Smartwatches need to go
In recent years, there has been a severe uptick in people wearing smartwatches. While they do tell time, they are riddled with features such as email, text messaging, and even games. Companies like Apple or Samsung have made millions from their Spy Kids-esque wristwear. The market for smartwatches is single-handedly destroying the true style and elegance, along with the historical brands, that create such timepieces.
In 2015, Apple rolled out the Apple Watch which quickly changed the technology world. Not only did they contain the aforementioned features, but they were also seen as a status symbol. The first generation of the product retailed for nearly $350, more than half the price of the concurrent iPhone release. Equipped with a stainless steel frame and an easily removable rubber band, Apple Watches took the world by storm. Ironically, they are deemed near useless without an iPhone, which heavily increases the investment. Also, the features on the watch are available on the iPhone, bringing into question the convenience of answering texts on your wrist.
As an avid watch collector, I truly fail to see the practicality of a smartwatch. I appreciate the health data they can provide, but to the average consumer, that information is nothing shy of unnecessary. Pulling out my phone to read texts, answer calls, or play 2048 has never been a hassle or inconvenience, nor will it be.
As newer technology has been crammed into smartwatches, Apple Watches retail from $249-$799. The price point they use is ridiculously inflated in relation to the benefits the watch provides. For the same price, a consumer could easily purchase a real watch that will never need updating, never crash, and never go out of style. For the price of Apple’s cheapest watch, a smarter purchase would be a timepiece from Citizen or Bulova, two premium watchmakers who have countless models. At the higher end of the Apple Watch price spectrum, a wiser purchase would likely be a Tissot PRX Powermatic. Tissot has been a name among other luxury brands for well over a century and has produced numerous iconic pieces.
There is no question of the durability and craftsmanship of most smartwatches. They are fairly water resistant and often sport a rubber bracelet which tends to hold up in extreme conditions. Sadly, smartwatches simply do not fit a business setting or any formal attire. The rubber looks tacky and the regularly blank screen draws negative attention. Brands such as Fossil, Seiko, and Hamilton have created many detailed and sophisticated faces, or dials, for their watches which would spark conversation in any setting. Paired with a matching stainless steel bracelet or genuine (or vegan) leather band, the complex and put-together look that brands pride themselves on is completed.
Other well-known brands produce quality timepieces that hit a mark under $50. Casio and Timex have proven to be reliable without looking cheap and tacky. Both produce moderately-priced automatic watches, which remove the need for battery replacement and are ultimately self-running with some occasional movement by the wearer. Regardless, the cost of a new battery is roughly $7 and takes no more than a minute to replace every two years.
While they are a waste of money, in my opinion, I respect that a smartwatch does fit some people’s lifestyles. As an everyday watch, Apple and Samsung both produce quality products, but inflate their prices by including unnecessary features for the wearer. Ultimately, everyone should own at least one timepiece that doesn’t have a screen and brightly colored rubber band. A few minutes of research will point you in the right direction regarding which watch is best for you based on price, occasion, and style preference. Modern technology is slowly killing the industry that once was the true focal point in fashion and wealth