Even better this time.

“Just to be clear,” said the Montblanc representative tasked to show the new Summit 2 smartwatch to a roomful of watch journalists, “we are not a tech company.” Even so, Montblanc has done a bang-up job with the follow-up to its maiden foray into the tech sphere from 2016 with the original Summit.

What makes the Summit 2 truly powerful is its Snapdragon Wear 3100 chipset – the first luxury smartwatch to feature the advanced processor – that promises longer battery life (one day in smartwatch mode, or three to five days in time-only mode) and more responsive performance. Clearly this tiny machine is well-equipped to handle all the usual smartwatch demands from GPS sensor to NFC Pay functionality to new apps and features like an always-on colour ambient mode that allows the dial to be visible at all times, and the NASA-developed Timeshifter that provides personalised tips and advice to help the user negate jet lag.

We also like that the Summit 2 can now properly double-up as a workout accompaniment with 50m water resistance (the original was only splash-proof), alongside features such as improved heart rate monitor and Montblanc’s proprietary ‘Running Coach’ app to track training and fitness goals.

Compared to the Summit, the new Summit 2 is definitely more wearable, housed in a 42mm case compared to the original’s 46mm. That said, the watch retains the looks of its predecessor, with vintage-y chronograph case design modelled after that of the Montblanc 1858 collection.

One can, of course, personalise the watch to suit his or her fancy. There are four different case types (black DLC steel, stainless steel, bi-colour steel, or titanium), 11 interchangeable strap options spanning rubber to calfskin to Milanese steel, and more than 1,000 mix-and-match dial interface combinations, courtesy of a built-in watch configurator.

While still fiercely guarding its ‘luxury smartwatch’ proposition (don’t compare it to the Apple Watch or Samsung Gear, ok?), Montblanc’s Summit 2 makes a fine return with thoughtful and practical upgrades that will go some way to sway the unconvinced on either sides of the smart/ mechanical watch divide.

Case	42mm stainless steel, bi-colour steel, black DLC steel or titanium
Operating system	Wear OS by Google
Processor	Qualcomm Snapdragon Wear 3100
Compatibility	iOS (9.3+) and Android (4.4+)
Display	1.2" full circle AMOLED
Memory/Storage	1 GB/8GB
Water Resistance	50m
Battery	340 mAh (one day smartwatch model, three to five days 'time only' mode)
Price	From S$1,495