Jrwong23 initiates a crucial discussion on the evolving landscape of horology, contrasting traditional watchmaking with the rise of wearable technologies like smartwatches and e-straps. His post sets the stage for a debate on whether these innovations pose a threat or offer a complementary future for mechanical timepieces. This article synthesizes community perspectives on Montblanc's e-Strap as a potential bridge between these two worlds.
Discussions on Wearable Technologies vs Traditional Watchmaking
Smart
wearable devices have been in the market for a few years now. Electronic wrist
straps (displaying actual vs target calories used, pulse rate and time), the
Samsung Galaxy Gear and of course in 2015, Apple launched the much discussed
Apple Watch.
With
the launch of the Apple Watch, many traditional watch and wearable technology
lovers have been debating whether wearable technologies, which tell time may
eventually replace or diminish the relevance of wrist watches (both quartz and
mechanical) as we can call them today. In summary, the discussions revolve
around the battery life, the reliance of an iPhone for the Apple Watch to work,
and the fact that traditional timepieces will remain as a favoured accessory
and lifestyle companion that people can keep for their lifetime and hand down
to the next generation.
However,
the “threat” of the Apple Watch and other wearable technologies remain – they
will only get better and eventually operate as an integrated smartphone,
entertainment gadget and smart watch all-in-one. Think of a curved device the
size of an iPhone wrapped snugly around our wrists (wearable smartphone) which
we can put on or remove or think of Google glasses. Some people who are
currently happy with their digital watches or smart phones to tell the time
will be happy with these new wearable technologies.
I
would also like to add that the love for timepieces as lifestyle (and lifetime)
companions and accessories for PuristS like us will also remain! And even if wearable
devices develop into really functional devices for our everyday communications
and entertainment needs, I believe I will have my wearable device (smartphone,
entertainment, communications, etc) on one wrist and my beloved timepiece on the
other. 
In
the meantime, watch manufacturers are very aware of all the above. Montblanc is
one manufacture that reacted very quickly to this new trend of wearable
technology and focused on letting watch lovers like us have the best of both
worlds, having both our beloved mechanical timepiece AND our wearable
technology, AND on the same wrist!
The Concept of Montblanc’s TimeWalker Urban
Speed with e-Strap
In
January 2015 during SIHH 2015, Montblanc was the first luxury traditional watch
brand, to purpose a wearable technology combined with fine watchmaking. The
TimeWalker Urban Speed e-Strap, a new TimeWalker collection, marries a highly
functional wearable technology called the e-Strap, with Montblanc’s contemporary
TimeWalker watches. This setup allows us to wear a mechanical timepiece and at
the same time, be able to use useful digital functionalities.
The
e-Strap is interchangeable, with an integrated technology device that offers an
activity tracker, smart notifications, remote controls and Find-Me functions. I
will share more details of the functionalities of the e-Strap in Part 2 of this
series of post. Part 1 will focus more on the TimeWalker Urban Speed line.
Montblanc
is targeting urban cosmopolite who probably will love digital functionality yet
enjoy having a fine watch on their wrist. From the case to the movement to the
e-Strap, Montblanc underlines the technicality, performance and avant-garde
appeal of the TimeWalker Urban Speed e-Strap made for the urban cosmopolite. With
a sporty and masculine design synonymous with the Montblanc TimeWalker
collection, the TimeWalker Urban Speed carries its unique aesthetics with the
dial, making use of its black background to accentuate the white numerals and
dynamic red second hands – which is now common across all 3 models of the
TimeWalker Urban Speed line.
See
below for design codes of the TimeWalker Urban speed.
Materials used on the TimeWalker Urban Speed
I
know the TimeWalker collection (especially the chronographs such as the
TimeWalker Twinfly) gives me a feeling of high performance, speed, “on the
move” and an avant-garde appeal. It also gives me a technical and sometimes
“cold” feel, not in a negative way but in a modern, high tech way (compared to
say a Nicolas Rieussec or Montblanc Villeret which feels a lot more traditional
and “warm”). I believe this is why Montblanc launched the e-Strap with the
TimeWalker line first.
For
the new TimeWalker Urban Speed line, the urban dynamic appeal of the TimeWalker
is further highlighted by the use of contemporary material mixes featuring red
design elements on a pure black background. The “cold grey” micro-blasted steel
case and the black ceramic bezel for instance emphasizes a sense of dynamism as
well as technical elegance. Balancing a high tech look with elegance is quite
hard to achieve. I tried on the TimeWalker Urban Speed Chronograph some weeks
ago and I must say this piece did managed to balance the two design elements,
technical with elegance.
The
leather strap used on the TimeWalker Urban Speed is the same Extreme Leather
Strap used in 2014’s TimeWalker Extreme. The leather is designed and made at
the Montblanc Pelletteria Manufacture in Florence. Mixing traditional fine
leather craft with high technology, the leather is textured and simultaneously
impregnated with an innovative treatment that does not only coat the surface of
the wristband, but also bonds with it and increases its structural strength.
This
innovative technique produces a high-performance and durable leather, which is
abrasion resistant, water repellant and heat wear, water- and fire-resistant.
This defines Montblanc’s Nato Extreme leather, a composite material of cowhide
with grey stitching, cowhide in carbon-look texture (I love this carbon-look
texture as I have a Montblanc wallet with this Extreme leather!) and specially
treated for greater strength.
This
ends Part 1 of my sharing of the new Montblanc TimeWalker Urban Speed collection.
In Part 2, I will share more details of the E-Strap and its innovative features
and how I think these can be used in our daily lives, together with the
TimeWalker (and other watches with straps that fit) watch. The best of both
worlds!
Cheers
robin
