A Tag Heuer spokesperson told Jeweller that its smartwatch, powered by Intel technology and Google Android Wear, would be available by the end of the year, most likely in October or November.
She also confirmed that the smartwatch would retail for between US$1,300 (AU$1,641) and US$1,400 (AU$1,767) and have a battery life of up to 40 hours – more than double the expected 18-hour battery life of the Apple Watch.
Tag Heuer CEO Jean-Claude Biver appeared unintimidated by Apple’s version of the smartwatch, stating, “I hope they sell millions and millions and millions of them [Apple Watches]. The more they sell the more a few people will want something different and come to Tag Heuer.”
While smartwatch models have been on the market for a number of years, the release of the Apple Watch in April was arguably the first major competitor for traditional watchmakers.
Tag Heuer – along with other brands including Tissot and Guess Watches – announced the development of its smartwatch at the 2015 BaselWorld event in March.
In related news, another Swiss luxury watch manufacturer has indicated it will be dabbling in the smartwatch market.
Rather than producing a new timepiece, IWC Schaffhausen will develop a device that can be embedded into the straps of the brand’s mechanical watches to provide additional technological functionality.
The IWC Connect will allow wearers to track their activity and interact with connected devices from their wrist.
IWC Schaffhausen CEO Georges Kern said the company had decided to develop an “aesthetically complementary solution” after noticing that many of its customers and brand ambassadors were donning wearable technology alongside their IWC watches.
However, he emphasised, “We do not touch our beautiful watches. An ‘IWC’ stays a mechanical handcrafted timepiece. We’ve engineered an intelligent design solution which perfectly integrates and underlines our product worlds.”
The IWC Connect will be compatible with IWC sports watch straps, with the launch date to be announced in coming months.
Other Swiss watchmakers competing in the smartwatch market include Swatch Group and Mondaine.
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