A smartwatch tsunami hit the watch industry in the months that followed the launch of Apple’s first wearable device in 2015. The most prominent riposte from the steeped in tradition Swiss watch industry came from TAG Heuer with its Connected watch in November 2015.
Powered by 1.6 GHz dual-core Intel Atom Z34XX chip, flanked by 1GB of RAM and 4GB of storage, it featured a massive 46 mm grade 2 titanium case and ran on the Android Wear platform.
This year, the Swiss brand unveiled the second generation Connected Modular 45, a smartwatch with a modular concept that allowed users to swap the smartwatch with a mechanical module and customise it with a choice of straps, lugs and bezels. And later this summer, TAG Heuer launched a limited edition version of this smartwatch designed in collaboration with Dubai Department of Tourism & Marketing (Dubai Tourism).
Now encased in 45 mm grade 5 titanium, the watch is depth-rated to 50 meters and comes with an engraving of the Dubai logo on the caseback. Powered by Android Wear 2.0., the Dubai edition features three exclusive watch faces.
The first one is an ode to the “City That Never Sleeps” and has a metallic finish and with numerals in a shade of blue specific to the Dubai branding. The second watch face “The Land of Desert and Sea” suggests an ocean or desert-like vibe and changes slightly through the day. The third “Your Time, Our Essence”, focuses on symbols that represent Dubai and its culture. A unique icon such as the Burj Khalifa or Burj Al Arab will appear on the dial for each hour.
In addition to these exclusive watch faces, the watch also has a TAG Heuer studio app that lets users create their own dials that riff on existing models in the brand’s mechanical line. The watch’s battery lasts about a day and a little more depending on usage.
This smartwatch is limited to just 200 pieces and is priced at Dh7,860. An additional mechanical module featuring the Caliber 5 automatic movement can be purchased for Dh6,760.
TAG Heuer Connected Modular 45 Dubai Specifications:
CASE: 45 mm, Grade 5 Titanium
OS: Android Wear 2.0
STRAP: Calf leather with rubber lining and vulcanized rubber
LIMITED EDITION: 200 pieces
PRICE: Dh7,860
