Is it wrong?
Today my son and I have driven to the beach hut. On looking at which watch to wear I grabbed my smartwatch as I knew we would be doing some walking and it is useful for counting steps.
On the drive down I got into conversation with my boy as to whether my samsubg watch was actually really a watch but rather just another device like a mobile phone?
We didn't really reach a satisfactory conclusion! I've had the smartwatch about three years and I've only been watch collecting for seven months. I wore the Samsung every day before my vostok came through the post. Now today is the first day I have worn it this year.
Several things have struck me since wearing it again.
Firstly it is very large and heavy. Bigger than any of my watches.
Secondly it is pretty ugly,no other way to describe it
Thirdly I have been disturbed by calls and messages appearing on my wrist that before my real watch affliction I uses to believe was a good thing!
Lastly and here is where I'm after your opinions, should I include this smartwatch in my collection or does it sit separately?
I have three Citizens with eco drives which I love as well as two casios so as I'm sure you will agree there is room for technology I'm a collection before we even start talking about spring drive movements etc?
I attach a picture of the potential offender as supporting evidence in the discussion....
An enthusiast and collector for two and a half years. Got it worse now than when I fell down the rabbit hole! The more I learn the greater my affliction becomes... A particular interest in titanium di...
A smart watch is a watch, a phone, a tracking device and so much more. It can sit at its own table or with the others.
As a culture we have to rethink out relationship with our electronic devices. I can't have my wrist vibrate as a call comes in. But, before I dump too much scorn on electronics, this trend started with the humble clock and later pocket watch. They are part of a continuum.
I would say that if it needs to be plugged in, it shouldn't be part of your collection.
im using apple watch before get into this hobby, and it is annoying to be honest lol. battery life isnt soo good, get distracted all the time, and battery is broken within 2 years. but it is necesarry to monitor heart rate when you do hiking or cycling, so now i have a cheap smartband from mi to monitor my cycling activity. it didnt sit at the watchbox like the other 😂
I would have to agree with @Aurelian on the idea of wearable technology spanning a continuum. A smart watch might be thought of as the next iteration in adding complications to watches. 😀 Initially, the time of the day was what a watch related to its owner. A date was added, along with a day, an alarm, a stop watch, a timer, time zones, a moon phase, a compass, etc. Consider all that has been added to quartz and digital watches, even more complications; atomic clock radio signal, true digital compass, altimeter, barometer, thermometer, step counter, tide graph, Blue Tooth, etc. A smart watch is just a bit further along the continuum that also includes Fit Bits and G Shocks with Blue Tooth and phone app controls.
A smartwatch still has its purpose, even though I fully agree: Something that beeps on my wrist is largely a solution looking for a problem at the current state of the technology, as at least for me it cannot fully replace my smartphone, and most smartwatches are not very attractive when the screen is not lit, in contrast to regular watches.
But I wouldn't fault somebody for wearing one. Heck, Apple outsells Switzerland as a whole as the number of watches are concerned. I'm sure plenty of people like them, and they must have their reasons. So yes, include it in your collection.
I honestly categorize it as a wearable device, because I use it for more functions than just telling the time (or day or date). Really depends on how you use it I think!
As a former runner and fitness nut I've had a few Smartwatches or wearable devices. Currently, I have a Amazfit Stratos and a Mi Band 6. Nothing wrong with either device and I use both. However, I don't really think of them as watches in the horological sense more as fitness devices. Yes they tell the time but so does my microwave, oven, laptop, stero, ... etc and I don't consider those products horology products or refer to them as clocks.
I would echo the annoyance of my wrist constantly vibrating with email and text notifications which is why I only wear those devices when working out. Never unplugging from that stuff just isn't healthy.
As a former runner and fitness nut I've had a few Smartwatches or wearable devices. Currently, I have a Amazfit Stratos and a Mi Band 6. Nothing wrong with either device and I use both. However, I don't really think of them as watches in the horological sense more as fitness devices. Yes they tell the time but so does my microwave, oven, laptop, stero, ... etc and I don't consider those products horology products or refer to them as clocks.
I would echo the annoyance of my wrist constantly vibrating with email and text notifications which is why I only wear those devices when working out. Never unplugging from that stuff just isn't healthy.
After thought ...
I find it interesting that a few anti-smartwatch reviewers love the G-Shocks coming out that are basically Smartwatches. I don't see the difference myself. Other than its G-Shock and not Apple or Samsung. Yet, G-Shock is owned by Casio who really is a technology company with a history of making an assortment of products not just watches.
Many thanks for the very interesting views. It seems generally that most have little issue with a smart watch forming part of a collection although I do get the view that it should not!
I do agree with the Continuum viewpoint, it makes sense to me that timepieces always have and always will be evolving!
This is my second Samsung watch due to the first one completely failing. But that doesn't mean I would ever collect them...it seems to me they could not be collected in the same way as automatics or particular brands of quartz.
I will keep my smartwatch next to my others but not in the box!!
As a former runner and fitness nut I've had a few Smartwatches or wearable devices. Currently, I have a Amazfit Stratos and a Mi Band 6. Nothing wrong with either device and I use both. However, I don't really think of them as watches in the horological sense more as fitness devices. Yes they tell the time but so does my microwave, oven, laptop, stero, ... etc and I don't consider those products horology products or refer to them as clocks.
I would echo the annoyance of my wrist constantly vibrating with email and text notifications which is why I only wear those devices when working out. Never unplugging from that stuff just isn't healthy.
Hi!
Yes I agree with you! I used the Samsung on a daily basis for running and swimming to keep track but now I wear a vostok to swim and a casio for running. I don't get the data but I can live with that. Certainly true the smartwatch is far removed from horology!
Here's how you should treat it:
Brilliant! Perhaps I should...
Hi!
Yes I agree with you! I used the Samsung on a daily basis for running and swimming to keep track but now I wear a vostok to swim and a casio for running. I don't get the data but I can live with that. Certainly true the smartwatch is far removed from horology!
Last summer I went down that path also, using my basic G-Shock for my runs. Interestingly enough last summer was the first summer I barely did any running.
I'm a data junky and find the detailed tracking motivational. This year I'm embracing the Amazfit Spartan Smartwatch when it's warm enough to start running again. For me it's the best tool for the job and why do work arounds to avoid using the best tool for the job. I'll just go back to my beloved actual watches after the runs are over.
I will take a look at that Amazfit Spartan. I'm less into data by the sounds of it and have a series of runs where I know the pace distance and time which never varies much so not really missed using the Samsung. Bit you have got me thinking so I will take a look!