Mont Blanc Summit review

The Mont Blanc Summit isn’t your typical smartwatch. It’s also not a watch for the typical, everyday person. It’s more than just an Android Wear smartwatch. It’s a statement. It’s a blur of art and technology. It’s a device Mont Blanc wants millennials to dream about now, and then buy later in life when they can afford to realize their dream.

It’s also really, really expensive.

There’s no getting away from the fact that the Summit offers nothing in terms of specs or features over smartwatches a third of its price. 

The craftsmanship is slick, it looks great on the wrist and it bears the firm’s iconic brand name – but this isn’t a traditional, handmade luxury timepiece that’ll be handed down through generations and increase in value over time.

This is a smartwatch that, in a few years, will be irrelevant, such is the pace of modern technology.

Who's it for?

The Mont Blanc Summit isn't for the average smartwatch owner. It's for those with enough disposable income not to be worried about spending it on a watch with features identical to devices a third of the price.

It straddles the line between smartwatch and luxury watch, and will likely play second fiddle to an owner's traditional timepiece, as an item that's worn for specific occasions rather than day to day.

Should I buy it?

If you're in the market for an Android Wear smartwatch there are plenty of cheaper options that give your comparable, and it some cases superior, features and performance.

This makes the Mont Blanc Summit a difficult product to recommend to pretty much anyone. If you're looking to be part of a more exclusive Android Wear club and have money to burn, then the Summit may be up your street.

Yet, if you're willing to spend this much then perhaps you should consider the Tag Heuer Connected Modular 45. It's an even more expensive, and potentially more elite, Android Wear offering.

All this leaves the Summit in a bit of a no man's land, then, and you'll either have to love the brand, or the watch's design, to plump for this particular wearable.

The smartwatch world may not be firing on all cylinders right now, but there are still a number of competitors vying for the space on your wrist. Here are three you should consider before making your final decision.

LG Watch Style

Looking for an Android Wear smartwatch that's not laden with features? Look no further. Like the Summit, the LG Watch Style doesn’t offer GPS or NFC, but it does have a rotating bezel for easier navigation.

It’s also a third of the price of the Mont Blanc summit. The design isn’t quite so premium, and the slimmer, more rounded finish may not to be to everyone’s taste – but just remember how much it costs.

• Read our LG Watch Style review

Huawei Watch 2

If you fancy a smartwatch which packs in more features than you can shake a stick at, you’ll want to check out the Hauwei Watch 2. 

There’s NFC for contactless payments via Android Pay and GPS for keeping track of your workouts without needing your phone, while 4G connectivity means you can make and receive calls, send texts and browse the web completely independently of your handset. 

It may be a little too much for some users, but those looking for maximum bang for buck will be in for a treat.

• Read our Huawei Watch 2 review

Tag Heuer Connected Modular 45

The biggest direct rival to the Mont Blanc Summit comes from Tag Heuer in the form of the Connected Modular 45. The modular part of the name comes from the fact you can easily disconnect the strap and horns from the watch case, and replace it with either an updated Android Wear case or an analogue watch.

It’s not cheap though, and the Connected Modular 45 is more expensive than the Mont Blanc Summit, putting it out of reach for many shoppers.

• Read our Tag Heuer Connected Modular 45 review

First reviewed: July 2017