Swiss watchmaker Swatch has been toying with the idea of a smartwatch for some time, and now CEO Nick Hayek is saying that we can expect in in the next three months. Swatch isn't your typical Swiss watchmaker though — their wares fall on the much more affordable side of the watch spectrum, with retail prices as low as $50. What's most interesting, however, is Hayek's claim of a smartwatch that doesn't have to be charged.
There are two potential paths to take for a watch that doesn't have to be charged. The first is an "automatic" watch with an generator spun by the motion of an eccentric-weighted rotor (itself moved by the motion of the wearer's arm). The other approach would be using a watch cell battery, which would offer a much longer battery life than a rechargeable lithium-based battery. Swatch makes watches in both cell batteries and automatic quartz varieties.
Said Bloomberg on the upcoming watch:
The Swatch smartwatch will also let consumers make mobile payments and work with Windows and Android software.
Swatch's smartwatch will be launching right up against the Apple Watch, which is currently set to debut in April. Of course, it's entirely possible that Swatch's take on the smartwatch will be notably different than Apple's or Google's with Android Wear.
Source: Bloomberg
Reader comments
Swatch's smartwatch due in 3 months, won't have to be charged
Nokia is watching #watching :D
Agent watch 2.0??
Windows!!!! Now where is pebble :/
Been using Swatch since I was 16 tell now (42) and I will buy this one if it come out.
"Swatch isn't your typical Swiss watchmaker though". Unfortunately they are. Swatch, as a group, own quite a few of the big Swiss watch companies (Omega, Hamilton, Rado, Longines, the list goes on...), and also ETA who make the majority of the movements not only for Swatch Group but for other watches that end up with Swiss Made on them.
"automatic quartz". That doesn't make ANY sense what so ever.
Sorry to be pedantic but its battery powered watches that utilise a quartz movement, not automatic.
I've been wondering if Swatch shouldn't build Smart watches. Perfect fit. Hah!
If it looks anything like the image in the article then it already looks better than all other smartwatches.
Will definitely get one
I'll be first in line. Been wearing Swatches since 7th grade (1983)...
Take my money now!
I hope it looks professional, unlike the current smartwatches (other than the MSband).
Better watch for that swatch watch!
Would much prefer a premium Swatch Tissot over a crappy App$e watch. Tissot make beautiful watches.
I have a Swatch that is 30 years old and it still works. If the crystal wasn't all scratched up, I'd still be wearing it. I will definitely take a look at this.
Very intrigued by this - last thing i want is a watch that has a 4hr battery life...........that my friends is a pointless device...........if its anything like the Kairos mechanical smartwatch - count me in.........https://kairoswatches.com/
SmartSwatch :)
Swatch is a giant watch group that includes many high end brands. This may not be an inexpensive Swatch branded watch. I'm still excited to see what they come up with though.
this sounds promising. I'm dying to get a smartwatch that trully supports Windows, and it sounds like this might be it!
Dunno but id love to get one !
I'm a fan of high-end Swatch watch and, of course, I can't wait for this!
I just fell head over heels in love with swatch.
A smartwatch could look like the one in the picture. Of course, the dials and hands would all be a screen. It can be done. Automatically light up, when you bring your arm up to look at the time. Water resistant, at least enough for showering. I say this, because sometimes you may actually get caught in a downpour of rain. You don't want to have to worry about your watch getting wet.
Be able to read text and emails. Not really a fan of answering calls, but it would be a cool feature for some. Having some sports band features might be nice, for those who don't want to buy a separate device. Heart rate sensor and body temperature sensor, maybe. But, if it is a smartwatch that does not need to be charged, I doubt it will have too many features that are power hungry. LCD screen, Bluetooth connection, automatic backlight, the ability to read texts and emails, and of course tell time. Other watch functions such as, stop watch, multiple alarm settings, and maybe time zone.
I believe what you're looking for is the expensive version of the Pebble (which is awesome btw!) :)
They can also recharge a watch off the electrical current running through my beautiful body.
I'm guessing it doesn't have a full LCD, but some kind of icon or light that lets you know of notifications. It could also be a small horizontal screen that shows a line of text. Can't see how else a standard battery or kinectic energy can power anything more.
No internet time support? :(
Nice research you did! "swatch isn't you typical Swiss watchmaker". Wait... It's the world's biggest watchmaker!!! Huh... Good luck on the next try guys
He meant price wise ... That's why he mentioned "Retail Prices As Low As $50"
The "Typical" Omega, IWC, Breitling, whatever is 10 times more expensive ... If not more
Now this is going to be a watch to look forward too.
sweet ghost av
This is what could make me buy into the smart watch world. Up until now I haven't seen anything that I need in a smartwatch with the short battery life.
Interesting, I'm looking forward to seeing this.
hm. interesting! search swatch vs apple!
That's could be my next purchase
I want a pathfinder smart watch
Wow nice, I own a few swatch watches, and would definitely be interested in this product
Swatch makes pretty cool stuff, while I have no interest in smartwatches, I'm looking forward to see what they come up with.
_________
Derek, is this watch (pictured above) part of the 2015 collection?
I like it & it might be my 5th swatch
Not working with iOS and working with Windows :-o Cool!
Nuclear power?
Arc reactor strapped to the chest, and wireless charging.
Helium-3. From the moon. This watch will be tide changing.
Theres also solar powered watches.
And that watch which is powered by arm movements
Your statement is confusing me lol
That's what they meant if you used the links in the article you would have been able to read that yourself.
I didn't miss that it self-charges. But that in itself, while cool, does not make it a smart watch. It just means it's an ordinary watch that doesn't need charged. They even mention using it for payments, but if that is the only function other than to tell time why is it considered smart?
We don't know what they have planned 100% as their focus appears to be on how to make a smartwatch last longer in the article. What functions it will have is a questionmark. But assuming it's a 'smartwatch' you would want most of the basics at least. Also depends on your definintion of a smartwatch. How much do you want it to do?
There are also watches that recharge their batteries with solar capture. (is that what you meant in the article?)
Lol
Yes, my Citizen Eco Drive is solar powered.
Shows how bad apple are these days. Lack of charging is the sort of cool innovation they would have done if they were still working well. Instead they talk about their engineering feats and little design touches like the crown.
No, this is a smart move for Apple. 'Cause now Apple can work on the second gen of their watch, implement this functionality and claim they're the first one and sue Swatch!
Microsoft too, with the band that only lasts a couple of days.
If the Apple Watch didn't have to charge, they wouldn't be able to charge customers $100 for a custom "wireless" charging cable with a $99 markup. Their accessory business would take a serious hit. You wouldn't want that to happen, would you?
The one in the photo looks real nice. I'll be waiting to see what they bring to the market.
They already said they would bring smartwatch to the market.
and what does it look or function like, genius? He said he's waiting to see what they actually deliver!
I'm interested.
Can't wait :)
What is smart about this watch? It just looks like a watch...
Well for one... It doesn't have to be charged.
that's definitely smarter than a watch with 4 hour battery life.
I doubt that's the SmartWatch in the pic.
Yep, the header image is just a Swatch.
The actual product is not the one in the image!!
A smart watch that just looked like a watch would be the smartest watch of all. This is one of the first interesting sounding smart watches that I have heard of. Partially because it does not (if the picture represents it) look like a smart watch.
You should see the smart watch designed by Michael Bastian for HP. Definitely a step in the right direction.
That is quite nice.
Notes if only the Michael Bastian one supported Windows...
*Now* if only...
I would prefer a smartwatch that did not look like one.
My Jesus and god as well...
Great! Awesome to see Windows being supported and not IOS
Of course iOS is supported. It's just that unlike the Apple watch, which every smart watch will now be compared to, this one supports the other platforms as well
Pebble smartwatch has a client w/ app store support for iOS, Android and SailfishOS (and there's an unofficial client without app store access though for BB10). So don't act like Swatch is the first one to support other platforms.
50$ price tag seems interesting.... Hope it comes to India. Let me try
They make watches as low as $50, that doesn't mean the smartwatch will cost $50. The price of the smartwatch wasn't mentioned in the article.
Exactly! If this thing was really gonna cost $50 then I don't know why everyone's making a fuss about the launch alongside the Apple Watch. The price tag alone would be beat it then.
50$ is not the price of their upcoming smartwatch, and it will by no doubt be more expensive. Re-read the article... :-)
My god and Jesus as well...