A hobbyist known as NanoRobotGeek converted a first-generation Apple Watch into a fully mechanical watch [1].
The project highlights the growing issue of electronic waste as early smart devices become unsupported by software updates. By stripping the digital components and installing a mechanical movement, the creator demonstrates a method for giving obsolete hardware a second life.
NanoRobotGeek performed the conversion on June 8, 2023 [1]. The goal of the project was to repurpose first-generation Apple Watches that are no longer supported by the manufacturer to reduce e-waste [1].
The process involved removing the internal electronics of the smartwatch and replacing them with a traditional mechanical watch mechanism. This transformation turns a device that once relied on a battery and operating system into a timepiece that runs on physical gears, and springs.
While the project was shared within technical communities, it garnered modest attention on Hacker News. A post regarding the mechanical watch received 30 points [2] and three comments [2].
This conversion serves as a technical exercise in hardware modification. It challenges the standard lifecycle of consumer electronics, where devices are often discarded once their software becomes incompatible with new updates. The result is a hybrid object that maintains the aesthetic of a modern wearable while utilizing the timeless technology of mechanical horology.
“NanoRobotGeek converted a first-generation Apple Watch into a fully mechanical watch.”
This project illustrates the tension between planned obsolescence in the tech industry and the 'right to repair' movement. By converting a digital device into a mechanical one, the creator bypasses the software limitations that typically render early smartwatches useless, suggesting that hardware longevity can be achieved through radical repurposing rather than simple software patches.
