All you need to know about connected watches
Connected watches are real computers that we can wear on our wrists. The first models were invented by Garmin or Suunto and were more sports devices than real watches. Since then, connected watches have progressed to the point where they are replacing traditional watches on our wrists. How did connected watches establish themselves so quickly in such a traditional market?
Sports watches
The first ancestor of the connected watch is a watch used for sports activities. So-called sports watches such as the models from Garmin or Suunto arrived in the early 2000s. Their success is mainly due to the GPS function, which was revolutionary at the time. They quickly became popular with sports enthusiasts. Garmin's Forerunner range is designed for running, cycling and swimming. These are waterproof watches that are easy to read because they have a digital screen and important functions for sportsmen and women, such as an altimeter, barometer, digital compass and outdoor temperature indicator.
The Apple Watch was a revolution in the history of the connected watch as it replaced the traditional watch for the first time.
The first truly connected watches
The first connected watches arrived in the late 1990s. At the time, they were seen as a complement to the phone that could be worn on the wrist. Connected watches as we know them now (e.g. models from LG, Samsung or Sony) were democratised in the 2010s and especially from 2014 onwards with the release of the Apple Watch. The Apple Watch was a revolution in the history of the connected watch as it replaced the traditional watch for the first time. By borrowing some of its components from the watch industry (316L steel, fast strap changing technology...) and making it an elegant and customisable object, Apple has succeeded in making the Apple Watch a watch in its own right for many users. Whereas sports watches were previously only worn during physical activities, the connected Apple Watch has become a real everyday watch. As a result of this success, watch brands and Apple's competitors have invested heavily in this sector. In particular, this new market has pushed traditional watch brands to make connected watches with the help of their Swiss technical offices. Following Apple's success, these brands identified a new need and therefore a new market. This is partly what convinced the traditional brands to move and invest massively in these technologies.
The rise of watches with connected functions
Fossil was one of the first watch brands to enter the field of watches similar to the Apple Watch. These new connected watches are powered by an integrated operating system and their design is similar to that of existing connected watches. However, they have an LCD screen and the focus is on the design of the case and the customisation of the straps. Thus Fossil was a pioneer in the market of customisable connected watches. Later, more traditional watch brands wanted to create real watches with connected functions. For example, Frédérique Constant has just released a collection called Vitality. These watches are real watches as they have a steel case and a dial and hands. However, they also have a small digital dial that scrolls through all sorts of information using the crown. The watch is connected to a smartphone via an app, which allows it to display various functions such as the weather or the number of missed calls. The watch is also equipped with a heart sensor that alerts you to any anomalies. So it's primarily a watch, but it also has a number of useful connected functions for everyday use.
First luxury connected watches
In 2017 Tag Heuer introduced its Connected Modular 45 watch working with tech giant Intel. Like Fossil, this watch runs on a Google operating system (Android), has a waterproof titanium case and a sapphire dial. Tag Heuer has chosen to push customisation to the limit as this watch is available in 56 different versions and for the first time, a connected watch is certified Swiss Made! Montblanc also presented in 2017 its first connected watch, the Summit, which is inspired by the 1858 collection thanks to an AMOLED screen.
A year later, in 2018, Hublot also announced a connected watch model, the Big Bang E. This model takes the general aesthetics of Hublot's flagship model while introducing an AMOLED HD touchscreen and an Android operating system. The characteristics of a Hublot watch are also present, namely the sapphire crystal, the rubber strap with a folding clasp, the brand's characteristic screws and pushers, and a titanium or ceramic case. All three of these connected watch models were updated in 2020, proving that the demand for this type of watch is growing.