THE RISE OF THE GLORIOUS SMARTWATCH HAS RESULTED IN AN “ARMS RACE” AMONGST LUXURY MAKERS TO SEE WHO CAN PERFECT THE BALANCE BETWEEN FORM AND FUNCTION. FROM THE USUAL SUSPECTS LIKE APPLE AND SAMSUNG TO RELATIVE NEWCOMERS LIKE BREITLING AND HUBLOT, WE PRESENT THE BEST OF THE BEST OF DIGITAL WATCHES AVAILABLE IN 2022 (SO FAR)

BY MATTHEW MIZRACH

Apple Watch Hermés
Hermés and Apple have more in common than one might expect. Their partnership was founded on a shared passion for innovation and design, and together they crafted a luxurious lineup of smart watches with custom bands and exclusive watch faces. The latest collection includes refreshing new color ways inspired by the season. $1,229+, apple.com

De Grisogno Samsung Gear S2
Partnering with Swiss watchmakers De Grisogno, Samsung released this limited edition 18K gold smartwatch, set with sparkling black and white diamonds on the navigation bezel and finished with a jet-black leather band. $16,825, farfetch.com

Louis Vuitton Tambour Horizon “Light Up” Connected
A splashy celebration of the French maison’s dedication to joie de vivre, the Tambour Horizon is quickly becoming one of the most popular smart watches in the luxury market. Twenty-four LED lights animate the signature monogram ring, and they can be customized in a rainbow of colors, including 11 new gradients. $4,110, us.louisvuitton.com

Northwell B22 SPREAD

Movado Connect 2.0
The newest iteration of Movado’s Connect series, the 2.0 sports the brand’s classic stripped-down design palette with a circular face available in sizes ranging from 26- 46mm, along with hundreds of customizable dial variations. The watch is powered by Wear OS by Google and compatible with both iOS and Android. $795, movado.com

Hublot Big Bang E Black Ceramic Blending
Hublot’s storied lineage with cutting-edge materials and the latest in digital technology, the Big Bang E is a “see-to-believe” type of wearable, powered by Wear OS by Google with access to apps on Google Play, Google Assistant, and Google Pay. $6,000, hublot.com

Breitling Exospace B55
The first-ever connected chronograph designed by Breitling, the B55 has the unique distinction of placing the smartphone in service of the watch, not vice versa. Equipped with a wide range of functionality for pilots and yachtsmen, this user friendly model is enhanced by a simple and logical control mode. $8,950, breitling.com

Tag Heuer Connected Golf
Touted as the most luxurious golf watch ever created, this special edition timepiece was conceptualized to enhance your performance on the course. It features include an ergonomic design, performance tracking software with access to 40,000+ courses worldwide, and comes with a trio of branded golf balls. $2,650, tagheuer.com