Round-UpHybrid Timekeeping: The Best Of Two Worlds

Smartwatches have been around for a while. The smartwatch is loosely defined as a wearable computer in the form of a wristwatch, which can perform certain computing tasks, electronically. However, what’s interesting is that the ‘smart’ prefix in a ‘smartphone’ means a lot more since basic computing tasks were quite common in cellphones that are now often referred to as ‘dumb-phones’. Perhaps the bar for what an electronic watch could do for it to be called smart was far lower than what a mobile phone could, because of the size of a wearable device. It was actually in the 1970s when wearable computing devices came into being. And over the next couple of decades, brands such as Seiko, Casio, and Hamilton created versions of their digital watches that could perform simple computing tasks. Of course, no one can ever forget the iconic Casio watches from back in the day that featured a calculator and actually had a complete calculator keypad right on the face of the watch. Such design and functionality are probably the best-known examples of the early ‘smartwatches’.

The Smartwatch Revolution

The term ‘smartwatch’ has obviously seen an evolution, sharply so in the last decade or less. Now smartwatches are not limited to their own hardware and work primarily in-sync with bigger and more complex devices, from cellphones and tablet devices to even computers. This too though is not something new. It was back in 1984 that Seiko created a watch called the RC-1000 Wrist Terminal, which worked interfacing with a computer. Developed by Seiko Epson, it was powered by a computer with a chip, and it was compatible with most computers at the time, including certain Apple systems. That was probably one of the first times that Apple had any smart interaction with a watch. Today, of course, Apple has one of the most popular watches in the world. Although, while it took an Apple Watch for the modern smartwatch revolution to get going, the Apple Watch wasn’t the first of the modern touchscreen smart, wearable devices. It was in the early 2010s that brands such as Motorola and Sony Ericsson began to make strides with the smart technology they were developing. By then Sony Ericsson had already collaborated with Fossil to produce watches with smart features.

In 2014, though, everything changed. Google announced their new operating system for wearable devices, Android Wear, and then the mighty Apple fell from the tree. It took a while for the revolution to really get started, and it took at least a year for the global watch market to fully process this and react.

The Pioneers In Hybrid Smartwatches

“In 2015, we decided to embrace the development of smartwatches,” says Aletta Stas-Bax, the co-founder and co-president of Frederique Constant, the manufacturer of primarily Swiss mechanical watches. “When Apple announced that they would launch a watch, everyone in the Swiss watch industry said that it really had nothing to do with our industry, that it was more of a tech-gadget.” Stas-Bax, and her husband and co-founding partner, Peter, did take on the challenge of creating a smart wearable device. “We were actually the first in this industry to decide to make a smartwatch, to make a horological smartwatch,” Stas-Bax informs. “We feel it’s not completely different. And Apple Watch has taken a share of the Swiss watch market, with Swiss quartz watch exports witnessing a drop. So we can’t ignore that anymore. That’s why we went in. And we’re also growing in the smartwatch segment.” Of course, this made Frederique Constant a definite pioneer in hybrid smartwatches, which they’ve reaffirmed with their 2018 Hybrid Manufacture. This watch adds an analytical functionality, which uses smart technology to inform the user about the health of its own mechanical movement. “It’s not that we want to make this segment much bigger at Frederique Constant, but it’s important to show the innovative aspect of the brand,” adds Stas-Bax. And innovate, they have. That’s why Frederique Constant is today one of the foremost names one can think about when it comes to hybrid smartwatches.

Modern-Day Hybrid Smartwatches: A Bit Of Something For Everyone

When it comes to watches, a part of you might want something that’s traditional and classic. Who can resist the allure of a sophisticated dress watch, or a cool, sporty watch that enhances the look of your ensemble by adding character! But then, of course, the convenience of what a smartwatch can offer you is just as enticing at times. Being able to play music, keep track of your activity and do all sorts of things even when your phone is out of reach, with accessibility always on your person is obviously something worth considering. But today, you don’t have to choose. You can have the best of both worlds – a traditional watch, along with smart functions – an all-in-one hybrid device.

Five Hybrid Smartwatches For The Best Of Both Worlds

From the likes of the pioneering Frederique Constant to some of the most popular and trendy names in watches, we give you a list of five noteworthy hybrid smartwatches to choose from, in order to get the best of both worlds.

1. Frederique Constant Horological Smartwatch

Touted as the watch that combines the DNA of a classic Swiss watch with the best of Silicon Valley’s technology, the Frederique Constant Horological Smartwatch is a connected device that works in-sync with both Android and Apple devices and boasts of a battery life of over two years. Though it is powered by an electronic, quartz movement, this Horological Smartwatch is presented as a classical timepiece, set in a 42mm stainless steel case, with a dial that features elegant details in its analogue display, such as the laser-cut hands. Available in two colour options – silver or black – the dial features a combination of Roman numeral and baton-style hour markers, along with its central timekeeping hands. The display also includes a sub-dial at six o’clock for indications such as the small seconds or the analogue date display.

The Android and iOS apps that the watch syncs with keeps track and displays with simplicity and clarity the amount that you move around and sleep. This activity tracker helps you know the details of the distance you walk and the calories you burn in the process of carrying out your physical activity. The sleep monitoring aspect of its functionality tells you the amount you sleep and the depth of your sleep. What more, it even allows you to set smart sleep alarms that automatically wake you up at a time best suited for you, based on your sleep cycle. Similarly, active alerts can remind you when you’ve had little to no physical activity in a while, set according to your preferences. The world timer function allows you to check the time in any of the 24 time zones, as the smartwatch picks up the time from your phone even as you move across time zones while travelling. And any gathered data is backed up on the cloud, just in case you lose your watch or your phone.

2. Emporio Armani EA Connected Watch

In partnership with Fossil watches, the EA Connected is Emporio Armani’s first ever hybrid smartwatch. The fashion label watch comes with an analogue display, but as a hybrid, it can connect, via Bluetooth, with your cellphone or other mobile devices, and is compatible with iOS and Android devices through an app. As one would expect, this watch offers features that have now become necessities in smartwatches, such as activity tracking, sleep quality checks, and notifications. There is also a music control feature and a world timer – extremely useful in any kind of watch in this day and age. Powered by a quartz movement, with batteries, this Connected timepiece boasts a long-lasting power reserve. The 43mm steel case is water resistant to 30m and is available with a white or black dial.

3. Fossil Q Crewmaster Hybrid Smartwatch FTW1124

Blending analogue design with a smart-tech functionality, the Q Crewmaster Hybrid Smart is inspired by yachts and the kind of leisurely lifestyles associated with yachts. Running on a quartz movement, the batteries in this watch come with the claim that the power reserve could last for up to six months. Of course, that depends on how much you use the watch. Though with the number of functions it has, a watch like this is sure to be constantly in use. It obviously has activity tracking and sleep tracking. But it also a multiple time zone indicator, and on it, you can receive notifications of your smartphone, including social media and other app alerts, emails, texts, alarms, calendar alerts and so on. Controlling music or being able to click pictures are the added benefits. The latter will clearly make taking selfies much easier. Available in a generously sized 46mm steel case with a silicone strap, this piece is extremely sporty, with its elements in blue and fiery hues.

4. Armani Exchange Connected

The Armani Exchange Connected hybrid smartwatch is in all-black, making it a cool accessory to go with daytime casuals, as well as attire for an evening out. The 44mm case is water resistant to 50m and houses a quartz movement. Compatible with iPhones as well as Android phones, the wireless synchrony gives you the current time of the time zone you’re in as you travel, while you can also see the time in a secondary time zone. The watch also gives you smartphone notifications, the ability to control your music, and take photos. The usual activity tracking and sleep tracking are also available. What’s interesting is that the watch can help you find your phone by making it ring on demand, when you can’t remember where you kept it. With a battery that can last up to six months, you have little to worry about.

5. Michael Kors Access

Step over to the more opulent side of smart timekeeping, with the Michael Kors Access hybrid smartwatch in rose gold PVD-treated stainless steel. The generous 47mm case, water resistant to 50m, houses a quartz movement and features a dial and a strap in blue – a hue that is very much in vogue this year. The analogue display is accompanied with smart features such as activity tracking that counts your calories and steps, sleep tracking, setting of alarms and reminders with haptic vibration alerts, automatic updating of time zones, and music control, among others. The device is compatible with Android and iOS devices, via Bluetooth connectivity, and runs on a battery that can last for up to six months.

The biggest benefit of opting for a hybrid smartwatch, rather than a typical smartwatch with a touchscreen display and all, is probably the battery life you get with a hybrid. With laptops, iPads and cellphones requiring charging and power banks all the time, one would be better off with one less device to charge on a daily basis. Moreover, not all smartwatches are water resistant, but all these hybrids are. With durability that goes even beyond that, and sturdiness that an out-and-out tech gadget cannot offer, the choice should be simple. And with a hybrid smartwatch, you’ll always get the best of worlds.