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Apple Watch Had Record Year With Estimated 18M Shipments in 2017, Topped Entire Swiss Watch Industry Last Quarter

Ballis said:
As impressive as this sounds, I hardly think swiss watch companies and Apple are competing for the same customers. Sure, some Rolex owners may buy an additional Apple watch, but the people buying Apple as their only option likely wouldnt even consider a swiss alternative.
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I know a lot of watch obsessed fans who find themselves wearing their Apple Watch a lot more now. That most certainly cuts into sales of other watches when someone chooses to wear one more than others. There's less reason to consider adding another to your collection if you have one you're using a lot currently.

Are smart watches hurting Swiss watch sales? Certainly appears they are.

Are-Smartwatches-Really-Hurting-Luxury-Watch-Sales-2.jpg
 
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agsystems said:
same here- my wife didn't want it one until it could replace her phone - already a life saver when she is in the gym and the few times she runs out of the house without her phone thinking that it is in her purse
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It's hard to believe that the Apple Watch has been released almost three years ago in April 2015. Since then, not also has the Watch improved considerably with the battery life, performance and functionality, the health related features on the Apple Watch are excellent and has changed a lot of users daily habits with workouts to monitor their goals and closing the rings is absolutely addictive.
 
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ani4ani said:
And the next stat will be more Apple Watches in land fill in 5 years than in the history of all Swiss watch makers.

A product that lasts generations swapped for a consumer trinket that last a few years at best.

But I guess that’s what folks want
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True, but it has a much smaller footprint than phones, tablets and computers.
 
So I bought a Series 2, IT is beautiful and does what it is supposed to do. But it is not really a watch and it s not smart at all.
In fact needs charging every 1-2 days, a watch face is activated by a hand movement. Now any watch I own and know of can do better.
Siri is not very effective, it does not do much w/o I phone. The S3 is better? I would think so, but 400+$ per year gets me a super watch that will lasts generations.
It is nice gadget. A prototype, a work in progress. I understand it is selling well.
Why is it life saving?
Cheers
 
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I am on my 4th watch now (SS Series 3). I do not plan to upgrade this year unless they bring on the always-on display feature which I do not think it is likely for Series 4. Once that feature is available, I will consider getting an Hermes version. When the screen is dark, they all look the same (Nike, and Hermes versions).
 
MacRumors said:
...capped off by topping shipments from the entire Swiss watch industry combined last quarter.
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I own Swiss-made timepieces. I'm puzzled as to why the "experts" authoring these tomes continue comparing Apple Watch sales to that of the Swiss watchmaking industry. I don't doubt the above statement, I am not a fan of the Swiss, but I don't think they're too concerned about their already entrenched niche market share.
 
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I really enjoy mine. It's not at that point where I don't leave home without it but fitness + some niceties it does well.

Last weekend my gf and I were sitting on the couch and wanted to go to a certain restaurant. I summoned Siri on the watch to call the restaurant fully expecting it not to work. However it did and the watch made the call and I made reservations. Is it life changing or solving a particular problem? No, but it's a device that brings a smile to my face and is delightful.
 
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Bought the SS S0 when it launched, and loved it. Replaced it with the SS S3 LTE, and love it even more. I would find it hard to live without it. The S0 was given to an extended family member who loves it. I think this is one reason we are seeing more and more Apple Watches in the wild.
 
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I wish I could buy a stainless steel model without cellular. Hoping for a design update this autumn and removal of that weird red dot on the digital crown. I really need to upgrade from my Series 0 which has not held up well in terms of speed, battery life and display durability. No scratches but a hairline crack down the side from when it dinked the edge of a refrigerator door handle when I was getting snacks during U.S. election night. That was not a great day for me, lol.

I must say that I've really seen a massive decline in battery life in my Apple Watch in the past two days. Yesterday it died right after I got home around 6. I kid you not, while writing this message I just got a 10% low power warning. I have no idea what's going on with it. I haven't even been using it for exercise the past couple days because it has been so cold outside. Usually I'll go for a jog around the track at work for 30-45 minutes while listening to Overcast with the workout app going. Back a week or so ago when MacRumors posted that story detailing how to get extra battery life I followed some of the steps and it was working better. Now it has just gone completely off the rails. Anyone else have that happen? Do I have a bad battery cell now? I don't see any bulging on the underside.
 
ani4ani said:
And the next stat will be more Apple Watches in land fill in 5 years than in the history of all Swiss watch makers.

A product that lasts generations swapped for a consumer trinket that last a few years at best.

But I guess that’s what folks want
Click to expand...

This laughable argument (Apple makes tech products that get obsolete since 40 years) is all remains today to Apple Watch haters.
 
newellj said:
I think the Series 3 AW is the iPhone 4 of the Watch line. It's the tipping point, where tech and functionality combine to make the product genuinely useful and attractive.

I think it's interesting that ~27% of Series 3 sales are LTE models. I'm not sure what I expected, but I'd say that's a pretty good rate for a first time feature that has a minimum $120/year charge in the U.S. (And yes, I know many S3 LTE owners haven't hooked theirs up yet - out of four S3 AWs in my family, only one has been connected to LTE so far.)
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I think LTE is the premium offering as it requires an addition $10–15 a month.
If it was $5-7 I feel the 27% would have hit 40-45%
 
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Apples and oranges. You can’t compare a mechanical timepiece with a battery reliant gadget.
Don’t get me wrong, I’ve owned the AW0, 1 & 3LTE, and I really am a fan, but when there is no power grid or I’m in scuba or surfing mode, it’s my Submariner 7 days a week....
Not to mention the Submariner’s heirloom value.
 
hamiltonrwatch said:
I'm puzzled as to why the "experts" authoring these tomes continue comparing Apple Watch sales to that of the Swiss watchmaking industry.
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Saying something sells in the "X millions" or "XX millions" isn't very meaningful to me other than "that sounds like a lot". By comparing the numbers against established similar markets, it adds perspective and scale relative to those markets, even if they are quite different.
 
ani4ani said:
And the next stat will be more Apple Watches in land fill in 5 years than in the history of all Swiss watch makers.

A product that lasts generations swapped for a consumer trinket that last a few years at best.

But I guess that’s what folks want
Click to expand...

While I understand your concern, there are several other factors here:

1 - The Apple Watch is mostly recyclable. Not many will end up in the landfill.
2 - 'Regular' watches are really nothing more than jewelry now. They are not so much products as statements.
3- The Apple Watch is much more than a trinket. They are a well made fashion/health monitor/notification accessory.
4 - Anecdotal only, but I've had my AW0 from day one and it is still going strong. A little slow loading at times, but that is the advanced software it wasn't really designed to run. The battery still lasts all day even when under heavy use.
 
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Ballis said:
As impressive as this sounds, I hardly think swiss watch companies and Apple are competing for the same customers. Sure, some Rolex owners may buy an additional Apple watch, but the people buying Apple as their only option likely wouldnt even consider a swiss alternative.
Click to expand...


Many analysts are pointing to smart watches as the cause for the recent massive decline in the Swiss watch industry.
http://www.businessinsider.com/apple-watch-swiss-watch-swatch-2017-6
 
bruinsrme said:
I think LTE is the premium offering as it requires an addition $10–15 a month.
If it was $5-7 I feel the 27% would have hit 40-45%
Click to expand...

agreed. then I realized I haven’t yet paid the AW monthly carrier fee...ATT refunded my first three months before I switched to Verizon, which is not charging me the AW fee for three months.
The first year is a bargain! :p
 
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