Smartwatches | Technology & Active Elegance

How to choose a connected watch?

Four criteria guide your choice: use case, battery life, style and compatibility. For use, luxury connected carries watchmaking codes into notifications, multisport focuses on GPS and heart-rate tracking, hybrid blends mechanical hands with discreet sensors. Battery life is the second major criterion: pure touch 1-2 days, hybrid several months, titanium touch up to 6-12 months in solar mode. As for style, luxury connected (TAG Heuer Connected, Hublot Big Bang e) keeps watchmaking codes; pure touch models tip toward tech. Compatibility: iOS and Android are supported on premium models. For daily watchmaking-plus-smart wear, the hybrid remains the compromise most respected by enthusiasts.

Which connected watch for which profile?

Daily luxury + smartphone → 44 mm luxury connected
Preference for the mechanical → 40 mm hybrid
Intensive sport with GPS → 44 mm multisport
Long battery life → titanium touch like T-Touch
First connected purchase → 42 mm luxury connected
Health / tracking gift → wellness with ECG and sleep

The Auberi insight: on connected watches, the #1 criterion remains battery life — our clients largely prefer hybrids or titanium-touch models with multi-month autonomy over models that need recharging every two days.

Frequently asked questions

How does a connected watch differ from a traditional one?

The connected watch shows notifications, tracks heart rate, sleep and activity, and syncs with a smartphone. The traditional remains mechanical or quartz, with no digital interaction. The hybrid combines both: physical hands with integrated sensors. Connected models have limited battery life and software obsolescence.

Which watchmaking brands offer a connected watch?

TAG Heuer (Connected E5, E4), Hublot (Big Bang e, Square Bang e), Frederique Constant (Hybrid Manufacture), Tissot (T-Touch Connect Solar), Montblanc (Summit). Tech-side: Apple, Garmin (MARQ), Suunto. Our catalogue focuses on watchmaking brands that bring their know-how to the connected segment.

Is battery life a problem?

On pure-touch models (TAG Heuer Connected, Hublot Big Bang e), battery life is 1-2 days, like a smartphone. On hybrids (Frederique Constant), several months without recharging. The T-Touch Connect Solar reaches 6-12 months thanks to solar. Choose by your tolerance to charging.

Can a connected watch replace a mechanical one?

For watchmaking enthusiasts, no: the soul of mechanical (visible movement, multi-generation longevity, resale value) is absent from a connected. But the two can coexist: connected for sport and notifications, mechanical for occasions and daily watchmaking wear.

How does a mechanical-connected hybrid work?

At the core remains a quartz or automatic movement with physical hands. A sensor layer (heart rate, steps, sleep) and Bluetooth connection feed a smartphone app. The display stays analog: no notifications shown directly, but alerts via vibration or a discreet sub-dial.