SMART WATCHES
MONTBLANC REACHES SUMMIT
JUST DAYS AFTER TAG HEUER LAUNCHED ITS AMBITIOUS SECOND-GENERATION SMARTWATCH , Montblanc earlier this year debuted its own digital wristwear : the Montblanc Summit , the brand ’ s first full-fledged smartwatch .
The Summit provides far more than Montblanc ’ s previous nod to digital wearables , the E-Strap , a Bluetooth bracelet attachment paired with Montblanc Timewalker watches offering activity tracking and notifications . The E-Strap , which debuted in early 2015 , was clearly only the first step in Montblanc ’ s digital trek , which now reaches new heights with Summit .
The new Montblanc Summit is a 46mm smartwatch primarily housed within Montblanc ’ s 1858 case design around a bright screen / face inspired by the same collection . While wearers can substitute many faces , including that of the Montblanc TimeWalker Urban Speed , the watch ’ s case echoes the 1858 collection ’ s case and crown combination . And notably , the case is topped with a curved sapphire crystal , like the 1858 , which Montblanc says is a first among smartwatches .
Under the Montblanc dial users will find Android Wear 2.0 and Google ’ s latest operating system for smartwatches offering a host of novel timekeeping , fitness , notification , music and communication functions .
True to its name , The Summit specializes in providing a series of fitness metrics , including a heart-rate measurement and four daily goals ( steps , calories burnt , distance , active time ) with a progress bar visualized in the shape of a mountain ’ s summit . A particularly sophisticated worldtimer micro-app with day & night visualization shows the time in any one of the world ’ s 24 time zones .
In addition the touch-screen display and microphone offers access to a gyroscope and a compass , a barometer that can indicate the altitude , and an ambient light sensor . The watch is compatible with both iOS and Android smartphones .
Among the many customizable displays , one my favorites is the ability to utilize either of the two 1858 chronograph subdials to display functions not found on the original . For instance , at the swipe of the screen the wearer can place the seconds indication in either of the two chronograph subdials .
STYLES The Montblanc Summit ’ s 46mm case comes in a choice of four different materials and styles : black PVD-coated steel , a bi-color steel case with a black PVD-coated steel bezel , a steel case with satin finish or a satin-finished titanium case . Each timepiece is fitted with a pusher in the design of the crown from the 1858 collection .
The watch faces are precise digital representations of the 1858 collection , including the Automatic model with date , the Small Second or the Chronograph . The Small Second and Chronograph can be combined with digital complications such as a world time , meeting or fitness goals .
Using the sportier TimeWalker Urban Speed face ( not pictured here ), wearers can substitute an Automatic Date or Chronograph . This face , unlike the more classic 1858 design , allows the wearer to choose from several color options . In all , the Montblanc Summit can be configured from among more than 300 different style and color combinations .
Montblanc notes that it plans to regularly update watch faces , which wearers can download from the Summit ’ s Google Play Store .
Montblanc also offers a set of eight strap options for the Summit , including an alligator strap , a rubber NATO strap ( in black , blue , green or red ), a black calfskin leather strap ( in brown or navy blue ) and a Sfumato calfskin leather strap from the Montblanc Pelletteria in Florence . Straps can be easily exchanged via the quick-release spring bars .
The watch can be charged via micro USB on a magnetic Montblanc dock . It connects via Wi-Fi and Bluetooth and features 4GB of flash storage that can be used to sync and play music without the need of a smartphone .
The new smart watches are available on the Montblanc website and through all Montblanc retail channels . For more information visit www . montblanc . com .
Prices start at $ 890 and rise to about $ 1,100 , depending on the choice of case style . A customized dial can be created with Montblanc for much more ( approximately $ 15,000 ).
120 | INTERNATIONAL WATCH | WINTER 2018 iWMAGAZINE . COM