Watchmaker Timex has launched a new range of watches that allow wearers to make contactless payments.

The new collection, called “Timex Pay”, will allow US consumers to make payments anywhere which accepts Visa.

The feature is offered in collaboration with Hong Kong based Internet of Things (IoT) payments company Tappy, who first announced a partnership with the watchmaker in 2019.

The watchstraps, available in leather, fabric, and silicone, come with an embedded payments chip, meaning no batteries or charging is needed.

The service will be initially available for Chase Visa debit and credit cardholders only, but Timex said it has “many more issuers planning to join in the future.”

UK consumers have been able to make payments with an Apple Watch since Apple Pay first launched in the UK in 2015.

“This is huge news for the wearable payments market,” Tappy chief executive Wayne Leung told payments publication NFCW. “The launch of Timex Pay means that consumers in the US for the very first time can add their own payment card to their own choice of traditional timepiece."

He added: “Timex Pay straps come in a range of styles, materials and widths and can be fitted to everything from the latest fashion watch to the most traditional vintage collectible, so that consumers can take advantage of wearable contactless payments whatever their style.”

Share Story: