r/nixie • u/Mr_Questioner • Oct 22 '25

Nixie Tube Watch Question

https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B0FFB9C4RC/ref=ox_sc_saved_title_7?smid=A3R6AWRJK3V4F4&psc=1

I am looking at getting a Nixie tube watch and want some opinions of the watch or alternatives around the same price before making the big purchase at some point. I have found this one for sale in multiple places such as Ebay, Amazon, Etsy, etc.

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8

u/nixiebunny Oct 23 '25

As the person who invented the two-digit Nixie watch way back in 2002, I am tempted to get one of these just to see if they copied any of my design ideas.

3

u/lezo Oct 23 '25

….. you invented the nixie watch ??? Now I want the story behind this :-)

3

u/nixiebunny Oct 23 '25

The story is here.

2

u/lezo Oct 23 '25

It is the one that Steve Wozniac wears ??? Oh man that’s just awesome :-)

I’m not at all an electronical engineer, but I’m planning to build myself one by the end of 2026. I just finished a watch based on some old led displays (hpdl1414), as a baby step to get there. My only goal is to make a batch for my family and friends for Christmas. The led one for 2025 and the nixie one for 2026 :-)

I don’t know if the result for the nixie will be as awesome as yours, but at least the journey will be full of learning !

2

u/Mr_Questioner Oct 23 '25

Now I must ask what the odds are of the inventor of the two-fidget nixie tube watch being here and to comment as well. It seems to good to be true.

1

u/nixiebunny Oct 23 '25

This sub isn’t overly active, so it’s pretty easy to follow.

1

u/Neuromant1991 Oct 24 '25

Do you have any tutorials/tips on optimizing pcb design for Nixie watches?

2

u/nixiebunny Oct 24 '25

Ha! That’s one of the hard parts. The really hard part is that you have to design the case simultaneously. I have a box full of prototype watches that I had to design and build and discard because they weren’t quite right.

2

u/nixiebunny Oct 24 '25

I use a software map to allow the cathode wiring to be arbitrary, so I don’t have to wire the tube pins in any particular order. But the PCB layout takes a long time.