Frederique Constant manufacture of luxury wristwatches and Alpina, which is currently owned by Frederique Constant SA (since 2002), have joined their forces to create the first ever Swiss-made horological smartwatches, powered by MotionX.
The fine watchmaking skill of Frederique Constant, and Alpina’s own expertise in the production of Swiss sports watches, are fused into the Swiss Horological Smartwatch, which represents the synthesis of high-tech innovation and traditional Swiss watch craftsmanship. The classic design of Swiss-made smartwatches incorporates analog dials, but, since they are powered by MotionX technology, they are capable of bi-directional communication with iPhone and Android apps.
To make this possible, Frederique Constant, Alpina and Mondaine, in partnership with Silicon Valley based Fullpower Technologies, have formed a new joint venture called Manufacture Module Technologies (MMT), which deals with the development and production of Swiss watch movements that incorporate Fullpower’s smartwatch technology. The new Swiss Horological Smartwatches will, therefore, look like traditional Swiss timepieces, and their smart capabilities will be facilitated via the wearer’s phone, or, more precisely, via the Android and iOS app. Mondaine has also announced the launch of its Mondaine Helvetica Smart Swiss Watch, which will be priced anywhere from $700 to $1,000.
The first generation of Swiss Horological Smartwatches supports the following functions: time and date, activity tracking, sleep monitoring, sleep cycle alarms, get-active alerts, adaptive coaching, cloud backup and restore, and more than 2 years battery life (while typical smartwatches need to be charged every day). In other words, the owner of this classy watch will be able to get a clear breakdown on how much he or she has moved and slept during the day, week, or month. The watch, and its accompanying software, are designed to help their owners make positive behavioral changes with better sleep, and more active, intelligently guided, lifestyle. The first two watches have already been unveiled.
Frederique Constant FC-285V5B4 is a large men’s watch that measures 42mm in diameter. The watch is made of polished rose gold plated stainless steel, and it is water resistant to 50 meters. Its silver dial, which is covered with a convex sapphire crystal, features hand-applied indexes, and rose gold plated steel hands. Underneath it beats the FC-285 quartz caliber, whose basic functions are adjustable via the crown. The watch is mounted on a brown leather strap with folding buckle.
Alpina presents a feminine creation, the reference AL-285BTD3C6B, which is ideally suited for ladies’ wrists. The watch is made of stainless steel and it measures 39mm in diameter. Alpina’s Swiss Horological Smartwatch is even sportier, as it ensures water resistance to up to 100 meters. The watch is powered by the AL-285 quartz caliber movement and it boasts a nice black dial guilloché triangle pattern and 11 hand-set diamonds. The watch is mounted on a 3-link stainless steel bracelet.
Frederique Constant and Alpina will offer more than ten different horological smartwatch models in 2015, in styles for both ladies and gentlemen. As announced by Frederique Constant, the watches will be available for purchase starting in June 2015, priced from $500 to $2,000.
Author: Marina Milojevic
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