Combining high-grade materials, meticulous workmanship and innovative technology, there’s no surprise why luxury smartwatches are making waves today.
While ‘smartwatches’ is no longer a foreign term to the ears, it seems like 2017 is a big year for this particular wearable technology.
Leading tech names like Apple and Samsung have dominated the smartwatch market when they first introduced the Apple Watch and Samsung Gear respectively, but it seems like their reign is being challenged with the launch of new smartwatches by top watchmakers and designer brands.
Combining high-grade materials, meticulous workmanship and innovative technology, there’s no surprise why luxury smartwatches are making waves today. That said, here are 5 of our favourite luxury smartwatches for men to buy or look out for in 2017.
Tag Heuer Connected Modular 45
Tag Heuer was the first luxury watch brand to introduce a smartwatch collection in 2015 – the Tag Heuer Connected, which has sold over 56,000 units to date. With a new target to sell 150,000 units, the brand just launched the second-generation Tag Heuer Connected Modular 45 last May and we daresay it’s a work of art. The smartwatch runs on Android 2.0, which features standalone apps like your fitness tracker and media player without connecting to your phone, and it’s compatible with Android 4.3+ or iOS 9+. Arguably its best feature is its customisability, allowing customers to personalise their own watch design from the colour and material of the straps to the lugs and buckles. W tagheuer.com
Montblanc Summit
In its first venture into the smartwatch sector, let alone the digital timekeeping world, Montblanc released the Montblanc Summit, a full-fledged Android Wear smartwatch, last March. The Summit comes equipped with the technology of most smartwatches launched this year, including an 1.39-inch AMOLED display, Snapdragon Wear 2100 chip, 512MB of RAM, 4GB of storage, heart sensors, a microphone, and Google Assistant support. In terms of design, Montblanc collectors will be familiar with the digital watchfaces borrowing from the brand’s signature 1858 analogue collection, among other classic and minimal watchfaces. W montblanc.com
Michael Kors Grayson
The first-generation Michael Kors Access was a big hit, especially in the women’s smartwatch market, thanks to its rose gold offering. Returning this year with not one but two smartwatch additions – the Access Grayson for men and Access Sophie for women, Michael Kors isn’t about to back down on the smartwatch game. Zooming in on the Access Grayson, the variation appears sportier than its predecessor, the Access Dylan. Much to everyone’s delight, it has swapped the flat tire display for a full-round dial with a rotating crown button that scrolls on the new and more versatile Android Wear 2.0 menu. It comes in four colors: Gold tone, stainless steel, blue and black, and is set to launch later this year. W michaelkors.com
Movado Connect
Another new smartwatch to lookout for in the fall is the Movado Connect, the flagship among three smartwatches announced by the watchmaking giant during Baselworld 2017. At first glance, the Movado Connect sports a more contemporary design than the other smartwatches on this list, losing the bezel for an edge-to-edge ‘always on’ display. Featuring over 100 dial variations, each dial explores Movado’s iconic single dot design with brilliant new color, dimension, complication, details and day to night transformation. If you’re looking for smartwatches with a minimal and modern design, then the Movado Connect could be one for you to consider. W movado.com
Emporio Armani Connected
Not to be mistaken with the brand’s hybrid smartwatch (which goes by the same name), the Emporio Armani Connected smartwatch is the brand’s first touchscreen full-fledged Android Wear 2.0 device. Making an appearance on artist Shawn Mendes’ wrist during the recent Milan Fashion Week, the luxury brand has officially confirmed its release date to be on 14th September. On top of the usual Android Wear 2.0 functions, the smartwatch will feature its own micro apps and customisable watchfaces. It also comes with eight interchangeable watch straps to complement its sleek aesthetics. W armani.com
Images: Courtesy of respective brands