Samy-Felix, real estate agent in Paris, unboxes and tries Smartlet

Samy-Felix is a real estate agent in Paris. He backed Smartlet on Kickstarter before the product shipped, which means he had been waiting longer than most. When the box finally arrived, he opened it with his Rolex Daytona on the table and his Apple Watch on his wrist. What follows is a first look from someone who believed in the product before he could hold it.

The Kickstarter bet

Backing a hardware product on Kickstarter is an act of conviction. You are paying for something that does not yet exist in its final form, based on a promise and a prototype. Samy made that bet on Smartlet early, placing him among the users who shaped the product through feedback and community before the broader market discovered it at CES 2026.

That context matters. When Samy opens the box, he is not just a new customer. He is someone who tracked the project, followed the development, and waited through the full production cycle. His first impressions carry the weight of that expectation. Smartlet was designed and engineered in Paris, a story told in full by its founder. The Concours Lepine Bronze Medal and the CES 2026 selection are the validation that the product Samy backed became something worth the recognition.

The Rolex Daytona and the unboxing

The Rolex Daytona is one of the most recognizable references in the world. Its 20mm lug width falls natively within Smartlet's supported range of 18mm to 24mm, requiring no modification to the case. The full compatibility guide confirms supported Daytona references.

The Smartlet One box contains everything needed to get started: 2 standard watch connectors for lug widths from 18mm to 24mm, 2 bracelet sides with 5 links each, 4 additional links for size adjustment, 1 standard clasp, 1 Smartlet tool for bracelet removal, and 1 screwdriver. Classic watches, smartwatches, and fitness trackers are sold separately. First setup takes most users under ten minutes. Daily swaps between watches take three seconds once the system is in place, with no tools required.

First impressions from Paris

What strikes Samy most in the first minutes is the finish. The Smartlet One Classic, crafted in SS316L stainless steel, sits alongside the Daytona without competing with it. The proportions work. The materials are coherent. The combination looks deliberate rather than improvised.

"You can tell this was designed in Paris. It respects the watch."

This is not a small thing. The challenge any product faces when pairing with a Rolex Daytona is the same it faces with any high end reference: the existing watch sets a standard the accessory must meet, not lower.

The existing watch sets the standard. The accessory has to meet it, not lower it.

For context on the dilemma of choosing between analog and smartwatch, our piece on classic watch or smartwatch makes the case for both. For users who have been wearing Smartlet for months rather than days, Maxim's review from Prague offers a longer-term perspective, and Josh has worn his Rolex Submariner with Smartlet for years.

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