Rumors have been circulating for a couple of years now that Apple would release its own smartwatch. The previous generation iPod nano even became a popular watch option for some people. Now, reports out of The New York Times then The Wall Street Journal are saying that Apple is indeed working on a smartwatch. And it’ll be made of curved glass.

This is from the NYT’s Nick Bilton:

“In its headquarters in Cupertino, Calif., Apple is experimenting with wristwatch-like devices made of curved glass, according to people familiar with the company’s explorations, who spoke on the condition that they not be named because they are not allowed to publicly discuss unreleased products. Such a watch would operate Apple’s iOS platform, two people said, and stand apart from competitors based on the company’s understanding of how such glass can curve around the human body.”

iDB notes that this is the second time in the last 3 years that the Times is reporting a curved glass smartwatch is in development by Apple. Bilton also adds that the interest can even be seen through Apple’s executives — CEO Tim Cook has been spotted wearing a Nike FuelBand (although he is on Nike’s board of directors), and Apple Senior Vice President for Technologies, Bob Mansfield, has been said to be engrossed by these devices that connect to the iPhone, such as the FuelBand and Jawbone Up.

Jessica E. Lessin of The Wall Street Journal reports that Apple is already experimenting with the device with their manufacturing partner, Foxconn:

Apple Inc. is experimenting with designs for a watch-like device that would perform some functions of a smartphone, according to people briefed on the effort.

The company has discussed such a device with its major manufacturing partner Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., one of these people said, as part of explorations of potentially large product categories beyond the smartphone and tablet.

Whether we see this Apple smartwatch anytime soon is anyone’s guess. Rumors of an Apple television set have been around for years as well, but that product has never surfaced. But with the increasingly competitive smartphone market these days, this might just be what Apple needs. Two new disruptive products — A TV and a watch. These reports make it seem that at least one of those products could be closer to reality.

[via NYT, WSJ, MacRumors, iDB, image via Yrving Torrealba]