Affordable Watches: SmartWatch meets Fashion Watch, Introducing Guess Connect

Smartwatch Week continues as take a look at  the Guess Connect watch. With this watch, we continue to see a recurring pattern of partnerships between traditional watchmakers and more tech-savvy brands. In this case, Guess has teamed up with Martian Watches, an award-winning developer of fashionable smart watches. It is an interesting partnership that yields a very Guess-like look with a technological side.

Guess remains true to a fashionable watch essence by assuring the integrated technology is replaceable, while the timepiece itself can withstand the changing tides. The Guess Connect’s design mimics the brand’s global best-seller style RIGOR. With two available sizes (45mm and 41mm), this watch is comprised of a stainless steel case and either a silicone or genuine leather band and is available in a variety of colors and styles.

 

Equipped with a Japanese Quartz movement, the Guess Connect maintains the fashion-forward look of the brand, while at the same time it incorporates  Martian’s dual mode functionality. The Guess Connect has an analog quartz battery that will last up to 2 years, and has an additional power source to handle the technical functions that can last from 3-5 days. This additional power supply is easily charged with a micro USB cord.

The upper and lower push pieces  serve as the command and select functions to access the up-to-date technological functions. By use of Classic Bluetooth technology, and Bluetooth LE (low energy/power usage – yet slightly smaller communication range), the wearer can give commands such voice to text, placing and receiving calls and setting appointments and reminders. All audio components are capable through Martian’s integration of a noise-cancelling microphone and audio speaker. An OLED (light emitting diode)  display rests on the bottom of the  dial for legible notifications.

Wearers can also receive alerts from a wide variety of apps and programs from both iOS and Android smart phones. Taking it one step further, notifications can be customized with vibration patterns to characterize each type of alert. Accessing each notification is as easy as just a tap on the watch glass. Should the wearer chose to remain a little less connected to the outside world, he or she can put the watch in a “do not disturb” mode.

It is unclear just how the brand promises to upgrade the technology inside the watch once it becomes obsolete.  Perhaps a service request could be a simple solution. One of the downfalls of this watch, that we see, is that within the smart watch community, the Guess Connect is lacking the ever trendy activity and sleep trackers, and the “get active”  alerts.  Compatible with smartphone apps,  though, perhaps these functions can somehow be accessed as the Guess Connect line continues to develop. All in all, Guess has managed to develop an elegant intelligent timepiece that will tastefully be sold at starting price of $399.