The original Sony SmartWatch had a 1.3-inch OLED display and ran a modified Android version. It often crashed inexplicably but was still well received by the tech press.

2012: Sony SmartWatch

This smartwatch needed an adapter and receiver box to display a dotted TV image.&nbsp;&nbsp;

1982: Seiko TV Watch

Steve Mann built the first Linux-powered watch. IBM launched the prototype in 2000. It was designed to connect wirelessly with PCs, cell phones and other wireless-enabled devices. It could display condensed email messages and receive pager-like messages.

1998: Linux Wristwatch

Garmin has been involved in the GPS sports watch arena for over a decade. The watch measured speed, distance, pace and calories burned. It used two AAA batteries which could give you about 14 hours of action.

2003: Farmin Forerunner

This watch could store memos, calendar entries and also served as a calculator using a clip-on keyboard. Seiko also launched the UC-2000, RC-1000, the Memo Diary and the UC-3000 within one year.

1983: Seiko Data-2000

Samsung's smartwatch was kickstarted with the Galaxy Gear in 2013. It paved the way for the Gear Fit. In 2014, Samsung Gear S was released, boasting 3G connectivity, meaning it doesn't need a smartphone to operate.

2013: Samsung Galaxy Gear

The Apple Watch may be the most popular smartwatch in history and a few months behind Samsung, Sony and Android. The original smartwatch was created in 1927, and then there was an upturn again in the 80s and 90s.

Smartwatches nearly a century old

It had a 160 x 160 display, 2 MB of memory and Palm apps such as an address book, memo pad, to-do list and calculator. A stylus was integrated into the strap. It received the award as the best of Comdex 2002.

2002: Fossil Palm Pilot

Formerly known as iWatch, it was officially revealed to a crowd in Cupertino in September 2014.

2015: Apple Watch

The watch boasted a display caller ID and could also show updates on subjects from sports scores, stock prices and weather forecasts.

1995: Seiko Message Watch

This GPS device from the 1920s used a scroll map cartridge for your set route.

1927: Plus Four Wristlet Route Indicator

The first all-electric digital watch from the Hamilton Watch Company had LEDs. The time was shown with the push of a button.

1972: Pulsar

 The Apple Watch may well be the highest profile smartwatch launch in history but let's not forget that the Cupertino giant is a latecomer to the ever expand... 