Three New Smartwatches Combine Analog With Digital

A trio of smartwatches from Mondaine, Frederique Constant and Alpina give lovers of timepieces the benefits of the wrist-worn gadgets, but with a classic analog look. Teased last month but having just made their official debut at the Baselworld watch conference in Switzerland, the devices resemble fancy, non-smart watches in every way, but pack the equivalent of a fitness band inside the case.

The three watches feature very different styling, but identical capabilities, owing to their shared "MotionX" tracker hardware. Each has an ordinary analog watch face, and below that is a dial that shows the date during the day and position of the moon at night. Then there's a mysterious dial marked from 1-100 — this is the only real concession to "smart" these watches show. This dial displays what percentage of your daily activity or sleep goals you've achieved.

More specific data can be found in the companion smartphone app. It's not nearly as much as you'd get with one of the more advanced devices, like a Moto 360 or Apple Watch, but for some, the watch itself is the more important part. One catch: the non-replaceable battery lasts two years, which is well under the expected life of a "serious" wristwatch.

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For Subscribers

FOR SUBSCRIBERSAbdul El-Sayed tries to woo MAHA voters as Democrats seek inroads with RFK’s supporters

FOR SUBSCRIBERSKratom-like substances are popping up in a typically benign supplement

FOR SUBSCRIBERSGOP super PAC increases its spending for Sen. Jon Husted in tough Ohio race

FOR SUBSCRIBERSRecords reveal tumultuous marriage between slain New York Times executive and wife

FOR SUBSCRIBERSFrom clean energy warrior to ‘wall of shame,’ James Talarico reverses on a fossil fuel money pledge

FOR SUBSCRIBERSCongressional staff planned official trip with luxury stops in Italy and France weeks before election

FOR SUBSCRIBERSA harrowing ordeal aboard an Israel-bound plane

FOR SUBSCRIBERSOpenAI CEO Sam Altman to skip congressional hearing on rogue AI agents

FOR SUBSCRIBERSKey DOJ lawyers departed Trump ‘grand conspiracy’ probe amid pressure to produce, source says

FOR SUBSCRIBERSTrump’s new AI chatbot often links to a site launched under Clinton 26 years ago

FOR SUBSCRIBERSAt MAHA summit, industry CEOs the movement once vilified take the stage

FOR SUBSCRIBERSThis Paralympian has two goals: Win medals and give away $500,000 to her teammates

FOR SUBSCRIBERSCornell rape allegation spotlights stringent New York state laws that have long drawn criticism

FOR SUBSCRIBERSThe debate over AI’s future rages on both coasts

FOR SUBSCRIBERSDecades-old march dispute reignites in Northern Ireland, threatening political crisis

No prices have been announced, but expect these watches to occupy the $500-$1,000 budget luxury segment when they debut later this year. Keep in mind that other big watch brands, like Tag Heuer and Breitling, also plan to release smart devices soon, so you might want to wait and see what they have in store.

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—Devin Coldewey