We round up the motherload of fashion smartwatches and hybrids
If you thought Fossil’s 2017 wearable offering was impressive, chances are you’ve seen nothing yet. The company is going even bigger this year, and with signs that wearables are helping turn the company around, why wouldn’t it? In 2016 it aimed to get 100 wearables out the door from its range of fashion brands; last year it was 300. This year? Fossil Group hasn’t given us a number, but we can expect it to match last year’s efforts – and likely add to it.
Last year we saw a nice mix of Android Wear smartwatches and hybrids, as well as a growing number of better options for women from Kate Spade, Tory Burch and DKNY.
So what of 2018? At CES the company rolled out its Spring collection and announced a load of wearables for the first half of the year, but there will be plenty more to come. Expect big things at Baselworld in March too. For now, here are all the Fossil wearables launched in 2018 so far – and the ones we know are on the way.
Skagen Falster
Like Kate Spade, Skagen is dipping into Android Wear in 2018 with its first full-screen smartwatch, the Falster. The simplicity of the design crosses over to the software where Skagen has created some special faces that play off that same minimalism.
The model with metal mesh straps costs $275 while the leather strap version retails for $295 – and they’re on sale now.
Michael Kors Access
For Spring 2018, Michael Kors has added a dash of colour to its collection. The Access Sofie, designed for women, now comes in four new colours including a new two-tone finish, a rose-gold tone, a brilliant sky blue and a white silicone-wrapped style. Meanwhile the Access Grayson (the men’s option), you can choose from new silver-tone, black and dark green shades.
Kate Spade Monterey
Kate Spade has a new hybrid watch style, the Monterey, a $229 41mm watch that we first spotted at IFA and is now on sale via Kate Spade’s online store. The Monterey has what Kate Spade calls “glitz” numeral indices, with sparkling pavé stones on the watch face and the signature ‘hooray!’ is present and correct.
The three styles are gold tone and black leather strap; rose gold tone case and navy leather strap; and a rose gold tone case with beige leather strap.
Fossil Q Annette and Q Machine
Fossil itself has added two new hybrids for spring 2018: the Q Annette for women and the Q Machine for men.
The Q Annette is a 38mm watch that’s 12mm thick and comes in four colours, all with super skinny 7mm interchangeable straps and bracelets. There’s silver, gold and rose-tone cases to choose from with leather straps in blue and pale pink plus mesh bracelets in silver and gold finishes. Prices range at $155.
The Q Machine, meanwhile, is a 45mm stainless steel watch that’s 13mm thick and comes with a range of 24mm interchangeable straps and bracelets. It looks like there is the choice of black, textured black and silver finish cases with both metal bracelets and leather straps in tan and dark brown. The Q Machine starts at $155 and moves up depending on the choice of strap.
Diesel On Mega Chief
The new styles of the distinctive-looking 48mm Diesel On Mega Chief watch for men include: stainless steel case with black leather strap; stainless steel case with brown leather strap; two black steel styles with bracelets and one gold-tone steel case and bracelet. Prices start at $230 for these, and they’re on sale now.
Armani Exchange Connected
Armani Exchange’s Connected range has got a refresh for spring 2018. The $190 mens’ hybrid now comes in four new styles including silver tone case with mesh silver tone strap; gold tone case with a mesh gold tone strap; silver tone case with brown leather strap and gold tone case with black leather strap.
DKNY Minute
Just a couple of new colours for the existing – but very funky – $155 DKNY Minute hybrid watch for Spring 2018. Each comes with two strap options: white stainless steel with white quilted leather strap plus bright pink silicone strap; black stainless steel with black quilted silicone strap plus white quilted silicone strap and stainless steel with navy quilted leather strap plus bright blue silicone strap.
Misfit Path
Misfit’s hybrid for 2018 is an upgrade on last year’s Misfit Phase. The face has been given a bit of a stylistic upgrade, though the notification colour wheel is now MIA. Most significantly it’s just 36mm wide, making the Misfit Path the smallest hybrid smartwatch from the company so far.
It still supports notifications, alerting you with a combination of vibrations and hand movements, as well as smart link features that can be activated with the side buttons. The Misfit Path is set to go on sale in the Spring, so hold tight.
Tory Burch Collins
The Tory Burch Collins womens’ hybrid has been treated to three new straps: a leather strap; a rubber strap for workouts and – in line with Tory Burch’s spring accessories line-up – and a printed nylon strap inspired by interior designer David Hicks. The colour combos are navy/bright blue and bright red/tan leather.
Michael Kors Access Scout
New for 2018, the Michael Kors Access Scout joins the still-relatively-fresh Gage, Slim Runway, Reid and Grayson. It’s a “classic” 43mm watch, which comes in both silver and black tone cases, and the option of black and tan leather straps. All of which are on sale now for $275 apiece.
Kate Spade New York Scallop
Kate Spade is also upgrading to Android Wear with the New York Scallop. The 42mm case is quite large for a women’s watch but the round 1.19-inch AMOLED display has a very respectable 390 x 390 resolution.
The stainless steel case also comes in three finishes: gold-tone with black leather strap; rose gold-tone with a vachetta leather strap; and rose gold-tone with a rose gold-tone steel bracelet. Prices start at $295 but move up for the bracelet strap.
Emporio Armani Connected
Emporio Armani is here with its first women’s hybrid, a 34mm watch with a rose gold-tone case and a silver sunray dial with rose gold-tone indices. At 44m wide and 12mm thick it’s not exactly dainty, but it’s still pretty elegant, and costs $345.
The two new mens hybrid styles are both 43mm watches, one of which is a $295 dark green steel case with black leather strap; the other a $345 gunmetal case and bracelet. All come with interchangeable 12mm bracelets and straps.
(wareable.com, https://goo.gl/F2WS5x)