The new TAG Heuer Connected smartwatch has garnered attention from brand enthusiasts, watch collectors and techie trendsetters since its November debut in New York. The Swiss-developed smartwatch is engineered with Intel Inside and Android wear, which helped spark the kind of consumer interest not seen since the launch of the Apple Watch.

The exclusive TAG Heuer Connected is gradually appearing in stores across North America, but it’s become a rare commodity in Canada due to its limited production and high demand. Ann-Louise Jewellers in Metropolis at Metrotown was chosen as the first retailer in B.C. to sell the new smartwatch and had customers lining up around the store to grab one of the revolutionary watches when they were launched.

Image: Tag Heuer Connected options

Image: Tag Heuer Connected smartwatch

The new TAG Heuer creation is inscribed with “Intel-inside” on the back of the case to represent the connection between luxury watchmaking and smartwatch technology. According to the brand’s CEO Jean-Claude Biver, the watch’s concept aligns its Swiss heritage with the latest technology.

“For a traditional mechanical watch, Swiss-made is a criteria of reliability and quality. For a connected watch, Android from Google and Intel Inside are the criteria of quality and reliability,” said Biver.

Image: Tag Heuer Connected smartwatch

Unlike other smartwatches, the TAG Heuer Connected is a long-term investment because the brand will exchange it for a specific mechanical watch, for a fee, anytime after the two year warranty.

With an absence of a limited shelf life, the watch is being called an elite product that’s “Connected to Eternity.”

Image: Tag Heuer Connected smartwatch

Ann-Louise Jewellers in Metropolis at Metrotown is currently the only retailer offering the watch during its first phase of the launch. Swing by to chat with their friendly and informative staff and check out a demonstration of the TAG Heuer Connected or any other watch in the collection.