Montblanc unveils Summit, its first smart watch

Times change, much more than the altitude of Mont Blanc ... While the surge of the Apple Watch and its bracelets Hermès shook the small world watchmaker, little by little, the big names of Swiss made themselves To the smartwatch. The most convincing in this matter? The last one unveiled just two days ago by TAG Heuer: a smart 45, for which about thirty seconds are enough to replace the module by a clock module, three hands or squarely whirl. Or rather the penultimate, because it is to the general surprise to the turn of Montblanc, one of the most important brands of the group Richemont, to unveil its collection Summit. This smartwatch running Android Wear 2.0 recalls with its "watch faces" the vintage 1858 collection unveiled at the last edition of the International Fair of Haute Horlogerie. It incorporates a Qualcomm Snapdragon Wear 2100 processor, when its competitor TAG Heuer has trusted Intel.

Classic, vintage and smart

This first smart watch signed Montblanc resumes a classic and vintage style, for a digital reinterpretation of haute horlogerie. Stylish detail: its dial is covered with a curved sapphire crystal, a world first in smart watches. "Nothing is comparable to the sensation of Swiss haute horlogerie," said Jérôme Lambert, President and CEO of Montblanc International at the Summit presentation. But in this constantly evolving world, it is essential to have the digital means necessary to access information. "Montblanc's Summit watch epitomizes the link between these two worlds with this simple, advanced product that gives the wearer the freedom to own everything. "

The 1858 collection has clearly inspired the design of the 46 mm case and the classic dial backgrounds, which are, in fact, a digital interpretation of the 1858 collection. This watch features an AMOLED 1.4 Inch, meets the IP68 waterproof standard to withstand the splashes of everyday life. It also contains a microphone for voice commands and many sensors: a heart monitor and sensors for counting steps and physical activity; A gyroscope and a compass that gives orientation; A barometer that indicates altitude, and an ambient light sensor that automatically adjusts the brightness of the screen to light conditions.

Sport Partnership

This Summit can be recharged via a micro USB port on a Montblanc magnetic station. It smart via Wifi and Bluetooth and includes a storage space of 4 GB. Android Wear 2.0 is compatible with iOS and Android smartphones. The Montblanc Summit 46 mm case is available in a choice of four materials and styles - stainless steel with black PVD coating, two-tone stainless steel case with stainless steel bezel and black PVD coating, stainless steel case with Satin finish and a grade 5 titanium case also with satin finish. Each model features a push button in the style of the famous 1858 collection crown. The classic watch dial bottoms, digital representation of the award-winning 1858 collection, include complications such as an automatic movement with date, small seconds Or chronograph. Small second and chronograph movements can be combined with digital complications that provide the user with useful information, such as a time zone, next meeting or sporting goals.

For those who prefer a sporty style, a TimeWalker Urban Speed ​​dial background is available with automatic movements with date or chronograph. Taken from the mechanical watch of the same name, this modern dial is offered in a palette of colors that the user can configure directly from the watch, giving everyone the possibility to distinguish himself by his own style. For those who like to change appearance, a new dial background will be offered regularly on the awning.

All inclusive with Runtastic

For fitness enthusiasts, the Montblanc Summit watch offers various Shape functions. It allows each user to control their heart rate and to follow their sporting goals. The mechanical relief on the back of the watch guarantees its good performance in any circumstance, which makes this integrated heart monitor one of the most accurate devices for portable devices. Montblanc's specially designed sporty dial background also displays daily sports progress in the form of an alpine summit. A unique collaboration with Runtastic, the famous sports tracking application used by 100 million users, also comes with a three-month premium membership offered and preloaded on every Montblanc Summit watch.

In addition, Google Assistant is integrated into the Montblanc Summit. The built-in microphone makes it easy for users to start Google Assistant and perform all kinds of information, route or translation searches, set reminders or dictate emails. If you do not have the time to type a reply on your phone, the Montblanc Summit watch offers short, thoughtful answers that you can enter using the keyboard, touch, handwriting or voice command.

A collaboration with Uber allows you to quickly find a car, while the preloaded Foursquare City Guide offers a unique feature to discover the best restaurants and relaxing activities in any city, thanks to the user's immediate geolocation. Finally, the voice activated translator is another handy tool when traveling, as it tells the user how to request a coffee in Italian or how to buy a train ticket in Japan. The Montblanc Summit watch provides instant translations in a multitude of languages ​​directly on the display of the watch, simplifying travel abroad forever.

In total, with its 8 bracelets, the Montblanc Summit watch allows more than 300 combinations. Its other asset: it will be offered from May 2017 starting at 895 euros. A price that places it frontally in front of the Apple Watch, and much cheaper than the TAG Heuer smart watch 45 (from 1,600 euros). Mr Porter, the online fashion men's fashion site, will be the exclusive partner during the first two weeks of the world launch.