TAG Heuer has been touted as the next big watch brand to enter the luxury smartwatch market. LVMH’s Jean-Claude Biver, who is the head of the watch unit, has acknowledged this particular watch as the most likely candidate in the development of a superior smartwatch. In an interview in Zurich, he stated that no other brands in the portfolio of the company would be as suitable as the iconic TAG Heuer. This is the watch that has the strength of character as well as the design that could help in its development into a smartwatch.
Biver Comments on Possible ‘Fun’ Tag Heuer Smartwatch
TAG Heuer could well be on the way to unveiling a stunning new smartwatch design, but we will have to wait until next year for any firm news on the development. Biver also commented on the price factor, stating: “It’s the brand that might have the best potential and the best price range. Don’t believe we would do a connected watch in other brands.”
Since the arrival of Apple’s smartwatch, the industry has waited with bated breath for another luxury watch design in the smartwatch bracket, as the market for this kind of watch swelled to $1.8 billion in 2014. Forecasters predict that this could increase to as much as $10 billion by 2018.
Indeed, traditional watches might be on the way out as smartwatches start to come down in price and with more and more being made. The other question is about the real purpose of smartwatches: are they for communications or are they for fun? Biver has suggested that the fun use would be the way forward for a successful smartwatch design for TAG Heuer, rather than focusing on the communications side.
TAG Heuer Set to Present New Models at Baselworld
TAG Heuer is set to present new watch models at the Baselworld event in March 2015, so it is a possibility that a smartwatch might be unveiled. If so, it is sure to be an elegant and practical timepiece, combining the traditional style TAG Heuer is famed for with a nod to the more ‘fun’ and modern smartwatch trend.
It seems TAG Heuer is confident that the new smartwatch industry will not affect its business, as the aims are so different. Classic watch buyers will still want a traditional timepiece, even if the smartwatch industry does, as predicted, experience a new boom. In fact, Biver himself predicted a further increase in profits for 2015 for all watch designs, so there seems no reason why TAG Heuer might not unveil a smartwatch to rival other smartwatches from top brands such as Apple. The future of watchmaking is going to be very interesting as new technology is developed and introduced to the market.
