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

[SlCKB0Y]

IMHO - it's an opinion just like an "analyst", is that the Edtion will be nowhere near that price. The guesses are out of control. Hope we get confirmation from Apple soon to stop this madness. Correct when you know I'm wrong! Not on the back of some analyst - who has been hit and miss in the past.

Gruber isn't an analyst. He gets almost unprecedented access to Apple and all he had to do was sell his soul and become a mouthpiece for apple and someone they go to when they want a controlled leak... you know, like if they wanted to leak the price of an upcoming product to gauge public response whilst at the same time retaining plausible deniability?

 

[crashoverride77]

Maybe I didn't specify my point good enough (English isn't my primary language, as you'd might have guessed).
What I meant was; the internals can change. Not the house/case itself - nessecarily.
Imagine being one of those actually buying the gold edition for x-amount of dollars (or, whatever your currency may be), and after a year or two, new hardware are released.
Then you could go to the Apple store, for an exchange/upgrade program, and get the internals of your watch upgraded - much like some people do with their watche's battery.

Dunno. I just imagened it being a possible way out of the; 'But I spent thousands of dollars on this thing, and it turns out, it's just an expensive bracelet/accessory'-problem.

Well. Imagine if that is excactly what you did. You 'just' bought an expensive case - the rest is up to you.

I could also imagine the more 'cheap' versions being one-time-purchase only. That way, they could diversify your initial purchase decision and you could chise whether or not you wanted to do the one-time thing or the buy-in thing.

… Apple currently doesn't seem to be too concerned about fragmentation. Not that it, in itself, is the justification or reasoning behind my initial thought about the upgradability-path.

Hopes that made more sense?

Yeah I totally understand what you are saying but its even harder to change internals than externals especially the way Apple builds stuff and the philosophy they use.
No doubt that it would be cool to change internals because as you said the watch will be out of date within 1-2 years. That's one of the reason why I'm not sure if I get one because I don't want another product to add to my yearly "do I need to upgrade" list. Haha damn you apple and your cool products

 

[bobob]

I definitely have issues with Chinese manufacturing luxury mechanical movements for watches. Definitely.

My sincerest condolences and hopes for your eventual recovery from the scourge of prejudice. Chinese mechanical watch production is improving at an incredible rate and I'm certain that it could match or exceeed Swiss standards if they were contracted to create a high specification product.

 

[SlCKB0Y]

I could see the gold watch (no band) being $1,000-2,000. Then the band itself to match the gold watch being $3,000-5,000. In terms of watches that's not expensive at all.

Considering the type of watch it is, it's extraordinarily expensive.

 

[crashoverride77]

My sincerest condolences and hopes for your eventual recovery from the scourge of prejudice. Chinese mechanical watch production is improving at an incredible rate and I'm certain that it could match or exceeed Swiss standards if they were contracted to create a high specification product.

Yeah but would you still buy one?
It's like saying that French or American cars are improving a lot compared to German and Japanese cars, yet I still wouldnt want one.
Brand images or "made in" are damn hard to get rid of so even if in a few years Chinese watches are better than Swiss watches I still wouldn't buy one.

It makes no sense but thats what reputation does to manufacturing or products and its hard to change reputation even if your products nowadays are much better.

 

[OllyW]

It's like saying that French or American cars are improving a lot compared to European and Japanese cars, yet I still wouldnt want one.

I always thought that French cars were European cars.

 

[bobob]

Yeah but would you still buy one?
It's like saying that French or American cars are improving a lot compared to European and Japanese cars, yet I still wouldnt want one.
Brand images or "made in" are damn hard to get rid of so even if in a few years Chinese watches are better than Swiss watches I still wouldn't buy one.

It makes no sense but thats what reputation does to manufacturing or products and its hard to change reputation even if your products nowadays are much better.

Good points - - as anyone who discusses Apple products on a regular basis knows, branding is a powerful and contentious issue.

Still, as the article I linked to points out, I can now actually hope to own a real tourbillon mechanism wristwatch for under $5,000. Previously, I would have had to mortgage my house to even dream of it.

 

[SlCKB0Y]

No, they can't be compared, the Apple Watch will have more functionality than those other watches.

What on earth does "functionality" have to do with it?

This:

has significantly more "functionality" than this:

Or this:

The difference being, the second two are highly collectable, are of a iconic design which has changed very little in 50 years and if taken care of, will function for a couple of generations...

 

[Max(IT)]

My sincerest condolences and hopes for your eventual recovery from the scourge of prejudice. Chinese mechanical watch production is improving at an incredible rate and I'm certain that it could match or exceeed Swiss standards if they were contracted to create a high specification product.

I don't care about their improvements.
I won't buy any Chinese watch, if not a very cheap model (but I don't use cheap watches, I prefer to have none if I can't afford a proper one) the same way I won't buy a Chinese car.
It's not prejudice. It's a matter of fact.

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What on earth does "functionality" have to do with it?

This:

Image

has significantly more "functionality" than this:

Or this:

Image

The difference being, the second two are highly collectable, are of a iconic design which has changed very little in 50 years and if taken care of, will function for a couple of generations...

There is hope.
Someone could understand me.

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I always thought that French cars were European cars.

Actually French cars are good European cars.

 

[Rogifan]

Gruber isn't an analyst. He gets almost unprecedented access to Apple and all he had to do was sell his soul and become a mouthpiece for apple and someone they go to when they want a controlled leak... you know, like if they wanted to leak the price of an upcoming product to gauge public response whilst at the same time retaining plausible deniability?

What unprecedented access does he get to Apple? I think he's been pretty clear that he has no inside information on Watch. I don't think anybody does with this product. Apple is keeping everything close to the vest.

 

[OllyW]

Actually French cars are good European cars.

I know, I like mine.

 

[miknos]

You mean Apple, don't you? Gruber isn't the one that seems to be marketing a smart watch as a high-end watch.

Likely Apple did a study and realized there's a market for a smartwatchs made of gold (maybe for chinese market). As I said, I wouldn't buy one even If I were billionaire. Maybe the Steel version and not for it's appearance.

 

[samcraig]

The "uber" expensive Apple Watches aren't for the general consumer. I would also go out on a limb and say they aren't even for watch connoisseurs. They are for those that walk the red carpet, or have homes in the hamptons, and so on who are into technology but at the same time, want to let people know they didn't buy a base model - they got the high end version.

I'm not laying judgment and there's no snark in my comment. I just think that the majority of sales is going to come from the general public and will be (my guess) betweent $350-1K. With a heavy leaning towards the $350 range.

The ones spending the 10K's on this probably won't care about updates, etc - because they will simply just buy a new watch or whatever is "hot" that year.

That last part might be judgmental...

 

[0092762]

How about a band that has batteries inside? That would be worth it imo.

 

[crashoverride77]

I always thought that French cars were European cars.

Haha I know and I am European. I should have said compared to German and Japanese cars. Italian cars other than supercars also pretty much suck.

 

[LordVic]

I don't care about their improvements.
I won't buy any Chinese watch, if not a very cheap model (but I don't use cheap watches, I prefer to have none if I can't afford a proper one) the same way I won't buy a Chinese car.
It's not prejudice. It's a matter of fact.

That is still technically a prejudice

HOW DARE YOU BE PREJUDICE AGAINST MANUFACTURING!

but in all seriousness I 100% agree with you.

there are only two places in this world I would buy my watches from. Swiss made, or Japanese made.

have chinese and other manu's come strides further than they used to be? Sure, but to use the car Analogy again. there are brands that are synonymous with quality, and I choose to go first to these brands before I even consider looking elsewhere.

simply put, you're not getting into a quality japanese/Swiss watch for < $200. I own a few watches, some american made, chinese made and a couple japanese made (no swiss yet, the ones I want are ridiculous out of my budget, need to keep looking). And there is a distinct difference in quality once you get to the Jap watches, which were all $300+

 

[crashoverride77]

Actually French cars are good European cars.

I know, I like mine.

Yeah the new Renaults and Citroens are alrite, if you have a Peugeot than good luck
Also if you guys are still in this forum in say 4-5 years let me know how much you still like your French car. Trust me I owned one for 6 years they are considered the most unreliable cars ever basically with like 14 out of 20 cars in the "top 20 worst cars" being French.

 

[NoNig]

Yeah I totally understand what you are saying but its even harder to change internals than externals especially the way Apple builds stuff and the philosophy they use.
No doubt that it would be cool to change internals because as you said the watch will be out of date within 1-2 years. That's one of the reason why I'm not sure if I get one because I don't want another product to add to my yearly "do I need to upgrade" list. Haha damn you apple and your cool products

Well, I agree with you and feel the same way. But I have to admit I'll probably buy one out of nothing else but couriosity

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I don't know. Being an Apple user for a very long time, I can't see them keeping the same design/form factor for more than two years in a row.
My idea is: they release watch 1.0, far from being perfect, they have success. One year later they release watch 2.0, correcting some things (i.e. better battery life, GPS receiver and so on) and have more success. Everyone try to copy. Another year later they release watch 3.0 with a totally changed design.


P.S. Don't need to apologize. I'm an Italian writing in English and facing the same problems

I too think that's the way they're going to do it. I just thought the other thing could be cool.

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Do you know that if add an English keyboard, switching to that keyboard also switches the auto-correct to English?

I do, and I have thought about enabling it on more than one occasion. The problem is, I don't write that much in English and when I do it's usually on the laptop.

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Being also European, I do the same. I use tech until it breaks (2008 MBP upgraded and 4S iPhone) or a previous generation is affordable, but not too far away from the latest. EBay make that possible.
(Never need or buy the latest, but I want it. If that makes sense.

There are certain understatement items with subtle snob appeal (black American Express, LAMY pens, Rolex, Tag Heuer, Haute Couture and there are loud ones.
Lamborghini, Ferrari etc.
The Apple watch doesn't fit any place, because it comes from a computer company.
So, if it isn't practical and knocks my socks off with usefulness, I will skip it.

People blessed with waste money may make it successful though.

We'll see! For now I am neutral on it until I see what it does and what price to benefit ratio it gives.

^^ +1 to this.

 

[crashoverride77]

Well, I agree with you and feel the same way. But I have to admit I'll probably buy one out of nothing else but couriosity

I'll probably end up doing the same and than worse probably start to really like it.
I am also thinking that obviously nothing beats a timeless classic like a Rolex, TagHeuer, Cartier etc. However I cannot afford one yet so instead I have like 2-3 decent watches that each cost like 300-400 dollars, some of which where gifts. So I might as well get the Apple watch for daily use and only keep one other decent watch around for when required till a Rolex comes knocking on my door

 

[fatboyslick]

I agree with the very first comment actually - you can't overprice the "premium" watch when it's going to be replaced a year later.

Premium watches that sell for thousands at the moment do so because of the craftmanship and design of the watch face....Apple can't charge this for what is basically dimensions and a strap.

PLUS once third parties get involved people will be able to buy straps from anywhere on any design - the only thing Apple could control is the face which is customized by the consumer!

 

[Max(IT)]

The "uber" expensive Apple Watches aren't for the general consumer. I would also go out on a limb and say they aren't even for watch connoisseurs. They are for those that walk the red carpet, or have homes in the hamptons, and so on who are into technology but at the same time, want to let people know they didn't buy a base model - they got the high end version.

I'm not laying judgment and there's no snark in my comment. I just think that the majority of sales is going to come from the general public and will be (my guess) betweent $350-1K. With a heavy leaning towards the $350 range.

The ones spending the 10K's on this probably won't care about updates, etc - because they will simply just buy a new watch or whatever is "hot" that year.

That last part might be judgmental...

Seriously, do you know of someone buying a Rolex every year or two? Even rich people aren't willingly to waste money that way....
A 2-3000$ Apple watch could be the "new gadget for this year", sure. But a 20k bucks ???
I'm very skeptic about that.

 

[IJ Reilly]

What unprecedented access does he get to Apple? I think he's been pretty clear that he has no inside information on Watch. I don't think anybody does with this product. Apple is keeping everything close to the vest.

It would be highly unusual if they did not keep it close. Odd, how the opinions here on Gruber are so bifurcated. Either we have to respect his views because of his special insights into the Apple inner sanctum, or he's a tool being cynically manipulated by Apple to do their bidding. How about: he's just a guy who likes to guess about what Apple is going to do, just like thousands of other people. Nah, so much less fun than cabals and conspiracies.

 

[Max(IT)]

Haha I know and I am European. I should have said compared to German and Japanese cars. Italian cars other than supercars also pretty much suck.

Do you know about Alfa Romeo? Do they sucks compared to Japanese cars (or even German's Ford and Opel for instance ) ?

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That is still technically a prejudice

HOW DARE YOU BE PREJUDICE AGAINST MANUFACTURING!

but in all seriousness I 100% agree with you.

there are only two places in this world I would buy my watches from. Swiss made, or Japanese made.

have chinese and other manu's come strides further than they used to be? Sure, but to use the car Analogy again. there are brands that are synonymous with quality, and I choose to go first to these brands before I even consider looking elsewhere.

simply put, you're not getting into a quality japanese/Swiss watch for < $200. I own a few watches, some american made, chinese made and a couple japanese made (no swiss yet, the ones I want are ridiculous out of my budget, need to keep looking). And there is a distinct difference in quality once you get to the Jap watches, which were all $300+

Agree.
My low level previous Tissot, a Swiss brand, was $500.... A decent watch, nothing more.

 

[samcraig]

Seriously, do you know of someone buying a Rolex every year or two? Even rich people aren't willingly to waste money that way....
A 2-3000$ Apple watch could be the "new gadget for this year", sure. But a 20k bucks ???
I'm very skeptic about that.

I don't. I think you missed my point though. These people I speak of will likely have a nice Rolex or other watch. But as another watch option - and one that keeps them "tech savvy" - they might buy an Apple Watch. Now - if that's the case - do you think these people are going to buy a base model? No - if they are going to be "called out" on wearing the Apple Watch - they'll want to show off the fact that they bought a gold (or comparable) one.

If not, I think one of Apple's new watch faces should be "My other watch is a Rolex" or something like that

 

[bobob]

I think one of Apple's new watch faces should be "My other watch is a Rolex" or something like that

Now that's funny!

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Did anyone see the new color Pebble smartwatch?