Apple Shares Short Ad Highlighting Apple Watch Bands

[gplusplus]

I think it’s funny when Apple Watch fans try to talk about watches. It’s cute. Also, if you think you can dress up an Apple Watch to go with a suit, then you must have an ugly, tasteless suit.

An Apple Watch is a great product if what you want is a second screen for your iPhone with an integrated heart rate monitor. It’s not a piece of jewelry, it’s not a good investment, and it’s certainly not a real watch. It’s a computer. Face the reality. Sure, it’s super cool and has nifty features, but be realistic.

This discussion about the Apple vs aftermarket bands, from the perspective of a watch nerd, has me rolling my eyes. It’s regular practice for $5-30k watches to be put on $20 aftermarket nylon straps. So tell me, why should I put a $400 phone accessory on a $50 strap? And do you really think Apple makes a better strap or bracelet than Strapcode, or even cheap Chinese generics? Hah!

Enjoy your Apple Band collection.

 

[5105973]

I really don’t understand apples business model with the watch bands... The way apple advertises every 3-4 months when they get new colors you’d think that people are just eagerly awaiting the opportunity to buy a new band in a slightly different color. Are there actually people out there that have like 10-15 different bands to match their outfits and moods? Everyone that I know that owns an Apple Watch owns exactly 1 band. Maybe my friends aren’t affluent enough and I surround myself with cheap people? Idk.

I collected the bands the first year I had the watch and then got some holey ones when I got my first Nike version of the Apple watch. Since then I get them as birthday or Christmas or Mother's Day gifts when nobody can think of what to get me. It's sort of like how neckties used to be the go-to gift for our dads. But yeah I can say in my case the novelty wore off

 

[lunarworks]

I really don’t understand apples business model with the watch bands... The way apple advertises every 3-4 months when they get new colors you’d think that people are just eagerly awaiting the opportunity to buy a new band in a slightly different color. Are there actually people out there that have like 10-15 different bands to match their outfits and moods? Everyone that I know that owns an Apple Watch owns exactly 1 band. Maybe my friends aren’t affluent enough and I surround myself with cheap people? Idk.

It's like shoes. Some people have a rack full of shoes, and they decide which ones to wear when going out. Others have exactly one pair of shoes that they wear all the time.

What’s with all the Miami Vice colors?

Certain pastels are in fashion right now. They've been creeping into the mainstream for a few years now.

I think it’s funny when Apple Watch fans try to talk about watches. It’s cute. Also, if you think you can dress up an Apple Watch to go with a suit, then you must have an ugly, tasteless suit.

An Apple Watch is a great product if what you want is a second screen for your iPhone with an integrated heart rate monitor. It’s not a piece of jewelry, it’s not a good investment, and it’s certainly not a real watch. It’s a computer. Face the reality. Sure, it’s super cool and has nifty features, but be realistic.

This discussion about the Apple vs aftermarket bands, from the perspective of a watch nerd, has me rolling my eyes. It’s regular practice for $5-30k watches to be put on $20 aftermarket nylon straps. So tell me, why should I put a $400 phone accessory on a $50 strap? And do you really think Apple makes a better strap or bracelet than Strapcode, or even cheap Chinese generics? Hah!

Enjoy your Apple Band collection.

There's more to life than business suits and $5000 watches. I roll my eyes at people who think they need to spend $30,000 on a watch to impress me. I could buy a nice, new car for that much.

 

[Onimusha370]

I really don’t understand apples business model with the watch bands... The way apple advertises every 3-4 months when they get new colors you’d think that people are just eagerly awaiting the opportunity to buy a new band in a slightly different color. Are there actually people out there that have like 10-15 different bands to match their outfits and moods? Everyone that I know that owns an Apple Watch owns exactly 1 band. Maybe my friends aren’t affluent enough and I surround myself with cheap people? Idk.

I own about 30 but I deffo have a problem

 

[strategicthinke]

T

I don’t think many things Apple are really worth the price when comparing them to the same product made by different companies to get what you need them to do, but I do believe Apple prices most things around the apex of their Price/Demand curve to be as profitable they can be. They are a premium, status brand.

That being said I think they are most out to lunch on watch band pricing. Sports band and sport loop pricing is $69 here in Canada. With tax that’s almost $80’s for a silicon or woven watch band? A leather band starts $200. Definitely not worth it to me especially not knowing when Apple might make them obsolete with a new watch design.

Half those prices and I’d probably buy a couple bands. They have to be making some serious mark up on those I would think as well. I actually think this is an instance with how much more demand they could drive would make them more money to sell at a lower price. Maybe not at half at least a third or so less at least.

Third-party sports bands I’ve used became plastic-y after a few months. The Apple ones keep their “rubbery” feeling due to a very specific combination of components. Is it overpriced? Yes. Is it just like any other plastic band? No. Same with leather, their attention to detail is second to none. The lines to sew the leather bands have two different colours, black on the outside, brown on the inside. Any other company, I mean, ANY other technology company would just keep a duo-tone look with a horrible black line on the inside. Apple did pay incredible attention to detail on this, though. Do you know which other companies do this kind of dual-tone sewing? High fashion and/or watch brands such as Hermés and Patek Philipe. So, the leather bands (I can only speak for the classic buckle, the leather loop is horrible and feels plastic-y too!) are actually cheaper than the competitors - something similar from another high-end manufacturer with similar quality would be over 400 dollars. Crazy, you might thing, but that’s how it works in that market - and he quality of the materials DO tell.
Look at the pictures I’ve attached here.

 

[JosephAW]

You think they choose a better watch face for the ad. Very distracting from the subject they were promoting.
It's like a photo with a girl and a car and people say, what car?

 

[gplusplus]

There's more to life than business suits and $5000 watches. I roll my eyes at people who think they need to spend $30,000 on a watch to impress me. I could buy a nice, new car for that much.

There are definitely flashy people that want to impress others with their money. Those people are tasteless. And those are the same people who also put an Apple Watch in their watch “collection.”

But there are also many watch nerds (horologists) that deeply appreciate the engineering and craftsmanship of a fine watch. Those watches range anywhere from $150 to even $50,000. Those people couldn’t care less about impressing anyone. In fact, the general public has no freaking clue about expensive watches and have no idea what they’re even looking at, so there’s really nothing to impress anyone with if you have the right watch. For example, to the untrained eye, my most valuable watch (I won’t mention what it is) looks like a fake, imitation piece of crap bought in China Town. I’ve even had a couple people tell me they think it’s fake, which makes it all more fun. Little do they know just how rare and sought after it really is. I just smile.

You see, the horology community does not care to impress anyone, and we’re really not snobs. We get excited about a new $19k Rolex Daytona, but we also get equally excited about a new $20 Timex Weekender. We appreciate all timepieces for what they are and they all have something cool about them.

It’s not too different from the people buying the Apple watches: there are the types that buy it as a status symbol, then there are the types that truly enjoy the technology and put it to good use.

The thing is, if you appreciate watches and know what you’re doing, you’d realize why spending $50-800 (looking at you, Hermes) on Apple branded straps is the same thing of being that flashy jerk with an ugly, expensive watch that he bought just to impress people. No sense, no taste, and no class.

As far as suits, they’re definitely not an every day thing. But for the love of being a classy gentleman, please don’t wear an Apple Watch with a suit. You’re better off with a $20 Timex. It’s not about how much your watch costs; it’s about taste. And as they say, money can’t buy taste.

 

[lunarworks]

You think they choose a better watch face for the ad. Very distracting from the subject they were promoting.
It's like a photo with a girl and a car and people say, what car?

To be fair, it's an ad for the watch. It just features the new spring colours.
[doublepost=1554903689][/doublepost]

There are definitely flashy people that want to impress others with their money. Those people are tasteless. And those are the same people who also put an Apple Watch in their watch “collection.”

But there are also many watch nerds (horologists) that deeply appreciate the engineering and craftsmanship of a fine watch. Those watches range anywhere from $150 to even $50,000. Those people couldn’t care less about impressing anyone. In fact, the general public has no freaking clue about expensive watches and have no idea what they’re even looking at, so there’s really nothing to impress anyone with if you have the right watch. For example, to the untrained eye, my most valuable watch (I won’t mention what it is) looks like a fake, imitation piece of crap bought in China Town. I’ve even had a couple people tell me they think it’s fake, which makes it all more fun. Little do they know just how rare and sought after it really is. I just smile.

You see, the horology community does not care to impress anyone, and we’re really not snobs. We get excited about a new $19k Rolex Daytona, but we also get equally excited about a new $20 Timex Weekender. We appreciate all timepieces for what they are and they all have something cool about them.

It’s not too different from the people buying the Apple watches: there are the types that buy it as a status symbol, then there are the types that truly enjoy the technology and put it to good use.

The thing is, if you appreciate watches and know what you’re doing, you’d realize why spending $50-800 (looking at you, Hermes) on Apple branded straps is the same thing of being that flashy jerk with an ugly, expensive watch that he bought just to impress people. No sense, no taste, and no class.

As far as suits, they’re definitely not an every day thing. But for the love of being a classy gentleman, please don’t wear an Apple Watch with a suit. You’re better off with a $20 Timex. It’s not about how much your watch costs; it’s about taste. And as they say, money can’t buy taste.

In the industries I've floated around in I've met more than enough of those people who buy expensive watches to impress. I find them tiresome. I can understand the actual enthusiasts, as a kid I used to look extensively at the watch section of catalogues and I appreciate good design, although I can't say I've met any. If I had the money I'd buy all sorts of watches, just not any over $500.

As for an Apple Watch with a suit, I see it all the time. Especially on politicians. I can only assume they like the utility of quick notifications.

As for myself, my trusty Fossil watch goes with everything I have.

 

[strategicthinke]

There are definitely flashy people that want to impress others with their money. Those people are tasteless. And those are the same people who also put an Apple Watch in their watch “collection.”

But there are also many watch nerds (horologists) that deeply appreciate the engineering and craftsmanship of a fine watch. Those watches range anywhere from $150 to even $50,000. Those people couldn’t care less about impressing anyone. In fact, the general public has no freaking clue about expensive watches and have no idea what they’re even looking at, so there’s really nothing to impress anyone with if you have the right watch. For example, to the untrained eye, my most valuable watch (I won’t mention what it is) looks like a fake, imitation piece of crap bought in China Town. I’ve even had a couple people tell me they think it’s fake, which makes it all more fun. Little do they know just how rare and sought after it really is. I just smile.

You see, the horology community does not care to impress anyone, and we’re really not snobs. We get excited about a new $19k Rolex Daytona, but we also get equally excited about a new $20 Timex Weekender. We appreciate all timepieces for what they are and they all have something cool about them.

It’s not too different from the people buying the Apple watches: there are the types that buy it as a status symbol, then there are the types that truly enjoy the technology and put it to good use.

The thing is, if you appreciate watches and know what you’re doing, you’d realize why spending $50-800 (looking at you, Hermes) on Apple branded straps is the same thing of being that flashy jerk with an ugly, expensive watch that he bought just to impress people. No sense, no taste, and no class.

As far as suits, they’re definitely not an every day thing. But for the love of being a classy gentleman, please don’t wear an Apple Watch with a suit. You’re better off with a $20 Timex. It’s not about how much your watch costs; it’s about taste. And as they say, money can’t buy taste.

I’m not even going to get into the details of what one may or may not consider classy or tasteless. However, there are very few situations where an Apple Watch is as useful as in a business setting. Travelling internationally for business and in between meetings the Apple Watch has become an indispensable tool for me now. The only judgement I personally would pass on the use of an Apple Watch, though, is whether or not it is the one with the stainless steel case. I don’t mean the Hermès version, but please don’t use a Fitness-Tracker-like aluminium Apple Watch with a suit. A stainless steel case with a simple watch face and classic buckle looks more dressed up than some of the “real watches” I’ve seen around.
I agree with this part of your quote, though: “It’s not too different from the people buying the Apple watches: there are the types that buy it as a status symbol, then there are the types that truly enjoy the technology and put it to good use.”
I’d be wary, though, of using my definition of what makes someone classy or tacky - its all personal at the end of the day, and my definition of un-classy might include some of the things you’d consider right for the occasion.
[doublepost=1554905562][/doublepost]

As for an Apple Watch with a suit, I see it all the time. Especially on politicians. I can only assume they like the utility of quick notifications.

Same reply to this. A stainless steel Apple Watch blends with most formal business settings. (Not the overly expensive Hermés, the regular one.) The sportsy aluminium case, though, irks me to some extent.

 

[gplusplus]

A stainless steel Apple Watch blends with most formal business settings. (Not the overly expensive Hermés, the regular one.) The sportsy aluminium case, though, irks me to some extent.

Stainless steel really is the best way to go in all situations, but Apple demands a $300 price premium for stainless steel. That’s absolutely absurd. You can buy *two* entire PADI certified dive watches made of 316L steel (Seiko SKX, universally renowned and praised watches) for the cost of the price premium *alone* between Apple’s aluminum and steel prices. That’s insane. They want $700 to even start with a stainless steel case. And that’s just the case; you dont even get a good bracelet with it!

$700 for a piece of electronics that will be worth $200 in two years costs more in total depreciation and expenses than my entire fine watch collection of Swiss, German, and Japanese watches. Ouch!

But value and dollars are not necessarily the same thing. If the electronic features of the Apple Watch and the style associated with it works for you, then the $200 per year cost might be worth it. For perspective, that’s roughly the cost of a 4K Netflix subscription with current prices over two years. It’s also the cost of an Amazon Prime subscription over two years. So if you think you’d get as much value out of an Apple Watch as you would Netflix or Amazon Prime, then the value proposition is pretty good.

Honestly, I get back to this: the Apple Watch is a great device, but a terrible watch. As for the bands, you can get very, very nice straps from actual watch accessory brands that will fit your Apple Watch (sometimes need a little adapter end link) that will be miles better than Apple’s branded bands, for less than half the price. If a $20 strap is good enough for a $30k Swiss watch, then trust me, it’s good enough for the planned obsolescence that is an Apple Watch. You just need to know where to look. I suggest going down the rabbit hole of reading the WatchUSeek forums.

 

[strategicthinke]

Stainless steel really is the best way to go in all situations, but Apple demands a $300 price premium for stainless steel. That’s absolutely absurd. You can buy *two* entire PADI certified dive watches made of 316L steel (Seiko SKX, universally renowned and praised watches) for the cost of the price premium *alone* between Apple’s aluminum and steel prices. That’s insane. They want $700 to even start with a stainless steel case. And that’s just the case; you dont even get a good bracelet with it!

$700 for a piece of electronics that will be worth $200 in two years costs more in total depreciation and expenses than my entire fine watch collection of Swiss, German, and Japanese watches. Ouch!

But value and dollars are not necessarily the same thing. If the electronic features of the Apple Watch and the style associated with it works for you, then the $200 per year cost might be worth it. For perspective, that’s roughly the cost of a 4K Netflix subscription with current prices over two years. It’s also the cost of an Amazon Prime subscription over two years. So if you think you’d get as much value out of an Apple Watch as you would Netflix or Amazon Prime, then the value proposition is pretty good.

Honestly, I get back to this: the Apple Watch is a great device, but a terrible watch. As for the bands, you can get very, very nice straps from actual watch accessory brands that will fit your Apple Watch (sometimes need a little adapter end link) that will be miles better than Apple’s branded bands, for less than half the price. If a $20 strap is good enough for a $30k Swiss watch, then trust me, it’s good enough for the planned obsolescence that is an Apple Watch. You just need to know where to look. I suggest going down the rabbit hole of reading the WatchUSeek forums.

Thanks for the tip! Will look at that website. Funny enough, your comparison with Netflix highlights how value is a concept based on context. I live in a developing country where the 4K Netflix costs a bit more than 6 USD. Services are incredibly cheap, but hardware bought where I live is extremely expensive (a Stainless Steel Apple Watch is officially 1700 USD, with currency conversion). It doesn’t surprise me that I find it such a good deal for “only” 700 USD for the SS Apple Watch abroad and, also, that I’d never ever find the value from a service subscription remotely lose to the value from a material hardware. (It also helps that resale value of used Apple Watches and iPhones is quite high here ).

 

[tobefirst ⚽️]

Well, by reading this thread I've learned that in a lot of people's eyes, I'm doing a lot of things wrong.

Ah well, I'll still sleep well tonight.

 

[AngerDanger]

Wait, what are Apple Watch bands?

 

[CarlJ]

The thing is, if you appreciate watches and know what you’re doing, you’d realize why spending $50-800 (looking at you, Hermes) on Apple branded straps is the same thing of being that flashy jerk with an ugly, expensive watch that he bought just to impress people. No sense, no taste, and no class.

Well, uh, thanks, I guess, for saying I have no sense, no taste, and no class. Glad I have you to set me straight. Perhaps I can return the favor some day.

I have a handful of Apple's Sport Band watchbands, in various colors. I didn't buy them to impress anyone, I just enjoy the colors. I couldn't care less what others think of my Apple Watch (except for my nieces, they love to kidnap my wrist and play with the Minnie Mouse and Toy Story watch faces - I find this quite entertaining, if inconvenient at times). I have a few more expensive analog watches (don't worry, nothing flashy, they, too, were bought because they please me, not to impress others), and I have substantially more bands for my Marathon analog watch than for my Apple Watch (quite a variety, actually, in nylon, perlon, canvas, silicone, caoutchouc, and steel, both nameless and from some quite well known makers). I do appreciate watches and I know what I'm doing. I have watch bands that are cheaper than Apple's Sport Bands, and a few that were quite a bit more expensive. And I can say that Apple's watch bands are really quite good. Are they expensive? Yes (and I'd like them to be less expensive). But they are well designed and very well executed.

(One particular disagreement with an oft-made assertion: none of the silicone knockoffs of the Sport Band that I've seen, which some undiscriminating users claim, "are exactly the same as the Apple ones", come anywhere close. A few of the caoutchouc watch bands I have, have a similar feel to Apple's fluorelastomer bands - the silicone Sport Band knockoffs don't.)

 

[m4mario]

The highest selling watch in the world need more bands options for sure and the world needs to know when new ones come out. I approve.

 

[QCassidy352]

Well, uh, thanks, I guess, for saying I have no sense, no taste, and no class. Glad I have you to set me straight.

Isn’t it amazing how some people feel that their personal preference or sense of style is an objective truth? Really baffling to me, since taste and style are literally 100% subjective, but Ok.

I wear my space grey aluminum watch (with a leather band) with a suit every day. Oh, the horror!

 

[rmoliv]

Does anyone know what’s the name of the track featured in this video?

 

[PickUrPoison]

<snip>

Honestly, I get back to this: the Apple Watch is a great device, but a terrible watch. As for the bands, you can get very, very nice straps from actual watch accessory brands that will fit your Apple Watch (sometimes need a little adapter end link) that will be miles better than Apple’s branded bands, for less than half the price. If a $20 strap is good enough for a $30k Swiss watch, then trust me, it’s good enough for the planned obsolescence that is an Apple Watch. You just need to know where to look. I suggest going down the rabbit hole of reading the WatchUSeek forums.

Some—including those with both class and good taste—would disagree with your pronouncement that the Apple Watch is “a terrible watch”.

Do realize that “good taste” isn’t synonymous with “what I personally find tasteful”. Good taste is different from personal taste. It is thoroughly possible for something to be tasteful, however unsuited to your particular taste it may be. In fact, it is quite likely that certain things considered to be in good taste may be quite unacceptable to you, personally!

 

[CarlJ]

Does anyone know what’s the name of the track featured in this video?

Shazam told me (pretty much instantly, by the way) that it's "It Feels So Good" by Ben Cocks.

 

[Akrapovic]

This thread: I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY PEOPLE LIKE DIFFERENT THINGS TO ME. THESE PEOPLE ARE STUPID.

 

[Moonlight]

I really don’t understand apples business model with the watch bands... The way apple advertises every 3-4 months when they get new colors you’d think that people are just eagerly awaiting the opportunity to buy a new band in a slightly different color. Are there actually people out there that have like 10-15 different bands to match their outfits and moods? Everyone that I know that owns an Apple Watch owns exactly 1 band. Maybe my friends aren’t affluent enough and I surround myself with cheap people? Idk.

I own 10 bands

 

[Akrapovic]

I think I own about 15. I think 2 are legit, maybe 3. Rest are Sport Loop fakes, which are brilliant for workouts.

 

[tobefirst ⚽️]

(One particular disagreement with an oft-made assertion: none of the silicone knockoffs of the Sport Band that I've seen, which some undiscriminating users claim, "are exactly the same as the Apple ones", come anywhere close. A few of the caoutchouc watch bands I have, have a similar feel to Apple's fluorelastomer bands - the silicone Sport Band knockoffs don't.)

Where can I find these caoutchouc bands? Asking for a friend...

 

[CWallace]

I really don’t understand apples business model with the watch bands... The way apple advertises every 3-4 months when they get new colors you’d think that people are just eagerly awaiting the opportunity to buy a new band in a slightly different color. Are there actually people out there that have like 10-15 different bands to match their outfits and moods? Everyone that I know that owns an Apple Watch owns exactly 1 band. Maybe my friends aren’t affluent enough and I surround myself with cheap people? Idk.

Eagerly await? Not so much. But I do have about a dozen OEM bands and I do rotate through them based on outfit and environment (formal? workout? work?).

 

[CarlJ]

Where can I find these caoutchouc bands? Asking for a friend...

If it wasn't clear from the context, the caoutchouc bands I have are for my Marathon diver's watch, not for my Apple Watch. They could be used with adapters, but wouldn't be as well integrated as the Sport Bands. The one that leaps to mind is the Pure model by Hirsch, but IIRC, Bonetto Cinturini also makes some nice ones (and some of Bonetto Cinturini's bands have been used as OEM bands by a number of well-known watch makers).