We know that Google's Wear OS platform is getting a major revamp thanks to Samsung and Fitbit, but Fossil may be the first brand to run this new OS

Fossil's new premium watches will be powered by the new Wear OS in the coming months Unfortunately, Fossil executives admitted to CNET that the older watches will not be upgraded

This is bad news for anyone with a smartwatch running an older version of Wear OS, especially those who currently own a Fossil watch This will effectively force them to purchase a new smartwatch to take advantage of the new design and features, even if they purchased one last year

According to Fossil CEO Greg McKelvey and Steve Procup, senior vice president of connected devices, the next wave of Fossil Android watches will be entirely new, focusing on faster performance and better battery life New options will also include global LTE connectivity options and more advanced health features

The two executives also confirmed that Fossil will offer similar features on other Wear OS watches in the future, thanks to Google's plans for a more unified smartwatch platform However, the physical buttons on those watches may not be as unified

Samsung has already confirmed that the rotating bezel will survive, and Fossil appears to be experimenting with various combinations

"There have been, and still are, multiple button configurations on the market simultaneously that can be supported," Prokup said There is no such thing as a watch that has four, five, or six dedicated buttons or no buttons at all"

In an interview with CNET, McKelvey confirmed that the next Fossil watch will not be a low-end device; it is intended to be a premium watch, similar in price to the Apple Watch

This gives another potential option to Android buyers who are not interested in other upcoming watches, especially Samsung's Galaxy Watch 4 and Galaxy Watch Active 4, which are due later this year from Tizen OS to Wear OS Aside from the switch, not much is known about what these watches will offer

However, rumors suggest that these watches will include a blood glucose monitor and possibly a 240mAh to 350mAh battery depending on whether you purchase the 41mm or 45mm model Bluetooth and LTE models are also rumored to be available, which really shouldn't come as a surprise given Samsung's history

We will bring you more information on the new Fossil Watch and other smartwatches with the upgraded Wear OS as it becomes available