Apple Watch coming to London Jewelers

[Rogifan]

Will be selling Edition model only. According to watchaware.com they say they plan to release more models over time. Makes me wonder if we might see some new models from Apple, something Watch and Editiion price points.

http://www.londonjewelers.com

I also noticed a couple recent Apple hires from the fashion industry. Nikki Rothberg who came from Estée Lauder and Lance Lin who came from GQ and Gilt. They were both hired within the last 6 months and according to their profiles work in Apple PR. This also makes me think we may see some new models/bands this fall or at least a big fashion push for the holiday season.

https://www.linkedin.com/profile/vi...n=IgAy&trk=prof-sb-browse_map-name&_mSplash=1

https://www.linkedin.com/profile/vi...tarId:1439845461086,tas:Lance Lin &_mSplash=1

 

[JayLenochiniMac]

Not that I can afford them, but it'd be cool to see more than six Edition models.

We already have rumors pointing to new bands in the fall and anodized yellow gold/rose gold Sport models so maybe that's what they were talking about, unless they meant London Jewelers will expand to carry existing models other than the Edition.

 

[Mac 128]

Not that I can afford them, but it'd be cool to see more than six Edition models.

We already have rumors pointing to new bands in the fall and anodized yellow gold/rose gold Sport models so maybe that's what they were talking about, unless they meant London Jewelers will expand to carry existing models other than the Edition.

Probably the latter. But I'm expecting a Platinum Edition at some point, for those customers who prefer silver jewelry and accessories, or at least mix them up with gold -- gold being much more popular and makes sense for Apple to start with them first. And of course there will be 18K gold link bands, etc. But they will probably add stainless steel models, and I'm anticipating a gold-clad model priced more in line with the stainless. Perhaps when the 2nd gen model comes out, so there will be no confusion as to which is the Edition.

As you said, we've known for months that Apple was likely going to release new case materials and bands. And given Apple's focus on boutique stores during the release, the only merchants to actually carry any physical watches for sale for the first two months, I think we were all expecting this development too.

But they will have plenty to carry once Apple starts offering different designs and shapes. I'm fairly certain there's a round Watch on the horizon.

 

[JayLenochiniMac]

But I'm expecting a Platinum Edition at some point, for those customers who prefer silver jewelry and accessories,

But it'd look essentially the same as stainless steel? If they're going to drop more than $17,000 on it (as I believe platinum is even more expensive than gold), wouldn't they want it to stand out from all the SS models?

 

[Mac 128]

But it'd look essentially the same as stainless steel? If they're going to drop more than $17,000 on it (as I believe platinum is even more expensive than gold), wouldn't they want it to stand out from all the SS models?

I don't think this would matter to people who would pay for Platinum. You could apply that argument to every piece of jewelry, or object made from Platinum -- how does anyone tell them apart from silver, or stainless steel? So why make anything out of platinum?

People who have $17K to drop on an electronic device that will be obsolete in a few years, are not likely as concerned with people knowing they paid that much for it, as they are with knowing they paid that for it. Be that as it may, perhaps Apple will set it apart by offering exclusive bands, just as the Edition currently does -- something those who gold plate their watches cannot easily duplicate. Perhaps they will release it as 2nd gen model, and include styling designs to further distinguish it from the regular watch. There's any number of ways to tackle this problem.

Also consider, there are many people who will not wear silver jewelry or accessories, and who cannot afford the Edition -- which means that if Apple wants to expand the pool of eligible customers, then they will have to offer a gold clad watch in the $1,000-$2,000 range. And this is the reason there will almost certainly be a platinum, or other precious silver-colored edition -- for the wealthy who have a need to coordinate their ensembles, or are otherwise allergic.

 

[JayLenochiniMac]

Also consider, there are many people who will not wear silver jewelry or accessories, and who cannot afford the Edition -- which means that if Apple wants to expand the pool of eligible customers, then they will have to offer a gold clad watch in the $1,000-$2,000 range. And this is the reason there will almost certainly be a platinum, or other precious silver-colored edition -- for the wealthy who have a need to coordinate their ensembles.

Hence why they are likely to release anodized yellow gold and rose gold Sport models, but I think it's highly unlikely they'll offer gold-plated Watches in the $1,000-2,000 range lest they cannibalize the $10,000-17,000 solid gold Edition sales. There are such things as "cheap" rich customers.

 

[Arran]

But it'd look essentially the same as stainless steel? If they're going to drop more than $17,000 on it (as I believe platinum is even more expensive than gold), wouldn't they want it to stand out from all the SS models?

Not if they're from old money.

Not standing out is much classier.

 

[KPOM]

Platinum is harder to scratch than stainless steel. Also, although it's actually cheaper than gold right now, platinum is often considered "superior" to gold for jewelry. Most wedding rings are platinum.

 

[Rogifan]

Platinum is harder to scratch than stainless steel. Also, although it's actually cheaper than gold right now, platinum is often considered "superior" to gold for jewelry. Most wedding rings are platinum.

There was a rumor Apple was looking into it. I wouldn't be surprised if Apple offers something in between the SS and Gold price points. They're not hiring people from the fashion industry to push a $349 aluminum watch. I'm still skeptical we'll see gold anodized aluminum watches. The only reason I'm not 100% ruling it out is because of that photo with all those different sport band colors. There were a number of them in more nude tones that wouldn't look that good with the silver aluminum watch. Unless Apple is only planning to offer those with the SS model or a new model we don't know about.

 

[JayLenochiniMac]

Platinum is harder to scratch than stainless steel. Also, although it's actually cheaper than gold right now, platinum is often considered "superior" to gold for jewelry. Most wedding rings are platinum.

Platinum is still easy to scratch. I have a platinum/18K gold wedding band and it's full of "patina" microscratches.

 

[KPOM]

There was a rumor Apple was looking into it. I wouldn't be surprised if Apple offers something in between the SS and Gold price points. They're not hiring people from the fashion industry to push a $349 aluminum watch. I'm still skeptical we'll see gold anodized aluminum watches. The only reason I'm not 100% ruling it out is because of that photo with all those different sport band colors. There were a number of them in more nude tones that wouldn't look that good with the silver aluminum watch. Unless Apple is only planning to offer those with the SS model or a new model we don't know about.

Sterling silver would make more sense than platinum if they are looking for something in between the two price points. Platinum watches would sell for about as much, if not more than the gold ones. Of course, sterling silver scratches and nicks even more easily than steel (though it develops a patina).

 

[Mac 128]

Hence why they are likely to release anodized yellow gold and rose gold Sport models, but I think it's highly unlikely they'll offer gold-plated Watches in the $1,000-2,000 range lest they cannibalize the $10,000-17,000 solid gold Edition sales. There are such things as "cheap" rich customers.

The anodized models are a given to match people's iPhones, but they don't look that nice in a formal setting. It will be interesting to see if Apple ever offers any other "nicer" bands for the Sport watch with lugs that actually match the watch, rather than borrowing from the stainless model with a mismatched look.

But, you would suggest Apple simply ignore the tens of millions of potential customers who won't wear silver, can't afford the Edition, and prefer a nicer watch than the rather casual looking Sport?

Again, the Edition will be set apart from the Watch, probably with bands, and possibly with styling. If a wealthy person is truly going to be "cheap" then everyone will know they have been. And they will also know they're wearing a "gold plated" watch. Keep in mind the Edition is being sold in a very "limited" amount, in fact I'm curious to see when Apple stops sales of the Edition. My guess is right after Christmas. So Apple's goal is not to make a huge profit on the sales of Editions, but rather to created a status symbol to be appreciated by the fashionable and those who can afford it. The number of gold clad watches Apple would sell to the tens of millions who only wear gold will more than likely make up for the loss in Edition sales to "cheap" millionaires. On the other hand, the Sport Watch would have to sell four to five times the volume to equal one gold clad sale. I think it's obvious which decision Apple is likely to make.

 

[Mac 128]

Sterling silver would make more sense than platinum if they are looking for something in between the two price points. Platinum watches would sell for about as much, if not more than the gold ones. Of course, sterling silver scratches and nicks even more easily than steel (though it develops a patina).

That's the point. platinum would be offered as a silver colored option to the gold Edition. Or perhaps white gold, though platinum is more elitist.

Offering a sterling silver watch would only Jack the price up for the basic Watch, without actually addressing the gaping hole in their offerings -- a gold watch for the masses, including many people who won't wear silver. Indeed silver may be included in Apple's solution to gold plating the stainless watch by using vermeil. Right now if a person wants an Apple watch but only wears gold, their only option is to pay $10k-17k. If anodized gold aluminum Sport comes out, then Apple will be leaving money on the table for those customers who would willingly pay four to five times that amount, as well as many colors for whom it simply isn't "nice" enough.

That said, once Apple is addressing most potential customers, they could start offering selections to fill in the gap between $2k and $10k, offering higher quality metals and materials as you suggest.

 

[Rogifan]

I like my silver sport, especially how light it is but I'm not sure if I'd like a champagne or rose gold version. Neither of those colors scream 'sport' to me. Would those models get branded as WATCH Sport? Or would there be different branding?

 

[JayLenochiniMac]

I like my silver sport, especially how light it is but I'm not sure if I'd like a champagne or rose gold version. Neither of those colors scream 'sport' to me. Would those models get branded as WATCH Sport? Or would there be different branding?

The silver aluminum is the same color/material as the iPhone. "Sport" is nothing more than a marketing term for sole purpose of product discrimination, as there's nothing about it to indicate added features suitable for sports (increased water resistance, etc.).

 

[Rogifan]

The silver aluminum is the same color/material as the iPhone. "Sport" is nothing more than a marketing term for sole purpose of product discrimination, as there's nothing about it to indicate added features suitable for sports (increased water resistance, etc.).

Right I get that. I just don't think champagne gold and rose gold fit that marketing angle. But maybe that's because I'm not really sold on them as models. I guess I'd have to see one in person to know if I'd like it or not.

 

[Mac 128]

The silver aluminum is the same color/material as the iPhone. "Sport" is nothing more than a marketing term for sole purpose of product discrimination, as there's nothing about it to indicate added features suitable for sports (increased water resistance, etc.).

Yes I agree. They didn't introduce the iPhone Luxury when they added the anodized gold phone to the lineup. People who have a gold phone to match their gold lifestyle are not going to be happy with a silver watch. That's why there will eventually be a gold option for every level of customer.

I'll believe the rose gold option when I see it, though. That suggests Apple is going to introduce a color across its product line just to accommodate the very few customers who can afford to buy the Rose gold Edition watch, even though that anodized aluminum will hardly match the polished 18k finish of the edition. It's just hard to believe Apple will introduce two gold tone options in a product line that once only consisted of black and white. Especially since the current gold color is not a yellow gold to match the Edition version. So is Apple going to go with a garish yellow gold in all of their products? If so Jony Ive is failing in educating his customers in good taste. It seems like they would do much better with colors for a fourth variation.

I also think that the Sport moniker is not well suited to the current offering. Perhaps when Apple releases a suitable water resistant model they will break out the categories even further, maybe offering GPS and other enthusiast requests, at a higher price point than the base model. For now, Sport is equal to sporty or casual, and as such with its low entry price is likely to be the most popular model they will sell. So for now, they will release a gold sport to match the iPhone it must be paired with.

 

[JayLenochiniMac]

I'll believe the rose gold option when I see it, though. That suggests Apple is going to introduce a color across its product line just to accommodate the very few customers who can afford to buy the Rose gold Edition watch, even though that anodized aluminum will hardly match the polished 18k finish of the edition. It's just hard to believe Apple will introduce two gold tone options in a product line that once only consisted of black and white. It seems like they would do much better with colors for a fourth variation.

I think you have it reversed. According to rumors, the rose gold option is supposed to be on the Watch Sport and it'd simply be rose gold colored anodization, presumably to match the anodized rose gold iPhone 6s. They're not introducing a real Rose Gold option (solid or gold-plated) for the iPhone just to accommodate the very few customers who can afford to buy the Rose Gold Edition.

 

[Rogifan]

If the champagne gold option has been popular perhaps Apple thinks a rose gold would be as well. Of course it's all speculation at this point. But going by the newly released MacBook I highly doubt Apple will be introducing yellow gold colored aluminum products.

 

[JayLenochiniMac]

But going by the newly released MacBook I highly doubt Apple will be introducing yellow gold colored aluminum products.

What do you mean by this? The MacBook is available in yellow gold. Why not the Watch Sport in the same color/material, and if Apple releases a rose gold version of the Gold iPhone, that's incentive to release a rose gold colored Watch Sport.

 

[Mac 128]

I think you have it reversed. According to rumors, the rose gold option is supposed to be on the Watch Sport and it'd simply be rose gold colored anodization, presumably to match the anodized rose gold iPhone 6s. They're not introducing a real Rose Gold option (solid or gold-plated) for the iPhone just to accommodate the very few customers who can afford to buy the Rose Gold Edition.

Right, but the only thing that is Rose Gold now is the Edition. So why are they introducing an anodized Rose Gold iPhone? Presumably for the very small pool who own the edition. Presumably they realize how silly this is, so they decide to offer the watch in anodized rose gold to help justify doing it? And surely this is in addition to the champagne gold color, unless they are planning to replace it entirely with Rose gold. I wasn't suggesting that Apple will get into the 18K gold iPhone business ... on the other hand, since you brought it up -- why not? If Apple can justify milling a limited Edition watch out of 14K gold, why not a limited matching 18K gold phone?

What do you mean by this? The MacBook is available in yellow gold. Why not the Watch Sport in the same color/material, and if Apple releases a rose gold version of the Gold iPhone, that's incentive to release a rose gold colored Watch Sport.

The MacBook appears to be the same color as the iPhones and iPads, but I haven't compared them in person that closely. So they are going to release two gold color watches, and add another gold color to the entire lineup? Because there are tens of millions of people who own the current gold colored products who are going to want their watches to match too. Is rose gold that popular? Or is Apple replacing the current gold color with it?

 

[JayLenochiniMac]

Right, but the only thing that is Rose Gold now is the Edition. So why are they introducing an anodized Rose Gold iPhone? Presumably for the very small pool who own the edition.

Faulty deduction. If they release the Watch Sport in anodized yellow gold, Gold iPhone owners might like it for coordination purposes. Anodized rose gold iPhone and Watch would just be done in parallel. It has nothing to do with Edition buyers. Additionally, many people are of the opinion that real gold is appropriate on watches (as they're considered jewelry) whereas it's too gaudy on iPhone. Anodized gold colored iPhones aren't considered gaudy in the same sense.

 

[Mac 128]

Faulty deduction. If they release the Watch Sport in anodized yellow gold, Gold iPhone owners might like it for coordination purposes. Anodized rose gold iPhone and Watch would just be done in parallel. It has nothing to do with Edition buyers.

So your contention is that somebody at Apple really wanted to release a rose gold-colored iPhone years ago, but got trumped with the champagne gold color they chose to release? So Apple has just been biding it's time to offer a Rose gold model, and the Watch Edition just happened to beat it to market? I frankly don't believe that they will even release an anodized rose gold iPhone, or watch, until I see it.

Your premise brings my back to my criticism -- does Apple really need two different shades of gold? Is there enough of a market to support it, especially when neither will be the real deal? And ultimately this means two shades of gold for every device they make, from iPods to MacBooks. Is that practical?

Of course they are going to release the Sport in anodized champagne gold to match the iPhones, and iPads, and MacBook, that's what I've been saying since the thing was released. But if they add rose gold as option to the iPhone, it's a chicken and an egg, they're clearly doing it for the Edition owners, but counting on expanding the customer base by adding the watch to justify it. Considering that the watch sales are relatively small compared to the iPhone, does it really make sense to further complicate their product offerings with a second shade of gold? Have Apple customers clamoring for a rose-gold option for the iPhone? If so, I never heard a word about it, until after Apple released the rose-gold Watch Edition, and to that end, I still haven't. People seem quite content to buy the gold iPhones, iPads, and MacBooks without any hesitation whatsoever.

 

[JayLenochiniMac]

So your contention is that somebody at Apple really wanted to release a rose gold-colored iPhone years ago, but got trumped with the champagne gold color they chose to release? So Apple has just been biding it's time to offer a Rose gold model, and the Watch Edition just happened to beat it to market? I frankly don't believe that they will even release an anodized rose gold iPhone, or watch, until I see it.

I didn't say years ago. However, rose gold makes a lot more sense than pink.

Your premise brings my back to my criticism -- does Apple really need two different shades of gold? Is there enough of a market to support it, especially when neither will be the real deal? And ultimately this means two shades of gold for every device they make, from iPods to MacBooks. Is that practical?

I don't see why this should be an issue. They had no problem releasing the iPhone 5c in five different colors.

 

[Rogifan]

What do you mean by this? The MacBook is available in yellow gold. Why not the Watch Sport in the same color/material, and if Apple releases a rose gold version of the Gold iPhone, that's incentive to release a rose gold colored Watch Sport.

I would call it champagne gold not yellow gold.