Is This the First Smartwatch for Horology Fans?

Apple’s rugged new Ultra takes aim at lovers of mechanical watches, but the best things about it are entirely digital. By NICK FOULKES

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EARLIER THIS FALL, when it released its Ultra, Apple did more than simply put out a new timepiece: The company took its first truly momentous step forward with its watch since debuting it back in 2014. This was a watch designed to appeal to mechanical-watch aficionados. Not that the previous iteration didn’t suit their smartwatch needs, but, viewed horologically, Ultra features many of the characteristics found in a classic tool watch: the larger case size and crown; activity-specific bands elastomer for diving, woven textile for climbing); and a fortress-like construction with a titanium case to protect the glass and crown guards. The redesign is radical, and certainly newly alluring for Rolex fans, but Ultra’s best attribute is that it runs on software. Which means it can be truly multifunctional while still being smartly and beautifully crafted. In short, it does things that no conventional tool watch can.