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The launch of Samsung's smartwatch was a star-studded event in the UK. The Galaxy Gear was presented by Jonathan Ross at a rooftop party hosted by Vernon Kay. Other celebrities present during the launch were model Donna Air and former track cyclist Victoria Pendleton. Ellie Goulding also performed at the preview party.

Aside from giving time, the Galaxy Gear is a wearable technology that enables users to check their emails, make phone calls and write text messages even without using their mobile phones. It also has a calendar, a pedometer and a stopwatch. It would be able to connect to its partner phablet, the Samsung Galaxy Note 3, which was also launched today, through a wireless Bluetooth connection.

UK-based research company Generator Research predicted sales of smartwatches to reach USD 62 billion in five years. Samsung Electronics and other companies were expected to sell 214 million units of the smartwatch, Generator Research added. Recommended retail price for the Galaxy Gear in the UK is GBP 299. The Galaxy Note 3 retails in the UK for GBP 599.