For its first sports watch for women, Hermès stays faithful to the distinctive, offbeat design principles that characterise all its products. Epitomising simplicity – with a twist - the Hermès Cut watch is not quite a square, not quite a circle, but rather strikes a rounded, angular silhouette of its own.

Creative director of Hermès watches, Philippe Delhotal, is a master of the discreet design touch, here naming the watch after the mirror polished ‘slices’ on the left and right sides of the satin-finished case, which lend the watch its distinctive form. Typography, too, is carefully considered, with the imperfectly rounded numbers eschewing a traditional symmetry.

Unusually for Hermès, there is no leather, with the watch available on metal bracelets or a playful, easily interchangeable selection of brightly coloured rubber straps.

£12,550, from hermes.com

This article appears in the October 2024 issue of Wallpaper*, available in print on newsstands from 5 September on the Wallpaper* app on Apple iOS, and to subscribers of Apple News +. Subscribe to Wallpaper* today

Panerai draws on its nautical heritage with the release of the Radiomir Eilean Experience Edition watch, in a piece that encompasses nautical-inspired Italian design codes.

The new watch, limited to 50 pieces, is inspired by the classic form of the yacht, Eilean, designed and created by boat builder William Fife and restored by Panerai. Originally built in 1936, its history is interlinked with that of Panerai, which designed the first Radiomir case shortly after.

It is a natural tribute for Panerai, which began by supplying timekeeping instruments to the Italian Royal Navy. This new watch unites both this craftsmanship and technical accuracy, while staying consistent to the design of the original Radiomir with a case crafted in both patinated steel and bronze, as well as details such as the divided hour hand.

At 45mm, this new piece cuts a slimmer silhouette, the surface of its organic form adapting over time thanks to the bronze on the bezel, crown and caseback, which will take on its own unique patina, an homage to the repurposed metal salvaged from the Eilean. Elsewhere are other nautical nods, from the textured surface of the blue dial reminiscent of the ripples on a boat’s teak deck, to the engraving on the side of the case, which replicates the dragon emblem on the Eilean’s bow. A focus on legibility is translated into the uncluttered face and Super-LumiNova Dial.

The watch comes with a raft of experiences, from the immersive to the digital, with owners of the watch offered the chance to sail on the Eilean along the Amalfi Coast. Owners will also receive an NFT, which comes with a unique artwork, amongst other benefits.

It is an exciting first step into the metaverse for the brand. ‘Technology is the next frontier offering limitless potential, and Panerai is at the leading edge in that arena,’ says CEO Jean-Marc Pontroué. ‘Through our blockchain digital wallet, and creation of our first NFTs, the brand will use dynamic new measures to respond to our customers and allow them to verify ownership of their treasured Panerai watches.’

INFORMATION

panerai.com

British watch brand Bremont has put the accelerator on its automotive associations with a new watch produced in partnership with Williams Racing. The Bremont WR-22 draws on the links between the two brands for a watch that encapsulates sporty design codes.

‘The partnership with Williams is very natural,’ says Bremont co-founder Giles English. ‘They are a brilliant, innovative team with a wonderful history and we share many of the same values and ambitions. Technically we are very closely aligned using the same CNC-milling machines to manufacture parts, and many of our machinists actually come from the automotive and F1 industry, so we are fortunate to have that shared skillset. We also have exciting ambitions to machine parts for one another and establish an apprentice scheme between our businesses.’

The new watch weaves Williams’ design identity throughout, with the blue and white hues of its colour palette making a contemporary foil for the retro accents of the otherwise cleanly legible dial. The branding itself is kept to a minimum, restrained to the custom rotor, which is inspired by a car wheel rim and embellished with the Williams logo. ‘The design of the new WR-22 features the design codes of both of our brands. It is immediately recognisable as a Bremont Chrono, showcasing our passion for cars through the technical features, retro-racing-inspired sub-dials and Alcantara strap, whilst incorporating the Williams design codes and colour scheme,’ English adds.

Special editions of the watch also come with a Race Day experience: the Bremont Williams Racing Box Set, limited to 45 pieces, contains a pair of racing-inspired watches and a Williams Racing Formula One experience. ‘Rather specially, each of the watches comes with a historic Williams Racing wheel nut too, as certified by Williams themselves,’ English says.

INFORMATION

bremont.com

Sports watches have come a long way since their humble beginnings; now so much more than a recorder of your stats, the best ones promise to be both a fitness companion and a handy tool for your downtime too. Today’s sports watches will not only look after your health, but also virtually coach you to do better (see our guide to wearable tech and biowearables for more suggestions), offer expert tips and sync with your emails and texts.

Garmin ‘Fēnix 7 Sapphire Solar’ is a well-rounded sports watch

Take the Garmin ‘Fēnix 7 Sapphire Solar’, which not only gives you standard heart and pulse rate information but is also on hand as a running coach, advising on particulars such as the challenges of the terrain. A range of carefully considered built-in sports apps also allows you to track your performance across activities including swimming, running, biking, hiking, rowing, skiing, golfing, surfing and indoor climbing.

A sporty watch design and special features offer a well-rounded user experience. Ski extras will map out your ascent and descent as you tackle a mountain, providing stats to study later. An additional chest strap studies the effect of your alpine exercise session, while surfers may find a camera that captures the waves they ride useful. Mountain bikers and HIIT fans will enjoy tracking their performance, with scores given to beat next time. A map feature is handy for those who need to physically plan their workout.

Functionality is key, with a solar charging feature that tops up the battery between charges, providing 22 days of battery life when in smartwatch mode. Extensive health features put wellness front and centre, with sleep and stress monitoring and respiration and hydration tracking providing a view of your overall health. The watch is not just for sports use – features encompass everything you may need for daily life, from a music app and notifications that let you receive your texts and emails to your wrist, to contactless payments and safety features that can share your location with close contacts in the event of an emergency.

INFORMATION

garmin.com

Tudor draws on its diving watch history for the Pelagos FXD model, a new Tudor watch created in partnership with a specialist unit of the French Navy. Tudor, which launched the first modern professional divers’ watch in the 1950s, regularly supplied the French Navy with watches through to the 1980s, a history now revived.

‘Tudor provided diving watches to some of the largest navies in the world for decades,’ the brand tells us. ‘The relationship with the French Navy specifically, for its scale and duration, is an emblematic example of professional divers relying on Tudor watches to perform their duty. For Tudor to be able to reconnect with this heritage, to officially design a watch to unique specs with active duty combat swimmers and tell the “then and now” story, together with the French Navy, is very special. So special that we couldn’t possibly have told only a part of it.’

This new sporty piece is the result of a collaboration with the combat swimmers of the Commando Hubert unit, nodding to their complex requirements with a host of slick, functional features. In this new Tudor watch, fixed strap bars are machined into the main body of the watch itself, adding a toughness as well as reshaping the familiar silhouette of the case. ‘Cutting and finishing the strap channel was an entirely new process and took some iterations to perfect,’ the brand says.

Also new in the watch design is the rotating bezel that eschews the classic divers’ watch standard in favour of the underwater navigation codes utilised by combat swimmers. Divers are required to reach a location underwater, without surfacing, following a planned route while connected together in pairs. The divers must complete a series of swims, timed exactly, hence the need for a bezel that makes setting up and monitoring each crucial countdown effortless.

While historically, the French Navy had the watches delivered without straps – fitting them to their own straps or bracelets – this design comes with the single-piece fabric strap that has been supplied with the watches since 2010. For this new watch band in polyethylene woven ribbon, with its self-gripping fastening system, comfort is key.

INFORMATION

tudorwatch.com

Runners and swimmers take note: sophisticated upgrades in sports watches make for the best chance of hitting your personal best. The Tag Heuer Connected is a case in point – already a user-friendly sports watch, updates to its app mean both swimmers and indoor runners can intricately analyse, and consequently improve, their performance.

‘When going to the pool, swimmers love to have both the summary and details about their swim session: count the number of laps they are doing, how long each lap lasted, have statistics on swim types they used for each lap, and summary of their session and so on. This is important information to help them improve over time; the new TAG Heuer Swimming application provides all this, and clients love it,’ explains Teddy Florent, managing director – Connected Watch at TAG Heuer. Those running indoors will be able to access more detailed information on their heart rate level and pace which, when taken into account with the calories burned, will paint a wider picture of the run’s intensity.

The new additions to the app build on the features of 2020’s Connected Watch, which offered analysis tools for golfers, cyclists, runners and walkers. Swimmers can now see their number of laps, total distance and interval breakdowns as well as a detailed analysis of strokes and pace. Swimmers can also discover the efficiency of each lap thanks to a performance indicator which calculates the seconds and strokes in a fixed distance.

As well as the useful technicality of the watch, simple design codes ensure its aesthetic isn’t compromised. ‘We wanted to offer a sports tool but one with refinement, elegance and a unique design,’ adds Florent. ‘When it comes to hardware, our high standards on thinness, lightness and look sometimes conflict with the strong tech specs: waterproofness, GPS and heart rate, for example. Our design and our hardware teams work hand in hand years ahead of the launch of a new collection to challenge all conflicting requirements, and allow time to come up with creative ideas to provide the best of all worlds

INFORMATION

tagheuer.com

The latest iterations of the Chopard Happy Sport watch recall the elegant design codes of the original, which innovatively paired stainless steel with diamonds. First conceived in 1993 by Chopard co-president Caroline Scheufele as a sports watch for women, the design offered both practicality and a refreshingly cheerful edge, and became a classic of the house.

The newly unveiled Happy Sport The First watches rethink this classic piece in two limited editions. Key design accents of the original watch endure, with a fluid ribbon of steel ‘pebbles’ remaining as a tactile and comfortable bracelet. The new timepieces’ proportions, too, are an important component, with the 33mm-diameter case designed according to the principles of the golden ratio, and framing a round face.

Freely moving diamonds first appeared in Chopard’s collections in 1976, and the playful gemstones are at the heart of the Happy Sport The First pieces too. Free to cut a sparkling trail around the face, a series of diamonds sit – untethered – between the sapphire crystal layers of the dial.

In a sustainably minded move, the watch case is now crafted in Chopard’s specially developed Lucent Steel A223 – an anti-allergic and bright steel that is made from 70 per cent recycled metal – and frames a technically accomplished new movement.

A new partnership, too, marks the next era for the Happy Sport, with the brand unveiling Julia Roberts as the face of the classic watch. It’s a fitting nod to Chopard’s links with cinema (the company has been an official partner of the Cannes Film Festival since 1998), and wider support of the arts. ‘It was her and nobody else!’ says Scheufele of the partnership. ‘Julia Roberts was the only person I felt could convey the spirit that I see in Happy Sport.’ 

The two new watch editions are certainly an elegant way to put on a happy face. 

INFORMATION

chopard.com

In 1912, one of Emile Hermès’ four daughters was photographed wearing a pocket watch on her wrist, securely held in place with a bespoke strap of leather from her father’s saddle-making workshop. It marked the start of a horological flirtation for Hermès, which culminated in the creation of a watchmaking division in 1978.

Based in the Swiss town of Bienne, the watchmaking division of Hermès has since grown to encompass a workshop solely focused on creating leather straps and another that produces in-house movements. An Hermès watch is characterised by a clean design that belies the robustness of the whole. It is a point simply drawn in the lines of the new Hermès ‘H08’, which takes its name from the rounded forms of the font. The negative space of the 0 and endless loops of the 8 underpin the geometrical whorls of the case, which juxtaposes a circular dial with its softened edges. The convex font, more voluptuously drawn then the blunt minimalist numerals of the Slim d’Hermès, are another nod to the cushion-shaped whole.

In its emphasis on a comfortable cut and tactile materials, it is consistent with the codes set out by artistic director of menswear Véronique Nichanian, who this season rethought leisurewear with hooded parkas, fleece jackets and relaxed cuts. The casual theme continues in the muted hues of the ‘H08’, which takes on a sporty bent when paired with straps in satin-brushed titanium, webbing or vivid colour pops of rubber.

INFORMATION

This article features in the May 2021 issue of Wallpaper* (W*265), available to download

hermes.com

An Apple launch is always an exciting affair, and today's big reveal is no exception. Among its new offerings, the tech giant is launching a new line of woven wristbands – and Wallpaper* has the inside track. 

Complementing and further expanding its Apple Watch range, the launch marks the company’s first ever foray into woven products, which were developed by the in-house design team in close collaboration with a specialist Japanese manufacturer.
 
The current Watch family includes fluoroelastomer bands for the sport range, and stainless steel in both woven mesh and link bracelet versions, as well as a wide variety of leather options which also includes the Wallpaper* Life Enhancer of the Year award-winner, the Apple Watch Hermès 'Double Tour', available in four shades and developed in collaboration with the French maison. 

For this latest launch, the Apple team was influenced by the textile wristbands that traditionally complement military watches. They studied the technical side of textiles for maximum performance, and chose the new partner manufacturer for its ability to combine traditional craftsmanship with the most up-to-date weaving technology.
 
A process-based product, the band is the result of a four-layer weave, using different types of nylon yarn produced in the USA. The weft and the warp of the weave (the two weaving directions) were studied in detail and were instrumental in creating the blended colours. The seven shades on offer include pink, scuba blue, royal blue, a gold weave combined with both red and blue, and pearl and black. Each wristband is woven to precision and features different colour compositions on the top and bottom of the band, as well as an accent shade on the edge. The loop holding the band in place was achieved with a three-dimensional weave and features three colours to fit in with each side of the band.
 
As part of their research into design and manufacturing processes, the team also devised techniques such as debossing and laser cutting, applied to the finished product to ensure its durability. To top it all off, the material and composition were developed to ensure that more the band is worn, the more it adapts to the contours of the wrist, enhancing the wearer’s experience.

Customers will be able to purchase an Apple Watch Sport with the best Apple watch bands, meaning they can mix and match if they already own an Apple Watch.
 
In true Apple style, the new family of wristbands carries on the tradition of a product that seamlessly merges aesthetics, technology and comfort.

INFORMATION

Apple Watch Sport with woven nylon band: 38mm, from $299 and 42mm, from $349

Woven nylon band, sold separately, $49. Available in pink, scuba blue, royal blue, gold/red, gold/royal blue, pearl and black

Imagery courtesy Apple

‘According to the maxim ‘form follows function’, every detail has a purpose,’ say the watchmakers behind German watch brand Nomos.

It is a design philosophy brought to life in Glashütte, the location of the brand’s manufacture which has been handbuilding their movements and components since 1990. The largest mechanical watch manufacturers in Germany, they create the pieces which are thought up in the brand’s Berlin studio. The finished aesthetic is a typically restrained design, a slender case and clean, uncluttered dial the cornerstones of every Nomos watch.

Now, the brand has nodded to these watchmaking traditions with three new models which mark the 175th anniversary of watchmaking in Glashütte. The first, Ludwig, nodded to the town’s heritage, the second, Lambda, the skills to be found there. This third piece, Club, is an affordably priced sportier watch, an update of the original created in 2007. Three new versions, limited to 175 pieces each, come in muted hues inspired by the great outdoors, framing navy, olive and onyx in tough stainless steel.

‘With its robust case and relatively thick typography, the Club model has always been a sporty design in the NOMOS collection,’ chief branding officer, Judith Borowski, says. ‘This new limited edition collection features textile straps and metal bracelets, rather than the more typical Horween Cordovan found on NOMOS dress watches. The muted colours enhance the sporty undertones of this design.’

INFORMATION

nomos-glashuette.com

Tudor’s history of producing diving watches can be traced back to the Fifties with the release of the reference 7922, one of the first watches to be created specifically for diving. It was immediately recognised as a tool with long-term potential and Tudor’s robust sports watches became the instrument of choice for the French navy’s combat swimmers.

The Black Bay Fifty-Eight builds on this history. The navy blue – marking the first all-blue Black Bay – is the same shade which has appeared in the brand’s designs since the Sixties. ‘The general features of this model reference the famous 7924 model, the first Tudor watch waterproof to 200m introduced in 1958 – hence the name,’ a brand spokesperson tells us. ‘This new model is a great example of the Tudor design philosophy, taking inspiration from various classical models and reinterpreting them as a modern timepiece rather than recreating the vintage watches identically.’

At 39mm, the proportions of the watch stay faithful to the slender measurements more common in the Fifties, when a watch was designed to slip unobtrusively under a shirt cuff, striking a balance between elegance and – crucially for a divers watch – legibility. Other design tweaks are more contemporary; alongside a steel bracelet and the fabric strap first introduced in 2010 comes a new ‘soft-touch’ strap, made from a synthetic flannel replica.

INFORMATION

tudorwatch.com

We’ve scoured chic cycling stores and be-spoke boutiques the world over to find the latest and greatest outerwear collections and a range of slick cycling accessories that mean there’s no excuse not to get on your bike.

Wrap up in the latest ergonomic outerwear, and stay safe with the help of smartphone-compatible, collapsible helmets and other tech-forward protective wear. Stay on course with the latest in smart cycle design, with the likes of handlebar-mounted navigator tools and sound-switchable bike bells, and tidy up with the help of bike butlers and good-looking locks.

Bici Bike Storage by Zeller & Moye

This simple slice of metal is perhaps the most minimal bike storage system we’ve ever seen. Designed by architects Christoph Zeller and Ingrid Moye, the Bici system is available in just two versions, Bici high and Bici low, depending on the space available. One shallow, one steep, the ramps can be mixed and multiplied in order to create intriguingly sculptural effects that also maximise the number of bikes you can fit into any given space. Zeller & Moye are offering the rail in a range of different colours, allowing even more artistic expression. Bici is composed of a power-coated steel frame, complete with shaped cut-out for all possible wheel types to slot into, with two pairs locking points giving you plenty of choice how to secure the bike. The architects, who are based between Berlin and Mexico City, sought to make the system ultra-simple to use and install, leaving creative applications up to the installer.

zellermoye.com

Block Light, by Bookman

Equipped with the latest LEDs, a micro USB cable and an impressive battery life, Scandinavian brand Bookman’s sleek Block Light promotes design-focused cycling safety and urban visibility. Powered by a Lithium ION battery the Block Light has up to 25 hours of usage with a charging time of two hours, weighing next to nothing these pocket-sized lights are perfect for everyone – from the casual commuter to dedicated road cyclist.

‘Pickwick Reflective’ backpack, by Brooks England

Brooks England has found the perfect meeting point between functionality and looks with its newest backpack, the ‘Pickwick Reflective’. Made by hand, the bag is composed of perforated vegetable-tanned Tuscan leather, set atop a highly reflective backing. When struck by light, the bag powerfully reflects it back, providing increased visibility during the darker hours. A roll-top sealing system keeps belongings secure (additional internal pockets provide further storage capabilities), and webbed shoulder and front straps keep weight distributed evenly.

‘Laminar Bike’ collection, by Herno

The new six-piece ‘Laminar Bike’ collection, by Herno, demonstrates the Italian luxury outerwear brand’s rigorous attention to ergonomic design. The collection includes a raincoat, parka and vest, which are all made using Gore fabrics, and are water- and wind-resistant, and breathable. Garments come with thermo-taping, foldable gloves, adjustable hoods, smart pockets, and road-friendly reflective details.

‘Lochness’ lock, by Francesco Toselli, for Palomar

Chunky chains are a thing of the past thanks to this pliable bike lock in metal and silicone, which wraps effortlessly around any bike rack or post.

‘Neos’ bike butler, by Vadolibero

With an elliptical form and high-gloss finish, this freestanding ‘cyclist’s assistant’ combines a bike rack with compartments for a helmet, cycling apparel and accessories.

Helmet, by Closca

This collapsible helmet comes with an interchangeable visor and cleverly concealed air vents. An NFC chip at the top can connect to a smartphone for emergency calls.

‘Nello’ bike bell, by Odo Fioravanti, for Palomar

A rubber bell that offers a choice of three sounds, this has a magnetic base and separate rubber supports, so it can be easily detached when not in use.

‘Beeline’, designed by Map Project Office with Beeline

This handlebar-mounted device, which connects to a smartphone, displays the direction and distance to the user’s destination, without prescribing a specific route.

‘I’m here by choice, not by obligation,’ Jony Ive tells me as we trek through the dense, mysterious forests of Yakushima in southern Japan.

Me too! My 12,000-mile round-trip from London to this remote island was arduous, but worth it. It’s not often you get to spend time in such a magical environment in the company of Apple’s chief design officer and Hermès’ artistic director, Pierre-Alexis Dumas.

Extraordinary products created by extraordinary partnerships should lead to extraordinary experiences, and the purpose of this two-day sojourn was to better understand some qualities of the new Apple Watch Hermès Series 4. It may seem odd that a company renowned for accelerating digital connectivity would take you to an area that is almost totally off-grid, but finding time to unplug and connect in a different way – with yourself and with nature – is a key component of its new product. ‘We must strive to preserve a connection with nature and a reconnection with our senses,’ explains Dumas, ‘and Yakushima, with its thousand-year-old trees, its incredibly diverse flora and fauna, including 1,900 species of plants, 150 species of birds and around 20 different species of mammals, is a marvellous example of this.’

The watch’s fitness, health and breathing apps are now paramount: ‘We have included additional features and enhancements to help us to live an overall healthier, more active, more balanced life,’ says Ive.

Balance is also key to the overall Apple/Hermès working relationship – the balance of technology and craftsmanship. It is something Dumas is passionate about (he refers to it as ‘technocraft’) and is convinced it is the holy grail of modern design, manufacturing and making. ‘We are a manufacturing species, we make tools and we make tools to make objects. It is part of our culture and it is part of what makes us human,’ he says. ‘We are both so interested in the process of making,’ continues Ive. ‘After I met Pierre-Alexis some years ago, the idea of working with Hermès struck me as entirely natural and logical – almost inevitable.’

By spending time with Ive and Pierre-Alexis Dumas (I’m tempted to refer to them collectively as IPAD), you sense a total meeting of minds. There’s a shared admiration of materials and craftsmanship, and an uncompromising pursuit of excellence. The obsessive refinement in Series 4 is where the magic happens – such as the significant increase in the display size, by blending it with the curves of the watch. But the new Hermès user interface is the most elegant and succinct representation of the collaboration. As the minute hand sweeps forward, the screen shifts from one block colour to the next, matching the colours of the two-tone leather straps and creating a kind of digital sundial. Over dinner on the last evening in Yakushima, Dumas reminds me that the Hermès/Apple relationship first blossomed thanks to some Wallpaper* matchmaking back in 2010. The inaugural Wallpaper* Handmade project was in preparation and the iPad had just been announced at one of Steve Jobs’ legendary presentations. Who better, we thought, to design the perfect protective case for this yet-to-be-released technological game-changer than Hermès? It would be a marriage of craft and technology for our Milan exhibition that coming April. Technocraft, no less! Some five years later, the Apple Watch Hermès was born, and now it was fitting – by choice, not by obligation – to be present at this most extraordinary presentation of their latest collaboration, mindful that the first seeds of that working relationship were planted on the pages of this magazine. § As originally featured in the March 2019 issue of Wallpaper* (W*240)

INFORMATION

For more information, visit the Hermès website and the Apple website

Tony Chambers started wearing an Apple Watch in 2015. Seduced, as many were, by its marriage of elegant form, function and fun – it was the Mickey Mouse face that gave it extra appeal. ‘It adds an element of irreverence, preventing all the other design perfection becoming too, well, perfect,’ Chambers told The Telegraph at the time. ‘Mickey takes the edge off.’

Chambers, creative consultant and Wallpaper* former editor-in-chief, has monitored the iteration-by-iteration evolution of the world's most popular timepiece with interest ever since. Impossibly, each new series seems to get better, through subtle design tweaks, and system upgrades (not to mention improved Mickey graphics). It was with great curiosity, then, that Chambers learnt that the new Apple Watch – alongside the three new iPhones that launched yesterday via livestream at Apple Park in California – applies a more significant redesign than ever.

The livestream, which fizzed across the fourth wall and onto Apple screens worldwide, revealed that the Apple Watch Series 4 features the greatest leaps forward, in both hardware and software terms, since Apple Time began. After the launch, Chambers called upon chief design officer Sir Jony Ive via phone to Apple HQ – resuming a conversation they began at London's Royal College of Art earlier this year – to discover just how profound these shifts are, and why they've happened to products that, at the time of launch, seem difficult to improve upon. 

‘You’d be reckless to move away from the fundamental icon,' Ive says of the new Apple Watch, which, on first impression, maintains a similar footprint and profile as the Series 3 iteration. ‘Our aim was to develop it and evolve it as dramatically as possible.' The key visual difference is the 30 per cent greater display area, which seamlessly integrates into the thinner case, achieved by eradicating the void frame around the edge of the face (available in 40mm and 44mm). ‘When you see each watch series in isolation you can't comprehend how different they are. But when you look at them side by side, the change is extremely dramatic.’

Further crucial design advances come when you look behind the screen. A re-engineered interface ushers in easier to read, larger fonts; a watch-to-watch Walkie Talkie comms system (with watch0S5), 50 per cent louder speaker, and a more customisable homescreen, which you can even add a photo of your loved one's face to (if that's your thing).

The new health features boast some of the most compelling progressions, and, in Ive's words, are ‘absolutely insane'. Updates include a Fall Detector, which uses the Apple Watch's accelerometer and gyroscope to identify when a hard fall occurs, initiating a call to emergency services, then sending a message with your location to your emergency contacts (unless of course you confirm you're okay). Perhaps even more astounding, an FDA-approved electrocardiogram app can analyse your heart rate, alert you if it exceeds or falls below a specified threshold, and detect abnormalities like AFib, right from the wrist, via a new electrical heart rate sensor in the back crystal, built into the Digital Crown. ‘It's a real privilege to be part of a team developing products like this,' Ive impresses. ‘We’ve come to learn we’re able to get a sense of how the body is functioning in the broadest of contexts – not just in the doctor's office.'

When we looked around Apple Park last year, Ive told us that his team's goal has been, ‘in some ways, to get design out of the way.’ He said, ‘We try to define a solution that seems so inevitable that it does recede.’ The new watch unifies each of its design elements in complete harmony, from the curved corners of the larger, all‑new display to the architecture of the S4 chip, every detail has been thoughtfully moulded. Ive puts some of these successes down to the design team working ‘under one roof'. ‘The same designers have been working on this product for a few years, but until we arrived in Apple Park earlier this year, we didn’t enjoy a singular studio.' Now, haptic designers, font designers, material designers, and interface designers work in close proximity; creating product in a way that Apple Park was built for: collaboratively. The result is, in Ive's eyes, the most beautiful Apple Watch yet.

The Hermès iteration of the Series 4 watch, designed by Ive and Hermès creative director Pierre-Alexis Dumas, continues their collaboration. Disparate design elements (form, function, finish) tick together in unison; a testament to the complementary working attitudes of the two individuals. ‘I’m really proud of what we’ve managed to achieve together,' says Ive, stressing the high regard to which he holds Dumas. ‘We both derive a tremendous satisfaction in our work together.' In the singularly beautiful Hermès edition, a two-tone strap is complemented by a gradient face design, which, like a digital sundial, changes colour with the passing of minutes, measuring the hours with meditative simplicity.

Five years ago, Apple didn’t make watches. Today, the Apple Watch is the bestselling watch in the world. With such groundbreaking, and popular design – where can it go next? ‘I assume this is always a journey,' Ive explains. ‘Partly, it's because I’m working on the next thing – I’m always aware of the opportunities to do better.’

But a better object doesn't necessarily equate to a perfect object. Instead, it seems the Apple aim is to create a person object. An object with life, flexibility, relatability, personality. Something that works for you, and, as the voiceover said at the start of the livestream, an object that has ‘the ability to change your life everyday'. Just as the Mickey Mouse face on Tony Chambers' first Apple watch encouraged him to wear it daily, the watch's ability to reflect your personality is what makes it such a seamless addition to your arm. It might be Hermès' mindful sundial, or the reassurance you feel from knowing Fall Detector is running in the background, or perhaps by wearing your loved one's image on your wrist. Apple's real design success? Giving you the ability to find your Mickey.

INFORMATION
For more information, visit the Apple website

On top of the deluge of technology launches at Salone del Mobile this year, April has been showered in beautifully designed, functional gadgets. Here’s some of our favourites.

Master & Dynamic cables

Master & Dynamic has long touted the timeless nature of its headphones, from their high-end leathers to their durable metals. It must have balked, then, when Apple and Google changed the game by allowing the headphone jack to drift into technology’s overfilled attic, (alongside cassettes, Walkmans and catch-up TV), forcing emphasis onto wireless Bluetooth headphones, and rendering your favourite M&Ds incompatible. With the launch of the brand’s new Digital Accessories branch, M&D is going the extra mile to ensure that its original offerings live far into the future.

The Lightning to 3.5mm Audio Cable consists of a 1.2 m cord with a 3.5mm plug on one end and a Lightning connector on the other. These cables can replace the standard 3.5mm to 3.5mm cables included with the headphones, allowing them to be used without requiring a separate headphone jack to Lightning adapter. As well as solving a genuinely frustrating problem, the cables look better than most too, encased in heavy-duty woven fabric.

‘As the technology around us changes, we’re working to ensure that the Master & Dynamic products you know and love can be a part of your everyday life for decades to come,’ explains Master & Dynamic’s founder and CEO Jonathan Levine. The argument? Yes, you’re paying a premium for that Master & Dynamic branding and design, but you're also paying for the longevity that comes with it. We’re sold.

IKEA speakers

Ikea made its first foray into the smart home in 2015 with smart chargers, expanding its repertoire with smart lighting last year. Now its edged into audio with its first Bluetooth speakers: large, minimalist boxes that slot neatly into existing Ikea shelving systems.

The Eneby 20 and 30 embody the benefits (and pitfalls) associated with the Swedish furniture giant. They’re not the speakers for sound enthusiasts (and aren’t priced as such) but they are a functional and understated option. Under an industrially-edged handle, a single white dial controls sound, and connecting to Bluetooth is equally as Ikea-simple, though you can always connect to an audio source using a headphone jack, too. As the smart home takes off, the simplicity – and modesty – of these speakers is refreshing. They’ve got all the connectivity and mod-cons you need (for now), with zero fuss.

For those looking for something a little more sophisticated, the Eneby launch follows last year’s announcement that IKEA would be launching a collaborative collection with Sonos in 2019 as part of its Home Smart initiative, which will no doubt see the furniture stalwart upping the complexity and abilities of its smart audio offerings; helping to solidify Ikea’s transformation into a committed smart home force.

Fitbit Versa

This month, Fitbit launched its latest fitness tracker, the Versa; pitching it as ‘the smartwatch for all’. Design-wise, on first impression, little has changed from the already fit-for-purpose Ionic (released last year). Only when you pick it up do you realise where advancements have been made. Certainly the lightest metal smartwatch currently available in the US market, it comes close to being the lightest ever made.

It offers a comfortable design (thanks to a feather-light, anodised aluminum case, that is slightly tapered and angled in its design to fit small or large wrists) and a simplified new dashboard, for easier access to your health and fitness data. Heart rate tracking, onscreen workouts, and automatic sleep monitoring meet smart features like quick replies on Android, wallet-free payments on Fitbit Versa Special Edition, and on-device music – all with 4+ days battery life. It’s a powerful thing for something that weighs, and feels on the wrist, like little more than a bangle.

Nokia Sleep

New (but largely unsurprising) research from Nokia has found that lack of sleep is linked to an increased likelihood of being overweight, being less active and being more likely to have hypertension. Never fear: the hardware veteran has made its first foray into sleep tech (yes, that’s a thing now). Nokia is becoming quite the leader in the connected health revolution, having already launched smart thermometers, weighing scales and other such gadget geekery.

The Wi-Fi enabled sleep sensor, which you place under your mattress, tracks your sleep cycles, heart rate and can even detect snoring, providing you with detailed insights into sleep patterns, all while you’re dreaming away.

Dyson Air Cool

Continuing the trend for easy data access, Dyson has launched its first air purifier with an LCD screen, to let you know what pollutants are flying round – and settling – in your home.

It’s a lot of information on a tiny screen. But, as a species, aren’t we getting used to reading these miniature LCD offerings? And one suspects it isn’t something you would monitor daily, but instead take a cursory glance at every once in a while – perhaps after a particularly heavy traffic jam outside your city-centre studio.

The Ethiopian-born model Liya Kebede is not only an enduring force in the fashion industry, but also one to reckon with in the philanthropic world. As founder and creative director of Lemlem, which collaborates with African weavers to create fashion and home goods, Kebede has been championing traditional craftsmanship since 2007, while helping to expand production and employment within these communities.

‘One of the reasons I started Lemlem [was] to debunk the misconceptions that a lot of people have about Africa and its poverty. I wanted to show [them] the beauty of our artisans and the work that they do,’ she explains. ‘I had just returned from Ethiopia, where the weavers were struggling to find new customers for their handwoven pieces. Lemlem was my solution. It was a way to help create new opportunities that preserved and celebrated their craftsmanship.’

Over the last decade, Lemlem (which means ‘to bloom’ in Amharic) has employed over 250 artisans in Ethiopia, Kenya, Rwanda and Madagascar. Salaries have increased fivefold and, thanks to the label’s philanthropic offshoot, the Lemlem Foundation, five per cent of its direct sales go towards supporting the economic empowerment of women and improving maternal health, which is still a prominent area of concern.

‘From the start, our mission has been to help break down obstacles that women face in Africa. It’s the riskiest place in the world to give birth, largely because of a severe shortage of skilled health workers,’ Kebede says. ‘Since we began, my foundation has been fighting to change this by supporting efforts to train and place midwives in areas where mothers need them most.’

‘Alongside better health, we’ve also seen what it can mean for the entire family when women have good job opportunities and can earn a steady income. We’re working on a new artisan training initiative with our atelier in Ethiopia to help women obtain job skills and connect to apprenticeships in the textile industry,’ she continues.

The Lemlem Foundation has been a committed supporter of Amref Health Africa, which trains midwives in order to dramatically reduce maternal mortality in six countries. Its past accomplishments also include training and equipping the maternity wards at two district hospitals in Ethiopia, and improving family planning and maternal health education among teenage girls.

None of this would really be possible without the legitimate appeal of the label, the effortless, wearable style of which compliments the simple yet exquisite workmanship evident in the garments – mostly based on the gauzy white cotton native to Kebede’s Ethiopia.

And despite being highly involved with both the label and foundation, Kebede is still one of the most in-demand models in the industry. ‘I usually get involved in projects when there is something that inspires me,’ she divulges. ‘This could be a wonderful creative team, or a really cool idea or a great brand I would like to associate myself with, and whom I can work with to include my charitable efforts.’

Kebede revealed a similar clarity when judging this year’s award nominees – particularly in the fashion categories, since she appeared in most of the contending runway shows. ‘All the nominated designers are people I admire a lot, so yes it was definitely challenging! I tried to see the impact they are having at the moment and went with that as a guiding principle.’

A perpetual traveller, Kebede particularly enjoyed judging the Best New Hotel category. ‘Where you stay has such an impact on your trip and each nominee in that category had such incredible spaces,’ she enthuses. ‘It made for a hard choice.’ Of the winner, Lisbon’s Santa Clara 1728, she admired ‘the clean, modern interiors within the ancient walls – it was a really interesting juxtaposition’.

It’s no surprise that the ‘Dot’ braille smartwatch, this year’s Life-Enhancer of the Year, got Kebede’s vote, too. ‘It’s just such a smart innovation that will really help a lot of people,’ she puts, plain and simple.

A version of this article originally appeared in the February 2018 issue of Wallpaper* (W*227)

INFORMATION

For more information, visit the Lemlem website

We are slowly starting to understand that the launch of the iPhone was a once in a generation – at least – event and not just one big step in an endless procession of upending innovations. The iPhone X, marking the device’s first decade, is being sold as its most strident evolutionary leap. The X is all-screen – a 5.8 inch Super Retina display – with a glass back for wireless charging and face recognition security. What that means is a lot more high-quality real estate in the same space.

Give the hoopla around the launch of Apple’s iPhone X (available for pre-order from tomorrow, with a 3 November release date), the arrival of iPhone 8 seems like an afterthought, a necessary stopgap. In fact, if you go go for the plus-sized model anyway, the 8 packs in much of the X’s good stuff, including the glass and aluminium case, the Retina HD display, the super speedy A11 bionic chip and up-dated dual camera featuring the rather stunning, at least in natural light, Portrait Lighting mode.

Photography has been a key driver of the iPhone’s success but Apple is clearly betting big on augmented reality as the next big thing in the app universe, potentially revolutionising gaming, mobile retail, mapping as well educational and training apps. And the 8 is primed and ready as launch pad for AR app developers.

Clearly the Plus is as now as plus-sized is as an iPhone is likely to go. The (non-plussed) X offers a screen almost as big. In that sense the 8 Plus is the end of the road but, in every other sense, it heralds the iPhone’s next leap forward.

The third version of Apple Watch meanwhile answers all the major criticisms of the original. While version two added GPS, an essential for any serious sportswatch, V3 adds cellular connectivity, contract allowing. Which means you can now leave your iPhone at home and it will not only know where you are going and how quickly but also alert you to calls, messages and e-mails and even allow you to stream music and listen to it through Bluetooth headphones.

The smart thing is they have managed to pack all that extra functionality into a watch that is only slightly portlier than Series 1. The challenge now is to do things with Apple Watch, initially through software updates and smart work with app developers, that doesn’t just answer the critics but energises and surprises.

INFORMATION

The iPhone X is available for pre-order from 27 October. For more information, visit the Apple website

Marc Newson talks about the design process behind his latest Jaeger-LeCoultre Atmos clock. Film courtesy of Jaeger-LeCoultre

Anyone who knows Marc Newson knows he loves watches. Indeed, he has been creating them since the mid-1990s, when his Swiss Ikepod brand refreshed traditional horological thinking with a whole new design sensibility. But even Newson couldn’t have imagined that he’d become the most recognised watch designer in the world when the Apple Watch launched last year.

Today, fresh out of his horological dalliance with Silicon Valley, Newson looks content in the altogether more picturesque Vallée de Joux, the heartland of Swiss watchmaking. He is here to take a final look at the results of his latest time-keeping collaboration with Swiss watch and clock manufacturer Jaeger-LeCoultre, which this month will reveal its third Newson-designed Atmos clock. It has been two years in the making.

Marc Newson designed his first Atmos for Jaeger-LeCoultre - the 561 in 2008, followed by the 566 in 2010. This new iteration, the 568, is a distinctly honed version of both, in part, Newson says because the plan is to extend the production volume, which will, in turn, lower the price. The previous models were strictly limited editions of no more than 25 and were priced upwards of around €80,000. The new 568 is not limited and will retail in the vicinity of €25,000.

It felt like the Atmos was being left behind when I came along’, says Newson, of the initial collaboration. ’I love the idea of designing objects that stand the test of time, things that you can hand on, pass through the family. I don’t think about Atmos clocks as clocks - they are wonderful, sculptural objects that happen to be timepieces. You’ll never find an Atmos clock in landfill because they are inherently valuable objects; the opposite of disposability.’

The Atmos has been in continual production since 1933. The engineer Jean-Léon Reutter designed the technology in 1928. He wanted to invent a timekeeper that would keep perfect time for centuries, without the need for any outside intervention. He devised a gas-driven mechanism activated by small, sequential changes in temperature, and the Atmos clock got its brilliantly futuristic name. Jaeger-LeCoultre, by then one of a handful of grand maisons of Swiss watchmaking, acquired, perfected and developed Reutter’s idea. Atmos clocks are powered by a small, hermetically sealed gas chamber - originally filled with mercury - which dilates when the temperature rises and contracts when it drops. At Jaeger-LeCoultre’s specialist Atmos department in Le Sentier, it is often referred to as ’the mechanical lung’ that ’breathes’ in and out, winding the mechanism in line with atmospheric shifts. The clocks are so energy efficient that a mere one-degree Celsius shift will power the clock for 48 hours.

The futurism of Reutter’s vision is compelling to a designer of Newson’s technical breadth. ’The Atmos clock keeps time beyond any outside influence that, in itself, is completely modern,’ he says. Then, there is Atmos’ Steampunk aesthetic. ’The clocks are so sculptural that I knew they could be interpreted in a contemporary way. The glass casing was generally a means of keeping the movement covered, but glass has obvious structural qualities, so it’s not like we are putting a movement in a fish tank - it’s a holistic process because we work from the outside in.’

Because of the Atmos 568’s expanded production potential, Newson had to take a different approach. The case was created with French crystal specialists Baccarat from a monobloc of crystal. The process to perfect the form has taken two years because Newson did not want a symmetrical outline. Rather, he wanted a low curve at the bottom, which better plays with the light and gives a sense of the mechanics floating. That anomaly caused havoc because, as Newson points out, ’Glass relies on consistency. As soon as you introduce an irregularity, it goes all over the place.’

The crystal also has to be polished inside and out which, on this scale, is a highly specialised technique. ’The level of precision needed was greater because the form has to be easily repeatable,’ says Newson. ’The shape is more rigid than the previous ones and that’s because it’s a particular formation of crystal glass. I’ve worked with glass in many applications across my projects. Making that shape is almost impossible - only Baccarat could do this.’

Newson was also keen to ’inject a level of newness’ to the movement, which he did with decorative details. The bolts that attach the movement and chamber to the glass are designed by him and, being a skilled watch designer, Newson used smooth and brushed finishes to heighten shadow play and add depth. The crystal, too, has been designed to play with light, giving the clock an intriguingly new character from different points of view. The dial, moonphase and hands are created in-house, and the numerals are tampography printed. The hands are counterbalanced so that they do not consume any energy when turning.

Newson is clearly in happy territory here, in the Swiss valleys, working with horological engineers, taming complex materials to create beautiful things. ’It’s always wonderful to get a chance to revisit things, which doesn’t happen much with me’, he says. ’I suppose this time round I’ve approached the design from a more philosophical point of view. The more that tech keeps infiltrating our lives, the more magical objects like the Atmos clock generate more interest - like looking at an open fire. They’re mesmeric.’

As originally featured in the November 2016 issue of Wallpaper* (W*212)

INFORMATION

For more information, visit the Jaeger-LeCoultre website

Just when we thought high style and tech smarts couldn't be more in sync, Apple goes and launches the next generation of the Apple Watch Hermès… Not that we are complaining, mind; quite the contrary. The new collection of our Life Enhancer of the Year Award-winner includes a new strap – the Double Buckle Cuff – inspired by a sandal design by footwear and jewellery creative director Pierre Hardy, plus new hues for the existing (and Picky Nicky-endorsed) Double Tour straps as well as the Single Tour strap, too. Among the new hues is a rather fetching purple strap, called 'Anemone'.

To celebrate the next generation of the collaboration between Apple and Hermès, photographer Viviane Sassen was enlisted to create a film that brought to life the inherent qualities of the Apple Watch Hermès. Through her witty, graphic style and bold use of colour, Sassen shows the elegance and innovation of the watch, whilst keeping true to freedom of movement the timepiece allows wearers. 'We wanted to tell a story of how our hands interact with the world and how the Apple Watch Hermès enhances every move with a great sense of ease,' explains the tech giant. All styles will be available from September 23.

Videography: Viviane Sassen, © Hermès, Paris 2016

I admit that when I first heard about the Apple Watch Hermès collection, I was kind of torn. Impressed by the partnership of two brilliant brands, and personally attracted by the Double Tour bracelet in Fauve Barenia leather, I did think the collaboration would instantly enhance the desirability of the Apple Watch. Yet, even as a loyal client of both companies, I wondered if this project somehow belittled the Hermès watch already on my wrist.

I bought my Cape Cod Double Tour at Hermès Milan around 15 years ago and it only comes off my wrist when I work out (more on that later). The watch was created in 1991 by Henri d’Origny; in 1998, the brand’s then womenswear director, Martin Margiela, introduced the double strap, known as the Double Tour. Although I have a Fauve Barenia strap in the cupboard, the one I wear is in Étrivière raw bridle leather. So my rather selfish thought was, is the new Apple Watch Hermès too accessible, will it reduce the desirability of my watch, or make it redundant even for me? Hermès is a brand out of reach to most, yet Apple represents the very best of accessible design (relatively speaking) and the Apple Watch Hermès is priced at £1,150 for a Double Tour, albeit in a limited number of stores.

At the launch dinner for the watch on the roof of Hermès’ 24 rue du Faubourg Saint-Honoré HQ, I met the Apple team, including Sir Jonathan Ive; Kevin Lynch, vice president of technology and the software genius behind the watch; and Jay Blahnik, director of fitness and health technologies, who heads up fitness software development. And, guess what, I am hooked.

You see, I always wanted more from the Nike+ app, which I used to use to track my runs. I tried the Garmin Forerunner, a GPS running watch, but gave up on it after 11 months, as I was bored of it searching for a satellite for up to ten minutes. The Apple Watch’s Workout app uses GPS via your iPhone and can track and measure specific workouts including running, rowing and cycling, which suits me really well. But it’s the Activity app with its Move, Exercise and Stand rings that will change the way we live and work, get us up from the desk for a minute once an hour and way more.

When I learnt about the medical and health resources that Apple’s fitness team in Cupertino have to play with, I realized this is just the start. When working out, I can use the fluoroelastomer sport strap and then snap back in the leather Double Tour with a simple slide and click. Now I just have to work out a way to wear both the original Cape Cod and the Apple Watch Hermès – so look out for Picky Nicky trying to work a double Double Tour.

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Apple goes swell for leather

The case: the Apple Watch Hermès’ stainless steel case is etched with the Hermès signature

The dial: the digital dial designs are inspired by Clipper, Cape Cod and Espace Hermès watches

Double Tour strap: the 38mm model with my favoured Double Tour strap offers a choice of Fauve Barenia leather and Bleu Jean, Capucine and Étain Swift leather

Single Tour strap: the 38mm with a Single Tour strap is available in Fauve Barenia leather, Noir Box leather and Capucine Swift leather

42mm case with Single Tour: this slightly wider model comes with a Single Tour strap in Fauve Barenia leather and Noir Box leather

42mm case with Cuff: the chunky Cuff strap is available in Fauve Barenia leather

As originally featured in the January 2016 issue of Wallpaper* (W*202)

INFORMATION

Illustrator: Danae Diaz

TAG Heuer thinks it has the answer for those looking to sample the new world of wearable computing without giving up their analogue pleasures. The Connected Watch melds Swiss engineering and style with quality materials, contemporary technology and, most importantly of all for the uncertain, there’s option of exchanging it for a Swiss made Carrera watch at the end of the two-year warranty period.

For the most part, the Swiss watch industry has been lagging behind in the burgeoning smart watch market, evoked unwanted memories of when the country stumbled at the end of the 80s, steamrollered by the Japanese dominance of affordable quartz watches and the sudden explosion in demand for the new cutting edge digital watches. Back then, Swatch stepped in to save the day but so far there has been no digital equivalent.

There’s certainly a distinct void in the middle ground. While small-scale bespoke manufacturers are springing up to provide conventional analogue watches with an emphasis on design and distinction (Uniform Wares, Paulin or Tsovet spring to mind, amongst others), there’s a tech-focused hole in the market that Apple, Samsung and others are rushing to fill, with even high end versions finding willing buyers.

The fight back has begun. Breitling and Frederique Constant have added connectivity to conventional watches and Gucci is readying its Smartband. However, TAG’s new offering is the first true Samsung Gear and Apple Watch rival. The TAG Heuer Connected Watch with Intel Inside (to give it its full title) is an Android Wear device that makes explicit links to TAG’s 150 year heritage. Conventional smart watches struggle in the absence of any true watch-making heritage, and the plethora of tastelessly fancy watch faces available to download would make any true horologist blanche.

TAG has an instantly recognisable aesthetic, so it makes sense to stay with tradition. The Connected Watch has three familiar faces; the chronograph dial, the 3-hand dial and the GMT dial. Crucially, the Connected Watch is ‘always on’ – with hands and selected information staying illuminated at all times. Upgrades and apps – this is an Android device, remember – are supplied via a dedicated TAG website, while the case and strap are lavished with an attention to detail that shows up functional simplicity of its rivals. The company is certainly hoping a new generation of buyers will hedge their bets and switch. 

INFORMATION

TAG Heuer Connected Watch, £1,100, website

Apple is previewing Apple Watch at this year's Salone del Mobile in Milan with a one-day view and try-on event.  It's a debut appearance at the world's major design fair for Apple and comes as excitement about the launch of its range of smart watches grows ever more fevered.

The launch takes place on 17 April at Carlo e Camilla in Segheria, which picked up the Best New Restaurant prize in February's Wallpaper* Design Awards issue. For locals, it may prove a tormenting teaser. Apple Watch will be launched in France, the UK and Germany as well as the US, Japan and China on 24 April but no launch date in Italy has been set yet.

Says Jony Ive, Apple's senior vice president of design: 'Salone del Mobile has such a deep-rooted history of embracing excellence in design so I'm particularly excited to celebrate our newest and most personal product, alongside our friends and fellow designers, at this special event.'

Observers are waiting to see if Apple Watch kick-starts stuttering demand for smart watches, just as Apple's iPod, iPhone and iPad did for MP3 players, smart phones and then tablets. It also represents the tech giant's most significant launch since it debuted the iPad five years ago and signals some seismic shifts in strategy, as mentioned in our latest May issue (W*194).

With three collections and almost infinite permutations of strap, size and case material, Apple Watch leaves behind the usual one-style-fits-all approach of past launches. And with an 18-Carat gold version of the Edition model retailing at £13,500, it also marks Apple's first explicit move into the luxury sector (prices start at £299). Price differences in Apple products have traditionally been based on under-the-bonnet boosts in speed and performance rather than the use of luxury materials. There has also been a shift in retail strategy with Apple Watch being launched through high-end concept stores such as Dover Street Market in London and Tokyo, Colette in Paris, Maxfield in LA and Corner in Berlin, as well as Apple Stores.

Ive and the Apple design team, with outside help from Marc Newson, have been working on Apple Watch for four years. And the company sees the Salone event as a way of properly introducing it to the international design community (largely loyal and long-term Apple consumers after all).

'Creating beautiful objects, respecting craftsmanship and focusing on a design process that's driven by the deepest care, utility and end use, has been our goal since the beginning,' says Ive. 'With the launch of Apple Watch, that's been more important than ever, to create a product where technology and craft, beauty and utility go hand in hand.'

ADDRESS

Carlo e Camilla in Segheria
Via Guiseppe Meda 24
Milano

VIEW GOOGLE MAPS

Eschewing the clutter of some performance watches, the new I-Gucci Sport displays the clean look and retro-digital feel we've come to expect from Gucci creative director Frida Giannini. No wonder the latest timepiece from Italy’s premier luxury brand drew more than its fair share of admiring glances at this year's Baselworld Watch Fair. Here, we clock up its credentials.

A SPORTING GREAT

Steeped in sporting traditions, Gucci has a rich equestrian heritage. So it understands the value of precision timing in sports watches performance. That's why the I-Gucci Sport Watch is as hardworking as it is good-looking. Its dual chronograph function and countdown timer allow for accurate time-lapse recording; the in-built pedometer is ideal for clocking up miles on foot; and a regatta-timing function is a nice sports-luxe touch. Add to this the new rubber strap design and it’s clear the I-Gucci is the perfect mate for summer sailing trips. To see the watch in action, have a look at this specially commissioned Gucci short.

A DESIGN FIRST

We know it's not easy to make performance kit look good. Technical functions can pose tricky aesthetic considerations when it comes to designing a watch – which is, after all, a mechanical accessory for the wrist. But Giannini's credentials (she was first appointed Gucci’s creative director of accessories in 2004) meant she knew the drill when she designed the original I-Gucci, the brand’s first digital watch, last year. This summer's I-Gucci Sport version is her well-considered update, with black rubber pushers fused into the brushed-steel bezel and a new, larger 49mm dial that allows for a slicker, roomier design. The performance-ready perforated-rubber racer strap comes in three colour options: black, orange and cobalt blue. A black version, with the classic green and red-striped webbing embedded into the rubber strap, adds a vintage feel. For a handy tool that tells you, in an instant, where to buy the I-Gucci Sport, download the Locator app.

A TECH WONDER

The I-Gucci Sport's impressively broad technical range - water resistance to 50m, backlight and hardy rubber and steel body - give the watch staying power under pressure. The clean digital display, meanwhile, makes the countdown timer and chrono functions easily readable. We're also pleased to see those handy components that made the original I-Gucci the perfect everyday watch - dual-time, alarm and date functions - are still key considerations of the Swiss-made watch. Lovers of timeless dial design will want to know about the analogical function that displays the time in the traditional hand formation. Get a quick, no-fuss briefing of the I-Gucci's tech spec.

This model has all the form and function we want in a sports watch. But we’ll let the brand's founder, Guccio Gucci, sum up the I-Gucci Sport's overall appeal with his favourite adage: 'Quality is remembered long after price is forgotten.'