Okay, so I got really hooked on that whole Dune vibe recently. You know, the gritty, sandy, futuristic but worn-down look. It got me thinking, I wanted something like that, something practical I could actually use. And my eyes landed on my wrist.
Starting the Project
I decided I’d try and make myself a sort of ‘Dune’ inspired wrist watch. Not like an official prop replica, nothing fancy like that. Just something that captured that feeling for me. I didn’t want to spend a ton of money either, this was more about the process, you know? Tinkering.
First step, I needed a base watch. I dug through my drawer of old stuff, forgotten gadgets and bits. Found an old digital watch, one of those tough-looking ones but pretty basic. The strap was busted, and it looked a bit sad. Perfect. It already had a kind of functional, no-nonsense shape.
Getting Hands Dirty
So, I got my little toolkit out. You know, the small screwdrivers, some pliers. Carefully, I started taking the watch apart. Just the outer casing and the strap bits. I didn’t mess with the actual digital module inside, didn’t want to break the working part.
- I took off the cracked old rubber strap.
- Unscrewed the backplate.
- Gently popped the main module out of the plastic casing.
- Cleaned all the plastic parts. Years of dust in there!
Next, I wanted that weathered look. I took some fine grit sandpaper, not too rough, and started lightly sanding the edges and surfaces of the plastic case. Trying to make it look like it had been through some sandstorms on Arrakis, you get me? Focused on the high points where natural wear might happen. Didn’t overdo it, just enough to take the shine off and add some character.
Then, color. I thought about those sandy, rocky colors from the movie. I had some model paints lying around – a kind of beige, a darker brown, and a matte grey. I masked off the little button areas carefully with tiny bits of tape. Took the main casing outside, gave it a light coat of the sandy beige spray paint I had. Let it dry fully.
This is where I messed up a bit. I got impatient waiting for the paint to cure completely and smudged it slightly when handling it. Had to lightly sand that spot again and touch it up. Lesson learned: patience is key with paint!
After the base coat was properly dry, I used a tiny brush and the dark brown paint to add some ‘grime’ into the crevices and corners. Just a little bit, dry brushing mostly, to make it look aged. Wiped most of it off, leaving just faint traces.
The Strap and Finishing Up
For the strap, I ditched the idea of rubber. It didn’t feel right. I found an old canvas strap I had from another watch, a kind of khaki green color. It looked much better, more rugged and functional. Attaching it was easy since it used standard spring bars.
Putting it all back together was just the reverse of taking it apart.
- Popped the digital module back into the newly painted and weathered case.
- Screwed the backplate on.
- Attached the canvas strap.
And that was pretty much it. Stood back and looked at it. It wasn’t a movie prop, but it had that feel. The slightly worn case, the sandy base color with darker hints, the sturdy canvas strap. It looked less like a cheap old digital watch and more like something… purposeful. Something that fit the Dune aesthetic I was going for, at least in my head.
It tells the time, it’s comfortable, and it didn’t cost much beyond a bit of paint and my time. Mostly, it was just fun to mess around and make something with my hands again. Feels good to wear something you’ve personalized, you know?
