Kronaby
Connected watch by Anima company.
Kronaby is a Swedish watch brand that operates in the hybrid smartwatch market, blending classic Scandinavian watch design with smart technology. The company was born from Anima AB, a Malmö-based tech firm founded in 2015 by former Sony Mobile employees, including Sarandis Kalogeropulos and Pål Borge, who leveraged their extensive background in mobile technology to develop connected devices. Anima secured a significant EUR 10M investment from Goertek, a Chinese electronics manufacturer, which facilitated the development and launch of the Kronaby watch collection in early 2017.
The business positions itself in the affordable luxury segment, with prices for its timepieces ranging from approximately $350 to $800. Kronaby’s business model involves selling directly to consumers through its website and distributing through traditional watch retailers and jewelers. In February 2019, after its parent company Anima AB filed for bankruptcy, Kronaby was acquired by the Spanish watch conglomerate Festina Lotus SA. This acquisition integrated Kronaby into a larger portfolio of watch brands, providing stability and resources, while the core research and development team for applications and cloud services remained in Malmö.
Kronaby’s product is a hybrid smartwatch that appears as a classic analog watch but contains a proprietary connected movement. The watches are crafted with materials like 316L stainless steel cases, sapphire crystals, and leather or steel straps. A key selling point is the battery life, which lasts up to two years on a standard coin cell battery, eliminating the need for daily charging. The watches connect via Bluetooth to a smartphone app compatible with iOS and Android. This app allows users to customize the watch's pushers to control various functions, such as filtered notifications, music control, camera remote, and a "find my phone" feature. Additional functionalities include activity tracking, automatic time zone updates, and safety features like "Walk Me Home," which allows a trusted contact to follow the user's journey in real-time.
Keywords: hybrid smartwatch, Scandinavian design, connected watch, analog smartwatch, wearable technology, long battery life, Festina Group, classic timepiece, smartphone notifications, activity tracking