Montblanc is one of the few brands that’s been
experimenting with different ideas to find the middle ground between mechanical
and smartwatches. Three years back, the watch and luxury goods maker made its
foray into the smart wearables market by introducing something called e-Strap.
It’s a strap for mechanical watches that turns them into connected wearables by
swapping the standard clasp for a tiny smart device. The luxury brand has now
launched a new version of the e-Strap, called the Twin Smart Strap. Just like
the original, the new updated version also features a tiny device where the
clasp would normally be.
The new Montblanc Twin Smart Strap consists of two
parts – a smart module with a curved display and a specially designed strap
that can be mounted onto almost any timepiece. The design of the smart module
has also been improved quite a bit. It is made of high quality stainless steel
and is covered by a curved special glass. Montblanc claims that the module is
IP68 water resistant and can run for up to a week on a single charge. In terms
of features, it has notifications with vibration alerts, activity tracking, and
wireless payment, which was developed in collaboration with Visa and
Mastercard. The Montblanc Twin Smart Strap will be available at stores starting
August with a price tag of € 390 (approximately US$ 453).
