Montblanc presented its first smartwatch, the Summit, in 2017. It ran on the Android operating system for watches; in this the brand followed other makers of expensive watches which already had connected models in their ranges. The Summit took its place among a group of technology- and fashion-led products that also included protective cases for smartphones and motorcycle helmets.
Among collectors the move met with reservations. A luxury product lives by remaining usable for a long time, whereas electronic devices are obsolete within a few years and software support has a limited life. The concern was above all about the dilution of a brand image that otherwise rests on timeless usefulness.