--- description: Swatch Group is planning a smartwatch that'll debut around the time of Apple's. title: The Apple Watch Just Got a Huge New Competitor image: https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/bltc4dc0b56d81655aa/69877df606f2c1b655333d8f/swatch-apple-watch.jpg?branch=production&width=3840&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=16:9 ---  * [Business](/section/business/) ## Business Update your preferences in [Account Settings](/account/preferences/) Close * [Retail](/tag/retail/) ## Retail Update your preferences in [Account Settings](/account/preferences/) Close # The Apple Watch Just Got a Huge New Competitor  by [Jack Linshi](/author/jack-linshi/)  ## Jack Linshi Update your preferences in [Account Settings](/account/preferences/) Close Feb 6, 2015 3:26 PM CUT  The logo of Swiss watchmaker Swatch is seen on the door of a Swatch watches shop in Strasbourg on March 12, 2009. The logo of Swiss watchmaker Swatch is seen on the door of a Swatch watches shop in Strasbourg on March 12, 2009.Vincent Kessler—Reuters  by [Jack Linshi](/author/jack-linshi/)  ## Jack Linshi Update your preferences in [Account Settings](/account/preferences/) Close Feb 6, 2015 3:26 PM CUT Swiss watchmaker Swatch Group, the [world’s largest watch company](http://fortune.com/2013/11/13/swatch-leaves-luxury-watchmakers-in-a-quandary/ "undefined"), is planning on taking on the Apple Watch. Swatch plans to release its own smartwatch within the next three months, which means its launch may be around the time of [Apple Watch’s April debut](http://time.com/3685142/apple-watch-release-date-tim-cook/ "undefined"), CEO Nick Hayek told [_Bloomberg_](http://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2015-02-05/swatch-plans-smartwatch-to-compete-with-apple-watch-s-debut "undefined") on Thursday. Unlike the Apple Watch, Swatch’s smartwatch won’t have to be charged, Hayek said. Swatch’s gadget will also use near-field communication — the technology Apple uses for [Apple Pay](http://time.com/money/3311917/apple-pay-iphone-iwatch-passbook/ "undefined") — and will work with Windows and Android software. Swatch previously entered the smartwatch market in 2004, when it partnered with Microsoft and MSN to release a device called [Paparazzi. ](http://news.microsoft.com/2004/10/20/swatch-announces-new-swatch-smart-watch-that-delivers-exclusive-entertainment-information-and-more-via-microsofts-msn-direct-service/ "undefined") ### See How the Apple Watch Might Look if Reimagined by Fashion's Top Designers  An artist's concept of an Apple Watch by Chanel. Finz Lo—Highsnobiety  An artist's concept of an Apple Watch by Alexander Wang. Finz Lo—Highsnobiety  An artist's concept of an Apple Watch by Maison Martin Margiela. Finz Lo—Highsnobiety  An artist's concept of an Apple Watch by Givenchy. Finz Lo—Highsnobiety  An artist's concept of an Apple Watch by Louis Vuitton. Finz Lo—Highsnobiety \[[_Bloomberg_](http://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2015-02-05/swatch-plans-smartwatch-to-compete-with-apple-watch-s-debut "undefined")\] ```json [{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"NewsArticle","@id":"https://time.com/3698734/swatch-apple-watch/","mainEntityOfPage":{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https://time.com/3698734/swatch-apple-watch/"},"headline":"The Apple Watch Just Got a Huge New Competitor","datePublished":"2015-02-06T15:26:26.000Z","dateModified":"2026-05-11T04:45:14.252Z","description":"Swatch Group is planning a smartwatch that'll debut around the time of Apple's","url":"https://time.com/3698734/swatch-apple-watch/","keywords":["Retail","Tech","Apple","Gadgets","Apple watch"],"thumbnailUrl":"https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/bltc4dc0b56d81655aa/69877df606f2c1b655333d8f/swatch-apple-watch.jpg?branch=production&width=1200&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=1200:675&height=675","author":[{"@type":"Person","name":"Jack Linshi","jobTitle":null,"url":"https://time.com/author/jack-linshi/"}],"articleSection":"Business","image":[{"@type":"ImageObject","url":"https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/bltc4dc0b56d81655aa/69877df606f2c1b655333d8f/swatch-apple-watch.jpg?branch=production&width=1200&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=1200:675&height=675","width":1200,"height":675,"headline":"Swatch Apple Watch Smartwatch","caption":"Swatch Apple Watch Smartwatch","creditText":"Vincent Kessler—Reuters","representativeOfPage":true}],"publisher":{"@type":"Organization","name":"Time","url":"https://time.com/","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","url":"https://time.com/images/logo.png","width":528,"height":156},"foundingDate":"March 3, 1923","sameAs":["https://www.facebook.com/time","https://www.instagram.com/time/?hl=en","https://twitter.com/time","https://www.pinterest.com/timemagazine"]}},{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"BreadcrumbList","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"item":{"@id":"/section/business/","name":"Business"}},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"item":{"@id":"/tag/retail/","name":"Retail"}},{"@type":"ListItem","position":3,"item":{"@id":"https://time.com/3698734/swatch-apple-watch/","name":"The Apple Watch Just Got a Huge New Competitor"}}]}] ```