Bet you had those moments where you debated between a real Casio and a fake Rolex that looks so damn real. Now add to the list of confusion, this surreal Rolex Smartwatch Concept. Honestly, it was about time! The industry has to understand that watches is an über luxury accessory – probably the only indulgence a man has. To ask him to sacrifice his complicated chronograph for a gizmo on his wrist, is not the best of propositions.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O-md7b8UCws
The clever Rolex Smartwatch sports a classic chronograph look, replacing the dead-giveaway of an OLED-display. The watch industry works on the fixed formula of not messing with the design language and cues of successful collections. Which is why you will notice that most often complications are added or subtracted while the overall look stays consistent.
Getting back to this concept, the hybrid-design showcases an analog dial along with digital elements. The transparent watch hands glow in the dark and can function when the battery is empty. Luminosity is a key factor for watches, being able to read time in the dark or deep sea is one of the selling points, hence the illuminated buttons guarantee better legibility in darkness.
From the looks of it, we have a black and flat iOS 7-ish homescreen but it could also host Android. As for the charging, the watch uses a wireless charging coil placed in the bottom part of the strap, which is then placed on its stand. To sum it up, we have here a great idea that aligns with branding and image perception of watches, so if something like this does make it to the marketplace, it can be successful.
