The smartwatch's biggest turnoff is that it looks like a smartwatch. It's clear as day to everyone you have a tiny computer strapped to your wrist.
The Boldr Voyage is billed as a "clever watch," not a smartwatch according to Worn and Wound. It's a Quartz watch first and foremost, but with just enough smarts to tell you something is happening on your phone. It's also got a 6-month battery that lasts longer than most smartwatches, which generally need to be recharged every night or even every week.
The Voyage is similar to the Withings Activité and Activité Pop in that it looks like a stylish fashion accessory. The watch dial is inspired by pilot and aviator watches. The 43mm watch case is made from marine grade stainless steel with PVD coating and comes in matte and polished finishes, and is water-resistant up to 98 feet. It'll be sold with a variety of stitched leather bands.
The watch has a built-in pedometer to keep track of your fitness goals and it syncs with a phone app via Bluetooth 4.0. Each hour mark, starting from 1 to 12 corresponds to how much exercise you've done. The 1 is 0% and the 12 is 110%.
Notifications are pushed from your phone and alert you through the LEDs or vibrations. You can think of the watch's notifications as nudges that something is happening on your phone. Unlike an Apple Watch or an Android Wear-based smartwatch, you won't be able to respond to messages, check email or make calls; you'll need to use your phone to do so.
The Voyage even alerts you when you've left your phone behind. No more leaving your phone behind (or in taxis, hopefully).
Another cool feature that's very James Bond-esque is the remote camera shutter, which lets you take photos with your phone's camera by pressing one of the side buttons.
The battery situation is interesting, too. It has two batteries to be exact: A replaceable CR2032 cell battery that powers the smart features and lasts up to 6 months and a separate battery for the Quartz watch, which lasts up to 3 years.
Boldr is planning to sell the watches starting at $129 through a Kick-starter campaign that will launch on Aug. 29.
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