Wearable technology and fine watchmaking combined

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Wearable technology and fine watchmaking combined - Montblanc
2 minutes read
Our New Year editorial confidently predicted the arrival of smart watches from luxury watch brands this year. But we didn’t expect the first one to be announced just days later.

It was a safe bet to predict that 2015 would be the year of the smartwatch, since we already know that several brands are working on smart watch projects. Most recently, TAG Heuer confirmed that it is working on a smart watch as part of the company's reorientation. But Montblanc offers a New Year surprise just two weeks ahead of this year's SIHH by presenting a new "smart" NATO watch strap that perfectly combines wearable technology with fine Swiss watchmaking.

First things first. What Montblanc is presenting is not a smart watch but a smart strap, called the e-Strap. It comes fitted to three new watches presented in the brand’s TimeWalker collection but since it is also a trendy NATO version of the brand’s unique Extreme Leather strap, it can easily be fitted to any watch that uses a 20 or 22mm wide strap.

WorldTemps tried out the TimeWalker Extreme Chronograph DLC model last year and was suitably impressed with this seemingly indestructible high-performance strap. A NATO version of this strap will undoubtedly appeal to fans of other brands, given the current popularity of this type of strap. Like the leather itself, the OLED touch-sensitive display integrated into it is also splashproof, dustproof and shock-resistant.

 

The Montblanc TimeWalker Urban Speed Chronograph

 

Montblanc is also as up-front about the battery life as it is about the strap’s water resistance, immediately dispelling the two main concerns voiced about the Apple Watch, which is scheduled for launch later this year. The brand says the strap will need charging every five days or so, depending on usage, and can be charged using a standard micro-USB cable.

The Montblanc e-Strap offers similar functions to existing activity trackers and smart bracelets that are already on the market, such as notifications (incoming calls, text messages, e-mails, social media feeds and appointment reminders), steps taken, calories burned, distance travelled and remote controls for the connected smartphone. A “find me” function allows the strap to be used to locate the smartphone and vice versa.

 

The e-Strap's activity tracking feature shown on a Samsung Note 4

 

Whereas the latest activity trackers come with tri-axial accelerometers, bio-impedance sensors, as well as sensors for skin temperature and ambient temperature, the e-Strap has just an accelerometer. Comptability could also be an issue, particularly with the numerous Android-powered devices available. The e-Strap is compatible with all iPhones from the 4S upwards running iOS7 upwards, but only with the Samsung Galaxy S4, S5, Note 3 and Note 4 and “selected Android smartphones with Version 4.3 and upwards.”

Nevertheless, the e-Strap establishes a couple of important benchmarks. Not only is it the first NATO smart strap that could be used with any watch, it also hides its display discreetly underneath the wrist, meaning that, for the purist, it looks as though you are wearing a standard luxury Swiss watch.

It also heralds the launch of three new models in the Timewalker collection: a new “Urban Speed” chronograph model with a micro-blasted steel case, black ceramic bezel and a sporty touch of red; a UTC model with a black DLC coating and a three-hand model with date in polished stainless steel.  

These new models will be available in stores from June 2015, with or without the new e-Strap.

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