TAG Heuer unveils its ‘Connected Watch’ at DJWE

Swiss luxury watchmaker TAG Heuer unveiled its new ‘Connected Watch’ for the first time in the Middle East at the Doha Jewellery and Watches Exhibition (DJWE) last week.

The Connected Watch, engineered with Intel technology and benefiting from the Android Wear universe, is the world’s first luxury smart timepiece. So what exactly is TAG Heuer’s Connected Watch?

At 46mm in diameter, the watch’s design is primarily that of a true chronograph. With a case, back and lugs made from grade 2 titanium, it ensures the watch is light and more resistant to impacts than traditional material like steel or gold.

A textured black rubber strap with a grade 2 titanium buckle completes the watch. Straps are sold separately in six other colors — red, blue, white, orange, green and yellow.

The timepiece comes in three digital watch dials (known as watch faces) — the chronograph dial, the 3-hand dial and the GMT dial. All displays the date and are available in three colours — black, deep blue and pearl white. The digital hands and indexes remain visible at all times, even when the watch is in ambient energy-saving mode.

While the dial and hands remain, the most pertinent information from partner applications is displayed inside the three counters on the chronograph dial at 12, 6 and 9 o'clock, completely integrated into the watch's aesthetic environment.

What if something shown in a counter really interests you? Touch the counter in question to open and interact with the application in full screen mode.

TAG Heuer worked with Intel and Google to create a luxury watch that combines connectivity and computing intelligence with Swiss watchmaking heritage. The watch features an Intel® Atom™ processor Z34XX and runs the Android Wear platform.

Audio streaming, Bluetooth and Wi-Fi connectivity are all available. With 4 GB memory, and all day battery life, TAG Heuer Connected is equipped with a small microphone to communicate with via Google voice control and a sapphire crystal touchscreen.

The entire piece has been made water resistant for everyday use and is IP67 water resistance rated.

Android Wear opens the watch up to an almost infinite universe of applications. Key ones, like Google Fit, Google Translate, Google Maps and Google Search with voice are already available on the watch.

The watch can also be easily synced with a phone running either on Android 4.3+ or iOS 8.2+. Simply place the watch on top of a contact charger to recharge it.

Along with the launch of the watch, TAG Heuer also unveiled an exclusive collection of watch faces co-designed by 10 prestigious ambassadors — Cristiano Ronaldo (Football), David Guetta and the Nervo Sisters (Music), Tom Brady (American Football), Kei Nishikori (Tennis), Giancarlo Stanton (Baseball), Jeremy Lin (Basketball), Jessica Korda (Golf), GEM (Music) and et Kai Lenny (Surf).

The TAG Heuer Connected Watch’s official Middle-East launch will happen in Spring, 2016. It is priced at at QR5,445 ($1,500). More information can be had from www.tagheuerconnected.com.