Wearables renaissance

Looking suave in sweatpants is no mean feat and even more so with gadgets replacing amulets as accessories. But the geeky look of bulky black smartwatches is on its way out and in its place is a new era of wearables that do more than just measure body rhythms – they are also in step with the latest design trends, making them perfect for fashionistas who love technology and men who swear by style. Here’s a whole new range of chic wearables:

Bellabeat Leaf

Designed for the ladies, Bellabeat Leaf tracks activity, sleep and menstrual cycles. It can be worn as a necklace, a bracelet or a clip and is made with recyclable American ashwood in a neutral beige colour combined with stainless steel. It boasts of a six-month battery life and 14-day memory, with wireless syncing facility and built in alarms.

Price : US$ 119.99 (approximately ₹8,150)

Available at : www.bellabeat.com

MICA

MICA (My Intelligent Communication Accessory) is a bracelet that fuses luxury jewellery with wearable technology and had audiences at New York Fashion Week in a tizzy. With 18k gold details, snakeskin, pearls and semi-precious stones, this accessory looks every bit the statement piece that it is. A collaboration between Opening Ceremony and Intel, this smart bracelet allows you to view messages, your calendar, and alerts from curated VIP contacts.

Price : US$ 495 (approximately ₹33,625)

Available at : http://www.openingceremony.us/

Ringly

When jewellery and technology become best friends it looks something like this. Semi-precious stones such as emerald and sapphire meet Android or iOS syncing capabilities in this ring that connects to your phone via Bluetooth and lets you receive customised notifications through a vibration and a subtle light on the side. It alerts you to emails, messages and calls you might miss when your phone is in your bag and also works for notifications on apps such as Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, Snapchat, among others.

Price : US$ 195 onwards (approximately ₹13,237)

Available at : https://ringly.com/

Samsung Gear S2

A sleek timekeeper that comes in a variety of bands and watch faces makes the Samsung Gear S2 easy to blend with most outfits. Checking the weather, your heartbeat, replying to texts or playing songs can all be done at the turn of the bezel (the grooved ring holding the cover of the watch-face). A collaboration with designer Alessandro Mendini brings humour and colour into the range, with watch-faces and watch bands that can complement your personal style.

Price : Starting at ₹22,900

Available at : www.samsung.com

Pebble Time

Round At 7.5mm thick, this is one dainty companion for the active city dweller. Keep your smartphone aside and take stock of events, texts, app alerts, incoming calls, fitness, and track your sleep patterns all in a single glance. Quick-change bands and downloadable watch-face designs let you match your watch to your look in seconds. It also boasts of a two-day battery life with full recharging in 15 minutes. We definitely want to let this one wow us from up close.

Price : US $249.99 onwards (approximately ₹16,969)

Available at : www.pebble.com

Fossil Q

Intel technology meets a classic timepiece that tracks your activity and fits your style. The Fossil Q series consists of display and non-display smartwatches and activity tracker bracelets. Crafted in stainless steel cases, these wrist essentials feature dials in multiple colours and interchangeable straps. Notifications are engineered with Intel Innovation and powered by the FOSSIL Q app. The non-display wearables use Bluetooth technology to connect to your phone. When you receive a call, text or email, you’ll be alerted with a gentle buzz and flashing LEDs. Strut around in style while your watch tracks your steps, distance and calories burned.

Price : ₹12,733 to ₹15,643

Available at : www.fossil.com

Manika Dhamais a freelance writer and journalist based in Dubai

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