, and the files install through Chrome or Edge over USB.
Free firmware and wiring diagrams turn the watch into a prosumer project instead of a sealed accessory, widening repairable wearables for people who want to build and fix their own gear. The brass-ground frame shifts value toward ownership because the hardware stays open to service and modification after assembly.
Image Credit: Yanko Design: Huy Vector (HVT Lab)
Why This Trend Is Growing
- Open-source Wearables
- Free firmware, wiring maps, and browser-based installation point to a growing market for customizable devices that give users deeper control over software and hardware ownership.
- Repairable Smart Accessories
- Visible connections and accessible components create space for wearables designed around maintenance, upgrades, and longer product lifecycles.
- Functional Material Design
- Brass tubing that doubles as both frame and ground path highlights how structural materials can reduce complexity while adding distinctive aesthetic value.
Industries Being Reshaped
- Consumer Electronics
- Modular smartwatch concepts suggest new value in devices that balance connected features with transparency, personalization, and post-purchase modification.
- Wearable Technology
- DIY notification watches expand the category beyond sealed fitness and lifestyle products toward enthusiast-driven platforms for experimentation.
- Maker Hardware
- Browser installers, ESP32 components, and open documentation strengthen demand for accessible kits that bridge hobbyist electronics and practical daily-use devices.
