This year there’s a new player in town causing quite a stir: Samsung.  The tech leader is first with a significant presence at the show. It’s a historical milestone and a sign of change that the traditional watch industry must embrace.

For the past 500 years the Swiss have been focused on honing the craft of watchmaking. They have been dominant and really focused on competing against themselves. Other than a brief interim with the Quartz watch, the industry over the last thirty years has not made any drastic changes and rather focused on small refinements.  Now we are seeing a new era, that is requiring the industry to re-think the definition of “the watch”. Is the watch simply a timepiece, a masterpiece in design and a feat in craftsmanship? Or in todays connected age, should it offer its user the ability to do so much more?

Younger generations are less focused on traditional watches and are shifting the demand. They are looking to the lifestyle benefits of smartwatches. And at first these watches weren’t considered serious by the industry, but now they are taking notice – and many realizing there is a place for both tradition and innovation.

We are in very interesting times in the watch industry, where the two spheres of artistry and technology are moving closer together. Technology has shifted from being an industry associated purely for gamers and coders, to one that affects everyone – no matter profession or hobby. As the worlds of horology and technology converge, fresh ideas and prospects can be created, that both traditional watchmakers and newcomers can mutually benefit from.  The link between traditional watches and smartwatches is becoming stronger as technology and lifestyle become intertwined – and the Gear S3 is a perfect example of this. The Gear S3 speaks both languages: design that can easily be mistaken for a classic Swiss timepiece and technology such as GPS and music streaming enhancing various lifestyles of all users.

That’s why I am thrilled to collaborate with Samsung and to be with them here at Baselworld. It’s been an exciting journey to collaborate with a company that is committed to delivering a product that draws on craftsmanship and blends it with innovation. To me it’s just one part of how the industry can, and really must adapt.  If you stick to the same thing, the industry will be left behind.
A watch creates a sense of a tribe, a community, a badge, an identity – it’s about the emotional connection.

I think that feeling can come from a classic timepiece or smartwatch. That’s the beauty of a watch collection – there is room for both. And as tradition and digital innovation continue to marry, the watch industry has a fantastic opportunity to evolve and progress towards a smart future.

Samsung held a press event at Baselworld 2017 in Switzerland with 50 global media. (From left to right): Moderator Anish Bhatt; Younghee Lee, Executive Vice President of Mobile Communications Business, Samsung Electronics; Artist and Industrial Designer Arik Levy, and Watch Designer Yvan Arpa.

Samsung’s Baselworld 2017 press event panel poses for photos. (From left to right): Moderator Anish Bhatt; Younghee Lee, Executive Vice President of Mobile Communications Business, Samsung Electronics; Artist and Industrial Designer Arik Levy, and Watch Designer Yvan Arpa.

Samsung’s Galaxy Studio at Baselworld 2017 displays its latest smartwatch, the Samsung Gear S3, as well as concept watches and other innovative variations of the device.

Samsung press event participants examine the selection of products displayed in the Samsung Galaxy Studio.

A participant observes different variations of the Samsung Gear S3 in the Samsung Galaxy Studio at Baselworld 2017.

A participant examines a selection of Gear S3 concept watches, which combine the smartwatch’s aesthetic with Swiss-made movements and detail.

A visitor to Samsung’s Galaxy Studio at Baselworld 2017 gets up close and personal with the hybrid pocket watch version of the Gear S3, the third concept watch developed by esteemed luxury watch designer Yvan Arpa.

A participant examines the Gear S3’s wide selection of available straps, which allow wearers to customize the smartwatch to suit their personal style.

Samsung Gear S3 is a product that takes after the heart of artisan watchmakers and their highly detailed craft while expanding further with the latest in digital technology. It is a watch that is cutting edge, yet traditional all the same. A device that was refined with the user in mind to not only feel right on the wrist, but also to add convenience to one’s daily life.

To create such a smartwatch experience, Samsung put a great deal of effort into making the Gear S3 as close to a real watch as possible, down to the tiniest details. The company sought the advice of some of the world’s greatest watchmakers, including Yvan Arpa, one of the most audacious and avant–garde watch creators of today. In doing so, the company was able to gather valuable insight into their skills and the age-old craft of assembling a classic timepiece.

Swiss watch designer, Yvan Arpa

“With every great iconic watch design, it’s all about three factors: proportion, tactile experience and choice,” Arpa noted. “These three things are what we focused on to create a smartwatch that looks and feels like a real watch.”

With Arpa’s help, Samsung was able to create a device that marries traditional professionalism and digital innovation. This rings true for both versions of the new smartwatch: the Gear S3 frontier, a rugged wearable that can withstand nature’s elements, and the Gear S3 classic, a luxurious digital timepiece.

Gear S3 frontier — A Smartwatch for Any Environment

The Gear S3 frontier was developed to fit into any environment, be it the wilderness or the boardroom. Its large bezel, hefty body and accentuated buttons convey both refinement and sturdiness. Small elevations around the face, and the screen’s slope and depression, for example, protect it from exterior shock.

Samsung also took care to ensure that each function of the new version could be easily accessed. Specially designed bezel knurlings and buttons make it easy to use, even when wearing ski gloves. Furthermore, in place of time markers, numerals were used to create a sportier aesthetic.

To resist the dust, mud and perspiration that often come along with outdoor activities, Samsung designers adopted a soft, lightweight strap that provides durability but also comfort.

Gear S3 classic—Enhanced Luxury

The Gear S3 classic boasts a more luxurious aesthetic, raising the bar in terms of detail and quality.

Taking a no-frills approach, Samsung designers paid great attention to the smallest of details, from the laser-marking techniques for the indices, to the watch crown to the minimalistic design of the in-body strap.

Many renditions, and numerous shapes and sizes were considered to achieve the perfect balance and proportion of a well-crafted watch. Samsung hid the stitches and selected more natural colors—olive green and navy blue—to make the device more gender neutral. Finally, the leather was tempered to look sophisticated yet reliable; the material is one that makes a statement without being ostentatious.

All-Around Refined Design and Craftsmanship

Refinement was a key concept for the designs of both versions of the Gear S3. Most prominent in its enhancements are the physical dimensions of the device itself—ones that were crafted to ensure that the product actually looked like a real watch.

After completing a survey of a wide range of users to whittle down the ideal proportions of a wristwatch, Samsung incorporated a larger watch face to better fit the wrists and preferences of users.

The Gear S3’s bezel interface was inspired by outdoor and dive watches. Adding a tactical experience to what is primarily a digital function, the new bezel has 24 steps that cover the spectrum of the Gear S3’s functions.

The rounded sharp edges of the case, the sunray brush finish on the bezel and the intricacies of the watch’s crown further demonstrate Samsung’s commitment to quality.

To better accommodate the circular face of the smartwatch, the interface was totally redesigned for the Gear S3. Added to this was the revision of the app sync engine to provide a more seamless integration of applications to the device.

The material of the device, a component that Arpa believes greatly contributes to the overall tactile experience, was also carefully considered. “In this specific case, I’m very proud to say we used 316L stainless steel, which is the same material used for the finest luxury watches in Switzerland,” he stated.

New materials, along with simple modification molding and tempering finishes, result in a design that is not only classic, but also reliable.

A Well-“Rounded” UX

The circular UX, which was well received by the masses when it was first introduced with the Gear S2, has undoubtedly become the distinguishing identity of the Gear series, redefining the user experience.

The new Gear S3 builds upon this foundation and takes advantage of its circular display and rotating bezel to provide advanced usability. Content on the Gear S3 scrolls around the periphery of the circular display while transitions between screens are smoother and more natural than before.

Also, the nearly microscopic details of an analog timepiece have been recreated and applied to the Gear S3’s watch face, along with added digital functions that offer unsurpassed convenience. Depth has been added to improve aesthetics, while widgets on both sides of the face connect seamlessly with the watch face itself. A wide variety of watch face options also enables ultimate personalization.

But the new Gear S3 isn’t just a smart device. It’s a wearable that complements a user’s lifestyle. After all, Arpa noted, “More important than any design or project is the human being that will interact with it.”

That’s why the device’s Always On Display has been improved upon. With a low energy setting, the smartwatch can now be on at all times, with more vibrancy and detail. Thanks to this new added function, a vast array of Always On Display designs are available so users can make their device truly their own.

The new Gear S3 is a device with a design that speaks to the user, and a watch that looks and fits as it’s supposed to. It’s a timepiece that merges the perfected craftsmanship of the past with Samsung’s meaningful innovation for a future of possibilities.

The design of the Gear S3 is a result of the collaborative efforts of Swiss watch designer Yvan Arpa and Samsung designers. (Pictured from left to right: Principal Designer Yongseok Bang, Designer Yvan Arpa, Vice President Jinsoo Kim and Senior Designer Tommy Choi)