Leaked Photo: Is This the Rumoured Samsung Watch? (VIDEOS & PHOTOS)

Tech Web site CNET released on Friday a mock-up image of the upcoming Samsung watch to be called the Samsung Galaxy Gear. The timepiece will have the ability to talk to an Android phone.

CNET said the speculated wrist device would likely have a cut-down version of Android on its curved screen that would have alerts and messages, freeing the owner from having to take out his smart phone from the pocket, bag or drawer every so often to read incoming SMS.

The high-tech watch is secured to the owner's wrist with a standard watch band, customisable in different colours.

The latest buzz is that the South Korean tech giant would roll out the smart watch on Sept 4, together with the launch of the Galaxy Note 3, which would mean it would be less than a month from now.

In contrast, the other anticipated timepiece, the iWatch from Cupertino-based Apple, is speculated to be about 12 months away from release, giving the rival device from Samsung early advantage in terms of sales as well as trademark and patents which is an area the two tech giants love to battle it out in different courts across the globe.

Not to be outdone, similar to what is happening in the smartphone and tablet arenas, Microsoft, Google and other tech companies are reportedly also developing their own version of a smart watch in a bid to gain a slice of the potential smart watch market.

Even traditional watchmakers like Casio are joining the fray. CNET said Casio is set to release the MT-G series of luxury watches priced between $900 and $1,100 for the G-Shock model.

The new GB-6900B, modeled after the classic G-Shock DW-6900, and the bigger GB-X6900B, are said to have the version 2.0 engine that provides two-way communications with a smartphone. It also allows the owner to programme the timepiece's button to run smartphone applications like music playback, set an alarm, world times and countdown timers using free apps. The standard features of email and call notification are also available on the two models.

Specs include being shock-resistant and water-resistant up to 200 metres, has Bluetooth v4.0, up to 2 metres signal range and 100 cities world time covering 35 time zones and daylight saving on and off buttons.

With these gadgets racing their way to consumer wrists, is it time to ditch your old timepiece and go Android or whatever OS these new generation watches offer?