From smartwatches to hybrids, here are timepieces that mate tech with style

Keeping up with the times: Abhik Sen lists five timepieces that mate technology with style

Michael Kors Access Grayson
 
The review sample of this good-looking watch came with a blue ion-plating. Its crown is flanked by two rectangular switches and all three have good tactile feedback . The chunky design is definitely targeted at men. If you dress to impress, this watch won’t be found wanting.
 
After pairing this with my Android phone, I loved swiping through the menu using the crown (and thus staying away from the brilliant full-round AMOLED screen, which picks up fingerprints easily).
 
The top button gives one access to three specialised apps — My Social, where one can log on to Facebook and Instagram to use photos as wallpaper; My Looks to set watch faces; and My Modes that lets one use two separate faces, say, for night and day.
 
The watch does basic tasks of tracking steps, displaying notifications, et cetera. Google Assistant can be summoned by pressing the crown and the microphone identifies your voice even if you speak softly. Both buttons flanking the crown can be customised.
 
The Michael Kors Access Grayson is your answer if you are looking for a stylish watch, which is also connected.
 
Price: Rs 26,995
 
Emporio Armani Connected
 
This watch oozes class and sophistication. While you get the standard charging puck, this watch also bundles in a case. The review sample was in black with a metallic strap and two customisable buttons flanking the crown.
 
Emporio Armani seems to be targeting men with this model. But despite having a big dial, the watch doesn’t feel chunky or heavy. In fact, this is one of the lightest metal fashion watches we reviewed. Having said that, the watch is not meant to be a running companion it’s more like stylish everyday wear. Besides notifications, it just bundles in a pedometer with no heart rate monitor or GPS. The watch pairs quite easily with both Android and iPhone (though Android Wear doesn’t work that well with Apple devices).
 
The all-round AMOLED screen is a fingerprint magnet, so it’s better to use the crown in conjunction with the shortcut buttons. And while the Google Assistant works well, it’s tricky to get it to follow voice commands on a noisy street. The screen and the in-built watch faces are nice. The battery lasts over a day. The Emporio Armani Connected is for those who love the label and don’t want to compromise on looks. The connected part is the icing on the cake.
 
Price: Rs 29,995
 
Fossil Gen 3 Q Explorist

The smoke-steel review unit is butch and might be a handful for smaller wrists. It’s heavy and chunky and looks solid. The understated elegance makes it fit to wear to a boardroom or a bar. The bezel ring is a nice touch though it doesn’t move. But we loved the classic Fossil watch faces.
 
The watch paired easily with an Android phone, but it played hooky while pairing with an iPhone (plus the battery drains rapidly when used with an iPhone). Performance was smooth with the Android. It also has a nice round AMOLED full-screen. But you need to crank up the brightness to read in sunlight.
 
The watch has the usual functions of a smartwatch, sans a heartbeat monitor and a GPS tracker. Responsive but inaccurate, the hard-of-hearing Google Assistant kept cropping up throughout the day. And the battery does run out of juice on a long day.
 
The Fossil Gen 3 Q Explorist is for Android phone users who want a classic, understated look in a smartwatch, which can be fiddled with, albeit for short durations.
 
Price: Rs 19,995
 
Guess Connect
 
This watch looks very similar to a mechanical watch (with a connected notification screen) we reviewed earlier.

It looks classic with a single crown, and when paired with one of the analog-style watch faces, one could mistake it for a mechanical timepiece. While the rose gold and blue review sample is light and comfortable for all-day wear, you might prefer a fitness tracker for your daily jog (this watch is too flashy). The watch does the standard job of an Android Wear — displays notifications, tracks steps and takes voice commands.
 
While the single crown design is easy on the eye, the touch response of the bright screen is very impressive. A choice of custom screens and many combinations (the company claims there are over a 100) ensures that the watch matches your wardrobe. The watch performs unobtrusively — though it does lack stuff fitness enthusiasts like, such as a heart rate monitor and GPS — and has enough juice to get through a normal day (with some to spare).
 
The Guess Connect is for those who want a smartwatch with classic looks and who aren’t too concerned with its fitness-tracking functionality.
 
Price: Rs 24,500