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Apple Watch isn't a gadget, it's jewellery

daijholt

daijholt

macrumors 65816
Original poster
Jun 14, 2013
1,113
343
Wales, UK
I'll link you to a short video that I just stumbled upon. Basically, it points out how Apple Watch isn't positioned as a gadget, it's positioned as more functional jewellery.

Vid is here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cRloBkp_CTI

It's a fair point, and one I've raised every debate with my colleagues since Monday. I'm not buying it because its an apple device, I'm buying it because its the first ever device that gives me the functionality of my pebble, the looks & build of an Omega, and works with my iPhone.

Simple.

I will always consider Apple Watch as jewellery, albeit more feature filled than typical timepieces.

But there-in lies the point, it's not just a smartwatch, it's a Timepiece.

I'm a watch lover, and a tech lover, so this is like Christmas come early!

Would love to hear people's thoughts on this perspective?
 
I'd argue that Apple Watch Sport doesn't fall into the 'jewellery' category. It's for people who either: Don't care much about the fashion angle; Just want to 'get in on the ground floor' with regard to the technology and operating system; Simply can't afford or justify spending the money on one of the other collections.

Other than that, yes; I would consider Apple Watch a fusion of high fashion and cutting-edge technology.
 
daijholt said:
I'll link you to a short video that I just stumbled upon. Basically, it points out how Apple Watch isn't positioned as a gadget, it's positioned as more functional jewellery.

Vid is here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cRloBkp_CTI

It's a fair point, and one I've raised every debate with my colleagues since Monday. I'm not buying it because its an apple device, I'm buying it because its the first ever device that gives me the functionality of my pebble, the looks & build of an Omega, and works with my iPhone.

Simple.

I will always consider Apple Watch as jewellery, albeit more feature filled than typical timepieces.

But there-in lies the point, it's not just a smartwatch, it's a Timepiece.

I'm a watch lover, and a tech lover, so this is like Christmas come early!

Would love to hear people's thoughts on this perspective?
Click to expand...

Of course we are all free to view things how we want.

Apple may try and sell a Hippopotamus in a pink tutu and call it the Apple ballerina, and you may choose to accept this viewpoint.

Others may see if differently of course :)

For me, I can't call it jewellery as in my mind jewellery means something else, and a chunky mass produced lump with a circuit board inside it, isn't that.

But some will, and it's all good :)

Even a mechanical watch would have to be very very finely make and decorated very intrically for me personally to calling any watch jewellery.

It's just a personal view :)
 
What happens to this "watch" without an iPhone? It no longer tells accurate time.

(The Watch keeps its time accurate by syncing with the iPhone's time.)
 
daijholt said:
I'll link you to a short video that I just stumbled upon. Basically, it points out how Apple Watch isn't positioned as a gadget, it's positioned as more functional jewellery.

Vid is here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cRloBkp_CTI

It's a fair point, and one I've raised every debate with my colleagues since Monday. I'm not buying it because its an apple device, I'm buying it because its the first ever device that gives me the functionality of my pebble, the looks & build of an Omega, and works with my iPhone.

Simple.

I will always consider Apple Watch as jewellery, albeit more feature filled than typical timepieces.

But there-in lies the point, it's not a smartwatch, it's a Timepiece.

At any rate, I'm a watch lover, and a tech lover, so this is like Christmas come early!

Thoughts?
Click to expand...

I disagree. Looks and build of an Omega? This is wearable tech with iOS functionality . I've had the pebble, pebble steel, and galaxy gear. The main thing I hated was their geeky appearance. Compared to those competitors, I think the Apple is the nicest looking smartwatch with some surprisingly nice bands.

To say its not a smartwatch, its a timepiece makes little sense IMO. The thing is built around apps, siri, and is market as a watch to stay in touch with others ie. emojis, heartbeat, taptic engine. This will be my daily functional watch but won't replace my mechanical watches as jewelry or a timepiece.
 
It's an electronic device.

It's a watch

It's jewelry.

One can't call it one (jewelry) and NOT a gadget. It's both.
 
KenAFSPC said:
What happens to this "watch" without an iPhone? It no longer tells accurate time.

(The Watch keeps its time accurate by syncing with the iPhone's time.)
Click to expand...

After the initial sync, I'm pretty sure it'll maintain accurate time so long as you don't go jumping across time zones.
 
Bendy Walker said:
Do you have a source, or are you just making an assumption?

I find it very hard to believe this is true. Even if it is, it hardly matters: an iPhone connection is required for 90% of the stuff you'd want to do with Apple Watch anyway.
Click to expand...

Hmm. I'd be interested to know if there is a real time clock that can sip off of the battery after the computer shuts down. If not, previous poster has to be right. All the talk of time accuracy is a bit silly. The atomic clock source is accurate and the watch is just a slave to it. I'm sure it will drift without periodic re-sync.
 
Forget everything you know about what a watch is.

What if I told you that you can wear a device that can scan for anomalies in your blood, that can predict diseases, that can assist you with diagnosing and treating diseases, grab your heart rate, assist you with exercises, and aid in medical research to cure other diseases, and so on?

What would you say to that?

What if I told you that the "tri-chorder watch" hinges on the success of the apple watch and smart watches geared towards health?

Would you buy one then for the future of humanity?


daijholt said:
I'll link you to a short video that I just stumbled upon. Basically, it points out how Apple Watch isn't positioned as a gadget, it's positioned as more functional jewellery.

Vid is here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cRloBkp_CTI

It's a fair point, and one I've raised every debate with my colleagues since Monday. I'm not buying it because its an apple device, I'm buying it because its the first ever device that gives me the functionality of my pebble, the looks & build of an Omega, and works with my iPhone.

Simple.

I will always consider Apple Watch as jewellery, albeit more feature filled than typical timepieces.

But there-in lies the point, it's not just a smartwatch, it's a Timepiece.

I'm a watch lover, and a tech lover, so this is like Christmas come early!

Would love to hear people's thoughts on this perspective?
Click to expand...
 
samcraig said:
It's an electronic device.

It's a watch

It's jewelry.

One can't call it one (jewelry) and NOT a gadget. It's both.
Click to expand...

Very true. I would agree. However, the distinction is that why have we not considered android wear watches to be both? As beautiful as the Moto 360 is, I've only ever hear it be marketed as a Smartwatch. I've heard Android Wear be pitched time and time again, with several models of device, yet none have addressed the fundamental point of a watch; normal, non-technically inclined people have to want to wear it.

I think it's a perception thing; from day one apple have pitched this as jewelerry, with a little smart added in, and haven't mentioned the words "smart watch" once. That's the key to breaking mainstream. If people consider it "tech" in their minds they'll be afraid of it being too complex. If they view it as jewelerry with a few extras, they'll think "well so long as it tells the time, then the rest is this just a bonus".

I think we've nailed it. Apple Watch is all about clever marketing :cool: we know it's a gadget because we visit macrumors every day. The average watch loving chap won't, they'll see a nice watch, that miraculously does more than the Rolex they already wear.
 
Last edited:
daijholt said:
I'll link you to a short video that I just stumbled upon. Basically, it points out how Apple Watch isn't positioned as a gadget, it's positioned as more functional jewellery.

Vid is here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cRloBkp_CTI

It's a fair point, and one I've raised every debate with my colleagues since Monday. I'm not buying it because its an apple device, I'm buying it because its the first ever device that gives me the functionality of my pebble, the looks & build of an Omega, and works with my iPhone.

Simple.

I will always consider Apple Watch as jewellery, albeit more feature filled than typical timepieces.

But there-in lies the point, it's not just a smartwatch, it's a Timepiece.

I'm a watch lover, and a tech lover, so this is like Christmas come early!

Would love to hear people's thoughts on this perspective?
Click to expand...
No, Apple Watch is not jewelry, and it's not a luxury timepiece. It's technology that will be replaced year after year with new versions. At most, it's a hybrid between a device and jewelry, but it's certainly more of a technological device than it is a luxury timepiece.
 
It's a gadget darn it. ;)

When people start wearing this thing and using it, they are going to realize that they really can use it...and can't go without it.

This includes me, because I am getting one.
 
iPad Air said:
It's a gadget darn it. ;)

When people start wearing this thing and using it, they are going to realize that they really can use it...and can't go without it.

This includes me, because I am getting one.
Click to expand...

i would be sold today (as in, I would want to buy it), if Apple can promise that the innards are upgradable (i.e. S1 chip can be upgraded, and battery can be upgraded when technology improves)

Would hate very much if it's like iPhone on annual release, especially when buying a beta product :)
 
pragmatous said:
Forget everything you know about what a watch is.

What if I told you that you can wear a device that can scan for anomalies in your blood, that can predict diseases, that can assist you with diagnosing and treating diseases, grab your heart rate, assist you with exercises, and aid in medical research to cure other diseases, and so on?

What would you say to that?
Click to expand...

It's the CIA / FBI / NSA's wet dream!
 
Ah no, it isn't. My Rolex Daytona is a timepiece. It's a piece of jewelry. The Apple Watch, regardless of which model you buy, it's the same on the inside; mass manufactured on an assembly line in China. It isn't the result of a lifetime of work by a master watchmaker, and in today's terms, it isn't even a masterpiece in terms of software or user experience. It's a solution in search of a problem, designed by a great industrial/product designer who has next to no experience with timeless jewelry. It's a gadget, and that's all it'll ever be. Unlike my watch, nobody will passing their Apple watch on to the next generation, and if anyone is foolish enough to try that, the recipient won't care.

Sorry, but no. It just isn't. I love Apple, but it isn't.
 
Honestly, the only model that can be considered jewelry is the Edition, and even that's a stretch.
 
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