But you need to remember that this is more or less a completely new market. In a new market, especially when you have the power to dictate pricing as Apple does, why not price it at a premium and gauge market demand? Apple was already perceived as a premium brand and this will just reinforce that image. It could very well turn into an aspirational purchase and I'm sure the margins on these things are ridiculous.
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Apple Watch Bands Range in Price from $49 for the Sport Band to $449 for the Link Bracelet
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But you need to remember that this is more or less a completely new market. In a new market, especially when you have the power to dictate pricing as Apple does, why not price it at a premium and gauge market demand? Apple was already perceived as a premium brand and this will just reinforce that image. It could very well turn into an aspirational purchase and I'm sure the margins on these things are ridiculous.
I think ETA is still making movements for others on a limited basis. But yes you are right it is part of the swatch group and now ETA can be considered a in house movement for that group. Omega doesn't use a vanilla ETA but their own modified ETA movement in it's own right. But ETA is still a fine movement, timeless. Used in a high percentage of watches.
ETA used to sell ebauches (unassembled movements) to a wide variety of other watch companies. Former president of Swatch Group, Nicolas Hayek (who passed away a few months ago) changed all that a few years ago by announcing that after a two year grace period (which was extended by the Association to the end of 2010 - like, now), ETA would henceforth only be selling fully assembled movements to other watch companies and those supplies would have annual caps. The result (perhaps actually intended by Hayek; perhaps not) was that, starting in 2007, all of our favorite watch companies that didn't already have in-house movements began developing them, acquiring other companies which already had their own movements, investing in small movement makers and so on. It's been great for the watchmaking world.
Sellita being the most mentioned as a alternative ETA clone. But has since moved onward from pure cloned ETA movements since 2010.
High end watches in the 5k+ range tend to be sold as jewelry more than for functionality. Much as women get nice tennis bracelets or a necklace a man can get a watch. Those watches do tend to have some things in common such as handcrafted, provenance, high end materials, and the big hit to Apple when competing against them: designed to last a lifetime (not an electronics lifetime a human's) and even become heirlooms. Watches can get handed down from generation to generation much like diamond rings and art work.
The inherent problem in this device even in the SS range is that they are trying to price it like a mid-grade watch but it has the longevity of a $15 timex piece. The battery will die out, software will become outdated and the watch won't hold any residual value within a few years.
Now if Apple had an upgrade program or said battery replacements and they would support the hardware for the next 5-10 years then it might be different.
The inherent problem in this device even in the SS range is that they are trying to price it like a mid-grade watch but it has the longevity of a $15 timex piece. The battery will die out, software will become outdated and the watch won't hold any residual value within a few years.
Now if Apple had an upgrade program or said battery replacements and they would support the hardware for the next 5-10 years then it might be different.
Yeah, I think so too. The Apple watch may be the biggest mistake Apple has ever made. Lots of consumers usually buy Apple products as a status symbol, imagine how they are gonna feel when they can't afford the Apple Watch Edition.
I'll take this one: http://store.apple.com/us/buy-watch/apple-watch-sport?product=MJ3T2LL/A&step=detail#
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42 mm face with Space Gray case and Black sport band perfectly matches my iPhone 6--including the Incipio DualPro case!
cool story, bro.
Same! So long as it looks good and made of "Ok" materials I'm fine with it. $449 for a smartwatch bracelet is slightly outrageous. I get that apple wants high quality, but for 90% of people with normal jobs and lives thats not affordable. Why can't I be poor and look good?
They were perceived as a premium brand but it wasn't really, they have always offered really gread products for a fair price. The iPhone costs the same as other flagship phones and the macbooks may cost just a couple hundred more than a PC with the same specs. Now the Apple Watch is completly new territory, they are charging $10k just because they can, there's no value here, you're paying only for the brand, this is a first for Apple. I really don't like the direction they have took, are they gonna be capable of selling luxury items for the rich and still manage to mantain the "premium" feel to a $350 watch? Judging by people's reaction on this forum, I don't think so. Now if you buy a Steel or Sport Apple Watch it won't have that premium feel because you know there's the Apple Watch Edition that you can't afford and you had to settle for a lesser product.
So if I can only afford a Toyota Camry, it won't have a premium feel and I can't enjoy it because others can buy a Lexus?
Also, in terms of the $10k Watch, they aren't charging it just because they can. And it isn't that there's no value there. The thing is made of GOLD, after all.
Yes, comes down to the availability of ETA movements and not so much for actual need to design and manufacture them in-house. Apparently in the future only companies part of Swatch Group has access to ETA. Anyway, for those who are not aware ETA has manufactured movements for over 200 years in Swizerland so it's not some cheap labour knock off booth in China.
I agree, I was yawning through the first half hour of Research Kit, great idea but boring presentation. I suppose this was meant to soften the blow of the watch band pricing (the sport and steel watches are actually reasonably priced for what I was expecting). What's funny is the base model Edition comes with a rubber band lol. Funny how Cook mentioned the Edition pricing with no on-screen figure just to quickly get it out of the way.
Apple has defnitely shifted its focus with the Watch. I remember Steve talking about the iPad and Apple being at the crossroads of liberal arts and technology. I don't think the Watch has anything to do with the liberal arts and learning idea. Its just an accessory for your iPhone. As a shareholder I'm happy Apple will make boatloads of money, but so far it doesn't seem like the Watch is a big step forward in human achievement. We'll see what apps they come up with...
Sorry, but that's typical for good watches. A steel bracelet is usually a few hundred more than the base model with a leather strap. Apple's pricing structure here looks appropriate for the industry and more than fair. You won't find a high-end steel, mechanical watch with bracelet for $1K. So I'd argue that they've accounted for the hit to value with obsolescence. But what's impressive to me is the number of innovative strap options -- way beyond typical Swiss offerings.
I don't know about you, but I don't like gold on a watch as much as the look of steel. The hardware and software will be exactly the same, the only difference is the gold case which isn't especially pronounced. I'm also not interested in advertising the fact that I have a $10k+ watch on my wrist, people will be getting robbed of this watch within days of its release. Many people wear expensive watches, but your average "Apple Picker" doesn't know the difference. He will know that you're wearing an Edition.
So when you go to the store to buy your watch, are the Apple specialists going to be pursueding you to buy very expensive watch straps? Is that what their job is? Because I can't see them being of much use otherwise?
I don't like it either, I like the sport watch with the blue band lol.
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I have not seem the Apple watch in person but it seems that Apple is putting a lot of effort on high quality materials and craftsmanship. Sure titanium is more expensive than steel or aluminum and as always on top of that you pay the Apple tax.
For me it comes down really to drop more than $1k for the steel version and in two years or less being obsolete. I rather use that money and spend more of course for a nice timepiece like Rolex or Omega or just get the entry line Sport version.
Plus the fact the watch is not waterproof will make me wait for future versions.
Actually in high end watches leather strap is much more common than steel or any metal braclet. If we take a look at +100K watches only few have metal braclets (few women's Patek with diamonds, maybe Piguet, Rolex etc.) but most common by far is some exotic leather. Anyway, it's true that Swiss made steel braclets are around $400-$550 but the key here is Swiss made and hand manufacturing. Then again maybe Apple Edition is made by master watchmakers in Swizerland and not some underpaid factory worker in China. Sure...
Yes. And there's no way I'd add an Edition. Maybe a s/s with a leather bracelet, if someone else was paying. At first "glance" <yes, deliberate> Apple got the pricing wrong from my pov/opinion. Many, many others will disagree with me, c'est la vie.
Conveniently one cannot buy a black sport band.
I'm sure that's also all very deliberate.
Seriously? $449 for a watch band? I have no doubt, however, that cheaper compatable bands will be for sale from third parties - Korea, China, etc., long before the watch actually becomes available for purchase from Apple.
Actually you can get a well made swiss watch with a ETA movement or Sellita movement, saphire all around and steel or titanium for well under 1K.
Last time I checked, Tissot, Mido, Rado, Oris, Fredrique Constant, all make good swiss automatics for around 1K or under. Very good watches. I have a Tissot Powermatic 80 for everyday and I paid $750. I have a Omega I paid $4500 for. The Omega has a power reserve of 72hrs. The tissot has a power reserve of 80 hrs. I feel no less is on my wrist when I have on the tissot. Regardless of price.
Heck you can get a Hamilton, Tissot, automatic in about the 600 range if you really look, all steel to boot.
I almost went with this for everyday instead of my powermatic 80. Still might get one as it is actually better looking than my Powermatic 80 tissot.
http://horolograph.blogspot.com.ar/2013/08/tissot-pr-100-automatic-review-gents.html
You can pick one up for almost as much as one of apple's watch bands. So how is their band a good deal?
That is a quality swiss watch at a good price for around $600. Solid links with solid end links. Note how he points out that his Rolex has Hollow ones. I had a explorer which had hollow ones as well. Hence my Omega purchase. That $600 tissot has a better made band than my Rolex did. Not finished as nicely but it wasn't hollow. So the Apple watch probably has better steel bands than a Rolex, but not as good as a Tissot. Price means very little when build quality is concerned. But it doesn't cost Apple $450 to make the band. As Tissot is able to make a whole watch for not a whole lot more.
http://forums.watchuseek.com/f71/why-hollow-end-links-typically-so-bad-740914.html
The powermatic 80 movement is one of the best out there as far as automatics go, regardless of price. I will take my Tissot that will last me a gen, swiss made, over anything Apple has to offer in that price range.
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I don't have a problem with the watch prices but the watch bands seem like the most expensive known to mankind. $450 for a steel link watchband made with dragon scales and unicorn tears.