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While I am 100% in favor of the indestructible body of any Apple Watch, I am also in favor of the ability to retool that body to current generation components, say at the same or slightly more than the base model. Just new screen, battery, sensors and guts. Everyone wins
Great idea - unlikely to happen - ever.
They didn't even care to update the first Edition models in gold.
 
A leather strap lasts less than 3 years? I'd argue with moderate care in 3 years a leather strap is just starting to "find itself". If you're tossing a $500 leather strap after 3 years send it to me. ;)

An Apple Watch in three years while functional is slow, and lucky to hold a 24 hour charge with any type of use above checking the time.
depends on the use (of watch and strap) :).

My point was - in the luxury item market not all stuff is lifetime invest like a Patek.
People spend money on all kinds of disposable expensive things that are worthless in the next season.

So an uplift of 100 USD for a titanium upgrade is small money in comparision and you can even recover part of it, if you resell your watch.
 
I wonder if the SBSS became a Hermès-only edition with the Series 5 because Apple planned to replace it with a SB Ceramic option?

I'm also interested to see how close SB Ceramic looked to SB SS. I love my SBSS S4 because of how shiny the finish is and it looks like the Ceramic would have been very close if not identical.

I would prefer to not have to pay $1200 to get a glossy Space Black option when I do move on from my Series 4 (be it Hermès or Ceramic), but if I did, I would be interested in Ceramic if it looks like the Stainless finish.
 
Yup. and still looks brand new after almost 4 years. It would be nice to have the larger 44m display, but I’d rather have the ceramic than aluminum or SS.
Why spend so much extra for a watch that looks good in 4 years but is already obsolete by two years and needs to be replaced?
 
Did anyone actually buy those white ceramic watch?
Yes. It's one of my most prized posessions. I no longer wear it everyday (I have a Series 5 black aluminum now for my everyday watch). But the White Ceramic Series 3 Editions have held their value quite well.
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What's the point of buying "durable" Apple Watches? They are consumable electronics, which means they are depreciating assets.

Wouldn't it always better just to save the money and upgrade more frequently?
I think the idea of buying a higher spec Apple Watch is where the fashion side of watch wearing comes in. I bought my first Watch, series 5 Nike version two years ago as one of the less expensive options, to see how I would like the features, not really expecting that I’d wear it every day. I had been a mechanical watch wearer, my beloved 15+ year old Seiko Arctura Automatic, which constantly got compliments for its stunning looks and the fact that it was bullet proof (sapphire lens, heavy stainless body and strap, waterproof to 10bar / 334 ft., never needed service and of course didn’t need a battery).

But now that I depend on my Watch and wear it every day and night, I know that the next upgrade is going to be one of the more premium material versions. Even if it’s only a short-term use product that will likely get upgraded again in 2-3 years, I’d rather have something that addresses my attraction to unique materials, like titanium or ceramic. The other benefit of buying the more expensive versions is you get the benefit of the sapphire lens, which is a great upgrade for a watch that gets worn daily, especially in more demanding situations.
 
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I have always wondered why Apple never released a black version of products also? Case in point is the AirPods. I really want to know what drives their single color decision for most products.
AirPods and Apple cables are all white because they just scream Apple imo. I feel like if they made black AirPods they would somehow look like a weird knockoff and just be less iconic.
 
I always really loved those white ceramic Apple Watches. They look like a more premium version of the classic Apple white plastic look, like on AirPods or old MacBooks. I can't say I think the black would have been worth making especially next to the space gray steel ones so I'm pretty okay with these not coming out.

If I was filthy rich I would totally buy a ceramic model but for now my aluminum SE is great. lol
 
I patiently waiting to see what the Sports Series 7 will look like! If it is all rubberized, fat and ugly looking, I buy a regular SS or ceramic 7!
 
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For some watches just the leather straps are around 500 USD and these are even less timeless than an Apple Watch.
If you're talking about Apple Watch bands, they are actually more timeless than the watch. Because so far, any watch band will work with any generation of watch. So long as you have the right size band to with your watch. (38/40mm vs 42/44mm)
 
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I can buy a ceramic coffee mug at a garage sale for 10¢

$1000 for a teeny ceramic case shows just how amazing the Apple mind virus truly is.
I challenge you to listen to music; complete fitness rings; download and use apps; talk to Siri; check the weather; check your heart rate; track workouts; earn fitness rewards; make phone calls; etc on your $10 coffee mug.
 
What's the point of buying "durable" Apple Watches? They are consumable electronics, which means they are depreciating assets.

Wouldn't it always better just to save the money and upgrade more frequently?
That is a question of personal trade-offs between the esthetics and price. Not everyone is looking to minimize price.
 
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While I am 100% in favor of the indestructible body of any Apple Watch, I am also in favor of the ability to retool that body to current generation components, say at the same or slightly more than the base model. Just new screen, battery, sensors and guts. Everyone wins
Well, Apple's planned obsolescence wouldn't win...

This makes tremendous sense. Especially in a right-to-repair world. If Apple were to do something like this their 'environmental' claims wouldn't ring so hollow. They could even keep their margins.

I wish some number cruncher would run the projections comparing 'lost profits' from lost sales of new watches vs 'increased goodwill' and increased in market share.
 
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