Smartwatches

Kairos blends mechanical and smartwatch technology

Kairos blends mechanical and smartwatch technology
MSW 115_B showing call alert
MSW 115_B showing call alert
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The MSW 115 watches
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The MSW 115 watches
MSW 115_B showing the analog watch display
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MSW 115_B showing the analog watch display
MSW 115_B showing text display
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MSW 115_B showing text display
The MSW 115_B has 21 jewels
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The MSW 115_B has 21 jewels
MSW 115_B showing call alert
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MSW 115_B showing call alert
The MSW 115_C has a 42-hour mechnical power reserve
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The MSW 115_C has a 42-hour mechnical power reserve
The MSW 115_C showing battery reserve
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The MSW 115_C showing battery reserve
The MSW 115_C has a sapphire crystal
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The MSW 115_C has a sapphire crystal
The MSW 115_C showing camera control
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The MSW 115_C showing camera control
The MSW 115_G showing music app control
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The MSW 115_G showing music app control
The MSW 115_G has a stainless steel case
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The MSW 115_G has a stainless steel case
The MSW 115_G showing chronograph
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The MSW 115_G showing chronograph
The MSW 115_G version of the Kairos watch line
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The MSW 115_G version of the Kairos watch line
The SSW 15815 watches
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The SSW 15815 watches
The SSW 158_B showing analog time display
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The SSW 158_B showing analog time display
SSW 158_B showing text display
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SSW 158_B showing text display
The SSW 158_B showing text alert
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The SSW 158_B showing text alert
The SSW 158_B has 25 jewels
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The SSW 158_B has 25 jewels
The SSW 158_C showing analog time display
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The SSW 158_C showing analog time display
The SSW 158_C showing text alert
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The SSW 158_C showing text alert
Front view of the SSW 158_C
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Front view of the SSW 158_C
The SSW 158_C is upgradable
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The SSW 158_C is upgradable
SSW 158_C showing text display
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SSW 158_C showing text display
The SSW 158_G showing weather alert
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The SSW 158_G showing weather alert
The SSW 158_G has a 5 to 7 day battery life
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The SSW 158_G has a 5 to 7 day battery life
The SSW 158_G showing battery alert
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The SSW 158_G showing battery alert
Oblique view of the SSW 158_G
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Oblique view of the SSW 158_G
View gallery - 27 images

Imagine owning an upmarket, 25-jewel, Swiss-movement mechanical watch. Now imagine one that that can display text messages, notify you of incoming calls and let you remotely control your smartphone or tablet. That may seem a bit farfetched, but Kairos Watches aims to combine a luxury mechanical watch with the functionality of a smartwatch in one seamless device.

Launched on May 15, The Kairos Watches line looks like many other upmarket timepieces. It’s available in two models: the MSW 115 that has a 21-jewel Miyota 82S7 automatic movement, and the SSW 158 with a 25-jewel Soprod A10BV-2 Swiss automatic movement. Both have a 316L stainless steel case, leather band, sapphire crystal, 42-hour mechanical power reserve, and both are water resistant to 3 atmospheres.

So far, so conventional, but under the choice of black, steel or gold finish there’s also an Arm Cortex M4 or Intel processor running Android Wear OS or the Kairo proprietary operating system. This powers a choice of either a full-color Transparent OLED (TOLED) with 40 percent transparency sitting over the crystal, or a ICON transparent display that’s 60 percent transparent, but only presents static displays and pre-selected colors. Unlike other smart/mechanical watch hybrids, this is an integrated package rather than an add-on.

The MSW 115 watches
The MSW 115 watches

The watches have Bluetooth to connect it to your digital devices, touch sensors, a 3-axis accelerometer with gesture detection, a gyroscope, and a USB charging cable with a magnetic connector. The makers say that the electronics also have a 5 to 7 day battery life because the mechanical analog hands save the smartwatch part from having to constantly display the time.

According to the specs, the Kairos watches can not only provide notifications and push alerts, but also act as a remote control for other digital devices, display fitness data, act as a chronograph and act as a GPS-enabled world time display. The company also says that it will upgrade the watch, as the technology changes, for a US$99 service fee.

The SSW 158_C showing analog time display
The SSW 158_C showing analog time display

Since Kairos Watches is still a startup, the company admits that there are a few bugs to work out, such as getting a microphone to work without compromising water resistance, and choosing the microprocessor. Preorders are currently being taken with prices ranging from US$499 to $1,199.

The video below introduces the Kairos watch line.

Source: Kairos Watches via A Blog to Watch

Epic Smart Watch! Kairos Mechanical Smart Watch Hybrid

View gallery - 27 images
2 comments
2 comments
Ryan Gibbons
I like it. Something like this smartwatch but more minimalist like the Moto 360 but mechanical and 5mm thick, I would buy it launch day. Impossible with today's technology though.
Rann Xeroxx
Its a really cool watch and I would love to have one but way too expensive (which is OK, its a luxury item). Hopefully the technology in the watch will find its way into a sub $200 one.