Zoals ik onlangs heb gemeld, hebben sommige reuzen in Silicon Valley al de drukke draagbare technologie en slimme horlogesegment verlaten om zich te concentreren op andere sectoren. Nadat sommige mensen die voor dezelfde reuzen werkden, voorspeld dat het slimme horloge de Zwitserse horlogebedrijf zou doden, is het ironisch gezien de Zwitserse horlogebedrijf die in zijn eigen fabrieken slimme horlogetechnologie brengt. TAG Heuer is van plan om dit jaar een nieuw slim horloge te tonen en Alpina (een bedrijf van de Frederique Constant Group) heeft pas recentelijk het nieuwste model voorgesteld om zijn "horologische smartwatch" -technologie te gebruiken.
In dit interview keurt Peter Stas, CEO van Frederique Constant, terug op de oorsprong van de slimme horlogetechnologie van het merk, hoe het past bij de traditionele opvatting van een Zwitsers horloge en wat zijn vooruitzichten voor de toekomst zijn.
Wat heeft Frederique Constant in 2014 veel geld in de Horologische Smartwatch geïnvesteerd?
Terug in 2010 startte de Frederique Constant Group drie smartwatchprojecten: a) het Alpina Mountain Watch; B) Android Wear; C) de Horologische Smartwatch. We waren geïntrigeerd door hoe het mogelijk was om slimme functies toe te voegen aan eenvoudige quartz horloges. We hebben de kans gekregen om spannende verbonden horloges te ontwikkelen met uitgebreide informatie en grafieken die op smartphones worden weergegeven. Ons bedrijf heeft innovatie als een van zijn kernwaarden. Het is logisch dat we besloten hebben een belangrijk deel van ons R & D-budget in verbonden horlogetechnologie te investeren.
Terug in 2010 startte de Frederique Constant Group drie smartwatchprojecten: a) het Alpina Mountain Watch; B) Android Wear; C) de Horologische Smartwatch. We waren geïntrigeerd door hoe het mogelijk was om slimme functies toe te voegen aan eenvoudige quartz horloges. We hebben de kans gekregen om spannende verbonden horloges te ontwikkelen met uitgebreide informatie en grafieken die op smartphones worden weergegeven. Ons bedrijf heeft innovatie als een van zijn kernwaarden. Het is logisch dat we besloten hebben een belangrijk deel van ons R & D-budget in verbonden horlogetechnologie te investeren.
Met zijn analoge display heeft de Horological Smartwatch een vrij conservatieve look erover. Wat is de doelgroep die Frederique Constant en Alpina richten op?
De doelgroep voor Horologische Smartwatches is zakenlieden en vrouwen die meer willen dan alleen de tijd op hun pols kunnen raadplegen. Het zijn klanten die eerder een 'simpel' kwarts horloge hebben gekocht, dus we hebben het over een markt van 21 miljoen Swiss Made horloges per jaar. We voorspellen dat 30-40% van deze Zwitserse horloge-industrieproductie in de komende drie tot vijf jaar naar slimme technologie gaat.
De doelgroep voor Horologische Smartwatches is zakenlieden en vrouwen die meer willen dan alleen de tijd op hun pols kunnen raadplegen. Het zijn klanten die eerder een 'simpel' kwarts horloge hebben gekocht, dus we hebben het over een markt van 21 miljoen Swiss Made horloges per jaar. We voorspellen dat 30-40% van deze Zwitserse horloge-industrieproductie in de komende drie tot vijf jaar naar slimme technologie gaat.
In comparison with its competitive environment, the Horological Smartwatch represents a relatively high investment. What will your customers get for their money?
Horological Smartwatches are priced €595-€1395 at retail (MRRP), so it’s the same price as typical chronograph quartz watches. However, Horological Smartwatches feature a GMT watch function, activity tracking, sleep monitoring, notifications, alarms, dynamic coach. The MMT-365 App on iOS or Android (both platforms!) gives plenty of information to aid self-improvement through features that can be individually adjusted, all for an exciting user experience well beyond an ‘old’ quartz watch.
Horological Smartwatches are priced €595-€1395 at retail (MRRP), so it’s the same price as typical chronograph quartz watches. However, Horological Smartwatches feature a GMT watch function, activity tracking, sleep monitoring, notifications, alarms, dynamic coach. The MMT-365 App on iOS or Android (both platforms!) gives plenty of information to aid self-improvement through features that can be individually adjusted, all for an exciting user experience well beyond an ‘old’ quartz watch.
Smartphones are obsolete after three or four years. What are the prospects for a Horological Smartwatch?
We worked hard to ensure longevity of Horological Smartwatches. With Over-The-Air (OTA) software updates, we can upgrade the firmware on Horological Smartwatches compatible with the latest smartphone technology and even add additional features. Moreover, the Horological Smartwatch calibre has a modular construction and so it is easy to exchange the PCB (printed circuit board) if hardware changes in the long term (10 years or more). New PCBs cost around 25 Swiss francs, so it’s very low cost.
We worked hard to ensure longevity of Horological Smartwatches. With Over-The-Air (OTA) software updates, we can upgrade the firmware on Horological Smartwatches compatible with the latest smartphone technology and even add additional features. Moreover, the Horological Smartwatch calibre has a modular construction and so it is easy to exchange the PCB (printed circuit board) if hardware changes in the long term (10 years or more). New PCBs cost around 25 Swiss francs, so it’s very low cost.
The first generation Horological Smartwatch was developed in collaboration with specialists in the US. For the second generation, Swiss skills predominate. What are the reasons for this?
In March 2016, the technology company behind the Horological Smartwatch decided to invest in a software team in Geneva. We felt that we needed a team of technology experts located close to the Swiss watch industry to be able to react fast to any developments. We have a highly capable team of firmware, iOS apps, Android apps and Cloud storage engineers located in Geneva, who exclusively work on Horological Smartwatches. This ensures rapid response, both for watchmaker training and for developing new smart watch functions.
In March 2016, the technology company behind the Horological Smartwatch decided to invest in a software team in Geneva. We felt that we needed a team of technology experts located close to the Swiss watch industry to be able to react fast to any developments. We have a highly capable team of firmware, iOS apps, Android apps and Cloud storage engineers located in Geneva, who exclusively work on Horological Smartwatches. This ensures rapid response, both for watchmaker training and for developing new smart watch functions.
Frederique Constant stands for affordable luxury in watches. Where is the Horological Smartwatch positioned in the broad spectrum between fine mechanical watchmaking and convenient quartz technology?
Design is the primary strength of a Horological Smartwatch. We choose to create a smart watch with a traditional watch dial and hands. Dials are finished with delicate patterns, applied hour markers, galvanised colors. Hands are diamond cut. These design details ensure that Horological Smartwatches look like luxury Swiss watches. This has been an essential requirement for Frederique Constant, since we do not believe that our customers are interested in wearing a smart watch with just a screen that is off most of the time, we do not believe in these ‘blank’ watches.
Design is the primary strength of a Horological Smartwatch. We choose to create a smart watch with a traditional watch dial and hands. Dials are finished with delicate patterns, applied hour markers, galvanised colors. Hands are diamond cut. These design details ensure that Horological Smartwatches look like luxury Swiss watches. This has been an essential requirement for Frederique Constant, since we do not believe that our customers are interested in wearing a smart watch with just a screen that is off most of the time, we do not believe in these ‘blank’ watches.
The people who buy a Horological Smartwatch entrust their personal activity and sleep data to a specially developed smartphone app. How does Frederique Constant ensure that such data cannot be misused?
MMT (Editor’s note: a spin-off that is separate from Frederique Constant and Alpina and therefore not part of the acquisition of the Frederique Constant Group by Citizen) runs the cloud in Switzerland, so it is governed by Swiss Privacy Laws. The Swiss are known for their discretion and their banking confidentiality. We have specifically chosen a cloud in Switzerland to be able to offer our customers the best privacy possible.
MMT (Editor’s note: a spin-off that is separate from Frederique Constant and Alpina and therefore not part of the acquisition of the Frederique Constant Group by Citizen) runs the cloud in Switzerland, so it is governed by Swiss Privacy Laws. The Swiss are known for their discretion and their banking confidentiality. We have specifically chosen a cloud in Switzerland to be able to offer our customers the best privacy possible.
The Horological Smartwatch certainly gives an indication of incoming calls or personal news, but cannot show the content because it has an analogue display. Is there a reason for the decision not to include a digital display?
Current models of Horological Smartwatches do not have digital display. Especially on classic watches, we feel that a display will not look good. We are however working hard on integrating a small digital display on future generations of Horological Smartwatches to give customers the option of having additional alphanumeric information on their watch. We believe that pure Horological Smartwatches and so called “Anadigit” smart watches will live side-by-side. The range of different Horological Smartwatches will be increased to offer multiple designs, which we know is an important driver of success in the watch industry.
Current models of Horological Smartwatches do not have digital display. Especially on classic watches, we feel that a display will not look good. We are however working hard on integrating a small digital display on future generations of Horological Smartwatches to give customers the option of having additional alphanumeric information on their watch. We believe that pure Horological Smartwatches and so called “Anadigit” smart watches will live side-by-side. The range of different Horological Smartwatches will be increased to offer multiple designs, which we know is an important driver of success in the watch industry.
How do you personally see the prospects for the smart watch in general and the Horological Smartwatch in particular?
We believe we are only at the beginning of the development of this category, which we think will have a huge role in the future. If we take the 21 million quartz watches produced today as a base, in 2020, six to eight million quartz watches produced in Switzerland will be smart. Some brands are already ahead in this new product category and investing heavily, others will still have to start or lose out on a major segment of the Swiss watch industry.
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We believe we are only at the beginning of the development of this category, which we think will have a huge role in the future. If we take the 21 million quartz watches produced today as a base, in 2020, six to eight million quartz watches produced in Switzerland will be smart. Some brands are already ahead in this new product category and investing heavily, others will still have to start or lose out on a major segment of the Swiss watch industry.
