svg2pdc kinda, well, frankly, sucks. (and I don't think anyone would disagree with me) I don't think it was ever completed. I wouldn't be surprised if there are quite a few bugs in it. There was an online tool that I can't recall the name of but it went offline some time ago. Now probably the best thing you can use is /u/johannes-n's pdc.js and trace the image with something like LayerX if you're on a mac. It was discussed adding svg to pdc in it, but I don't know if he ever got around to it or intends to now.
However, Pebble does have the original animated PDCs for system animations (which is what OP is asking) available for download and inclusion in apps without a license (It was discussed in length previously.) if you poke around developer.pebble.com
As far as testing on hardware (I assume that's what you mean by isolation.) of course, that goes without saying.