iWatch on its way as Apple hires top watch exec

Patrick Pruniaux poached from Swiss firm Tag Heuer

Apple has poached a luxury brand exec from Swiss watch firm Tag Heuer, fuelling rumours that its long-rumoured iWatch device is on its way.

Reuters reported that Apple has hired Patrick Pruniaux (pictured), although the position has not been confirmed. Pruniaux is still currently listed as vice president of Global Sales and Retail at TAG Heuer on his LinkedIn page.

V3 contacted Apple and Tag Heuer for comment on the reports but had received no reply at the time of publication.

The hire of a top watch exec would make sense for Apple, though. Rumours have long persisted that the firm plans to release a wearable device to the market, with analysts seeing it as another market Apple could easily step in and dominate.

Ian Fogg, director of Mobile at IHS, told V3: "No one has quite worked out the best features for a device on the wrist. There is a lot of experimentation, but no one has really nailed it yet. This is the kind of market Apple likes.

"There is a parallel to the MP3 market. Back in 2001 there were lots of devices out there but they were often quite big or clunky to use, so Apple released a smaller device that was easier to use and that proved very compelling."

Reports emerged last month that iWatch production will begin in July, with suppliers in the Far East readying themselves for production. Some rumours suggest the device will have a 2.5in rectangular screen, a notable change from most previous rumours that had predicted a 1.5in circular display.

The iWatch may be unveiled in September around the same time the next iPhone is unveiled. The iPhone 6 - as it is expected to be called - is one of the many exciting gadgets still left to be released by tech giants in 2014.