Wellograph is the Fitness Watch for the Boardroom

I’m an Apple fan.  Unabashedly so.  I have an iPhone, a MacBook, and a MacBook Pro.  I actually watch Apple product announcements.

But…

I am not a blind follower.  While I am a big fan of many Apple products, I am not loyal without question.  I have a Google Chromecast because I didn’t want my entertainment options to be tied to iTunes.  I use Pro Tools instead of Logic Pro X.  I use Aperture, but I also use Photoshop.  You get the idea.

So when my initial enthusiasm about the Apple Watch collided with reality — a wrist-worn extension of my iPhone, with limited practical value, and prices ranging from $550 to more than $1,000 (for a stainless steel case), I found myself searching for something better.  I set out to find a watch that:

• was engineered to provide practical fitness tracking;
• didn’t need to be charged daily, or even every two or three days;
• could withstand a dip in the pool;
• wouldn’t be scratched by a careless knock against something;
• looked good in the gym, and sharp in the boardroom;
• operated independent of my iPhone and offered unique features that improved my life, rather than distracted me from it.

My search led me to the Wellograph Wellness Watch.*

In short, the Wellograph is a fitness watch with style.  It’s not wearable tech (as in, technology that is wearable in a “I suppose I can bear to wear it” sort of way).  It’s fashion tech.

The president of Wellograph, Nick Warnock, decided early on that “wearable” wasn’t enough, ditching the plastic for stainless steel and sapphire glass.  He also didn’t try to make a watch that did everything; he made a watch that did useful things, and did them very well.

The result is a watch that is “way better” that other wrist trackers; because it isn’t a “wrist tracker”…it’s a watch.  A watch that provides useful tools and fitness tracking information without sacrificing the aesthetic values of its wearer.

The watch sells for $299, making it one of the more expensive activity trackers (but significantly less than the Apple Watch).  But keep in mind this price reflects the quality of the materials and the fact that you are paying not just for technology, but also for fashion.

Let’s dive in.

PACKAGING

The packaging does not feel like an afterthought.  Everything about it conveys quality and prestige.

Lest you think you are buying an ordinary fitness tracker, the packaging reminds you this is jewelry.  In fact, the only thing that is going to scratch the screen on the Wellograph is a diamond, the ultimate jewelry.

MATERIALS

The watch has a stainless steel and aluminum case, and a sapphire glass display.  Thus, unlike most of its competitors (aside from the ultra-pricey Apple Watch), the Wellograph is made with premium materials, and designed for wear not just in the gym, but also in the boardroom.

The back of the watch is curved so that it fits comfortably on your wrist.  The watch is a bit thicker than some traditional watches — at 12.5mm you may find it strains a bit against some of your tighter dress shirts.  Of course, you’ll find similarly with other wearables, including the 10.5mm apple watch.   The thickness hasn’t bothered me, because I’ve generally kept my Wellograph out from under my shirts, since it isn’t a fitness watch you are trying to hide.  The leather strap is soft and comfortable.  Wellograph also sells a NATO strap that is more conducive to workouts, yet still looks sleek, unlike some of the rubber bands featured on competitors.  The bands also have quick release buttons, which makes it easy to switch back and forth.

FUNCTIONALITY

The Wellograph isn’t a “smart watch” — in the sense that it won’t show you text messages, phone calls, or where the closest Starbucks is.  That doesn’t bother me, (1) because I don’t drink Starbucks, and (2) that’s what my iPhone — with its huge screen and keyboard — is for.  And unlike the Apple Watch, which must be within close proximity to your iPhone for many of its features, the Wellograph is wholly functional without a smart phone.  In fact, even if you do pair it to your phone, it will only activate the Bluetooth connection when you are syncing to the app.  As discussed below, that’s one of the reasons for the great battery life.

Following is a discussion of the various features and functionality the Wellograph provides.

 Activity and Cardio Time

Want to count your steps? Wellograph has you covered with its 9-axis accelerometer.  Is it accurate? Well, that depends on whether you use your arms when you walk (Seinfeld reference for the astute).  It is, after all, a pedometer located on your wrist, so like all wrist-worn trackers, you aren’t going to register many steps if you are carrying a bag of groceries while you walk.  With that said, I found it to be very accurate when I’m walking normally.  Better still, because it has two sensitivity settings, I’ve found that by setting the sensitivity to “high,” it more closely approximates my total day’s step count.  Basically, it would track as steps some arm movements that weren’t accompanied by steps, but this seemed to balance out with the steps it missed when I was carrying my laptop around.

The Wellograph also evaluates how hard you move, which translates into “Cardio Time.”  So when you’re speed walking during the lunch hour, swing those arms with gusto and you’ll get credit for it.

Heart Tracking and Readiness

I love the tri-LED heart rate tracking feature and it appears to be very accurate.  Wellograph shines in this category with its 1,000Hz sampling rate per second, which results in the “most detailed data in the wearable market,” according to its website.  The Wellograph displays your current heart rate, resting heart rate, average for the previous seven days, and your heart rate range for those days.  This data is then analyzed, taking into account the number of cardio minutes you have completed that day, and comparing that data to the population matching your age and gender, generating a graph that shows your fitness percentile and fitness age.

Finally, the Wellograph utilizes heart rate variability scanning to determine whether you are ready for more exercise or need additional rest.  For this reason alone, if you have ever wanted an excuse to sleep past your workout in the morning, Wellograph could be the watch for you!

Sleep Analysis

One of my favorite features of the Wellograph — it automatically determines when you go to sleep and then analyzes not only how long you sleep, but also the quality of your sleep and the number of times you wake during the night.  The Wellograph also displays your average sleep (and sleep quality) during the previous seven days.  This feature has actually inspired me to go to bed earlier, simply to avoid the admonishment that I “need more sleep.”

Run Stopwatch

I’ll admit, I’m not much of a runner, but I’ve felt the urge to go running on several occasions, simply because I want to utilize the Wellograph functionality.  The stopwatch tracks your distance, speed, lap time and intensity.  And, so  you can track your improvement, the Wellograph stores four months of sessions, which you can review in detail on the Wellograph App (discussed below).

Fun with Friends

Social features are a must on new technology and the Wellograph delivers by allowing you to share your activity with friends in real time via Bluetooth.  The ability to compete is designed to encourage you to move more.

Watch Faces

There are four different watch faces available on the Wellograph.  My favorite view displays the date, time, and your step count digitally.  Another displays a graph of your activity along with the date and time.  There is also an analog view, which displays battery life and the date.

Waterproof

Unlike many of its competitors, the Wellograph is waterproof up to 50 meters (165 feet).  This is a huge plus to not have to take your watch off every time there is more than a drizzle, or when you hop in the shower or the pool.

Cycling (Upcoming)

Wellograph plans to add support for cycling within the next two or three months.

BATTERY LIFE

Battery life is another area where the Wellograph shines.  Unlike the Apple Watch, which will need to be charged every night, the Wellograph will last for five to seven days on a single charge (depending on your use).  And when you do charge it, you simply rest the watch on the dock, allowing you to still see the time, date, and charging progress.

THE APP

Unlike the Apple Watch, Samsung Gear, Moto 360, and other watches tied to specific operating systems, the Wellograph plays nice on any platform.

The App itself is simple, clean, and informative.  From the home screen,  I can see my step totals, cardio time, heart BPM average, sleep quality, and ranking among friends.  I can drill down for more in-depth information like average steps, weekly totals, monthly totals, cardio activities, and more.

The App is not going to overwhelm you with data, but do you really want it to?   I want to be able to (1) see relevant information quickly, and then (2) get on with my life.  With this App, you can.

BOTTOM LINE

I highly recommend the Wellograph.  It’s fashion tech.  It looks great, feels great, and provides fitness information that is both relevant and helpful.  It doesn’t include smart watch capabilities because it’s meant to function apart from your phone, not tie you to it.  Wearing the Wellograph has not pulled my attention away from family and friends by giving me another screen to stare at; instead, it’s provided tools to help me live a more balanced life, while still being engaged in that life.

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*The Wellograph Wellness Watch was provided by Wellograph for review. I received no monetary compensation for reviewing the Wellograph. 

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