Montblanc’s eStrap Turns A Luxury Watch Into A Smartwatch

Turn your watch into the best smartwatch.

One of the big problems with smartwatches, at least if you’re a watch enthusiast, is that, well, the functions are limited to the watch. If you want to put on a fancier or, being honest, less ugly watch, you lose all the benefits of having a second screen on your wrist. Montblanc, though, has figured out a way to have an elegant timepiece on your wrist without losing the functions of smartwatches.

Strap In

Namely, they engineered a smart strap for your watch. It goes on just like any other strap, and in fact you’d be hard pressed to tell the difference between it and any other strap for a luxury watch. The trick is at the clasp, which has been replaced by a small screen. That screen, which runs on a proprietary system that’s thankfully compatible with iOS and Android, does everything you’d expect a smartwatch to do. It tracks fitness, shows you emails and alerts, and generally lets you be a little more efficient with your time. But there are a few drawbacks.

Strapped Down

First of all, it’s only compatible with one of Montblanc’s watches, the Timewalker Urban Speed. Secondly, the band alone will run you a cool $300, but then again, the Urban Speed will cost you $3,600 just at a minimum, so an extra $300 probably isn’t a huge hardship.

Realistically, if smartwatches are going to catch on with the broader public, this is probably the way it’s going to happen. Let’s face it, the other option is to wear whatever the tech industry decides is stylish… and that’s probably not a good thing.