Chronos can turn your old-school timepiece into a smartwatch - here's what it's like to use

Smartwatches have thus far been a bit of a disappointment, although there's some early evidence that they're beginning to displace traditional watch sales.

I stress "beginning," as people who like wristwatches, particularly luxury ones, have separated their world into the Rolexes and Cartiers on one side and the more geeky smartwatches on the other.

In this context, the Apple Watch and various Android-powered devices should be considered the first wave of ... something. Of what, we're not entirely sure, because watch lovers still tend to favor "real watches," and the true snobs will only look at mechanical movements, ideally of the vintage ilk.

I've been fairly unimpressed with the Apple Watch and the other smartwatches, with the exception of the Tag Heuer Connected, which is quite expensive. That said, some of the typical smartwatch functions are appealing.

I'm not alone in thinking this. Chronos, a wearables startup based in the Bay Area, is selling an innovative device that can be attached to the back of almost any watch - I say "almost" because the gadget is about as big as a quarter, round, and isn't going to fit square watches or particularly modest timepieces, such as those designed to be worn by women.

Chronos let me borrow one of its $99 "smart discs" and included a rather nice watch from another Bay Area design company called Elliot Havok. It was the "Oxford Havok Watch," which at $95 and 40 millimeters, with a black leather strap, quartz movement, and fairly simple face that combines sportiness and dressiness, was fun to wear. There was the added benefit of being able to get a more custom fit when the Chronos was attached, thanks to the strap.

I also chatted with CEO Mark Nichol about the device and why he thinks it's the solution for owners of elegant or exceptional "dumb" watches who are aren't thrilled about wearing fitness trackers.

Here's the rundown: