This article was originally published in the November/December 2022 Issue of the WatchTime print magazine. While its name refers to one of the most iconic mountains in Switzerland, Montblanc is a German company founded in 1906 in Hamburg. It quickly made a name for itself with its high-quality fountain pens, a reputation that achieved a new dimension in 1952 with the introduction of the famous 149, still one of the hallmark products of the brand. In 1935, Montblanc opened its first workshop to produce fine leather goods, and in 1997, the brand’s first watches emerged. It offered timepiece ..read more

When you are like me, you have tried wearing a smartwatch at least once. While they have a lot going for them, their staying power remains limited once the novelty has worn off, at least in the collection of a watch enthusiast. The difficulty is similar to that of an electric car capturing the heart of the petrol head. While the performance and technology are captivating, the way that it is presented lacks emotion. One company set out to change that, at least for watches, is Sequent. And while they are at it, they also fix the biggest downside of smartwatches: power reserve. Sequent’s SuperCha ..read more

As the world of luxury timepieces continues to evolve, Bugatti Smartwatches has once again raised the bar with the release of its latest masterpiece, the Bugatti Ceramique Titane Edition. Destined to become the crown jewel of any watch collection, this stunning timepiece is the third entry in Bugatti’s lineup of smartwatches and comes loaded with features that are sure to captivate watch connoisseurs across the globe. The Bugatti Ceramique Titane Edition is an exquisite marriage of form and function, boasting a new green Super Sport bezel that perfectly complements the watch’s overall aesthet ..read more

Smartwatches aren’t a novelty anymore, and they arguably have outlived the narrow window of trendiness that was forecasted by some to be their expiration date. With notable watch brands like Montblanc becoming a key player in the luxury smartwatch category and increased innovation in wristwatch technology, it appears the smartwatch truly is here to stay. Now, nearly five years after the debut of its first smartwatch, Montblanc celebrates the release of its newest addition to the catalog in the Summit 3, the summer-launched timepiece joining its namesake Summit collection.  The Summit 3 i ..read more

TAG Heuer and Porsche today announced the launch of the new TAG Heuer Connected Calibre E4 – Porsche Edition. This luxury connected watch is inspired by the design of the all-electric Porsche Taycan collection and offers exclusive Wear OS features for Porsche owners by displaying information from the car directly on the dial, such as the percentage of the car battery and the milage. The watch face is adorned with a design that evokes circuit board. Additionally, the Google’s Wear OS system offers a range of exclusive timers and sport apps created for running, cycling, swimming, golf and m ..read more

Following up the success of its CZ Smart Wear OS, Citizen Watch Company has introduced its latest smartwatch: a next generation, hybrid timepiece dubbed the CZ Smart Hybrid “Genius Incognito.” With the aesthetic of a Citizen sport watch equipped with a dynamic black and white digital display and analog hands – the new CZ Smart Hybrid merges the exceptional design you’ve come to expect from Citizen, while delivering avant-garde technology and feature-rich convenience. Citizen’s newest innovation is distinctive in that it marries the style of a traditional timepiece with the technical capabilit ..read more

This week, Swiss watchmaker TAG Heuer added to its popular smartwatch series while also introducing its latest brand partnership. The new Connected x Super Mario is TAG Heuer’s first collaboration with Nintendo, creator of the iconic, eponymous video game character, and the watch at its core represents a playful gamified take on TAG’s flagship “smart” timepiece. As the Connected models are most often used for exercise, the Super Mario character — most often depicted running and jumping his way to rescue Princess Peach from the clutches of the evil Bowser— seems a natural fit for accomplishing ..read more

The first Bugatti smartwatch collection offers high-quality materials and a wide range of features. When you think of Bugatti, you automatically think of high-priced luxury cars beyond the million-dollar mark. But there are – pun intended – smarter alternatives: the first smartwatch bearing the Bugatti brand name is a real bargain, selling for €899 (approximately $1,100) during the pre-sale phase (more information at www.bugatti-smartwatches.com). On top of that, the Bugatti Ceramique Edition One is equipped with an ingenious bezel system: Simply by exchanging the bezel, the smartwatch turns ..read more

Montblanc dipped its toe into the luxury-smartwatch pool as early as 2015 with its first “e-strap” accessory (I review the strap and the watch it came with here) and plunged in fully with the launch of the first Summit models in 2017. Last year, Montblanc upped the high-tech ante with the Summit 2+, the first in its category with direct cellular connectivity, allowing wearers to stay connected even when separated from their smartphones. For 2021, the brand rolls out the Summit Lite, an aluminum-cased model updated with apps for fitness, athletic performance, and general well-being. The “Lite ..read more

Frederique Constant has long been a leader among Swiss brands in the relatively young smartwatch category. In 2015, the brand released the Horological Smartwatch, the first smartwatch from a traditional Swiss watch manufacturer, which managed a classical wristwatch aesthetic while also including a connected module. The following year, it unveiled the Horological Smartwatch Notify, which added a “notifications” feature to the original design, and in 2018 released the Classic Hybrid Manufacture, the first smartwatch to host both traditional mechanical and “connected” watch capabilities. This ye ..read more