An In-Depth Look at Apple Watch Band Options and Potential Pricing

[Keirasplace]

even without the higher ticket merchandise--I have long thought the watch will destroy the friendly tech vibe of the apple store. The watch thing will be more like a department store: overentitled customers and beaten down "associates". Also--the returns are going to be astromomical as percent of sales

The watch will be some of the cheapest thing in the store (except for the edition one). Overentitled... What? Apple customers are already in the entitled demo. Maybe they don't believe they aren't...But they sure are in reality.

Myself, after having been in quite a few Apple store, I feel it does need a revamp. They do look like some retro 2000 Gap stores and they could tweak them to make them a bit less tech cold.

 

[wesk702]

I'm sorry, I don't care what track record John Gruber has, his pricing estimates and retail expectations are way off. There's no way Apple won't sell the bands alone as accessories after they've emphasized how easy it is to swap them out. And, of course, his prices are way too high all around, especially for the Edition.

Yeah but if the SS link band is >$300, who on earth is gonna get the cheap aluminum base model and slap a just as expensive stainless steel band on it?

 

[Col4bin]

I now think Edition models will start around $10,000 — and, if my hunch is right about bands and bracelets, the upper range could go to $20,000. I was off by a factor of two, and my friend Vincent, I think, nailed it back on the day Apple Watch was introduced.

Hahahahahahaha....$5k, $10k, $20k???? All for a watch that will be obsolete in two years???? That's hysterical! Good luck with that. I love Apple, but overhyped much?

 

[TallManNY]

I'm thinking of the number SKUs they'd need to accommodate all those combinations, if every one is going to be its own part number. Going way back, I am remembering the headaches they had with the multicolor iMacs, and that was only six. Some retailers wanted to carry only certain colors because they were worried about getting stuck with unpopular ones. It is so difficult to forecast the demand for colors. They didn't have a lot of luck predicting that distribution with the 5c.

The aftermarket for straps will be robust if Apple allows it...

The clasp is too mechanical. The reverse engineering will be easy and instant to get something that fits into that clasp. And Apple will be okay with that. If everyone I know who has an iPhone suddenly is wearing the same watch that will be incredibly boring. Apple can't make enough good and economically valuable bands to satisfy that issue. So Apple needs the weird stuff that the indie folks will come up. They also need the cheap stuff that will allow folks to wear a different color every day.

I hear you on the difficulty of SKUs. But Apple has shown their "collection" on the web page. I think Apple is going to try to handle this issue. And if it ends up in random sell outs then so be it.

 

[Col4bin]

You people aren't reading the analysis. These are priced as fashion watches are. Disregard what tech is inside them. Millions of people spend that much every day on watches that only tell time and not even as reliably.

The problem is, they may be pitched as fashion watches, but they're not. They're just small iPhones for your wrists.

 

[wesk702]

How is this newsworthy? Gruber doesn't know any more than the rest of us. You might as well throw up an article asking MacRumors to guess what prices will be.

Yeah but he has a friend that likes watches. I mean... That's a source right?

 

[JordanNZ]

It's going to be super fun to go back and read this thread when the prices are announced.

 

[doelcm82]

My hunch is that the Sport and stainless versions will be sold with a band in the box. The band will be included in the price of the watch. You will have a choice of several bands with the SS watch, and five different colors of the plastic band with the Sport Watch. The band you choose will be in the box with the watch. If the store is out of the color or style you want, you'll have to come back another time, or order online.

Can you buy the Sport Watch with the Milanese Loop band? No. It will come with a plastic band in your choice of colors. Can you buy the Milanese Loop band separately, and attach it to your Sport Watch? Again no. It's impossible to wear the watch with two bands. You will need to remove the plastic band that came with it first, and then you can attach the Milanese Loop band.

As for the Edition Watch, I wouldn't even hazard a guess. I don't play in that arena anyway, so it doesn't matter. I wouldn't spend $2000 or $10,000, or $20,000 on a watch. Nor would I spend $900 for a gold watch. I don't really like gold jewelry.

 

[clibinarius]

You people aren't reading the analysis. These are priced as fashion watches are. Disregard what tech is inside them. Millions of people spend that much every day on watches that only tell time and not even as reliably.

And remember, it might be upgradable.

 

[MNJohn]

It will be targeted at the sort of people who already buy expensive watches and jewelry and will necessarily be expensive, in the case of the gold watch, because gold.

As collector of Pateks and Rolexs, I can unequivocally state I would never dream of purchasing a watch as garish as a gold Apple watch. In my opinion, the stainless model is much more in line with the theme of the watch, namely wearable technology with a limited lifetime and minimal long term value.

 

[Xian Zhu Xuande]

As an owner of several Pateks and Rolexs, I can unequivocally state I would never dream of purchasing a watch as garish as a gold Apple watch.

I've got a couple very nice watches as well. And I wouldn't dream of buying the gold Edition either (but I don't yet plan on buying any smartwatch so maybe my opinion is not terribly relevant). But it doesn't mean other people won't buy them, and there certainly are plenty of people who appreciate the design even if it does aim to please a wide audience.

 

[Black Belt]

That's about the stupidest thing I've ever read. First of all, high end time pieces are hand-assembled works of art with hundreds of hand made gears and pieces. Apple Watch is not that, it is a gloried Nano, assembled by robot in China. While Apple does exert a premium price because of quality beyond the pale (look at a Macbook versus a Lenovo), they are not priced beyond the capabilities of the customer base. The reason Apple is going the fashion route is to elevate Apple Watch in perception as the top of the line smart watch, not to compete with handmade timepieces. I would expect this be priced at multiples of a crap Samsung watch, not magnitudes. Excellent stainless Swiss handmade timepieces can be had for 2-3k. Gold for twice that. BUT the gold pieces are gold throughout. The Apple Watch is sealed and you can bet the only gold on that sucker is the exposed metal surround (likely a ring of a certain thickness), the knob, and the watchband clips. I seriously doubt ANY interior metal is gold, maybe 1/2 oz total of 14 k which is FAR from pure gold.

I would guess the pricing considering their real market, not some masterbation fantasy of John Gruber, is 399/599/999. Maybe 1299 on the gold.

If that is the case, still, those will be the most expensive watches 95% of Apple customers have ever owned. But that would be a more rational pricing structure for Fashion watches "For the rest of us".

 

[JordanNZ]

The Apple Watch is sealed and you can bet the only gold on that sucker is the exposed metal surround (likely a ring of a certain thickness), the knob, and the watchband clips. I seriously doubt ANY interior metal is gold, maybe 1/2 oz total of 14 k which is FAR from pure gold.

I would guess the pricing considering their real market, not some masterbation fantasy of John Gruber, is 399/599/999. Maybe 1299 on the gold.

If that is the case, still, those will be the most expensive watches 95% of Apple customers have ever owned. But that would be a more rational pricing structure for Fashion watches "For the rest of us".

They've already said the entire thing is solid 18k gold....

 

[Brics]

As God is my witness, NO ONE is gonna pay $15,000 for a frackin' AppleWatch.
NO. ONE.

And why did apple made so many of them? 17% of the initial production are gold edition.

As a watch guy myself, it's so funny reading these threads. Tech guys view the gold edition as a piece of technology: $300 internals, 30grams of gold ($1000) for the case, etc.. So that means $1300 final price. LOL.
This is a piece of high end jewellery made out of solid 18k gold. It won't cost under 10k. (I don't think there are other watches like that under $15-20k). And that's for the smaller one with leather band. If they ever make a solid gold bracelet it will easily be over 20k.

 

[MNJohn]

This is a piece of high end jewellery made out of solid 18k gold. It won't cost under 10k. (I don't think there are other watches like that under $15-20k). And that's for the smaller one with leather band. If they ever make a solid gold bracelet it will easily be over 20k.

What are you smoking?

 

[doelcm82]

As collector of Pateks and Rolexs, I can unequivocally state I would never dream of purchasing a watch as garish as a gold Apple watch. In my opinion, the stainless model is much more in line with the theme of the watch, namely wearable technology with a limited lifetime and minimal long term value.

I'm with you 50%. I would't buy a gold Apple watch or a Rolex (the ones I've seen seem pretty garish). I don't know what a Patek is, but the idea of buying a watch as a status symbol, fashion statement, or investment is not appealing to me at all.

Also, I like the looks of the steel model, and I think it will be more durable and comfortable with the band options, so I'm with you 75%.

 

[dannyyankou]

Hey, remember this?!

http://gizmodo.com/5439955/rumor-apple-tablet-ships-in-march-for-1000

 

[StyxMaker]

Why are people getting upset about this? Even if it is $20k for the top of the line model, you can still buy the exact same functionality for $349. Buy the model that you like and can afford. Chevy sells a ZR1 for over $120k, I don't think the people who are buying the Cruze are in uproar over it. It should be even less so with the Apple watch, all you're basically getting for the extra money is bling.

Yeah, exactly, I'll buy the $350 watch and could not care less what the gold watch costs.

 

[scootermafia]

I think that the Edition should come with some sort of lifetime anti-obsolescence guarantee - basically Apple will recycle your watch into the newest model, reclaiming the gold in it, and give you a brand new watch for $300 when a new model is released. Same deal with batteries. If they don't do this, people are going to have $4000+ paperweights lying around. It really doesn't look easy to change the battery on these.

The Edition doesn't have anywhere near as much gold in it as a solid gold Rolex, which go for roughly $35,000. The amount of actual metal in its case isn't substantial, as the back is nearly all sapphire and so is the front; and the band has little gold in it either. Still, just that amount of gold will put it at $4000-5000 as the likely price. Apple doesn't have any cred in the watch industry. People would only put down $10k+ on a watch with a history and heirloom quality, not something massproduced in China that has a limited lifespan.

 

[iChrist]

lol

If you can't nickel and dime your customer with RAM, get them by charging for a colored strap.

ghetto

 

[ohsnaphappy]

I agree. Personally, I think there will be tons of bands. Perhaps as you move up in cost, less options. But at the sport level, I see many options.

I would also assume they will offer various branded bands from partners in the fashion industry (think LV, DvF, Kate Spade, etc). Maybe not at launch - but I see it.

I also see 3rd parties getting in on the action. However I do see Apple regulating like they do with accessories and having an official "mark" for those that adhere to their program.

Yeah exactly. When Tim Cook and Ive were interviewed on TV they said there were "millions" of combinations that could be created between the watch faces, the bands, etc.

That leaves little doubt the bands are numerous and interchangeable.

 

[Alon1]

To me it's been pretty obvious from day one that the face and band will be sold separately. Does anybody actually believe each Apple Store is going to carry an entire stock of every combination of pre-paired apple watches and their bands? Just look at the sport edition - it comes in two face styles and two sizes each. X 5 band colors and we're looking at 20 options. Carry 50 of each option (which is nothing) and were looking at a stock of 600 watches - and that's just the sport. No way do I see it happening. You buy the sport for $350, you get the face you choose in one box and a sports band of your choice in another. Wanna get a better band? Pay extra. That's the way I see it happening.

 

[rhinosrcool]

For those buying, be careful in showing it. Criminals, without knowing how valuable the watch is by sight (or glimpses), may target you just for the possibility that it's a more expensive version. Hell, even if it's the least expensive, they may target you.

 

[Abazigal]

The Ipod nano, with its case and everything weights 1.1 ounce. So, the big watch internals probably weights about 1 ounce (they are very similar in size).

So, how much gold there is depends how how much the whole watch weights.

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I believe they will swappable, but not eternally swappable. Sensors are in the casing, so eventually they'll have to replace that too. If they are swappable for 3-4 years that would mean the watch would probably up to date for at least 5-6 years. Not bad at all if updating the internals costs just $100-150 dollars.

I have a theory that the apple watch exists to keep users on the iPhone and dissuade them from jumping ship to Android. Think about it - you just spent so much money on an accessory to your iPhone, are you going to throw that all away by switching?

A legion of loyal consumers upgrading their iPhones every 2 years would lock in a steady stream of revenue for Apple!

 

[technosix]

How is this newsworthy? Gruber doesn't know any more than the rest of us.

Years ago Gruber was hand picked and anointed by Steve Jobs himself, as a "chosen insider". Ushered into Steve Jobs inner circle, he is privy to information that if leaked serves Apple well by wetting buyers appetites in advance of various Apple product releases. Therefore it's not unusual for his prognostications to be very accurate.

Think of him as another part of Apple's skillfully orchestrated marketing strategy. Much like the way Steve groomed and used Walt Mossberg, an older guy with next to no tech skill or knowledge until groomed by Steve and Apple so as to draw in the older demographic. It didn't hurt that Walt was already working as a non-technical writer with the New York Times. Jobs didn't miss a trick when it came to loading the dice in his favor.

It's highly likely that true to past practice, Grubers "speculation on prices" was sourced straight from the horses mouth.