The Apple Watch may be creating quite a stir but three Swiss watchmakers have teamed up with MMT's Motion X technology platform to launch a gamut of smartwatches this year.
Luxury watchmakers Alpina, Mondaine and Frederique Constant will be launching 10 varieties of smartwatches for both men and women. These watches will rival quartz watches and will be priced between $250 to $1,000 and hit the shelves by June.
Mondaine Helvetica No. 1 Smart
Swiss watchmaker Mondaine has announced its Mondaine Helvetica No. 1 Smart, the first-ever smartwatch from the company. It will be shown off at the week-long Baselworld 2015, the popular jewelry and world watch show in Basel, Switzerland from Mar. 19.
Swiss watches are synonymous with craftsmanship and the Mondaine Helvetica No. 1 Smart is no different as it is the perfect amalgamation of modern technology and timeless appeal.
The Mondaine Helvetica No. 1 Smart resembles the company's Mondaine Helvetica Bold wristwatch. The smartwatch's dial looks a tad similar to the LED screens of rival smartwatches. However, the sub-dial offers a notable difference and is basically an analog depiction of the smart technology that propels this device forward. It is powered by the MotionX platform.
The smartwatch has the ability to monitor a user's sleep and other activities with the Sleeptracker and MotionX activity-tracking features. The Mondaine Helvetica No. 1 Smart deploys the horological smartwatch platform, which enables two-directional communication between the smartwatch and a tablet or smartphone connected to it via the app, which also offers adaptive coaching.
Created from brushed matte steel and sapphire crystal and sporting a leather strap, this watch is stylish and innovative: a user can read the information via the sub-dial in an analog manner vis-à-vis the digital data visible on existing smartwatches.
"This is a beautiful Swiss watch that is also connected and smart," noted Andre Bernheim, CEO of Mondaine. "This is the first-ever Swiss-made horological smartwatch. It is a world first and Mondaine is proud to be at the forefront of this new technology, thanks to a collaboration with MMT."
The Mondaine Helvetica No. 1 Smart is slated to launch in autumn 2015. The exact pricing remains unknown at this juncture.
Alpina
Geneva-based Alpina is a pioneer in watchmaking, having been around for over 130 years. It is also foraying into the smartwatch arena and is slated to launch 10 devices powered by the Motion X platform by June this year.
Alpina is looking to design luxury sports watches that operate in rough environments such as the Alps.
"Our Horological Smartwatch is no less than a revolution for the Swiss Watch industry by extending the concept of traditional craftsmanship and design to the actual improvement of personal lifestyle and fitness. Being the inventors of the original concept of the Swiss sports watch in 1938, we are extremely proud at Alpina to re-invent such concept in 2015 by partnering with the leading and proven MotionX® technology platform," revealed Guido Benedini, CEO of Alpina.
Frederique Constant
This family-owned Swiss watchmaker is based in Plan-les-Ouates, Geneva, and its watches are synonymous with luxury and superior designs. The company's hand-assembled watches are sought after and now with Frederique Constant venturing into the smartwatch space, consumers can look forward to a new lineup of wearables that redefine craftsmanship and luxury.
