"Smart Watches" - when will someone like AP or PP step in?

"Smart Watches" - when will someone like AP or PP step in?

Author
Discussion

130R

6,807 posts

205 months

Friday 27th February 2015
quotequote all
I seriously doubt luxury Swiss watch manufactures have the technical knowledge to make something better than Apple or Google. Best scenario you would be paying for an expensive case around the same internals, and the way technology moves the watch will be obsolete in a couple of years. So basically you end up with the equivalent of a gold plated iPhone ..

devnull

3,745 posts

156 months

Friday 27th February 2015
quotequote all
Interesting topic. I'm quite the electronics and watch fan, so friends of mine instantly think that I'm about to rush out and get an Apple Watch when it comes out. Not really, if I am honest.

I was one of the first on the list for the pebble when it was originally released. Within a few months, I sold it. Yes, the design was clunky and the display was a bit poor, but the one thing which really made me realise why wasn't interested in a smart watch was this - i just don't care about notifications on my wrist. It's information overload.

As a male, I use watches as my only 'permitted' form of jewellry, so pick the right watch for the outfit. Even it's a crappy GShock when spannering on the car. I guess the goal of a lot of smart watches is to become your sole digital companion on your wrist, certainly for the Apple watch, and that's just not how I 'do' watches.

As mentioned above, there might be a sole provider of a premium smart watch that will be 'the' one to own, but right now I think they are a bit of a buzzword at the moment and will probably quietly die out, in the same way that 3D TVs did.

Interesting article on the verge about the final season of 'Parcs and Rec' which is in 2017 - puts some funny but realistic predictions forth. Wearables are thought to die out - http://www.theverge.com/2015/2/25/8095109/parks-an...

Craikeybaby

10,369 posts

224 months

Tuesday 3rd March 2015
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I agree with the two previous posts, I view watches as a long term purchase and intend to keep them for a couple of decades, rather than a couple of years, as with consumer electronics. Also, I like to rotate my watches, so rarely wear the same one two days in a row, so a smart watch wouldn't really fit in with my lifestyle. However, I can see people who aren't interested in watches will love them and I think the Apple watch will be a big success.

mikeveal

4,559 posts

249 months

Tuesday 3rd March 2015
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bobbybee said:
But Breitling might.
I mean they already make emergency watches, super quartz watches with twin digital displays etc.
So why not a smart watch?
Yes but the OP asked about proper watch manufacturers.
[\dislike-Brightbling]

Bohemianesque

254 posts

163 months

Wednesday 4th March 2015
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IMO...two different markets:

- One is about the future of wearable sensor technology, probably for health biometrics etc (Smart watches, wrist bands, skin patches etc)

- The other is about jewellery - or art. Traditional watches. Today we don't need mechanical watches, there is not rational reason for them...yet I have a collection of them because I love them, they're like art, they're timeless

:-)

007singh

268 posts

167 months

Friday 6th March 2015
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If I am not mistaken, Mont Blanc have started to dip into this, albeit with a limited "smart" approach. In fact its a smart strap.

Will see if I can dig out a link

Edit:
http://www.pocket-lint.com/news/132171-best-smartw...

http://www.gizmag.com/montblanc-timewalker-urban-s...

Edited by 007singh on Friday 6th March 10:28

Crusoe

4,068 posts

230 months

Friday 6th March 2015
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Montblanc's e-Strap seems a decent way to go if you wanted some smart features but to keep your nice watch, expensive though.
http://www.gizmag.com/montblanc-timewalker-urban-s...

leglessAlex

5,384 posts

140 months

Thursday 19th March 2015
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It wasn't in this thread but I think someone on this forum reckoned TAG would get involved in the smart watch game? Well, they were right.

http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/50a06d3e-ce54-11e4-900c-...

I have to admit I'm surprised it's happening already. I would have thought that most companies would wait and see how the Apple Watch sells before announcing anything.

sneijder

5,221 posts

233 months

Friday 20th March 2015
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leglessAlex said:
It wasn't in this thread but I think someone on this forum reckoned TAG would get involved in the smart watch game? Well, they were right.

http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/50a06d3e-ce54-11e4-900c-...

I have to admit I'm surprised it's happening already. I would have thought that most companies would wait and see how the Apple Watch sells before announcing anything.
The TAG connection might have something to do with :

http://www.techhive.com/article/2449836/apple-poac...

Even the mighty Rolex had a knee jerk reaction to the Quartz revolution : http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rolex_Oysterquartz

It would be foolish to underestimate the power of the Swatch Group, they'll leave Omega and the rest of their premium brands alone, but for them to not get straight into this with Swatch and Tissot (think T-Touch) Smart watches would be a huge oversight.

Casio seem to have missed the boat completely with this, especially with the G-Shock brand, unless I've missed something ?

The Quartz / Mechanical debate is slightly different, the Smart watch is something that offers a bit more. I like to run / ski and what not, a watch that tracks my heart and GPS whilst streaming music is too tempting to overlook.

A Titanium Tisso / Suunto smart watch for the weekend / holiday ? I'd be all over that like a rash ....

sjg

7,444 posts

264 months

Friday 20th March 2015
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Casio have been playing around with bluetooth watches for a while in the G-Shock and Edifice ranges. Basic email/text notifications, music controls, watch settings, etc.

AdvocatusD

Original Poster:

2,277 posts

230 months

Monday 30th March 2015
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http://www.gizmag.com/montblanc-timewalker-urban-s...

I think this is the great idea.

This way a manufacturer like AP or PP still retains the beautiful manual watch piece and simply incorporates the "tech" into the strap. I would buy a Royal Oak with this attachment in a heartbeat. Keep the tech subtle and not the overarching feature, which remains the "art".