A new wearable has made an appearance on the market – it’s called the Monograph Watch and its purpose is to help owners capture life’s beautiful moments, at least according to its creators. Famed Japanese Art Director Masashi Kawamura came up with the idea for the Monograph Watch, envisioning a device that could freeze time and capture truly unique moments.
The concept was then picked up and evolved by startup What? Watch into what eventually became the Monograph Watch – a wearable that allows users to track and relive their best moments. When something worth remembering happens, users can simply press the red button on the Monograph Watch and wait for a pattern to be formed on the watch face, signifying the beginning of a story. In order to develop the timestamp, watch wearers will have to open the accompanying smartphone app which they can use to add pictures, videos, and texts like they’re using a regular diary. As the story evolves, so does the pattern on the Monograph Watch. Once you’re done developing a story, you can go ahead and share it with select people, who can also contribute to it. When another party connects to a story, the watch lets you know by changing the pattern associated with that particular moment on the watch face.
Now, it should be mentioned that the Monograph Watch is not actually a smartwatch per se. It doesn’t run Android Wear or relay notifications from your smartphone for calls, texts, or social media applications. In terms of function, it’s actually relatively limited as it can only tell time and help you preserve memories. On the other hand, it’s made from high-end materials including stainless steel and diamond-hardened mineral glass. It boasts a Swiss Quartz Movement on the inside and a circular E-Paper Display. What? Watch offers two Monograph Watch Collections – the Classic one with either a black or white face, stainless steel case, and genuine European leather straps available in multiple colors, and the Radar one which includes two rugged models with colored stainless steel cases and silicone straps. The Monograph Watch is currently raising funds on Kickstarter, with prices for early adopters starting at €119 ($126). If funded, the watches are expected to start shipping in November.
