Is there a legal limit to how thin the case can get before you can't call it "made from 18k gold"? Like, what if the case is 0.5mm?
Got a tip for us?
Let us know
Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.
Apple PR could be inflating price figure for PR reasons
- Thread starter aohus
- Start date
- Sort by reaction score
Is there a legal limit to how thin the case can get before you can't call it "made from 18k gold"? Like, what if the case is 0.5mm?
Yes, the "image in my mind" and what I would presume a gold case to look like, when someone says that, and knowing it has to be mostly space inside to fit things, and from drawings, led me to that type of dimension, which, to me (no expert) looks not a million miles off.
However, I must admit, I am still guessing. And there is a chance I will say, wow, I never expected it to be made that way.
I don't mind being wrong as I accept it's guesswork to a degree.
One thing I will say. There does seem, in other photo's to be another material in there.
If you imagine you have the computer part, this is then fixed to a module, a bit like an internal case, and then this fixes into the outer gold case.
Until we see it apart we don't know, but there is something else inside there, frame/support wise.
This picture will probably explain things easier than my explanation.
As you see, the "Case" may not actually be quite what we think, and you can see there is a lot of something else in there holding it all together, inside the "case" perhaps offering strength and support to the case, which may (and I only say may) contain less gold than Apple's statement could lead you to believe:
See what you think:
Gold (18K) is fairly soft and it would dent easily. The gold case will be a cast to the same case specification as the Sport and SS.
We know that watch experts who have held the Edition have reported it to be substantial in feel.
Must be amazing to "KNOW"
Unlike the rest of us that are simply speculating.
Well, Gold = Heavier than Steel, and they probably said it's heavier than the Steel one.
But as they don't know how thick the steel one is, the fact is may be constructed the same is irrelevant.
Must be amazing to "KNOW"
Unlike the rest of us that are simply speculating.
Well, Gold = Heavier than Steel, and they probably said it's heavier than the Steel one.
But as they don't know how thick the steel one is, the fact is may be constructed the same is irrelevant.
But for people who held the gold watch to report it felt "substantial," there must be a minimal weight to it, before it doesn't feel substantial anymore.
So any way to estimate how heavy the gold watch has to be in order to feel substantial?
This is manly marketing. Gold jewelry (18K) is an alloy and must be mixed in exact amounts with other elements for proper coloring. For instance yellow gold has less copper and more silver in the alloy. Rose gold has more copper and very little silver. You can't alter the alloy without changing the color. Also what element could you add in the amounts necessary to harden the alloy while still maintaining the proper yellow or rose gold colors?
Well, let's look at it like this:
3 models of watch.
Construction method internally is uncertain, though as my picture above shows, there is something substantial also inside the case.
You hold the aluminium version, with rubber strap.
You hold the steel version with leather strap?
You may then hold the gold version. Gold = heavier and it feels substantial.
It's a hard call. Given we don't know the weight of the rest of it.
But if we assume the "rest of it" has the same weight, then each metal change, plus the "rest of it" will go up in weight, Aluminium, Steel, Gold.
How much of a difference this is, and how the case is constructed internally (hollowed out to take that "black internals carrier" we don't know.
Unlike a certain person here
I'm not stating anything as a fact.Only that, look at that picture above, see how, it's not as simple as "guts of watch screwed to gold case" and understand, we don't know yet
This "module" lets call it, may be the easy to upgrade module.
It may be quite heavy?
It may add strength to the actual case.
Knowing Apple, one would think this black supporting piece would be aluminium, but it could be a plastic. Can't really tell.
I wouldn't be surprised if the Apple Watch SS start at $349 because the watch is broken into 3 categories the Apple Watch, the Apple Watch Sport & Apple Watch Edition and Tim said the Apple Watch start at $349.
Front Page
Update: Apple has confirmed to MacRumors that FT's statement regarding both aluminum and stainless steel versions starting at $349 is incorrect.
Thats saying they both won't start at the same price not which one will start at $349
No, "Apple Watch" can refer to either the range of watches or the model. The clearest clue that they mean the range of watches here is from the following:
"Apple Watch (the range of watches) will be available in three collections. Apple Watch (the model), with a polished or space black stainless steel case and a choice of straps; Apple Watch Sport, with a space gray or silver anodized aluminum case and Sport Band; and Apple Watch Edition, with an 18-karat rose or yellow gold case and a choice of straps exclusive to this collection. Apple Watch (the range of watches) straps include the Sport Band in black, blue, green, pink and white; the Classic Buckle in black and midnight blue; the Leather Loop in bright blue, light brown and stone; the Modern Buckle in midnight blue, brown, soft pink, rose gray and bright red; the Milanese Loop in stainless steel; and the Link Bracelet in brushed stainless steel and polished space black. Apple Watch (the range of watches) will be available in early 2015 starting at $349 (US)."
The only other possible interpretation is that the Apple Watch SS models will debut first, with the other two collections arriving at a later date, and nobody believes this.
Stainless Steel and Sapphire is more expensive than aluminum and glass. When Cook said Watch he meant the product as a whole not the SS collection.
Did you even read the initial thread. The $1000 was for the original iPad that the NYT spread days before the release of the original iPad, maybe you weren't there way back then
Ask anyone here.And btw, the moon landing was definitely faked. That's for another discussion though.
So they throw us a bone but somehow still charge $79 for a plastic band?
We already know the starting price. The rest we hope to find out Monday!
I'm doubtful it will happen but I still hold out hope that the SS model will start at $349. We shall see on Monday but that would be amazing.
Interesting. Don't think I've seen that pic looks like most stainless steel appliances that really only have a thin skin of stainless over plastic.
this didn't work out so well...If that's the case then I'm buying every single one I can get my hands on...
this didn't work out so well...
Will be interesting to watch (no pun intended) how this pricing experiment, and I mean "Experiment" works out in the longer term.
Something we won't know till a year or a few years time and look back on this and can comment of how great it was or how much of a fail it's been.