They'll be successful but they won't replace mechanical watches

I was very closely looking at the Apple watch this week as I like their design, the fact it is new, maybe useful and the fact I like Apple

But they'll never compete with a mechanical watch as long as the owner is interested by their history or engineering.

The competition may though be tougher in the <1000$ watch market (and evenmore so in the quartz market).

Frederic Constant is showing we can start to mix classic gold watches with smartwatches but a mechanical movement (functioning and finishing) are not competing in the same field.

I think I'll buy an Apple watch (or maybe 2nd generation because of autonomy issues with the 1st gen.), but they'll never replace my mech. watches as they don't provide the same things.

We'll see many new competitors to the link you shared (Withings etc...). Exciting period

Cheers, Mark

Swiss watchmakers "wake up"

By: Ronald Held : February 27th, 2015-09:06

Any comments? http://o. Source : Engadget ...

The Engadget watch is interesting.

By: patrick_y : February 27th, 2015-16:38

This is really a tumultuous time. But I really think the Swiss Watch industry will find this to be even more difficult to survive than the Quartz crisis.

I believe it will impact sales, but not kill the mechanical watch business. (nt)

By: Ronald Held : February 27th, 2015-17:44

Maybe not kill, but losing a left arm may not kill you but it's serious.

By: patrick_y : March 2nd, 2015-14:48

The Swiss watch industry will be in for a big awakening in my opinion.

Ignoring history is not a good move ...

By: nilomis : February 28th, 2015-01:41

As George Santayana once stated: "Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it". I hope that the Swiss industry don't try to repeat the same mistake that they made during the quartz watch times, trying to compete with Japan. Smart watches...

Agreed

By: Mark in Paris : February 28th, 2015-03:05

Just saw your reply after posting mine but I think the same :) Cheers, Mark

Thank you ...

By: nilomis : February 28th, 2015-04:24

In my line of business, not watch related, I'm always amazed by the number of times that a mistake is made, just by ignoring the past. Another example that I always use is related to smartphones: Blackberry started this business and ignored the facilities...

They'll be successful but they won't replace mechanical watches

By: Mark in Paris : February 28th, 2015-02:59

I was very closely looking at the Apple watch this week as I like their design, the fact it is new, maybe useful and the fact I like Apple :) But they'll never compete with a mechanical watch as long as the owner is interested by their history or engineer...

Yes...

By: tom2517 : March 4th, 2015-06:28

I agree smartwatches will never be the same as mechanical wonder but it is very likely the smartwatches will one day evolve into something you can't live without. There are just so many possibilities of what it can do. I am afraid one day my mechanical wa...

I'm feeling they will have a place with me too

By: Mark in Paris : March 4th, 2015-06:58

I agree with you Tom. The more I think about them and the more I'm convinced it will take an important place in our lives: gps, sms, payment etc... and so much to come we don't think of today. I'll definitely have a smartwatch one day. Cheers, Mark

My guess is they will displace rather than replace mechanical watches

By: secretlife : March 4th, 2015-18:25

I have said for some time that it will be a matter of "real estate"; once it becomes ubiquitous, most might not have a choice. Perhaps "double wristed" will be a trend? Pocket watches? Maybe we will see wrist to pocket watch conversions! (",) In any case,...

Interesting parallel [nt]

By: Mark in Paris : March 5th, 2015-01:18

NEWS: H. Moser to unveil first Haute Horlogerie Smart Watch next week!

By: Ornatus-Mundi : March 3rd, 2015-00:25

Take a look here: In the press release, CEO Edouard Meylan explains, “ The H. Moser & Cie. smart watch stays true to the original character of our products, and it is an important milestone for the future of the Swiss watch industry. ” Is it really t...

Is the smart watch merely a transient state?

By: samir530 : March 5th, 2015-07:30

What must be considered when evaluating the push by Apple, Google, etc into the watch arena and the ensuing threat to all incumbent manufacturers, is whether the smart device in wrist watch form is just the next phase in the evolution of smart devices. Fr...