Smartwatches vs luxury watches – a brief comparison
The dawn of the 21st century has seen multiple technological marvels; smartwatches are one of them. A smartwatch is a variant of wearable technology; it is a computer in the form of a watch that one wears on his wrist. Smartwatches are constantly evolving and improving. Their popularity is increasing rapidly especially among the younger generation.
This gives rise to the question whether smartwatches will replace luxury watches? You may also wonder which watch should be your next purchase – a smartwatch or a luxury watch? In this article, Lido Watch Club has brought an analysis of both variants of watches. So let’s take a look.
Luxury watches vs Smartwatches – A Comparison
In order to draw a fair comparison between both watches, we have decided to evaluate the watches on the basis of the following criteria:
- Maintenance (recharging and battery life)
- Longevity
- Resale value
Maintenance (Recharging and Battery Life)
- Wearing a smartwatch is like having a minicomputer tied around your wrist. Your smartwatch keeps you connected to the world. It offers you the convenience to check your emails, make calls, keep track of fitness, and send messages. However, the grandiose of smartwatches ends as soon as the battery drains out.
Even the best smartwatches have a battery life of 3-5 days after which they have to be plugged in and rejuvenated.
- Luxury watches have a much simple and hassle-free mode of operation. Quartz watches have a battery life of three to five years. For mechanical movements, manually wound watches require periodic wounding either by hand or through a self-winding mechanism. Whereas automatic calibers require no extra effort to keep the watch ticking.
Therefore, luxury watches are low-maintenance and require less hassle for recharging compared to smartwatches.
Longevity and Value for Money
- The world of technology is frivolous in the sense that a new, better, and updated version comes out every now and then. The new version of the smartwatch is inundated with better screen displays, longer battery time, and enhanced user interface experience. With time, the old version becomes obsolete. The world of smartwatches requires constant upgrades.
This is not the case with luxury watches. They retain their value well as time passes. Luxury watches from high-end brands such as Rolex and Omega even appreciate in value over time. Luxury watches do not need to be upgraded with better models over and over again.
- Once bought, a luxury watch stays with the owner for a long time. It becomes a family heirloom which is passed on from generation to generation. The same sentimental value is not attached to smartwatches because they become redundant with time.
Resale Value
This point is linked with the longevity of both watches. Luxury watches retain their value well and have a high resale value. There is a robust market for the sale and purchase of preowned luxury watches. Special watch editions from high-end brands such as Rolex, Panerai, Patke Phillipe, and Breitling remain much in demand long after their initial release.
- Vintage and antique pieces of high-end luxury watches are loved amongst watch aficionados. They always remain high in demand.
Smartwatches operate on a completely different model. They retain their value for a short time. There is cut-throat competition among different brands and versions of smartwatches. If you resell a smartwatch, it will be sold at less than half the original price.
Verdict?
We have assessed the utility and desirability of smartwatches and luxury watches on the basis of three factors. The bottom line is that both watches serve different purposes. Your decision to either invest in a smartwatch or a luxury watch should be based on your needs and requirements. So invest wisely.
