Tapping In Luxury

As much as purists abhor their existence, smart watches aren't going away anytime soon. In fact, with the recent advancements in wearable technologies, including the introduction of dedicated chipsets, it is only a matter of time before more and more watches start transforming into smart devices. This shift can be attributed to the introduction of the Apple Watch, which not only established the category, but also gave a glimpse of a world in which wearable can almost pass off as luxury purchases. However, the pretence of luxury can only go so far, which is where the real craftsmen must step in, to showcase the true essence of watch design. Here are a few examples of watches made for this very purpose, as they marry the cutting edge world of electronics with the elegant design of luxury wristwatches.

Nico Gerard Sunrise Pinnacle

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The US watchmaker has taken a very unique approach to designing their smart watch offering, which retains the mechanical artistry of an analogue device while adding the technical prowess of a full-fledged smart watch. They have accomplished this by designing the piece as a double faced hybrid, which features two different watches on opposite sides of the strap. What this translates to, is a unique design that features a conventional chronometer with an NG2824A movement on one side, and a brand new Apple Watch on the other side. The two faces are mounted on a three-piece link bracelet made from 18 karat gold. Other than that, the watch layout is kept deceptively simple, with no one the wiser that it might be a limited edition watch that costs US$ 112,000 and has only 88 units in existence.

Brikk Lux Watch Omni

Brikk's approach towards smart watches is nothing new, as they rely on only modifying the body of the watch to get the luxury aesthetic. What this translates to, is a custom made Apple Watch set with multiple rows of diamonds around the face, buttons, as well as the entire strap, including the clasps. As expected, the Lux watch is available in two sizes, a 38mm face and a 42mm face. In terms of total value of gems used, the smaller 38mm version features 11.30 carats, while the bigger 42mm variant gets 12.30 carats. Brikk has made sure that all diamonds are natural and conflict free, and customers have the option of mating them with multiple straps i.e. 18k yellow gold, 18k pink gold and 950 platinum. While this doesn't change the performance of the watch even slightly, it does raise the price to a hefty US$ 114,995.

Tag Heuer Connected Modular 45

Tag Heuer has always been known for following their own unique path, both in terms of design and craftsmanship. For their foray into smart watches, they decided to go their own way once again, which involved creating an entirely new smart watch from scratch. The watch features an Intel Atom processor, which powers a sapphire glass display that supports multi-touch interactions. The glass is 2.5mm thick and is present in both the 30mm and 35mm variant. In addition, the watch gets up to 1GB of RAM, and up to 8GB of storage. To add a touch of luxury, the watch is paved with 589 diamonds, set into white gold. Thanks to it being a smart watch, the face design is completely modular, which allows customers to create over 4000 different looks for their watch. This is their way of ensuring that you get to enjoy a new watch every day of the year. It is the least they can do, considering the asking price has been set at US$ 197,000.

Richard Mille RM 63-02 World Timer watch

This particular entry may not match the technical definition of smart watch, but the craftsmanship and finesse involved certainly makes it a strong contender. The body is made from grade 5 titanium and houses a complicated mechanism made from 200 individual parts. These parts are controlled by a rotating bezel that has been mounted on ball bearings for smoother movement. Customers can use the bezel to control the city list, which represents 24 different locations from across the globe. Once the city is positioned at 12 o'clock, the watch mechanism automatically adjusts the local time, as well as the time showcased under all the other cities. This includes changing a blue and white disk to indicate the difference between night and day. Watching this movement alone makes it worth spending US$ 145,000 on a watch that doesn't feature excessive displays of diamonds and gems.