Watches have been around for centuries, and they are still relevant today. In this opinion, we will focus on two types of watches: the traditional watch and the connected watch. We will discuss what makes them different, how they are used, and how they can be used in the future.
Some peoples say that traditional watches are a dying trend, and the connected watch is making the most impact in the market. But I don't believe; I believe that both have some unique qualities in them, and as you may know, I have mentioned in a story (part of Hacker Noon's Meet the Writer series of interviews) that I love watchmaking.
Connected watches are typically smartwatches that can track fitness and health data, send messages, make phone calls, play music, and more. They also have features similar to traditional watches, such as analog faces or classic designs. There are many different brands of connected watches on the market today with different features and prices, so there is something for everyone.
Traditional watches are not obsolete just because there are connected watches available. I prefer traditional watches because they are more aesthetically pleasing and have a better feel.
Key Features of Connected Traditional Watches:
Material
Traditional watches use the highest quality materials, such as sapphire crystal, titanium bodies, leather, etc. Traditional quartz or mechanical watches, like jewelry, are unique and long-lasting, and the design of its dial and overall aesthetics will never bore you. On the other hand, smartwatches are made of low-cost materials, with the majority utilizing stainless steel and plastic bodies with mineral or gorilla glass.
Design
There isn't much of a difference in the dial size of modern smartwatches because they have large screens. Traditional watch dials are made with durability, custom-designed, and drawn to reflect the specific watch style. Smartwatches are slimmer than traditional watches (it depends). You interact with hundreds of years of watchmaking history because traditional watch companies look to old designs for modern inspiration. Traditional watches have the best aesthetics and lavish design features. Going to wear a mechanical watch signifies that you are wearing a sophisticated engineering masterpiece (Swiss Made, huge history of brands, etc.) that took many hours or even years to create because watchmaking is an astounding craft.
Functionalities
In my opinion, functionality is the only thing where traditional watches are behind connected watches. They have a lot of features that make them attractive to the customers. Using them as a fitness tracker, heart rate monitor or even a phone is possible. Besides that, they are compatible with many different devices like smartphones, tablets and other computers.
Traditional watches are less functional than connected ones, and they have only the basic features such as time and date display, alarm clock and stopwatch function. They also have others great complications. Do not forget that traditional watches are measuring instruments used to measure time and are tools (tool watches).
Battery Life
The biggest drawback of a smartwatch is its battery life which is much shorter than traditional watches. This means you will have to charge it every day or two days if you want it to last for more than a day. On the other hand, Traditional watches can operate anywhere from 1 to 3 years on a single battery. However, this is not the case with all watches. It depends on what features are used and how often they are used. I prefer automatic and manual-wind watches.
Which one to Choose: Connected Watches or Traditional Watches
With the advancement of technology, traditional watches are being replaced with connected watches. However, there are still some cases where traditional watches are better than connected watches.
The first thing to consider is functionality. Connected watches have a lot of features that traditional watches don't have, and they can do a lot more than just tell time. But if you don't need all those features, you should go for the traditional watch. I would also recommend you to choose traditional watches if you need an aesthetically pleasing design, durable material, or more.