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Apple to Take Reservations for Trying On Apple Watch, Considered Platinum Model

HobeSoundDarryl said:
OK. Where's the polished steel version of the Rolex President then? The watchmakers who tend to work at the end of the scale don't make their primary designs in cheaper metals. Here, we see an apparently likely decision to make the exact same watch innards inside both cheaper and more premium metals.

Again, nothing particularly wrong with that. But for those whining for Platinum, they need to tell people they have the Platinum one. And once the marketplace fills(?) with polished steel or aluminum, that they had paid so much more for a more special edition would not be obvious.
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You cherry picked one Rolex model. Rolex makes a lot of watches with steel, gold and platinum variants.
 
i5pro said:
As much as I want to hope you're right, I seriously doubt the guts are upgradeable and it is disposable. Long gone are the days of upgrades at Apple. The only thing in their current line-up that is upgradeable is the old 13" MBP and the MacPro..not a single iOS device. The watch doesn't stand a chance. :(
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If you could buy a MBP in an 18k gold case for $10,000 it would be upgradable. Well, kind of. Apple would just put a new MBP into the case.
 
gnasher729 said:
The most important property of platinum is that it is very, very, very hard. That makes it possible to create jewellery that couldn't be made from a softer material. For example a wedding ring made of platinum with a gap, and a nice big diamond just held by the edges of the platinum ring. Not possible in gold, that diamond would be gone pretty soon. So you look at it and think "that must be platinum (and not steel or aluminium) because otherwise it just wouldn't work".
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I knew Platinum was a traditional setting used for diamonds, but I didn't know it was because of this reason. Thanks for sharing.
 
gnasher729 said:
If you could buy a MBP in an 18k gold case for $10,000 it would be upgradable. Well, kind of. Apple would just put a new MBP into the case.
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That works until there is some kind of major change which the MBP chassis can no longer accommodate. By introducing upgradeable devices you are locking yourself into a certain form factor for a long time.
 
gnasher729 said:
The most important property of platinum is that it is very, very, very hard. That makes it possible to create jewellery that couldn't be made from a softer material. For example a wedding ring made of platinum with a gap, and a nice big diamond just held by the edges of the platinum ring. Not possible in gold, that diamond would be gone pretty soon. So you look at it and think "that must be platinum (and not steel or aluminium) because otherwise it just wouldn't work".
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Again, I'm quite knowledgable about all of this- I was in the jewelry business for a good, long time. And I've sold & serviced tons of watches both at the high end (Rolex, Omega) and near the low end.

Apply what you are insinuating to this Apple watch. Are we going to wear it in situations where we need that much greater hardness vs. aluminum or steel (enough to pay up for for it)? Are we going to own this model long enough before there is a "thinner", "lighter" and more "magical" version 2, that we should definitely make that Platinum upgrade investment in this version to cover that unexpected scenario over the longer term where that hardness was needed?

And even if you can say "yes," wouldn't we assume a platinum version would cost 2X-3X or more than the cost of the platinum-looking-but-not-platinum aluminum or steel models? Since that's probable, why not fake the platinum look with the less-hard-but-still-silver-metals and just buy another whole new watch when the less hardened metal case fails in some hypothetical situation? By that time- unless we cook up odd & rare "what if" scenarios, version 2 will probably be out anyway... and we all know it will be a "must have" upgrade for everyone who purchased the first generation (I'm glad I couldn't buy a platinum iPhone 1 or iPad 1 when they first hit).
 
HenryDJP said:
It IS different because people are making personal appointments to try on the AppleWatch. If you truly think that a customer making a personal appointment will be strung along for at least an hour gazing at the watch they love and are ready to buy, that the employee will suddenly tell them it's not available for months then you know nothing about Apple's customer service. It's okay though....
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You make no sense... Regardless, I'm done arguing this with someone who obviously can't listen to reason.
 
douglasf13 said:
You cherry picked one Rolex model. Rolex makes a lot of watches with steel, gold and platinum variants.
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Yes, that's their premium model. Those other watches made of cheaper metals do not look exactly like it. In this case, the cheaper polished steel or cheapest polished aluminum (if available) Apple watch vs. the highest-priced (hypothetical) platinum Apple watch would look exactly the same... same shape, same size, same functionality.
 
Platinum is softer than gold, however it wears by smearing onto itself while gold rubs off.

It is for people who are assumed to be wearing platinum and / or want their expensive stuff to be there in 100+ years. It's price is driven by the extreme demand in industry rather than scarcity. It has been twice the price of gold. now it is a few hundred less.
 
leenak said:
Pure gold is 24k gold. What people are theorizing is that it is still 18k gold but due to using a ceramic alloy, the amount of gold is less because the overall weight is less.

So 18k gold with metals providing strength/filler = heavy = more gold by weight
18k gold with ceramic allow providing strength/filler = lighter = less gold by weight
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What do other watch makers mix their gold with?
 
CalWizrd said:
FYI, "President" is the particular style of the gold or platinum bracelet, not the watch.
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Yes, but it is generally assigned to that particular design of watch. Someone says "Rolex President" and someone who knows watches gets an image in their head that differs from the Rolex Datejust or Rolex Submariner, etc.

Getting nit picky doesn't change the point unless we want to talk about buying the polished steel or aluminum Apple watch body and pairing it with a platinum, white gold, silver, steel or other bracelet.
 
The Apple watch will start as a high end shopping experience at the Apple Store but in a year or two you'll see them at Staples--at least the base metal versions.
 
HenryDJP said:
While you're amusing yourself with your own version of comedy....I'm sure Apple won't be displaying watches for people to try on that aren't available for months.
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Why? They displayed iPhones that weren't available due to shortages.

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Ingster said:
Personally i do like the idea of trying on the watch before buying, I have large wrists and most watch bands tend to be fastened on the last hole, my omega - which is lovely - is a little too tight but for when I have it on (for special occasions etc) it isn't too bad but I couldn't wear it like that every day. My pebble uses a NATO strap and i'm on the last hole, but my G-Shock with link bracelet fits perfectly - if a little loose. So I would like to know if I can actually wear the link bracelet option, or if the milanese/leather loop would be a better option or stick to the sport band
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I think most people try on a watch before buying it.
 
Technarchy said:
How is it any different than any number of expensive watches on the street at any given time?

And I doubt the more expensive models will be the mainstream models. They'll be rare, unlike iPhones.
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I agree the edition watch will be a rarer sight. But unlike other expensive watches, the edition will be an easier target for thieves. Nothing else looks like it. Spot a Rolex, Tag, or Omega and you could be really looking at a Citizen, Seiko, or Flea Market knock off. Chances are greater for the thief when there is only one style for the edition watches.

To be fair, the odds will go down quickly when people start electroplating their aluminum watches. ;) Cuz it's gonna happen.
 
Looking forward to winding up apple employees when i tell them im looking for a watch that will last without charging for at least a week when camping.

seriously, a watch with 1day or less battery life = utterly utterly useless :rolleyes:
 
apolloa said:
That's not pure gold then is it, and for multi thousands of pounds/ dollars I would expect pure gold.
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24kt gold is to soft for jewelry. It's rarely ever used.

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leenak said:
Pure gold is 24k gold. What people are theorizing is that it is still 18k gold but due to using a ceramic alloy, the amount of gold is less because the overall weight is less.

So 18k gold with metals providing strength/filler = heavy = more gold by weight
18k gold with ceramic allow providing strength/filler = lighter = less gold by weight
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That can't be right in anyone's head. 18k gold is 75% pure gold and 25 percent something else. That 25% is immaterial. As long as the ratio is 75/25 it's 18k gold.

If the gold in the watch weighs 1oz, 75% of that weight is gold. Doesn't matter what the rest is.
 
A companion device that costs more than the device it's a companion to (If I include subsidies)
 
HobeSoundDarryl said:
Yes, that's their premium model. Those other watches made of cheaper metals do not look exactly like it. In this case, the cheaper polished steel or cheapest polished aluminum (if available) Apple watch vs. the highest-priced (hypothetical) platinum Apple watch would look exactly the same... same shape, same size, same functionality.
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What I'm saying is that Rolex makes other watches that are available in both platinum and steel, like the DateJust II, Daytona, etc. In other words, same model, similar look, wildly different price.
 
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