Two smart new approaches to timekeeping.
Most people think of the Apple Watch when they hear the phrase “smartwatch,” but there’s a whole new class of related watches worth considering. Sometimes called “connected watches,” these timepieces bring some of the functionality of a phone to your watch, without straying too far from basic timekeeping functions. Breitling has made a particularly compelling version, the Exospace B55 (pictured, above left). It looks classically Breitling—aviation styling is at its core—but by pairing it with a smartphone, the watch gains added functionality. Time, date, alarms and time zones can be updated from the phone, while the watch can upload various split times and chronographic functions to the app and is able to notify you when you receive calls, texts and calendar alerts.
A less ambitious but stylish alternative for someone who wants to try connected watches is the Calendar Watch by What? Watch (pictured, above right). It adds just the right amount of functionality to be useful, but not so much that you feel like your entire digital life is on your wrist. The Calendar Watch pairs with your Google or Outlook calendars and subtly displays upcoming appointments on its face. You can also set it to give you a low-key vibrating warning when a new meeting is coming up.
Breitling Exospace B55, $8,900, breitling.com
Calendar Watch by What? Watch, $299, whatwatch.com
