Looks, class and intelligence: Everything you could want from a luxury smartwatch.
Wristwatches are about more than just telling the time. A luxurious watch is making a statement on your behalf. Although the Apple Watch is not the first smartwatch per se, the tech giant is at the vanguard of the wearable device market. The Apple Watch is a functional and luxurious smartwatch that’s packed with features and has mass appeal.
Looking for something stylish and affordable?
The staple names of the watch industry have followed suit releasing their own smartwatch products. The world’s most exclusive and luxurious watchmakers now have timepieces that can connect with your phone and more. No doubt you’ll see one of these luxury smartwatches on James Bond’s wrist in the coming years.
The best smartwatches for luxury
Alpina Horological Smartwatch
The Swiss are regarded to make the best watches in the world. Swiss brand Alpina is among some of the first Swiss brands to enter the luxury smartwatch market with their Horological Smartwatch collection. Alpina have men’s and women’s smartwatches for sale. You can choose the type of band and the colour of the watch face, and the Smartwatch makes use of MotionX activity tracking technology.
It counts your steps and monitors movement while you sleep. A basic overview of your step count is shown on a second analogue dial on the display. Activity information is automatically backed up using bluetooth to a connected Apple or Android device each day. The stunning analogue display keeps near perfect time and the battery will last for more than two years before it needs to be replaced. This is a watch that’s made to be worn. This Horological smartwatch is water resistant to 330ft and the scratch resistant sapphire resistant display will take wear and tear from some of the most rigorous sports and activities.
Release date: Out now
Price: Approx. $1,833 AUD
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Apple Watch Edition
If you really want to, you can get an ostentatious overhaul of the Apple Watch for more than $100,000. Brikk is one company that offers gold plated and diamond studded smartwatches. The Apple Watch Edition is a classier luxury smartwatch than Brikk’s Lux Watch Omni and cheaper too. Apple Watch Edition comes with Rose or Yellow 18 carat gold casing, an extra hard sapphire crystal display, leather bands and clasps and a leather wireless charging box.
It can do all of the same things that an Apple Watch can do, but the Apple Watch Edition smartwatches get their price from the gold trimmings and selection of bands and clasps. At $17,000, the Bright Red Modern Buckle on the 38mm 18 Carat Gold Apple Watch is the most expensive device in the Apple Watch Edition range. You can book an appointment with an Apple representative at selected stores in major Australian cities.
Release date: Out now
Price: Between $14,000 and $24,000 AUD
ALSO READ: Will you be smelting your Apple Watch Edition soon?
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Breitling Smartwatch
The Breitling Smartwatch is a simple and classy timepiece aimed at international jetsetters. The Breitling Smartwatch doesn’t try and do too much, the intelligence of this smartwatch comes from the ability to update the time on the fly from the smartphone application. There are no social media notifications, email alerts or activity tracking. Consumers will love or hate the lack of staple smartwatch features.
Release date: TBA
Price: TBA
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Bvlgari Diagono Magnesium Concept
The Diagono Magnesium Concept from Bvlgari is a self winding smartwatch with a traditional look and feel. It’s made from magnesium and ceramic parts. The standout feature of this timepiece is the electronic passport functionality. The Bulgari Vault app makes use of the watches Near Field Communication (NFC) technology so you can make contactless payments with a gesture from the wrist. This luxury smartwatch can even start your car engine.
The Bvlgari Vault app can contain almost of a user’s personal, payment and security information. Bvlgari claim their Wrist Vault, as it’s been dubbed by some, is as safe as it can get. The company that encrypts Swiss bank accounts designed the watch’s security system. This is still a concept watch, there have been no further announcements about pricing and specifications at the time of writing.
Release date: TBA
Price: Approx. $6,195 AUD
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Mondaine Helvetica No1 Horological Smartwatch
Along with Alpina, Mondaine are another Swiss timepiece brand that makes use of the MotionX platform. This proprietary technology lets wearers of the Helvetica No1 smartwatch track movement and monitor sleep. This information is available at a glance. The watch takes the name Helvetica from the popular typeface, praised for its elegance and simplicity and used by designers all over the world. No prizes for guessing the font used for the watch’s sapphire crystal hardened display. The casing is made from brushed or polished steel. Mondaine are offering fifteen models of the Helvetica No1 Horological Smartwatch. There’s bound to be a version of this watch to please most luxury consumers.
Release date: Out now
Price: Approx. $677 AUD
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Tag Heuer Carrera Smartwatch
The luxury Swiss watch brand is partnering with Google and Intel to make the world’s first luxury Android smartwatch. Tag Heuer joins companies like L.G and Samsung to become the latest member of the Android wearable-tech family, and the priciest too costing well over $1,000. The partnership with Google has ostracised Apple fans. However, this cool looking smartwatch may be enough to warrant a change of phone for some.
The Tag Heuer smartwatch has mechanical parts and a number of different analogue interfaces displayed on the screen. The aesthetic of the brand has been strictly followed. Excitingly, the watch can also be upgraded as technology improves. The luxury smartwatch has a battery life of approximately 40 hours. Other smartwatches in this category have a battery that can last for years.
Release date: November 2015
Price: Approx. $1,844 AUD
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Vector Smartwatch
Vector is a new London based smartwatch manufacturer. The company offers two smartwatches: Meridian (square faced) and the Luna (round). Both watches look like traditional timepieces and come in a variety of finishes and there’s a choice of straps including metal linked. The watch will vibrate when you get a notification, all you need to do is raise or lower your arm to check or dismiss the alert. There is an impressive 30 day battery life and this watch offers a range of notifications from your calendar, which are shown around the edge of the watch display. Vector smartwatches can be connected to Android, Apple and Windows devices. Linking the watch to another device supports some of the activity tracking functions and keeps your calendar and alarms updated.
Release date: September 2015
Price: Approx. $259 AUD
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How do I find the best luxury smartwatch for me?
What makes a luxury smartwatch a desirable product? Is it the brand name, or the materials used and hours spent in construction? Brands like TAG Heuer have established themselves as a leader in the luxury smartwatch market. In fact, some of these products are little more than traditional timepieces that can offer a simple notification service. Have an idea about the features each smartwatch offers and how they will help improve your life. Common features and considerations for buyers include:
Battery life. Does the watch keep working once the battery is flat? Some luxury smartwatches will switch off the ‘smart features’ once the battery dies. The watch will still work as a traditional timepiece.
Operating system. Is the smartwatch linked to a specific operating system? Some luxury smartwatches must be paired with either an Apple or Android device. Considering the price of the item, choice of operating systems is a nice feature for people who may be stuck between Apple and Android.
For men or women. Is the device unisex or just for men or women?
Operating range. Do you need to keep your phone in your pocket to receive notifications? Or can you leave it in the car and still receive calls when you’re at the beach for example.
Tethering. Can the watch and linked smartphone be tethered so you know when you’ve left your phone behind?
Also read: The most stylish (and affordable) smartwatches available
Frequently asked questions
How much do these luxury smartwatches cost?
Most of these devices have just been announced at BaselWorld 2015. This is the premier event for the watch industry and the first place new smartwatches and devices are announced. Most of the smartwatches we’ve covered on this page have only just been announced. Pricing and further specifications are still being released by watch manufacturers.
Where can I buy these smartwatches for luxury?
The majority of these smartwatches for luxury have just been announced, so they’re still a little while off hitting the shelves. You may be able to order some smartwatches direct from the manufacturer.
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