Love it: the STOLEN GIRLFRIENDS CLUB X SAMSUNG Gear S2 Watch

I have long wanted a FitBit or similar for tracking my exercise freak tendencies, but for some reason have never got around to actually buying one. I’ve also been casually hunting for a timepiece that’s a little sleeker than my go-to black Baby G watch but again, have never found the right match. Luckily for me then that those wonderful types at Stolen Girlfriends Club have collaborated with the techie people at Samsung to create the collaboration that really is an answer to my prayers: the STOLEN GIRLFRIENDS CLUB X SAMSUNG Gear S2 Watch.

Samsung partnered with New Zealand fashion label Stolen Girlfriends Club to release an exclusive capsule collection of four customised leather watchstraps, which definitely look better than your average smart watch. The straps, designed to be fitted to the Gear S2 classic, are available to consumers as an exclusive gift with purchase for a limited number of Samsung customers.

Marc Moore, Creative Director of Stolen Girlfriends and generally pretty damn affable guy has lead the strap design for this state of the art specialist smart watch, adding a layer of edge to the watch’s already sleek design. Inspired by vintage timepieces, the bespoke collection is handmade in New Zealand and crafted by Stolen’s team of artisans. Four colours are in the collection - black and brown croc, green and blue snake - each epitomising the designer’s signature handprint. Elegant and cutting edge, the Gear S2 Smart

 “I was really inspired by vintage watch straps for this collaboration with Samsung on the new Gear S2 Classic,” said Marc. “I’ll be honest, I haven’t been a huge fan of some of the smart watches being launched by brands lately – just because they look so ‘techy’, it doesn’t leave much option for people that are into fashion. So I was pretty excited when I first saw the Gear S2 Classic, I knew instantly that a vintage styled strap would work great. We had a bit of fun with the colours and textures of the leather we sourced whilst keeping it really wearable and quite classic.”

The evolution of Samsung’s wearable technology is marked by the simplicity and practical functionality of the turning watch face bezel – a first for all smart watches and innovation led by Samsung. A huge bonus for a relative luddite like me, the Gear S2 rotating bezel allows you to move between screens and applications and navigate content super easily. The Gear S2 allows you to reply quickly to notifications like txts and Facebook messages pushed through from your mobile phone, so you can stay in touch with the quick turn of the bezel. The ability to preset frequently used replies makes it easy and practical to communicate too.It also allows you to skip to your favourite track or zoom in on a map, meaning greatly increased functionality all round.

But back to my desire for a FitBit, which is now satiated. The Gear S2 packs in an awesome array of health and fitness tracking features, with more coming all the time. Samsung’s S Health app logs your daily steps, monitors your heart rate, and helps you track both water and caffeine (yikes!) intake. Other fitness apps include Nike+, Running, letting you map runs and track your progress without having to drag your Smartphone along. I have been using these features religiously at the gym and when out walking, and have to say I have been pretty impressed at my progress!

On a purely aesthetic level, not only does the Gear S2 feature interchangeable straps, you can customise your watch face to suit your mood or outfit. You can Choose from designs on the Samsung Gear App, or create your own using your favourite images.

Lastly, the (very small and travel friendly) wireless charging dock ensures that recharging your battery is simple and easy. The Samsung Gear S2 already has 2-3 days’ battery life, making the little devil truly a smart  - and good looking - piece of wearable technology.

The special edition Samsung x Stolen Girlfriends Club watch straps for the Gear S2 Classic are available as a gift with purchase for Gear S2 Classic customers for a limited time only. For more information visit Samsung.com/nz. Gear S2 Classic and Gear S2 are available for purchase now from Samsung.com/nz or from selected national retailers.