Canadian start-up Wearatec is developing a "smart clasp" for analogue watches, aiming to let users leverage smartwatch functionality without having to give up their traditional timepieces.
"An image on the screen of a smartwatch will never replicate or replace the beauty and craftsmanship one sees on the face of a mechanical watch. However, in our digitally driven world, watches lack functionality and connectivity," the company says.
Wearatec's Link smart clasp is designed to replace the folding metal clasp commonly found on high-end analogue watches, and is fitted with a curved screen on its outside, allowing the user to view data and notifications on the inside of their wrist.
The device and its accompanying app are compatible with iOS, Android, and Blackberry mobile operating systems.
As with a standard smartwatch, the smart clasp delivers a wide range of notifications to its users, for example alerting them of incoming calls, texts, e-mails, calendar alerts, and push notifications from social networks and other apps. Not fitted with a speaker, the device alerts the user by vibrating.
Link is also fitted with NFC technology, allowing it to be used for making contactless payments, collecting loyalty points, or unlocking doors or devices.
The device can also be used in place of a wearable fitness tracker, as it measures health data such as heart rate and steps taken.
Recommended for use with metal straps that can be resized by adding or removing links, Link is available in various sizes to fit watches with straps of 18-26mm thick, as well as a trendy selection of colours similar to that of Apple's iPhones: gold, rose gold, polished chrome and stainless steel, and black.
The project, which has been in the works for two years now, began gathering crowd-funding on Indiegogo last month, and plans to ship pre-orders in December.
The clasp can be pre-ordered worldwide via Indiegogo for $249 (about R3 700), and will retail for $449 (about R6 700) once it officially launches.
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