-Traditional Watches Get Smarter, Smartwatches Get Sleeker

BASEL, Switzerland, March 23, 2017 /PRNewswire/ — Fossil Group (NASDAQ: FOSL) will launch more than 300 connected watch styles across 14 brands in 2017, the company announced today. From slimmer and smaller hybrid smartwatches to full-round touchscreen smartwatches with custom AMOLED displays and branded micro-apps, this unprecedented portfolio of fashion-first tech accessories makes one thing clear: By reimagining the watch experience, Fossil Group has, quite simply, reinvented the watch.

Fossil Group is showcasing its latest designs at its European Headquarters in Basel, Switzerland during Baselworld, the world’s leading watch and jewelry fair.

“Many of our brands that first entered the wearables space less than a year ago are now branching out with new styles, colors and types of wearables, all showcasing the perfect fusion of fashion and technology,” said Greg McKelvey , chief strategy and digital officer, Fossil Group. “Our unrivaled speed to market is only possible through our relentless investments in innovation, our unmatched scale and operational capabilities, and our strong partnerships with the world’s most admired fashion brands.”

“This explosion of new styles is further proof that the entire purpose of the watch is changing,” McKelvey added. “Our customers are no longer wearing a watch simply to tell time, they are wearing it to stay connected to the people and activities they care about most while remaining fashionably on-point. We’re thrilled to offer them so many ways to maintain those connections, and to do it with beauty and uncompromised style.”

Since launching its first smartwatch in Fall 2015, Fossil Group has brought to market more than 150 touchscreen smartwatches, hybrid smartwatches and activity trackers throughout 40 countries and in 20 languages for brands including Chaps, Diesel, Emporio Armani, Armani Exchange, Fossil, kate spade new york, Michael Kors, Misfit and Skagen. New Fossil Group brands entering the wearables space in 2017 include DKNY, Marc Jacobs , MICHELE, Relic and Tory Burch .

Here are highlights of the new Fossil Group styles:

• Hybrid Smartwatches: Fossil Group’s line-up of 2017 hybrid smartwatches – connected watches with discreet notifications and activity tracking that look like traditional watches – are now slimmer, sleeker and smarter. With new design variations and more functional side-button pushers that can be assigned to specific tasks (such as, “ring your phone,” take a selfie, track a goal or control music), the hybrid smartwatch is increasingly versatile and customizable.
  • DKNY – New to the wearables space, introducing the DKNY MINUTE hybrid smartwatch collection (Holiday 2017)
  • Marc Jacobs – New to the wearables space, introducing the Riley hybrid smartwatch (Fall 2017)
  • MICHELE – New to the wearables space, introducing the MICHELE Connected hybrid smartwatch collection (Holiday 2017)
  • Relic – New to the wearables space, introducing the Duncan men’s hybrid smartwatch collection and the Eliza women’s hybrid smartwatch collection (Fall 2017)
  • Tory Burch – New to the wearables space, introducing The Collins hybrid smartwatch (Holiday 2017)
  • Armani Exchange – Armani Exchange Connected line of hybrid smartwatches extends its collection to include two new colorways of the silicone style (Fall 2017) and will introduce five dress styles (Holiday 2017)
  • Chaps – Chaps Connected line of hybrid smartwatches will include new colorways (Fall 2017)
  • Diesel – Diesel On collection of hybrid smartwatches will include new colorways and a new platform based on the popular Mega Chief (Fall 2017)
  • Emporio Armani – Emporio Armani Connected line of hybrid smartwatches will include new platforms and new colorways (Fall 2017)
  • Fossil – Q Accomplice and Q Activist are the slimmest designed Fossil Q hybrid smartwatch cases to date and feature customizable pushers (Summer/Fall 2017)
  • kate spade new york – An update to the bestselling traditional watch, the new Holland hybrid smartwatch has an even more feminine look, complete with star detailing and sparkling pave stones (Fall 2017)
  • Misfit – Four new colorways will join the Phase hybrid smartwatch collection (April 2017)
  • Michael Kors – Michael Kors Access will expand its collection of hybrid smartwatches by offering two new colorways for ladies (Fall 2017) and new colorways and platforms for men (Holiday 2017)
  • Skagen – 19 new styles and four new platforms set to launch throughout 2017, including Jorn (men’s), Hald (women’s), Signatur (men’s) and Signatur t-bar (women’s), representing the slimmest wearables the brand has released to date

“As an innovator in the fashion watch space, we knew that Fossil Group had the ability to launch a new category of watches that would be extremely relevant to a new generation of watch wearers,” says Steve Evans , executive vice president, Fossil Brand. “We pride ourselves as being ‘watch geeks’ and became obsessed with transforming the watch category as it stands. We knew there was a need for an evolution, and we felt that no other company in the industry could surpass our commitment and ability to revolutionize the watch space. We are confident that the launch of hybrid smartwatches across multiple brands this year will be a transformative moment in the watch industry, and we look forward to exciting and educating customers globally that Fossil Group has a (smart) watch for every wrist.”

• Touchscreen Smartwatches: Fossil Group’s new 2017 touchscreen smartwatches, compatible with both iOS® and Android phones, are powered by Android Wear 2.0, Google’s smart watch platform and a Qualcomm® Snapdragon Wear 2100 processor. They feature one-of-a-kind, full-AMOLED, high-resolution screens that preserve the integrity of sophisticated watch design while enabling crystal clear illumination. Customers will personalize the watch faces by choosing from millions of branded dial designs developed and programmed by Fossil Group. In addition, Android Wear 2.0 allows users to customize key information to appear on their watch face, create shortcuts to play music, call a car or monitor activity goals. Additionally, user’s third-party apps can be downloaded through the on-watch Google Play Store.
  • Diesel – Diesel On will include its first touchscreen smartwatch available in five outsized styles (Holiday 2017)
  • Emporio Armani – Emporio Armani Connected will include its first touchscreen smartwatch (Beginning September 2017)
  • Fossil – Q Venture and Q Explorist are the brand’s slimmest, most feature-packed touchscreen smartwatches to date (Fall 2017)
  • Michael Kors – Michael Kors Access Sofie and Michael Kors Access Grayson are two new introductions to the touchscreen smartwatch collection (Fall 2017)
  • Misfit – Misfit Vapor is powered by Android Wear 2.0 and includes heart rate monitoring, GPS, standalone music functionality, and is swimproof to 5ATM (Late-Summer 2017)

“Our new touchscreen smartwatches are better in every way – from the screen resolution and fast, wireless charging to the case size and branded micro-apps,” said Eric Anderson, executive vice president of Portfolio Brands, Fossil Group. “And, while 2016 was a banner year for our smartwatch innovation and introductions, the tangible results of Fossil Group’s innovation are creating tremendous opportunity for our wearables in 2017.”

• Touchscreen Smartwatch Micro-apps: Branded smartwatch micro-apps – custom apps designed with each brand’s smartwatch customer in mind and without the need to be tethered to a smartphone – will be rolled out with each brand’s new touchscreen smartwatch. Enabled by Android Wear 2.0 and built by Fossil Group’s internal software development team, each micro-app for Fossil, Michael Kors, Emporio Armani and Misfit Vapor touchscreen smartwatches will offer unique functionalities in line with the brands’ DNA and target consumer in mind. For example, the Michael Kors Access “My Social” micro-app will allow the customer to use a photo from his/her Instagram as the touchscreen smartwatch dial background.

“Fossil Group is uniquely positioned to succeed. We bring the rich history in fashion, portfolio of brands, design prowess and sophisticated software development that’s required to drive strong sales in this competitive market,” said McKelvey.

About Fossil Group, Inc.
Fossil Group, Inc. is a global design, marketing, distribution and innovation company specializing in lifestyle accessories. Under a diverse portfolio of owned and licensed brands, our offerings include fashion watches, jewelry, handbags, small leather goods and wearables. With our newest owned brand, Misfit, we’re bringing style and technology to the high-growth connected space. We’re committed to delivering the best in design and innovation across our owned brands, Fossil, Michele, Misfit, Relic, Skagen and Zodiac, and licensed brands, adidas, Armani Exchange, Burberry, Chaps, Diesel, DKNY, Emporio Armani, Karl Lagerfeld , kate spade new york, Marc Jacobs , Michael Kors and Tory Burch . We bring each brand story to life through an extensive wholesale distribution network across approximately 150 countries and nearly 600 retail locations. Certain press release and SEC filing information concerning the Company is also available at www.fossilgroup.com .

*The Google Assistant is not available in all languages. Android, Android Wear, Google Play, Google Fit and other marks are trademarks of Google Inc.

Android Wear and Android are trademarks of Google Inc.

The post Fossil Group Reimagines the Watch appeared first on Core Sector Communique.

A brand renowned for its unique timepieces, Kerbedanz shares the name of its founder and president Tigran Kerbedanz, derived from a word that means leader and precursor. Two notions that fit perfectly with the spirit of the brand: a leader in its devotion to fine craftsmanship and a precursor in its concepts. By creating one-off pieces or very limited series, Kerbedanz takes watchmaking in unexplored directions that embrace all manner of symbols. Celtic Dog is inspired by a symbolic animal that is associated with the moon, and which for the Celts represents the hunter, the warrior, or a messenger from beyond. The book that accompanies this tourbillon watch keeps this memory alive with explanations of the legends and symbols that surround Celtic dogs. Individually numbered, 41-piece limited series.

Movement

Mechanical hand-wound, KRB-01 tourbillon calibre, 27 jewels, 28,800 vib/h (4 Hz), twin barrels, 120-hour power reserve, special Kerbedanz engraving on the back of the movement

Functions

Hours, minutes

Case

18K white gold, 43 mm Crown between 1 and 2 o’clock Anti-reflective sapphire crystal, front and back Water-resistant to 50 metres (5 bar/165 ft)

Dial

Solid white gold, blue enamel, Celtic Dog bas-relief Interlocking curves in white gold, in the style of the La Tene culture and alluding to the Celtic Dog 3-layer dial, hand-crafted and hand-decorated by Kerbedanz Tourbillon carriage between 7 and 8 o’clock

Bracelet/strap

Genuine alligator with 18K white gold folding clasp

RADO

HyperChrome Plasma Diamonds Limited Edition

Those who appreciate the lustre of diamonds need look no further: the Rado HyperChrome Diamonds collection now offers a new, limited edition of 600 models featuring the unparalleled high-tech shine of plasma ceramic. No model is more refined than this new addition with 56 glittering diamonds on the rose gold coloured bezel, encircling the dial and making it a pleasure to check the time. The perfect watch for a stroll in the city or down the red carpet, a masterful monobloc case houses an automatic movement which brings the watch to life with every move you make. With its cool and warm tones this timepiece is the ideal finishing touch for any outfit. Optimum comfort and a streamlined, fluid case construction with specially developed, sleek side inserts, combine to bring a flash of brilliance to even the most discerning of wrists. Elegantly eye-catching, the Rado HyperChrome family is the ultimate all-occasion timepiece.

Movement

Mechanical automatic, ETA 2681 calibre, 83/4 lines, 25 jewels, 38 hour power reserve, black oscillating rotor, decorated movement

Functions

Hours, minutes, seconds, date

Case

Polished plasma high-tech ceramic, 36 mm Rose gold coloured PVD coated stainless steel inserts, crown and bezel set with 56 diamonds (0.834 ct) Curved sapphire crystal with anti-reflective coating on both sides and see through case back Water-resistant to 5 bar (50 m / 165 ft)

Dial

Grey Rose gold coloured applied hour-markers and hands with white Super-LumiNova® Date window at 3 o’clock

Bracelet/strap

3-row polished plasma high-tech ceramic, titanium 3-fold clasp with Ceramos openers

HAMILTON

Chrono Worldtimer Quartz

All pilots need a chronograph, while aerobatics pilots require particular functions, such as the precise marking of the four minutes corresponding to a freestyle programme – which is why the latter appear in yellow on the dial. This watch equipped with a quartz movement specially developed for Hamilton also offers a whole series of functions that are highly useful both in flight and on the ground. A simple press on the 10 o’clock pusher switches it between chronograph and Worldtimer functions, a change clearly visible on the dial by means of the mode-selection indicator at 2 o’clock. The 24 timezones are printed on the inner bezel ring. Finally, the model also features a day/night indication as well as a countdown engraved on the bezel.

Movement

Quartz, H-41e

Functions

Hours, minutes, seconds, date, chronograph, worldtimer, day/night indicator

Case

Satin-finish 316L stainless steel, 45 mm Sapphire crystal with anti-reflective treatment on both sides Water-resistant to 10 bar (100 m / 330 ft)

Dial

Black Chrono/worldtimer indicator at 12 o’clock (activated by the 10 o’clock pusher) 120-minute counter at 10 o’clock and small seconds at 6 o’clock Date window at 6 o’clock Timezones on the inner bezel ring

Bracelet/strap

Stainless steel, black robber or black leather

EMPORIO ARMANI

Emporio Armani Automatic Ladies

Emporio Armani conveys an inimitable style that has forged its success. Its designer Giorgio Armani now expresses this unique signature through a feminine timepiece combining the brand’s pure, uncluttered aesthetic codes and Swiss watchmaking expertise, with an automatic movement beating at its heart. The elegant pink gold-plated case reveals lines inspired by the Art Deco movement, while 82 diamonds light up the sides of the case. The mother-of-pearl dial is graced with understated hour-markers and the crown is set with a smoky brown quartz cabochon. Subtle and refined right the way to its smallest details, the watch is fitted with a sapphire caseback revealing its mechanical movement beating out a time imbued with ageless elegance and Swiss Made quality.

Movement

Mechanical automatic STP1 – 11 calibre

Functions

Hours, minutes, seconds, date

Case

Pink gold-plated stainless steel, polished finish, 34 mm 82 diamonds (0.5102 cts) set along the sides of the case Crown with smoky brown quartz cabochon Anti-reflective sapphire crystal, front and back Water-resistant to 30 metres (3 bar / 100 ft)

Dial

White mother-of-pearl Date window at 6 o’clock

Bracelet/strap

Single-linked pink gold-plated steel, folding clasp with Emporio Armani logo

CK CALVIN KLEIN

Calvin Klein Alliance Lady

The Calvin Klein Alliance Lady goes straight to the essential. Pure, flowing lines, inspired by contemporary urban architecture, instil timeless elegance. Light dances on the notched steel bezel and on the bracelet in polished and brushed steel. Set against a dial that has been stripped of the superfluous, hands and hour-markers contribute to the effortless reading of time. Mother-of-pearl brings a feminine touch, in four subtly iridescent shades: white, beige, anthracite grey and blue.

Movement

Quartz, ETA F04.111

Functions

Hours, minutes, seconds, date

Case

316L stainless steel, polished and brushed, two colours, 5N PVD treatment Sapphire crystal Water-resistant to 30 metres (3 bar / 100 ft)

Dial

White, beige, anthracite grey or blue mother-of-pearl Polished steel hands and hour-markers with 5N PVD treatment, coated with SuperLuminova Date at 3 o’clock

Bracelet/strap

Polished and brushed steel with folding clasp

Other versions

The men’s version is proposed in four iterations, also with a quartz movement: two-colour polished and brushed steel with silver or black dial, or polished and brushed steel with silver or black dial.

BERGSTERN

Bergstern Sport

Bergstern is for ambitious men who know what they want and how to get it: a philosophy epitomised by the Bergstern Sport chronograph. This is a watch that will never shirk a challenge, and its character and reliability are felt in every single detail. Immediately, the eye focuses on the imposing case, topped with a robust bezel that radiates strength and masculinity. Nor does the bright blue dial, accented by a guilloché motif, go unnoticed. Its generous, luminescent hour-markers ensure perfect legibility while the red sweep seconds hand makes its mark. The same red defines the chrono counter hands to further highlight the sporting personality of a chronograph cut out for competition.

Movement

Quartz, Ronda 5030.D calibre

Functions

Hours, minutes, seconds, date, chronograph

Case

316L steel, 45 mm Rotating bezel Reinforced mineral crystal Water-resistant to 100 metres (10 bar / 330 ft)

Dial

Blue with guilloché motif Luminescent hands and hour-markers Date window at 4 o’clock

Bracelet/strap

Blue rubber

L’DUCHEN

Perseides

The primordial ocean is a mythical element in which the Earth and space were conceived. The dials of the Perseides timepieces by L’Duchen, fashioned in astral blue, white or black mother-of-pearl, reflect this mysterious phenomenon of pure creation. A moonphase indicator and shimmering shooting stars in three dimensions illuminate these delicate compositions. Their brilliance is further highlighted by the zircons set into the bezel on the steel case. Each timepiece is brought to life by a quartz movement and finished with a supremely elegant leather strap.

Movement

Quartz, Ronda 708 calibre

Functions

Hours, minutes, seconds, date, moon phases

Case

316L stainless steel, with or without PVD treatment, 38 mm Bezel set with zircons L’Duchen logo on the crown Sapphire crystal Water-resistant to 50 metres (5 bar / 165 ft)

Dial

Astral blue, white or black mother-of-pearl Sun, moon and stars in three dimensions Date window at 6 o’clock

Bracelet/strap

Leather, butterfly clasp with the L’Duchen logo

ARTYA

Son of Sound Skulls & Bones

As always, the independent ArtyA brand never does things in half measures. Having popularised the skull in the watchmaking world, it now delivers an extreme interpretation of this motif with its Skulls & Bones model. The entirely hand-sculpted skulls stud the entire watch from dial through case to bracelet. Designer Yvan Arpa gives new meaning to this symbol by replacing it within an artistic dimension. A first skull appears in the centre of the dial, with six other hand-sculpted skulls performing a macabre dance around it. Carved into the steel Bezel, a serie of bones, crosses, totems, guitars and pistols echo the skulls on the bezel, accentuating the three-dimensional effect. The massive, deliberately provocative bracelet shatters any conventions and takes the Skulls & Bones into an unprecedented creative dimension, since there can on longer be any talk of a watch and its bracelet. The model IS its bracelet and the bracelet IS the model.

Movement

Mechanical automatic, oscillating weight equipped with three special 38 mm bullet cartridges, 42-hour power reserve

Functions

Hours, minutes, seconds

Case

316L steel, 47 mm Entirely hand-engraved bezel Sapphire crystal and transparent back Water-resistant to 50 m (5 bar /165 ft)

Dial

6 hand-engraved skulls in black-streaked polished steel

Bracelet/strap

Silver with hand-crafted skulls

The post BASELWORLD 2015 : the countdown has begun appeared first on Core Sector Communique.