Should you ever be captured while checking out a crazed villain's secret headquarters, it's entirely possible that a burning laser might provide you with your only means of escape. Of course, anything that's obviously a laser will be taken from you ... which is why our favorite laser weapons hobbyist, Patrick Priebe, has created a "Bond-inspired LaserWatch."
The watch features a machined metal body, a clear-coated carbon fiber face, a salvaged LED watch module and most notably, a 1,500-milliwatt laser. As can be seen in the video at the bottom of the page, that laser is capable of burning through a number of materials in fairly short order.
It's activated simply by pressing a custom-made brass button. Power is provided by a lithium-polymer battery in its wrist strap, although you'll want to ration out the number of times that you draw upon it – Priebe tells us that no more than about 5-10 minutes of laser use will drain the thing.
While most of his creations are emphatically "not for sale," Patrick is entertaining the notion of making more LaserWatches for paying clients (such as the British Secret Service, perhaps?). Given that the current prototype took him approximately 40 hours to build, however, he tells us that their price would be "nothing under $300."
Source: Laser gadgets by Patrick Priebe
I suppose the only good point about the design is that it will only be a matter of time before the cuff of some item of clothing activates the laser accidentally and the wearer treats all those within earshot to a string of expletives before rushing to the nearest A & E department with a very badly burnt back of their hand.
One hopes that they will not follow their initial impulse and hurl the thing as far as possible, but discard it safely, preferably including stamping on it in the process so that there is not any chance of it doing any more harm, accidentally, or heaven forfend, deliberately.
One has to wonder at the mindset of the constructor. He clearly knows that this is dangerous because he asks that safety eye glasses be used, yet obviously expects it to be worn in public. (If not, why the dual function of a watch?) Does he intend to include a carton of such eyewear with every one he sells for distribution to those who might be accidentally caught in the beam? (Re. aforementioned cuff.)
In short, no thanks, even for free, never mind the $300.