IWC enters wearable tech market with new device

IWC Schaffhausen has announced the launch of a new device which will allow wearers to track their activity and connect to other devices.

IWC Connect is a small circular device that can be attached to the straps of the brand’s mechanical sports watches, allowing them to track their activity and to interact with other connected devices.

The brand said that idea behind the Connect is to enable owners of IWC timepieces to control their connected environment directly from the wrist while still maintaining the “integrity” of a traditional timepiece.

Georges Kern, CEO of IWC Schaffhausen, said: “Seeing that many of our customers and brand ambassadors are wearing connected devices alongside their IWC watches, we chose to work with a like-minded digital technology company to develop an elegant, aesthetically complementary solution that eliminates the need to have additional devices on the opposing wrist to your IWC.

“But, and this is essential, we do not touch our beautiful watches – an ‘IWC’ stays a mechanical handcrafted timepiece. We’ve engineered an intelligent design solution which perfectly integrates and underlines our product worlds.”

IWC is just one of many traditional watch brands to respond to the launch of the Apple Watch and the growth of the smartwatch industry, including Tag Heuer who announced a partnership at Baselworld with Google and Intel to create an Android Wear powered smartwatch.