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Montblanc Unveils 'e-Strap' Band Accessory With iOS Integration for Analog Luxury Watches
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I don't understand. Every single thread about watches has people complaining about the thickness of digital watches, or in this case, digital add-on.
What about standard watches? Many of them are thicker than the estimated 10-12.5mm of Apple's design. That doesn't bother you? Why the bias on this one silly point? The Timewalker Chronographs (the line pictured in this article, I believe) are 14.5mm thick, 16% thicker than large estimates of the Apple watch.
I've seen people wear watches so thick I thought they were on someone else's wrist.
Right. Because I want a display on the bottom of my watch band where it drags on tables and can get scratched when in use. No thanks! What an ugly piece of crap!
Repurposing Mont Blanc, are you kidding? Like 5 people own those watches. I didn't even know they made watches. Maybe they would be better off showing text messages on their pens. They sell a lot more of those.
Repurposing Mont Blanc, are you kidding? Like 5 people own those watches. I didn't even know they made watches. Maybe they would be better off showing text messages on their pens. They sell a lot more of those.
According to the original article:
The display is in an "electronic module made from DLC (diamond like carbon) coated steel or in gray steel."
"As implied by the name, diamond-like carbon (DLC), the value of such coatings accrues from their abilities to provide some of the properties of diamond to surfaces of almost any material. The primary desirable qualities are hardness, wear resistance, and slickness." - Wikipedia
Nothing about the display itself, though, like is it covered in sapphire?
-- More info
The display is in an "electronic module made from DLC (diamond like carbon) coated steel or in gray steel."
"As implied by the name, diamond-like carbon (DLC), the value of such coatings accrues from their abilities to provide some of the properties of diamond to surfaces of almost any material. The primary desirable qualities are hardness, wear resistance, and slickness." - Wikipedia
Nothing about the display itself, though, like is it covered in sapphire?
-- More info
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For people who don't want to give up their watch, now they don't have to. That's smart. But most people don't wear watches now. And the Apple Watch is no more a watch than the iPhone is a phone. Apple Watch is for people who want to reduce friction to their information.
Neat idea but it's almost the price of an entire Apple Watch. And it'll rely on a 3rd-party app to handle notifications instead of being baked into iOS. I imagine it'll also get terribly scratched up in no time, too.
Make it half the price and durable enough to be sold after 1-2 years and I'll get one and keep upgrading; otherwise I'll buy an Apple Watch and wear it when I don't feel like wearing my Rolexes.
Make it half the price and durable enough to be sold after 1-2 years and I'll get one and keep upgrading; otherwise I'll buy an Apple Watch and wear it when I don't feel like wearing my Rolexes.
Perhaps, but it seems to me that too little attention is being paid to the details of what was said at the Apple Watch intro. Several times Tim Cook referred to the watch as the most intimate technology they'd ever made. I read this as signaling a broader objective of integrating technology more deeply into our lives than has been done successfully to date. Apple hopes to create wearable tech that appeals to people who aren't total geeks, or who don't want to look like members of the Borg collective. Useful, intimate, not creepy. That's a much taller order than making a nice watch. Anyone who thinks it's just about a nice watch are missing the forest for the trees.
I think you should be more worried about the e-Strap scratching the table.
This is a great idea. And it's a lot more discreet. You don't have to worry about messages popping up while you are sitting at a table with someone since the bottom your wrist is never exposed. you can wait until you are alone to glance to see what message you have.
I also already have a Hublot and would love to add something like this to.
I also already have a Hublot and would love to add something like this to.
This is probably one of the bests way to give people the best of both worlds. On one side you have a luxury time piece that will last you for decades, and on the other you have a wrist strap that can be swapped out,upgraded, etc. as technology continues to advance.
Message don't pop up, you only see them when you look at them. The watch is off otherwise. See, you could have got that info but chose not to.
Some people don't like large watches and especially dislike thick watches. But even if you do like them, one doesn't rest their massive watch case on tables and chair arms. But that's exactly what happens to the strap/buckle. This thing is going to be in the way and really annoying to wear.
Hilarious comment! A sapphire screen should pretty much prevent scratching though, that stuff is tough. I bump my watch to walls, lamp posts etc. all the time and the sapphire is still spotless (the rest... not so much).
The Mont Blanc watch band is really ugly and it's probably crap anyway. Montblanc is no software company. But it is an interesting concept and the next iterations of smart watch bands will surely be much better than this. Slimmer, sleeker, with sensors and an (then improved versions of) Android? Apple's competitors really only rose after Apple released their products, not before.
It's likely Apple will stay ahead as usual, but if these bands can – maybe one or two Apple Watch generations behind – offer what the first Apple Watch will... that'll worth looking forward to.
There is an obvious divide in this conversation. Those that are watch people and those that aren't.
Let me try to clarify something for the non-watch people.
"Time keeping" has very significant historical connections to all sorts of things like auto racing, yacht racing, flight, military operations, diving, etc.
The "art" of time pieces is just that, art! It's mechanical jewelry. Often with a certain historical style or function.
"Watch guys" all have their own style. Just like one person may like leather shoes and another likes flip flops. I personally love big military or race inspired mechanical watches!
In 1927 the first "Quartz clock" was made. Since that moment you have been able to buy insanely cheap, nearly free, watches that tell better time than almost any "high end" watch.
So why didn't the availability of super cheap and more accurate watches kill the high end watch industry? It's simple! It's not really about the ability to tell time. It's about the story the watch tells, the style it represents. The art of the watch is about so much more than just telling time.
The Apple watch is a neat gadget, just like the calculator and T.V watch were in the 80s. But it's not going to stop a watch enthusiast from buying the art they desire. Ever notice that digitals are FAR less expensive than mechanical watches? Electronic picture frames haven't replaced all forms of wall art!
One thing almost every "Watch guy" has in common is that they have a "Daily driver" watch. It may change every few months/years. But even if they have $100k of watches in the closet they have that "one" that they put on the most for everyday activity. THAT is the watch this strap is intended for!!!
Keep in mind that some peoples "Daily driver" watch may be worth more than some peoples daily driver car.
Thank you!
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I wonder if this can sync with more than one iPhone? I carry an iPhone 5S and an iPhone 6 (work phone/personal phone to keep the lives separate). I want an Apple Watch but the lack of dual sync is a bummer.
This device would be too large for all but bulky time pieces - therefore only genuine utility I can see would be to provide messaging etc at the beach.
And my other thought, is how does one charge this device. An automatic watch usually gains energy from wear, or being stored in a mechanical winder. If this device is in use, it would prevent charging, likewise, if it were being charged it would prevent optimal winding of the watch, potentially reducing time-keeping accuracy. I suppose they may make a winder with integrated charger, but this would seem like a Heath Robinson and expensive solution for what is not a top-line watch anyway.
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Apparently this thing is $300? Thanks but no thanks. For that price I can buy a smart watch to alternate with my real watch.
I think that there is a separate watch market and "people who need to know the time" market.
There is, of course, some overlap; but the watch market, with it's 70% mechanical watches, exists as a type of jewelry, one that also happens to tell time, but are still purchased because of fashion. Now, there are some cheaper watch purchases in this market, for people who want a watch to tell time, and/or may like the look of a wrist watch, but aren't after the high class/fashion of a top dollar watch.
This later group are the people who switched to using their phones to tell time. (thus taking themselves out of the "watch" market)
I see the Apple watch (and other smartwatches) appealing to this group (many of who aren't currently in the watch market) as well as some in the lower end of the "traditional" watch market, and perhaps just a few in the high dollar watch market.
So, I wouldn't consider the smartwatch as threat to the watch industry.
There is, of course, some overlap; but the watch market, with it's 70% mechanical watches, exists as a type of jewelry, one that also happens to tell time, but are still purchased because of fashion. Now, there are some cheaper watch purchases in this market, for people who want a watch to tell time, and/or may like the look of a wrist watch, but aren't after the high class/fashion of a top dollar watch.
This later group are the people who switched to using their phones to tell time. (thus taking themselves out of the "watch" market)
I see the Apple watch (and other smartwatches) appealing to this group (many of who aren't currently in the watch market) as well as some in the lower end of the "traditional" watch market, and perhaps just a few in the high dollar watch market.
So, I wouldn't consider the smartwatch as threat to the watch industry.