All 34 Apple Watch designs

[Night Spring]

What happens when someone walks into an Apple store and they are sold out of the particular band/watch combo? "Sorry we have the watch, but not the band you want... sucks."

But that can happen when the watch/bands are packaged together, too.

So Apple has 18 steel watch/band combos on their website. They start out by having all 18 in stock. One of the 18 turns out to be very popular, and sells out in an hour. Now, customers have a choice of buying a watch with a band they don't want, or they can walk away without buying one.

How is that an improvement over, "sorry, we have the watch but not the band you want?"

 

[Rogifan]

But that can happen when the watch/bands are packaged together, too.

So Apple has 18 steel watch/band combos on their website. They start out by having all 18 in stock. One of the 18 turns out to be very popular, and sells out in an hour. Now, customers have a choice of buying a watch with a band they don't want, or they can walk away without buying one.

How is that an improvement over, "sorry, we have the watch but not the band you want?"

It's funny that we're talking about this considering how many people think the Watch is going to be a failure.

Nowhere on Apple's site do they show the Watch without a band. At the Colette event Apple showed off the watch by collection, showing off each model in that collection. One would assume that's how Apple will be showing them off in store. Now if someone says "ooh I really love the stainless steel watch but would prefer it with the blue sport band" does Apple have all the components back in a store room and they they just throw it together in a box? Will there be many people opting for a combination Apple isn't displaying?

This photo from the Colette event gives us an indication on how Apple might do packaging.

 

[r0k]

Ok, well, look at it this way.

This is THE most important thing about any purchase.....
It's not how much something costs. It's what the cost of ownership is to you.

If you buy an Apple watch for $349, then 12 month later you can offload it onto someone else for $249, which may be a reasonable expectation.

It's cost you $2 a week to own and enjoy version 1 for a whole year.

What you can sell anything for after you have finished with it is THE key point. Not how expensive it is to buy.

I (sadly) tend to hang on to my old gear and rarely sell it. I've got two iPhone 3Gs's sitting on my workbench along with a couple of old iPod Touches. In my junk drawer are some old Palm devices including various Tungsten models. I did sell off a couple of old Treos and Blackberries but for the most part, the price I pay is the price I pay. I'll either donate old gear to charity of pass it along to family.

I've spent some more time looking at the Apple watch web site and I'm perplexed that the milanese loop isn't featured with the edition version of the watch. Instead they seem to be featuring the leather and sports bands.

So the way it appears to stack up is this:

1 - $350 for aluminum body with "sports" band (plastic?)

2 - $500-ish for steel body with "sports", leather, milanese loop, or metal link band.

3 - $1000+ for gold body with what looks like the band offered on the $350 model and a leather band but no mention (that I saw) of either milanese loop or metal link band.

I'm probably missing something here but you'd think they would offer metal bands for a gold body watch.

So my remark was on competition. Apple isn't competing well (with Citizen eco drive for example) on price ($300-ish for metal body, sapphire crown, metal band) and thinness (5mm) and charging (never need to charge eco-drive) but of course Citizen eco drive won't vibrate when I have an incoming call and I can't wave it at the cash register in starbucks and keep walking (yet). So I'll probably wind up getting the stainless model because I assume I'll like the milanese loop or metal band better than I'll like the "sports" or leather bands.

 

[Brian Y]

I (sadly) tend to hang on to my old gear and rarely sell it. I've got two iPhone 3Gs's sitting on my workbench along with a couple of old iPod Touches. In my junk drawer are some old Palm devices including various Tungsten models. I did sell off a couple of old Treos and Blackberries but for the most part, the price I pay is the price I pay. I'll either donate old gear to charity of pass it along to family.

I've spent some more time looking at the Apple watch web site and I'm perplexed that the milanese loop isn't featured with the edition version of the watch. Instead they seem to be featuring the leather and sports bands.

So the way it appears to stack up is this:

1 - $350 for aluminum body with "sports" band (plastic?)

2 - $500-ish for steel body with "sports", leather, milanese loop, or metal link band.

3 - $1000+ for gold body with what looks like the band offered on the $350 model and a leather band but no mention (that I saw) of either milanese loop or metal link band.

I'm probably missing something here but you'd think they would offer metal bands for a gold body watch.

So my remark was on competition. Apple isn't competing well (with Citizen eco drive for example) on price ($300-ish for metal body, sapphire crown, metal band) and thinness (5mm) and charging (never need to charge eco-drive) but of course Citizen eco drive won't vibrate when I have an incoming call and I can't wave it at the cash register in starbucks and keep walking (yet). So I'll probably wind up getting the stainless model because I assume I'll like the milanese loop or metal band better than I'll like the "sports" or leather bands.

$500 for the stainless steel with the milanese loop and I'm sold.

 

[leenak]

So my remark was on competition. Apple isn't competing well (with Citizen eco drive for example) on price ($300-ish for metal body, sapphire crown, metal band) and thinness (5mm) and charging (never need to charge eco-drive) but of course Citizen eco drive won't vibrate when I have an incoming call and I can't wave it at the cash register in starbucks and keep walking (yet). So I'll probably wind up getting the stainless model because I assume I'll like the milanese loop or metal band better than I'll like the "sports" or leather bands.

I'm like you, I hold onto stuff for whatever reason. Partly out of laziness. I think Apple is competing well in some markets, in the sports watch market they are on par with other sports watches. Some sports watches are $700/$800 with the nicer ones mostly being $300 or more. I'd put myself purely in the sports watch market as I have no interest in a watch otherwise.

 

[Dave245]

$500 for the stainless steel with the milanese loop and I'm sold.

Me too, i think it will be £500 for the Stainless Steel with a sport band, with the Link Bracelet or the Milanese Loop i think we are talking £600 possibly more.

 

[Brian Y]

Me too, i think it will be £500 for the Stainless Steel with a sport band, with the Link Bracelet or the Milanese Loop i think we are talking £600 possibly more.

Quite possibly

There has been lots of debate about the price points. I think the ideal "biting" price points are maybe £349 or £399 for the sport and steel ones, with maybe £39-69 for straps.

 

[Dave245]

Quite possibly

There has been lots of debate about the price points. I think the ideal "biting" price points are maybe £349 or £399 for the sport and steel ones, with maybe £39-69 for straps.

That would be a good price point, i would be willing to pay £39 - £69 depending on the straps. Me personally i want to buy more than one strap so this would be an idea pricing point.

 

[Piggie]

Quite possibly

There has been lots of debate about the price points. I think the ideal "biting" price points are maybe £349 or £399 for the sport and steel ones, with maybe £39-69 for straps.

The Sports watch won't be £349.
It's only $349

Lets do some maths


$349 US Dollars = £229 UK Pounds.

£229 Plus 20% UK Sales tax (VAT) = £275


Now, let's use a current Apple product to see if they add extra above and beyond a straight conversion plus 20% VAT.


iPad Mini 3 16GD = $399 US Dollars Official Apple USA Price
iPad Mini 3 16GD = £319 UK Pounds Official Apple UK Price including VAT

So we will do the same maths on the iPad Mini as a comparison.

$399 US Dollars = £262 UK Pounds.

£262 Plus 20% UK Sales tax (VAT) = £315

So you can see. Apple has only added on an additional £4 (special UK tax)

So, assuming they do the same for the watch.

I'd take a guess we are looking at £279 inc VAT for the Sports Watch.

That's my prediction....

In a few weeks you can say how I was exactly right, or tell me how wrong I was.

 

[virginblue4]

The Sports watch won't be £349.

It's only $349



Lets do some maths





$349 US Dollars = £229 UK Pounds.



£229 Plus 20% UK Sales tax (VAT) = £275





Now, let's use a current Apple product to see if they add extra above and beyond a straight conversion plus 20% VAT.





iPad Mini 3 16GD = $399 US Dollars Official Apple USA Price

iPad Mini 3 16GD = £319 UK Pounds Official Apple UK Price including VAT



So we will do the same maths on the iPad Mini as a comparison.



$399 US Dollars = £262 UK Pounds.



£262 Plus 20% UK Sales tax (VAT) = £315



So you can see. Apple has only added on an additional £4 (special UK tax)



So, assuming they do the same for the watch.



I'd take a guess we are looking at £279 inc VAT for the Sports Watch.



That's my prediction....



In a few weeks you can say how I was exactly right, or tell me how wrong I was.

I agree. The iPad mini 2 32GB is $349 and in the UK it is £279. I expect the Apple Watch to be the same price.

 

[dacreativeguy]

The Nightmare Scenario, which I know is going to REALLY annoy people is if Apple force you into buying a high end strap you don't want as they have already decided that body will come with one of these 5 straps for example.

Start preparing yourself for this now. It WILL go down this way.

 

[Rogifan]

Start preparing yourself for this now. It WILL go down this way.

Except every collection has a model with black or white sport band.

 

[JayLenochiniMac]

Except every collection has a model with black or white sport band.

True, one can always get the cheapest version of each line with the black/white sport band. Those who want Space Black might be miffed though (as it'll most likely come standard with the Space Black link bracelet).

 

[bbeagle]

If you were buying the Apple Watch on launch day and scared that the band you wanted might be gone by the time you got to the front of the line....

Use two people? Can't you have 1 person stand in line to get 2 watches, while the other walks into the Apple Store bypassing the line - as they are not buying a watch - and pick up the 2 bands you want?

 

[Rogifan]

True, one can always get the cheapest version of each line with the black/white sport band. Those who want Space Black might be miffed though (as it'll most likely come standard with the Space Black link bracelet).

True. But that watch might be expensive enough that people just opt for the regular stainless steel. There's got to be a reason Apple is only offering one space black watch. Just like I'm sure we don't have gold bands because that would make those watch prices off the chart.

 

[Dave245]

True. But that watch might be expensive enough that people just opt for the regular stainless steel. There's got to be a reason Apple is only offering one space black watch. Just like I'm sure we don't have gold bands because that would make those watch prices off the chart.

I can see the Stainless Steel Watch with the Black Stainless Steel Link Bracelet being expensive, but just like i can see the Stainless Steel Link Bracelet being expensive. We know that the entry level starting point will be $349 and that will probably be for the Sport version, so maybe add on a couple of hundred more for Stainless Steel with Link Bracelet.

 

[lewisd25]

My predictions:

Apple Watch Sport with sport band: $349
Apple Watch with sport band: $499
Apple Watch with leather band: $549
Apple Watch with Milanese band: $599
Apple Watch with SS link bracelet: $649
Apple Watch with SS link bracelet (space gray): $699

Apple Watch Edition with sport band: $1499
Apple Watch Edition with leather band: $1699 (edition leather bands include gold clasps, thus more expensive than non-edition leather bands)

Individual sport bands: $49
Individual leather bands: $99
Individual Milanese bands: $119
Individual SS link bracelet: $149

 

[Night Spring]

My predictions:

Apple Watch Sport with sport band: $349
Apple Watch with leather band: $499
Apple Watch with Milanese band: $599
Apple Watch with SS link bracelet: $649
Apple Watch with SS link bracelet (space gray): $699

You left out Apple Watch with sport band.

 

[lewisd25]

You left out Apple Watch with sport band.

That's right! I'll fix it.

 

[KPOM]

I
Below are just a couple examples of combinations I doubt anyone would actually choose:

Do you think it makes sense for Apple to offer these combinations at time of purchase all in the name of "choice"? Of course Apple is going to steer people to what they feel are the best combinations. If someone is really upset that a combination they want doesn't exist then I guess they won't be buying a Watch.

I'd like the rose gold watch with a blue modern buckle instead of the rose gray leather. It looks like I'd need to mix and match to get one, and since the trim on the blue modern buckle is stainless steel, it wouldn't match exactly (although two-toned buckles are fairly common).

Also, the modern buckle is available only in 38mm, so that would rule out getting the larger watch.

----------

My predictions:


Apple Watch Edition with sport band: $1499
Apple Watch Edition with leather band: $1699 (edition leather bands include gold clasps, thus more expensive than non-edition leather bands)

Individual sport bands: $49
Individual leather bands: $99
Individual Milanese bands: $119
Individual SS link bracelet: $149

I think you are way under on the Edition. The gold alone would be about $1000. I say the gold is at minimum $2,999, and probably higher.

It would not surprise me if the stainless steel watches with a stainless steel band is $999. Go to a jeweler and ask to see a "regular' Movado watch with a stainless steel band and it will be about $700.

----------

All they need to do it package the body and the watch separately, and let the customer decide at time of order what combination they want, and apple sends you what you want.

Simple, Easy, Everyone Happy. Easy for Apple, Best for customers.

But that's not how any other watch is sold. Watches are sold with bands. If you want a different style, you can buy an additional band. But you aren't going to walk into a jeweler and buy just a watch body.

 

[Rogifan]

But that's not how any other watch is sold. Watches are sold with bands. If you want a different style, you can buy an additional band. But you aren't going to walk into a jeweler and buy just a watch body.

What I find amusing is some people were saying every watch should come with one of the sport bands as standard whether you want it or not (like you get headphones in the box when you buy an iPhone), but now they're saying you should be able to pick whatever combination you want at time of purchase. And any Apple curation is anti consumer choice.

 

[Piggie]

What I find amusing is some people were saying every watch should come with one of the sport bands as standard whether you want it or not (like you get headphones in the box when you buy an iPhone), but now they're saying you should be able to pick whatever combination you want at time of purchase. And any Apple curation is anti consumer choice.

There is a big difference between saying:

"Here are our suggested bands you may like to consider for your watch, however if you would prefer an alternate band then use the area below to select your preferred choice"

And.

"The watch you selected will come with one of the following 5 Apple approved bands for this model, pick which one you want. If you wish a different band you may purchase an addition one from the area below"


Most people (I know you personally don't think people should have the freedom to choose) would prefer the former option where they are free to select an alternate band and not be forced into having the 1st accept one they don't want.