Traditional Watches Get Smarter, Smartwatches Get
Sleeker
BASEL, Switzerland,
March 23, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Fossil
Group (NASDAQ: FOSL) will launch more than 300 connected watch
styles across 14 brands in 2017, the company announced today. From
slimmer and smaller hybrid smartwatches to full-round touchscreen
smartwatches with custom AMOLED displays and branded micro-apps,
this unprecedented portfolio of fashion-first tech accessories
makes one thing clear: By reimagining the watch experience, Fossil
Group has, quite simply, reinvented the watch.
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Fossil Group is showcasing its latest designs at its European
Headquarters in Basel, Switzerland during Baselworld, the world's
leading watch and jewelry fair.
"Many of our brands that first entered the wearables space less
than a year ago are now branching out with new styles, colors and
types of wearables, all showcasing the perfect fusion of fashion
and technology," said Greg McKelvey,
chief strategy and digital officer, Fossil Group. "Our unrivaled
speed to market is only possible through our relentless investments
in innovation, our unmatched scale and operational capabilities,
and our strong partnerships with the world's most admired fashion
brands."
"This explosion of new styles is further proof that the entire
purpose of the watch is changing," McKelvey added. "Our customers
are no longer wearing a watch simply to tell time, they are wearing
it to stay connected to the people and activities they care about
most while remaining fashionably on-point. We're thrilled to offer
them so many ways to maintain those connections, and to do it with
beauty and uncompromised style."
Since launching its first smartwatch in Fall 2015, Fossil Group
has brought to market more than 150 touchscreen smartwatches,
hybrid smartwatches and activity trackers throughout 40 countries
and in 20 languages for brands including Chaps, Diesel, Emporio
Armani, Armani Exchange, Fossil, kate spade new york, Michael Kors,
Misfit and Skagen. New Fossil Group brands entering the wearables
space in 2017 include DKNY, Marc
Jacobs, MICHELE, Relic and Tory
Burch.
Here are highlights of the new Fossil Group styles:
- Hybrid Smartwatches: Fossil Group's line-up of
2017 hybrid smartwatches – connected watches with discreet
notifications and activity tracking that look like traditional
watches – are now slimmer, sleeker and smarter. With new design
variations and more functional side-button pushers that can be
assigned to specific tasks (such as, "ring your phone," take a
selfie, track a goal or control music), the hybrid smartwatch is
increasingly versatile and customizable.
- DKNY – New to the wearables space, introducing the DKNY
MINUTE hybrid smartwatch collection (Holiday 2017)
- Marc Jacobs – New to the
wearables space, introducing the Riley hybrid smartwatch (Fall
2017)
- MICHELE – New to the wearables space, introducing the
MICHELE Connected hybrid smartwatch collection (Holiday 2017)
- Relic – New to the wearables space, introducing the
Duncan men's hybrid smartwatch collection and the Eliza women's
hybrid smartwatch collection (Fall 2017)
- Tory Burch – New to the
wearables space, introducing The Collins hybrid smartwatch (Holiday
2017)
- Armani Exchange – Armani Exchange Connected line of
hybrid smartwatches extends its collection to include two new
colorways of the silicone style (Fall 2017) and will introduce five
dress styles (Holiday 2017)
- Chaps – Chaps Connected line of hybrid smartwatches will
include new colorways (Fall 2017)
- Diesel – Diesel On collection of hybrid smartwatches
will include new colorways and a new platform based on the popular
Mega Chief (Fall 2017)
- Emporio Armani – Emporio Armani Connected line of hybrid
smartwatches will include new platforms and new colorways (Fall
2017)
- Fossil – Q Accomplice and Q Activist are the slimmest
designed Fossil Q hybrid smartwatch cases to date and feature
customizable pushers (Summer/Fall 2017)
- kate spade new york – An update to the bestselling
traditional watch, the new Holland
hybrid smartwatch has an even more feminine look, complete with
star detailing and sparkling pave stones (Fall 2017)
- Misfit – Four new colorways will join the Phase hybrid
smartwatch collection (April
2017)
- Michael Kors – Michael Kors Access will expand its
collection of hybrid smartwatches by offering two new colorways for
ladies (Fall 2017) and new colorways and platforms for men (Holiday
2017)
- Skagen – 19 new styles and four new platforms set to
launch throughout 2017, including Jorn (men's), Hald (women's),
Signatur (men's) and Signatur t-bar (women's), representing the
slimmest wearables the brand has released to date
"As an innovator in the fashion watch space, we knew that Fossil
Group had the ability to launch a new category of watches that
would be extremely relevant to a new generation of watch wearers,"
says Steve Evans, executive vice
president, Fossil Brand. "We pride ourselves as being 'watch geeks'
and became obsessed with transforming the watch category as it
stands. We knew there was a need for an evolution, and we felt that
no other company in the industry could surpass our commitment and
ability to revolutionize the watch space. We are confident that the
launch of hybrid smartwatches across multiple brands this year will
be a transformative moment in the watch industry, and we look
forward to exciting and educating customers globally that Fossil
Group has a (smart) watch for every wrist."
- Touchscreen Smartwatches: Fossil Group's new 2017
touchscreen smartwatches, compatible with both iOS® and Android™
phones, are powered by Android Wear™ 2.0, Google's smart watch
platform and a Qualcomm® Snapdragon Wear™ 2100 processor. They
feature one-of-a-kind, full-AMOLED, high-resolution screens that
preserve the integrity of sophisticated watch design while enabling
crystal clear illumination. Customers will personalize the watch
faces by choosing from millions of branded dial designs developed
and programmed by Fossil Group. In addition, Android Wear™ 2.0
allows users to customize key information to appear on their watch
face, create shortcuts to play music, call a car or monitor
activity goals. Additionally, user's third-party apps can be
downloaded through the on-watch Google Play™ Store.
- Diesel – Diesel On will include its first touchscreen
smartwatch available in five outsized styles (Holiday 2017)
- Emporio Armani – Emporio Armani Connected will include
its first touchscreen smartwatch (Beginning September 2017)
- Fossil – Q Venture and Q Explorist are the brand's
slimmest, most feature-packed touchscreen smartwatches to date
(Fall 2017)
- Michael Kors – Michael Kors Access Sofie and Michael
Kors Access Grayson are two new introductions to the touchscreen
smartwatch collection (Fall 2017)
- Misfit – Misfit Vapor is powered by Android Wear™ 2.0
and includes heart rate monitoring, GPS, standalone music
functionality, and is swimproof to 5ATM (Late-Summer 2017)
"Our new touchscreen smartwatches are better in every way – from
the screen resolution and fast, wireless charging to the case size
and branded micro-apps," said Eric
Anderson, executive vice president of Portfolio Brands,
Fossil Group. "And, while 2016 was a banner year for our smartwatch
innovation and introductions, the tangible results of Fossil
Group's innovation are creating tremendous opportunity for our
wearables in 2017."
- Touchscreen Smartwatch Micro-apps: Branded
smartwatch micro-apps – custom apps designed with each brand's
smartwatch customer in mind and without the need to be tethered to
a smartphone – will be rolled out with each brand's new touchscreen
smartwatch. Enabled by Android Wear™ 2.0 and built by Fossil
Group's internal software development team, each micro-app for
Fossil, Michael Kors, Emporio Armani and Misfit Vapor touchscreen
smartwatches will offer unique functionalities in line with the
brands' DNA and target consumer in mind. For example, the Michael
Kors Access "My Social" micro-app will allow the customer to use a
photo from his/her Instagram as the touchscreen smartwatch dial
background.
"Fossil Group is uniquely positioned to succeed. We bring the
rich history in fashion, portfolio of brands, design prowess and
sophisticated software development that's required to drive strong
sales in this competitive market," said McKelvey.
About Fossil Group, Inc.
Fossil Group, Inc. is a
global design, marketing, distribution and innovation company
specializing in lifestyle accessories. Under a diverse portfolio of
owned and licensed brands, our offerings include fashion watches,
jewelry, handbags, small leather goods and wearables. With our
newest owned brand, Misfit, we're bringing style and technology to
the high-growth connected space. We're committed to delivering the
best in design and innovation across our owned brands, Fossil,
Michele, Misfit, Relic, Skagen and Zodiac, and licensed brands,
adidas, Armani Exchange, Burberry, Chaps, Diesel, DKNY, Emporio
Armani, Karl Lagerfeld, kate spade
new york, Marc Jacobs, Michael Kors
and Tory Burch. We bring each brand
story to life through an extensive wholesale distribution network
across approximately 150 countries and nearly 600 retail locations.
Certain press release and SEC filing information concerning the
Company is also available at www.fossilgroup.com.
*The Google Assistant is not available in all languages.
Android, Android Wear, Google Play, Google Fit and other marks are
trademarks of Google Inc.
Android Wear™ and Android are trademarks of Google Inc.
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