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The new Montblanc Summit 2+ Smartwatches look so much like traditional timepieces that even stalwarts of old-school, mechanical horology might be drawn to them. That’s the idea, anyway, but with exponentially more capabilities than the spring-driven, time-telling-only watches loved by analog enthusiasts, the Summit 2+ is thoroughly “21st-century.”
Building on Montblanc’s existing smartwatch model, the latest version is LTE-equipped, meaning it can connect to a cellular network independent of a companion phone and make and receive calls. Using Google’s Wear OS, it also offers access to the universe of tech and apps you expect of connected devices.
Those traditional-looking watch faces are, in fact, displayed on an AMOLED touchscreen that stays constantly illuminated — and they’re among the thousand-plus screens that users can choose from. This isn’t the first smartwatch to offer such a combination of features, but Montblanc claims it’s the the “first luxury cellular watch.”
The Summit 2+’s 43.5mm case comes in four finishes (steel, rose gold-toned, bronze-toned, or DLC black-coated), but Montblanc adds more to the hardware than a pretty skin. A range of sensors offer functionality for outdoorsy pursuits with an included speedometer, altimeter, barometer, compass and GPS.
Even traditional watch lovers have to acknowledge how far smart technology has come, and maintaining a traditional aesthetic like the Summit 2+ does will make wearing a connected watch all the more palatable for them. This might be a “luxury smartwatch,” but prices (not yet confirmed) expected to be around the $1,000 mark of previous versions are competitive next to the the premium Apple Watch Edition or the TAG Heuer Connected.
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