Montblanc Unveils 'e-Strap' Band Accessory With iOS Integration for Analog Luxury Watches

[Heltik]

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.

I don't actually agree with you. I wear mechanical watches for their beauty of their precision engineering, and their design, not as fashion items - in the same way I'd buy a Ferrari for its beauty rather than "to be seen" driving it.

To me an Apple watch may be equally beautiful - though in a different way. I would buy an Apple watch for this reason, but then may find it offers utility greater than my other watches, which may only then get worn occasionally.

In relation to not damaging sales of high-end watches, one should consider the price point of an Apple Watch places it firmly in the same battleground as lower-end mechanical watches - many of which use ETA movements. If ETA's revenues/economies of scale are reduced this will invariably impact on cost to manufacture higher-end time pieces.

 

[JAT]

Would be, most of the time, don't you think? I suppose somebody who owns these expensive watches wears them in casual dress situations, but I've never seen it.

Sure. But sometimes watches stick out of your tuxedo jacket.

 

[spinedoc77]

That's pretty awesome, much nicer looking than any smartwatch IMO. I've tried most smartwatches, yet I still keep returning them and going to my mechanical watch, none of the current smartwatches have style or a soul.

The idea of a universal band is awesome without the watch, this way you can fit it onto any watch. I'm very surprised no one has jumped on this yet. I've even thought about trying to retrofit a current smartwatch onto the bottom of my mechanical watch like this.

 

[thewordiz]

if you had an Apollo Moon Watch

This is a great way to repurpose and extend the functionality of a jewelry timepiece.

If I still had my (stolen) Omega Speedmaster Apollo Moon Watch, I'd consider this. But since I don't, I'm very much looking forward to buying an Watch. (Main reason I didn't buy a replacement.)

But kudos to mount blanc for showing more vision for dealing with the coming attack from smart watches than the rest of the "leaders" in its industry (this is based on what has been said and not whatight be soon revealed.)

It would be worth more than the iWatch ever will be, and it would keep appreciating. You probably hocked yours for your MBAir.

You guys don't understand because most of wouldn't spend more than $500 for a watch let alone $5000.

Plus, while I will get an iWatch out of curiosity I really doubt any wearable device will cut into Rolex's market share or especially the big bling watch market of $10k plus. Yes, I understand the implication of biometric feedback.

People that buy an expensive watch don't really just buy it because it can tell time, surely you know this. A $5 Chinese digital keeps better time. We buy them because we can, we appreciate something mechanical that can rival the accuracy of a computer and overcome things like gravitational rotation like a tourbillon escapement. Of course you escape all of that necessity by using a digital.

Just like a Prius is a nice car for the economy minded. I don't see Ferarri losing any sleep over what to make next or where they will sell it.

 

[IJ Reilly]

Sure. But sometimes watches stick out of your tuxedo jacket.

Not if you're James Bond.

 

[Heltik]

Not if you're James Bond.

Actually, with the Omega product placement: Especially if you're James Bond.

 

[IJ Reilly]

Actually, with the Omega product placement: Especially if you're James Bond.

Point taken!