The MB Chronowing is HP's luxury answer to wearables

What does a prestigious fashion designer have in common with Hewlett Packard? Quite a lot it seems, as today saw the announcement of the MB Chronowing, brought about by a partnership between Michael Bastian and HP. The meaty watch is silver plated, water resistant up to 5 ATM (50m – 165ft), comes with a trio of bands (leather, nylon, and rubber) and will run for $349.

For those with extra cash, a limited black version with sapphire glass, and an alligator skin band will also be available for $649. The timepiece’s retailer, Glit.com, claims the Chronowing’s battery will last an entire week, and the device is compatible with both Android (4.3+) and iOS. Other notable features include e-mail/text delivery, calendar and appointment syncing, and the ability to control your phone’s music player and adjust volume.

As beautiful as the Moto 360 and LG G Watch R might be, their novelty is largely for resembling a real watch. Apple took things a bit further last month when it announced its competitor, but even with 18-karat gold versions in tow, the device still looks like a tech “toy”. The MB Chronowing might be the first device to offer a truly luxurious experience, and the product’s website highlights this fact: the first three-quarters make no mention of anything “smart”.

Given the reasonable starting price-at least compared with similar offerings from Samsung and company –  it’s quite possible that watch will achieve greater mainstream recognition than those that have come before it. And if the battery claim truly delivers? Let’s just wait and see when the watch hits November 7th.