Preparedness blog

Make a Paracord Watch

By Ready Expert
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Paracord can be an awesome tool in your preparedness arsenal. This durable nylon rope can be tied into tons of different designs including a paracord watch, bracelet, pouches and more. If you’re in an emergency, you simply unwind the strong cord and use it to bind, haul or anything else that you might need.

So, whether you’re a beginner or an expert paracord lover, we have a design for you. Check out these paracord designs below. If you don’t want to spend time weaving your own bracelet, you can always let us do it for you.

Make a Paracord WatchWhat is Paracord?
Paracord, also known as parachute cord, is a soft, lightweight nylon rope that was originally used for parachuting. Typically, 550 paracord (which is the paracord used for our bracelets) is made of 32 strands of nylon sheath on the outside and seven strands of 2-ply nylon yarns on the inside (the “guts”). The 550 paracord is the same made for the government and has a minimum breaking strength of 550 lbs.

While paracord started out as a parachuters tool, people quickly recognized its usefulness in other areas. Since the cord is quick-drying, rot- and mildew-resistant, it’s great for many purposes. Military units use it for securing packs, hanging covers and tents. Many military personnel even use the guts as fishing line.

Check out these designs:

Paracord Bracelet
Paracord Snake Design
Paracord KeychainMake your own paracord watch
Paracord Belt Design

Paracord Watch Design

• About 10 feet of Paracord
• Watch with no band
• Hemostats
• Lighter
• Tape Measure
• Side release buckle
• Scissors

1. Measure about 20 inches from one side of the paracord. This is where you'll loop in the buckle.
2. Once attached, you'll have the longer section which will be your working end and the shorter end which is just attached to the buckle ends and will be tucked in when finishing the bracelet/watchband.
3. Take the strands of paracord from the looped section of the buckle and run them over the watch pin, under the watch, and over the other watch pins. Then you loop the paracord around the other buckle end twice.
4. Measure the distance between the buckle ends for your wrist size. The distance should be equal to your actual wrist diameter. The weaving process will stretch this original spacing of bracelet/watchband about another inch after tightening as you reach the finishing point.

Make a Paracord Watch

5. Begin weaving the long working end of your paracord. The shorter end will be left out until it's time to finish the bracelet/watchband, and tuck it into the weave. Weave by going around the outer cord with your working strand, under the center two cords (which is treated as one cord) and around the other outer cord. You will then weave it back over the center two strands and around the outer, continuing this process back and forth.
6. Try not to leave too much slack as you go to keep the weave uniform. Every couple of weaves, push your work tights towards the buckle end.

Make a Paracord Watch Make a Paracord Watch

7. Once you've reached the point where your watch will be centered, push the watch tight against the woven cord and bring your working strand thru the pin along side the other cords under the watch, and back through the other pin.

Make a Paracord Watch

8. Continue weaving the paracord, keeping a uniform look, and tightening as you go.

Make a Paracord Watch

9. To finish up, you'll take the working strand around one of the outer cord, so it's coming through the under side of the bracelet/watchband.

Make a Paracord Watch

10. Take your hemostats and work them through about three of the center weaves, towards the buckle end. Grasp the working strand and pull it back through the center weaves.
11. Trim the end with your scissors, quick melt the end to prevent the cord from fraying, and tuck it under the weave.
12. Now do the same with the shorter end of cord and you're done.

Make a Paracord Watch

Thanks to Stormdrane.com for this design

12 years ago
Comments
Maria@Survival Food List
12 years ago at 7:22 PM
That is a great design -- it looks comfortable and is very practical. It would have to be a real emergency to convince me to use it, however, after all the work of making it!
shawn woolard
12 years ago at 5:37 PM
Awesome! I like this! Thanks for sharing this guide.
Edna Simmers
12 years ago at 6:20 AM
Where can I get the written directions for doing the Snake Bracelet? thanks
J
11 years ago at 9:58 AM
@ William, Just take any watch an remove the straps. You can probably find a decent watch at a second hand store, or craigslis. A brand new watch will also work. The point is that almost any watch can have the straps removed. That's the beauty of the paracord lesson here today.
Bob
10 years ago at 5:53 AM
David Stout- remove the pins, as you would need to do to remove the original strap.
Josh
10 years ago at 11:31 PM
I am completely confused....hmmm. Maybe I need to get some rest before trying this. I don't understand how in the picture just before step 5 to the picture just after step 6 there are 4 strands...
Josh
9 years ago at 4:06 PM
Where can I buy watches with no band?