$10,000 Apple Watch will be a status symbol

[kdarling]

Well.. if you consider fact an attack...

You need to separate things from people.

For example, when someone says they don't think the Apple Watch is that beautiful, they're dissing a THING.

When you respond by mocking them for their opinion, you're dissing a PERSON.

Go back and look at your recent posts, and you'll see a pattern. You attack people's opinions, instead of addressing the topic or simply giving your own opinion.

 

[matrix07]

You need to separate things from people.

For example, when someone says they don't think the Apple Watch is that beautiful, they're dissing a THING.

When you respond by mocking them for their opinion, you're dissing a PERSON.

Go back and look at your recent posts, and you'll see a pattern. You attack people's opinions, instead of addressing the topic or simply giving your own opinion.

Opinion is fine and I don't have problem with it. For example: if he said he prefer traditional round watch I wouldn't have any problem. Or if he gave a solid reason I would gladly accept it. But "let's fact it, it doesn't look that good"? Faces what exactly?
The Apple Watch isn't universally accepted as a bad design watch. So what do we actually face here? This is not opinion. This is igno... well.. like M.Gustave said.. F_ it.
(And I'm not attacking any one. I'm just being frank. Many people criticized the Watch here everyday and I didn't have any problem with them.)

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Oh please , as if I should take 'taste' advice from someone with a lime green apple watch as their avatar.

'Uneducated'? You mean grounded in realty. The watch is clunky and plain looking when the face is turned off. I'm still getting a cheaper model one, but lets be real here, it's definitely not for the looks.

You should know the difference between "you don't like the look" and "The Watch looks bad, people. It's a reality. Let's face it."

 

[furam90]

Opinion is fine and I don't have problem with it. For example: if he said he prefer traditional round watch I wouldn't have any problem. Or if he gave a solid reason I would gladly accept it. But "let's fact it, it doesn't look that good"? Faces what exactly?

Face the fact that it's not a traditional watch that will be embraced for its looks-- because it doesn't have them. And that paying 10,000 dollars for a black square on your wrist is absurd.

You should know the difference between "you don't like the look" and "The Watch looks bad, people. It's a reality. Let's face it."

The general consensus seems to be that the watch is not a looker, but brings some good functionality, and has the potential - in future generations- to look better.

 

[JayLenochiniMac]

The general consensus seems to be that the watch is not a looker, but brings some good functionality, and has the potential - in future generations- to look better.

State your source. Otherwise, there's no such general consensus and it's merely your opinion.

 

[apolloa]

If the Apple Watch is successful, it will change the whole industry.

No it isn't. You must understand the watch market is ENTIRELY different to the smart phone market. People don't collect smart phones for one, unless they throw them in their draws when they are replaced with newer ones.

IF and IMO that's one huge IF the top end Apple watch costs 10,000 then the kind of people who will buy them will already have several watches costing thousands. That's the market. Apple isn't going to change it.

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As in a symbol of someone I do not want to talk to.

That's Ok, I'm more then sure they won't want to talk to you either! You are a bit elitist and snobby stating that, you are judging a person purely because of what they have bought? It makes you more shallow than the person spending 10,000 on a watch IMO. Do you not speak to people that buy Mac Pro's either?

And I would actually buy an Apple watch because of the way it looks and it's fit and finish which will be very high.

 

[asleep]

$10,000 Apple Watch will be a status symbol

No.

It won't.

 

[matrix07]

The general consensus seems to be that the watch is not a looker, but brings some good functionality,

May I ask from whom this general consensus come? Posters here?

 

[jabingla2810]

No it isn't. You must understand the watch market is ENTIRELY different to the smart phone market. People don't collect smart phones for one, unless they throw them in their draws when they are replaced with newer ones.

IF and IMO that's one huge IF the top end Apple watch costs 10,000 then the kind of people who will buy them will already have several watches costing thousands. That's the market. Apple isn't going to change it..

What do you think people will expect of a watch in the future if this is successful?

Do you think people will collect different smart watches?

If, and I agree it's a huge IF, this is successful it will change the watch market and what is expected from a watch.

People won't change from Smart Watch to normal watch each day. "Yesterday I wanted notifications on my wrist, today I don't."

 

[rkuo]

What do you think people will expect of a watch in the future if this is successful?

Do you think people will collect different smart watches?

If, and I agree it's a huge IF, this is successful it will change the watch market and what is expected from a watch.

People won't change from Smart Watch to normal watch each day. "Yesterday I wanted notifications on my wrist, today I don't."

It's not a question of will any people do it, it's a question of how many. The kind of customer likely to do this is the same kind of customer likely to collect Vertu phone, not your traditional Rolex buyer, of which there are many more people. Aka not many ... but a whale can still bring in a lot of cash and profit margin.

 

[apolloa]

What do you think people will expect of a watch in the future if this is successful?

Do you think people will collect different smart watches?

If, and I agree it's a huge IF, this is successful it will change the watch market and what is expected from a watch.

People won't change from Smart Watch to normal watch each day. "Yesterday I wanted notifications on my wrist, today I don't."

Again, Apple will not change a thing, nothing, people who spent ten grand on a watch generally have several watches for different occasions, they won't only have a ten grand Apple watch, and they won't expect it to last as well as a Patek Philippe does. Your argument is like saying why do people have several watches when they all do the same thing and tell the time? So it's a flawed argument as that's not what happens.

They won't collect smart watches specifically, but I bet they'll buy the Tag Heuer one too.

And what will worry these people is if Apple make the gold less pure to make it more scratch resistant, so it will be very interesting to see what Apple say about their gold.

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It's not a question of will any people do it, it's a question of how many. The kind of customer likely to do this is the same kind of customer likely to collect Vertu phone, not your traditional Rolex buyer, of which there are many more people. Aka not many ... but a whale can still bring in a lot of cash and profit margin.

The kind of person who spends ten grand on an Apple watch will have to have an IPhone too otherwise the Apple Watch is nothing but a nice paper weight.

 

[JoeG4]

If the Apple Watch is successful, it will change the whole industry.

Sure, a watch your Grandad wore 50 years ago is still something you could wear today, but will your grandchildren be wanting to wear your watch in 50 years time?

Yeah. maybe. It might be like how records are making a comeback right now though, retro stuff is always cool.

Someday being able to have a simple battery/mechanical watch that only tells the time and nothing else, will be like going on a drive today without a cell phone. There's a nice kind of tranquility to that.

The whole idea of carrying around data logging devices that are health centric and stuff. it's kind of.. hyperactive I guess. I don't know. I'm a big computer geek, I love hardware and software, and that's kind of my profession, and I still am not so sure I want a smartwatch. In some ways I don't even care much for my smartphone.

I'm not sure I like Apple's take on the smartwatches either. They're becoming obnoxious and a giving a bit of a middle finger to the people that helped build the stuff they're raking huge profits in right now over. In a way. I get it, they want their watch to be seen like a Rolex, not a Casio calculator watch...

but there's probably a lot more casio watches out there than there are rolexes.

The status symbol thing is obnoxious too. For ages technology has been a bit of an equalizer. Kind of. Yeah, a rich porn editor will have a $3000 mac pro while the average person has a $500 HP laptop. I get that. Now your average apple fan will have a cheap aluminum watch while miss gucci prada has a $15,000 gold "edition" (the name still makes me cringe a little)

They're still kinda tacky looking too. They don't look like technology. They look. weird. Maybe I'll come around. I'm kind of afraid because most Apple things grow on me. So far, this one really hasn't. The base model with a green rubber strap, looks ok I guess. I like that.

Except they're not calling the dang thing an aluminum, glass, and plastic watch with a rubber strap. They .. call it some elastromersomeshit. It's. just weird.

 

[deckard666]

What part of this add on to a phone isn't a status symbol ? Its hardly essential.

 

[tkermit]

Apparently people spend 40k for monstrosities like this one:

 

[Arran]

I agree it's a matter of opinion. I don't think it's ugly but it's not unique and you will see them everywhere come april. The kind of people that want to spend 10 grand on a watch want to stand out not blend in with what's on someones wrist at the gym

I just have a hard time wrapping my mind around a tech company that makes computers putting out a 1st gen unproven smartwatch and hearing people put it in the same category and price range as some of the highest respected watch companies.

I'll bet the same people defending this speculation would change their stance pretty quickly if samsung released the same exact product at these supposed prices. I know this is all my opinion and I'm no trying to say I'm right and anyone else is wrong I personally just can't wrap my brain around it

I think your analysis is spot on. I'd say $1200 - 1500 max for the gold model. It has to be affordable luxury or it becomes a burdensome niche product demanding a completely different retail experience to that offered by any Apple store.

$10,000 is nonsense.

 

[orangezorki]

Apparently people spend 40k for monstrosities like this one:

Totally agree that the photo you posted is of a monstrosity, but I'd bet that it has an incredibly complicated and fine piece of analogue machinery under all the mess. And it'll probably work to within a couple of seconds a day for decades even if worn every day and not particularly cared for. That won't happen for the Apple watch.

But that's not my problem with the Edition version - it's the direction for the company that it might be a signpost for. Apple have never been cheap or budget, but most if not all of their products have offered a reason to pay the extra in the way they work, and the functionality they offer. Even if you say they have been overpriced, it has been by a percentage, not by a multiple. The Apple watch edition turns this on its head - many times the cost for the same functionality.

I can see Apple just using this as a marketing tool, but if it does mark a great shift towards form over function and status symbols for the sake of nothing else, I am disappointed.

 

[Frankied22]

As in a symbol of someone I do not want to talk to.

I can understand paying a high price for 'stylish' watches, but the Apple Watch is for function-- the cheaper model will be able to do the same thing as the higher end model and lets face it is-- it doesn't look that great. Not to mention high-end watches are for life, an Apple Watch will be obsolete within a year or two. If I saw someone wearing a 10k Apple Watch the first thing I would think is... what the heck is going through this persons mind? Why not actually get a good-looking, long lasting watch if you're throwing down that type of money? I would immediately start questioning the persons decision making skills and ego.

I really hope Apple knows what its doing with this because I don't think the market for rich out of touch nerds who wear 10k smartwatches will be that large.

I agree completely. People who will drop thousands on a smartwatch are nuts. I could see spending thousands on a nice mechanical watch that will last for generations, but not on a gadget that will be outdated in a couple years. But then again, I think smart watches are silly in general. It's a solution to a problem that doesn't exist and its notification overload.

 

[furam90]

Told you so, edition 'starts' at 10k, meaning there will actually be some watches more expensive than that. Unbelievable. Good luck Apple!

 

[papa8706]

Told you so, edition 'starts' at 10k, meaning there will actually be some watches more expensive than that. Unbelievable. Good luck Apple!

You could tell he looked uneasy even saying it LOL. Snuck it in nice and subtle with no applause.

 

[richard371]

It will be completely obsolete in a year or 2 when the new model comes out. Go buy a nice Rolex or Omega. It will hold its value and even go up years later. Im sure the Kardashians will get them. They can toss it in the trash when the new ones come out next year.

 

[papa8706]

It will be completely obsolete in a year or 2 when the new model comes out. Go buy a nice Rolex or Omega. It will hold its value and even go up years later.

And that's just the starting price with the worst band. Solid gold link will be another 10k on top.

 

[richard371]

Agreed. They should have some modular design where you can swap out the cheap electronics when the new ones are released but then I am sure the style and size will change next year. What a waste. Unlike a nice Swiss luxury mechanical I only see this as a pure status symbol.

And that's just the starting price with the worst band. Solid gold link will be another 10k on top.

 

[leenak]

If I was going to spend around $10k for something, it'd be for this (Tiffany's Elsa Perreti bone cuff...) which is timeless and then I'd get a SS Apple watch for my left hand

 

[mobilehaathi]

As in a symbol of someone I do not want to talk to.

At first I just thought you were disgusted by ostentatious displays of wealth, but then you said,

I can understand paying a high price for 'stylish' watches...

So now I have no idea what your problem is.

 

[rdrr]

$10k is just the start... $12k just to go up to the bigger size? $17k for the modern buckle?

What the what is Apple thinking? Any person who can afford this and buys it, only for it to be outdated in a year is a chump.

Not much better for the SS model w/$500 bracelet. I don't know what to think of this announcement. I am a bit baffled by the direction Apple is going.

 

[tkermit]

Any person who can afford this, only for it to be outdated in a year is a chump.

Being able to truly afford it means that you can afford having this 10k item become outdated within a year (or so).