Apple Watch high-end competitors are here: Luxury watchmakers gain ground in the smart watch battlefield

While the Apple Watch is yet to be released, the competition is mounting, as luxury watchmaker Montblanc has taken the first step to embrace wearable tech and add it to its high-end timepieces.

Integration is not yet as deeply embedded into the actual watch faces as we have seen from what’s currently on the market, let alone Apple’s own incoming wearable device, however, Montblanc’s approach may turn out to be smart nonetheless.

Montblanc’s e-Strap, is an interchangeable wristband, compatible with the Timewalker Urban Speed collection. The smart strap features an OLED monochrome 128x35 pixels, 0.9 inches display, which shows incoming calls, texts, emails, calendar items and other relevant updates from android devices, as well as iPhones, and even iPads. The e-Strap’s battery can last as long as five days, which is an important incentive.

While the technology embedded in the e-Strap might be far from groundbreaking, it does represent a huge stepping stone for watchmakers, perhaps even bigger than the introduction of quartz crystal technology.

What’s more important is the $300 price point, Montblanc is willing to offer, for a taste of things to come. While the price might sound steep for a wristband, the success of this accessory might just nudge the industry towards the development of smart wearable tech designed to complement, and not necessarily replace, mechanical movement. Since Montblanc’s average price point for a traditional luxury timepiece can be as high at 7,000 dollars, adding a simple electronic strap able to tether to a smartphone, is definitely an attractive plus for high-end customers.

Among some of the companies looking to create similar hybrids, Timex, Fossil and Tag Heuer are already looking to make deals with tech manufacturers like Qualcomm and Intel.