TL;DR
- A custom watch face, bumper case, and new band are all that you need to transform your Watch Ultra into a retro masterpiece.
Smartwatches have not made things easy for fans of traditional wristwatches. While the allure of connected apps can be very tempting, there are so many trade-offs that come with smartwatches — and we’re not just talking about how they guzzle through battery capacity. Design also sees a big departure from “dumb” watches, and while there are plenty of different ways to build a smartwatch, they’re all pretty much instantly recognizable for what they are. What if you want the modern conveniences of a smartwatch, while retaining a classic, robust design? We’ve got just the DIY project for you to check out.
Over on Reddit’s Galaxy Watch sub, user fangpogi31 shares their creation: a Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra all tricked out to do its very best impression of a Casio G-Shock model. You know the look — big rubber bumper, very ’90s design. And we have to admit, it really does come together pretty nicely here:
Maybe the star of the show is that exceptionally realistic-looking watch face, which appears to be doing a stunning job at simulating the appearance of an illuminated LCD screen. You can find this one on the Play Store from WatchBase: the ILLUMINATOR Digital Watch face, available now for $1.89.
Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra
Quick band swap • Dual-frequency GPS • Long battery life
Ultra capabilities and durability
The first smartwatch to run Wear OS 5, the Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra elevates Samsung's status in the wearables market. With 10ATM, IP68, and MIL-STD-810H certification, it's safe to swim in the ocean with this watch. A 1.5-inch AMOLED always-on display covered by Sapphire Crystal glass, a robust set of health and fitness trackers and sensors, and a 590mAh battery promise an ultra experience.
Second only to that would have to be the bumper case giving the Watch Ultra that extra G-Shock bulk, and this one you might already recognize as Spigen’s Rugged Armor. Finally, you’ll need to give your frankenwatch the right band. Here, there’s a bit more leeway, and it looks like fangpogi31 just went with another official Samsung strap — its Marine band, in what appears to be green. But if you feel like this doesn’t quite nail the G-Shock look for you, there’s no shortage of alternate bands to choose from.
Between the rubberized armor, that very well-executed retro LCD watch face, and any number of acceptable, sporty bands, you’ve got all the ingredients you need to dress up your new Galaxy Watch Ultra as a blast from the dumbwatch past.
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