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Apple Watch Hermès Bands to be Sold Separately, New Colors Coming April 19
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Ostrich and exclusivity. I get it. Too exclusive for me. I don't want to cry when it gets scratched. The way my luck works, that would happen within the first few days...
It does come with an extra year warranty if you buy it with most major credit cards. The watch face is the least of it to most I suspect. Certainly not worth several hundred dollars. Imagine if Hermes allowed Apple to sell it for download on the Apple watch face store and it was listed at $210?
The only problem with this is that Apple doesn't sell the 18k gold lugs as far as I know. And Hermes doesn't evidently offer the bands in gold either. And really, if a customer paid $17,000 for an Edition, and really wanted the Hermes Watch bands, I'm sure they could get replacement straps from their favorite Hermes retailer for a price. But then they're still stuck with two-toned lugs.
This may be the reason that Apple did not announce the new bands at the event. This is for Hermes customers, in the same way a Hermes customer can get replacement straps for their Hermes watches -- and neither Hermes nor Apple wanted to cause a stampede of pre-existing Watch owners to the Hermes stores to side-step sales of the Hermes edition watch itself. Rather, quietly letting it be known to those customers who actually visit Hermes retailers and express an interest in the watch.
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I think the closest you'll get from Apple is the Leather Loop which is made from Argentinian leather.
The Modern Buckle strap from Apple also uses French leather and is not far off the price the Hermès Simple Tour strap.
But, in another view, this is creating another industry around an Apple product. Somewhat.
The local Worst Try doesn't have many choices for bands though. Surprisingly few. And someone on Amazon claims to sell 'Official Apple Bands' at dirt cheap, suitcase on a stand in an alley in New York prices...
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And the fact that the wearer paid a heck of a lot more for the same thing I got for less... Um... Good for them...
The local Worst Try doesn't have many choices for bands though. Surprisingly few. And someone on Amazon claims to sell 'Official Apple Bands' at dirt cheap, suitcase on a stand in an alley in New York prices...
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And the fact that the wearer paid a heck of a lot more for the same thing I got for less... Um... Good for them...
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Yes, that makes sense, particularly since it looks like they will be streamlining the Apple Watch Hermes packaged sets to Fauve Barenia only. It's the classic style, and it reduces the number of SKUs. Since the Hermes was initially limited to a handful of stores I doubt either Apple or Hermes expected to sell large volumes, but I'm guessing that both wanted to test the waters. It must be selling well enough for them to expand the number of available straps.
I wonder what they will do when the next Apple Watch is introduced. I wasn't expecting them to release separate bands, at least not this quickly. So might they offer an update program to existing owners?
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I meant that Hermes stores will sell replacement bands for owners of Hermes quartz watches.
I think the closest you'll get from Apple is the Leather Loop which is made from Argentinian leather.
The Modern Buckle strap from Apple also uses French leather and is not far off the price the Hermès Simple Tour strap.
So nothing is 'Made in America' anymore. Sad...
It's a good thing there are that many 'rich' that can buy that stuff then...
I don't know. Having never been 'rich', it's hard to wrap my brain around the thought. To have a 'cottage' that is larger than my current house, and to not know how many 'cottages' I might have, and to have a private jet at the ready, and a yacht, and a twelve car garage, and an anorexic European supermodel girlfriend, and Justin Beiber's phone number on my iPhone, and plans for a weekend in the Hamptons, and 'shopping' at Harrods, and my own politician.
It would be hard not to get jaded and disconnected from reality...
Heck, I'd have 'staff', and someone to type this stuff in too...
Why the heck aren't I rich...
It's my PARENTS! They weren't smart enough to be rich, and leave me tons of money!
Without a doubt. We all have things that matter to us that don't to others.
My point here is that for anyone that kind of exclusivity matters to, and cares about such things, is probably not going to be happy that others can get the appearance of that exclusivity without paying for it.
In other words, they buy their stainless with Sport band at Target on sale (currently the 38mm Milanese Loop is on sale for $549), and then they buy a $340 Hermes band, saving themselves $361. And for all practical purposes to the outside world, they have the same watch as the Hermes customer who paid $1250.
Now for some, there is some satisfaction that they have the genuine article, but it's truly a hollow victory since for all practical purposes, the watches are identical. It's not like someone wearing a good fake Rolex, where having the real deal is a significant difference, in this case it's all purely cosmetic.
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Well, the wearer might think that it's good for you that you believe you got the same thing for less.
Pish posh...
Pretension is wasted on the practical...
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OT but I love your monsters avi!! Definitely one of Fendi's best collections. I've wanted to get the mens monster bag with the inner zipper mouth for a while but don't use a bag enough to make the jump.
Agreed, it's a stereotyped depiction, but there's a real basis for it, and I think well represented in Apple's customer base -- particularly the Chinese who view ownership of the iPhone, particularly the latest model -- as a status symbol. I wouldn't see the Hermes watch edition any differently for many customers who shop there. Going to Beverly Hills is proof enough, watching tourists stream from the stores with their iconic shop bags. I'm sure the purchase is satisfying on many levels. But those stores place a premium on those bags and what they represent to the outside world.
Humanity is interesting...
I've known a lot of posers in my day.
We had a kid in my class that actually took to wearing glasses with plain glass lenses (non-corrective) because he thought they made him look more intelligent. He was also found wandering around town carrying an unlit pipe. Really. And wore argyle socks, and plaid sweater vests, and loafers. He also, at university, carried around a very posh leather briefcase.
TOTAL POSER!
There are people that will scrimp and buy a Hermes watchband, and think they 'have made it', and brag about it, and there are people that will buy the Hermes band, just because, and won't care if you see it ever in your life. They just like the style, etc.
Marketing is all about selling to the former, the poser, than selling to someone who would buy it anyway...
But, yeah, whatever. I've got housework to do...
Cheers!
Oh, and on my AW, I have the (RED) silicone band, because the Milanese loop slipped too much while exercising (and occasionally grabbed hairs). I overbought I guess... Still, the loop is good for 'dress up'; dinner at the local Ponderosa...
Well, it's actually $210 cheaper. You can perhaps justify $69 as the extra year of warranty. I am surprised that they didn't sell the bands for $500 instead of $340. It might have something to do with offering only the classic Fauve Barenia as a packaged set now.
That said, I use the Hermes face about 99.9% of the time. It doesn't matter to me if others can't see it, as I am the only one who really looks at the watch face anyway.
Because everyone buys MacBooks for productivity and productivity is all that matters in the world.
You are correct sir. Good for them. Like in The Devil Wears Prada, the fashion industry runs on people buying Cerulion dresses, that eventually are found in Macy's and Target. It's true.
The Hermes watchbands will spawn a bunch of cheap knockoffs and they will have to come up with something more 'distinctive'.
And I hope you have the cash to keep up with your GF. Just saying... I had a sister that tried to 'keep up', and she's broke, and living 'who knows where', after burning her family time and time again, and declaring bankruptcy a few times. Some can control their need to 'accessorize', and others, the beast devours them. Hence my comment 'Pish posh'...
But again, if I had tons of parent earned cash to burn through, I'd probably have a Mac Pro for everyday of the week, and be on my jet with my anorexic European girlfriend heading for someplace a heck of a lot warmer, and drier!!!
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You can get the face without buying the watch?
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I knew someone who bought a MacBook to 'look cool'. They run Fusion on it exclusively. I dont' think they know anything about OSX...
No. I have the original Apple Watch Hermes that I bought on the launch day (when the stores had so few in stock they ran out within the first hour).
Apple Watch Hermes seemed to be their last attempt at marketing exclusivity. When it first came out in October, they were only in select stores, and you had to buy it from a try-on appointment. It took a few weeks before those stores had reliable stock. Then in February they became available online (though the base Fauve Barenia was out of stock for much of that time), and now it looks like 6.5 months after launch they will have the bands (and some new colors) available separately. Overall, it looks like they will be marketing the Apple Watch line as a mass market watch, with a high degree of personalization available through what is arguably the widest collection of proprietary bands available in the electronic watch market (ranging from inexpensive nylon and elastomer to high-end leather).
No because MacBooks have a practical value and expensive watch bands are pure luxury unless maybe it's used as a movie or TV wardrobe prop.
And, yes, in some professions Mac OS X is required or at least highly desired, and Macs that can work faster and have the latest ports let the workflow move smoothly which has creative and income benefits. Try editing a 4K video with a 2005 MBP.
Target currently offers the 38mm Milanese Loop is on sale for $549, and then buy a $340 Hermes band, saving themselves $361 over the $1250 Hermes price. So depending on the deal being offered on any given day at any given retailer ...
Now I understand you get a great deal of pleasure out of your Hermes edition, but honestly, is the Hermes face worth $340 to you?
Well, at least Apple hopes someone will buy them. Certainly, if nothing else, it helps continue the AW fashion narrative. My guess is the markup on these is so eye-popping huge, and production relatively low, it's not a big $ gamble on Apple's part. Even if they are slow sellers it's "cheap" eye candy PR if they are conspiculosly showcased in Hermes stores.