INTRODUCTION
I’ve been wearing an Apple Watch since Series 4. It became part of my daily life — the health tracking, the notifications, the convenience. When the Ultra launched I upgraded immediately and it was, genuinely, excellent. More battery, more capability, a proper sports and adventure tool on your wrist.
Then something changed. After years of wanting one, I was fortunate enough to find a Rolex Submariner. If you know, you know. Availability is notoriously difficult and when the opportunity came I took it. It is everything I hoped it would be.
But now I have a problem.
I have a watch I love and won’t take off — and a genuine personal need to monitor my heart rate continuously. Not for fitness vanity. For health reasons that matter to me. I can’t wear both. And I’m not prepared to put a rubber NATO strap on a Submariner.
I suspect I’m not alone. If you’ve invested in a watch you love — whether it’s a Rolex, an IWC, a Patek or simply a timepiece that means something to you — the idea of covering your wrist with a chunky smartwatch feels like a compromise too far.
The smart ring market exists precisely for people like us. Here’s everything you need to know.
WHY YOUR WRIST IS ALREADY TAKEN
For high earners in professional environments, a quality watch is rarely just a watch. It’s a statement of taste, a reward for achievement, often a significant financial commitment. The idea of swapping it out for a rubber-strapped fitness tracker — even temporarily — simply doesn’t work.
The good news is that you no longer have to choose between your watch and your health data. Smart rings have matured rapidly and now offer health tracking that rivals, and in some metrics exceeds, what a smartwatch provides.
The better news: a ring is virtually invisible in professional settings. It doesn’t compete with your watch. It just quietly does its job.
WHAT A SMART RING ACTUALLY TRACKS
Before choosing a ring it’s worth understanding what you’re buying. Current generation smart rings monitor:
Heart rate — continuously throughout the day and night. For those with specific cardiac health concerns this is the most important feature. Accuracy varies between devices but the premium options are genuinely reliable.
Heart Rate Variability (HRV) — the variation between heartbeats, which is one of the best indicators of stress, recovery and overall cardiovascular health. This is the metric serious health trackers care most about.
Sleep tracking — stages, duration, quality. Rings are arguably better at sleep tracking than wristworn devices because they stay comfortable all night and don’t move around.
Readiness and recovery scores — daily summaries that tell you how well recovered you are and how hard you can push that day.
Body temperature — useful for detecting illness before symptoms appear and for cycle tracking.
What rings don’t do well: real-time workout tracking and GPS. For those, a dedicated sports watch remains the better tool. But for 24/7 passive health monitoring — which is what most professionals actually need — a ring is hard to beat.
THE OPTIONS IN 2026
Oura Ring 4 — from £299
The Oura Ring 4 remains the gold standard. It has been in this market longest, has the most clinical validation behind it, and its app is genuinely the most polished and actionable of any ring available.
For heart rate monitoring specifically — which is my primary concern — Oura’s accuracy has been validated in independent peer-reviewed studies, with readings typically within a few milliseconds of medical-grade equipment. For anyone monitoring their health seriously, that matters.
The ring itself is titanium, comes in silver, black, gold and rose gold finishes, and looks like a piece of quality jewellery rather than a gadget. It won’t embarrass you alongside a Submariner.
The catch: there’s a subscription fee of £5.99 per month or £54.99 per year to access the full app experience. Over time this adds to the total cost of ownership.
Verdict: The best all-round smart ring for health-focused users. My personal recommendation.
Samsung Galaxy Ring — from £329
Samsung’s entry into the smart ring market is impressive. Sleep tracking is excellent, heart rate accuracy during exercise is strong, and crucially — there is no subscription fee.
The limitation: it works best within the Samsung ecosystem. If you’re an iPhone user, some features are reduced and the integration isn’t as seamless.
Verdict: Excellent if you’re on Android. Less compelling for iPhone users.
RingConn Gen 2 — from £230
The RingConn Gen 2 has emerged as the most serious challenger to Oura. It tracks all the core metrics — heart rate, HRV, sleep stages, body temperature — with no subscription fee, and its battery lasts 10 to 12 days compared to Oura’s 5 to 8.
The app is clean and improving rapidly. The design is more angular than Oura but still looks considered rather than technical.
For those resistant to ongoing subscription costs, the RingConn is the honest recommendation.
Verdict: Best value smart ring. Excellent alternative to Oura without the ongoing fees.
Ultrahuman Ring Air — from £299
Favoured by athletes and serious fitness trackers. The Ultrahuman is lighter and slimmer than most competitors — at under 3 grams it’s the least intrusive option available — and tracks over 50 workout types automatically.
Where it falls slightly short is in the depth of health insights compared to Oura. The fitness data is excellent. The broader health and recovery analytics are good but not class-leading.
Verdict: Best choice for those who want minimal bulk and strong fitness tracking.
Amazfit Helio Ring — from £185
The entry point to serious smart ring health tracking. At £185 with no subscription it removes the financial barrier entirely. It doesn’t match Oura for depth of insight, but for someone wanting to dip their toe into ring-based health tracking before committing to a premium device, it’s a sensible starting point.
Verdict: Best entry-level option. A smart first purchase if you’re unsure about committing to a premium ring.
HOW TO CHOOSE
| Your Situation | Our Recommendation |
|---|---|
| iPhone user, health focused, want the best | Oura Ring 4 |
| Android user, no subscription preference | Samsung Galaxy Ring |
| Want Oura quality without subscription | RingConn Gen 2 |
| Athlete wanting minimal bulk | Ultrahuman Ring Air |
| First smart ring, not sure yet | Amazfit Helio Ring |
MY CONCLUSION
I’m moving to the Oura Ring 4. The heart rate monitoring accuracy and the clinical validation behind it matters for my specific situation. The subscription cost is negligible against the peace of mind.
The Submariner stays on my wrist where it belongs.
For those of us who’ve invested in watches we love — whether for the craftsmanship, the heritage, or simply what they represent — the smart ring is the answer we’ve been waiting for. You don’t have to choose between the watch you want to wear and the health data you need to have.
A NOTE ON WATCHES
I’ll be writing a dedicated piece on watches soon — the emotion, the status, the investment case, and what a serious watch collection actually looks like for the modern professional. It won’t make me much affiliate money but it’s a conversation I want to have with the audience this site is built for. Watch this space.
WHERE TO BUY
All rings mentioned are available on Amazon.co.uk with fast Prime delivery. Current prices below.