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It's definitely priced as jewelry...

In Canada, the sport version starts at $449. The most expensive Apple Watch version is $1449. The most expensive Edition version is $22,000.

They all do the same thing, perform the same, have the same internals.

The only difference is the way they look, maybe feel.

That's jewelry.

It's either going to be a huge success for Apple because they've figured out a way to make people buy jewelry they have to replace every 1-3 years, when before a $1000 watch might last almost a lifetime.

I think the entire category is confused. People are looking at it from a tech perspective like an iPhone or computer or they are looking at it from a jewelry/watch perspective. And I think looking at the Apple Watch from either of those perspectives is incorrect. I'm not really sure where it fits in.

I think the Apple Watch Sport will be greatly successful though.
I'd love a SS version, but I'm struggling with paying so much extra for something that will depreciate so quickly.
 
Many men wear rings, some wear bracelets or necklaces and some even wear earrings.

Some even wear tiaras. Which is obviously the next big thing, the smart tiara. It can intercept your thoughts with ads based on your conversation. Not a fitness tiara though and should not be worn whilst running.
 
Some even wear tiaras. Which is obviously the next big thing, the smart tiara. It can intercept your thoughts with ads based on your conversation. Not a fitness tiara though and should not be worn whilst running.

I can see it now... a smart Apple tiara that will communicate with you mentally and boost your psychic powers. Apple magic, wouldn't it be grand?
 
junk

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?

Its another apple gadget. It will be outdated every year. It's also bulky and thick. All you see is a black face.

A real watch is s time peice and timeless. It can be showcase all the time ... Not a blank black face
 
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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?

It's a gadgellery. :D
 
Just wondering - hasn't it always been a distinctive mark in jewelry that it has only very limited functionality? Its main purpose is to adorn the bearer.

Yes, a luxury mechanical watch shows the time, perhaps date and moon phases, and does that well. But that's it.

Limited usefulness in jewelry is a feature. The Apple Watch requires too much attention and interaction from the user to qualify, gold or not. It's a tech gadget.
 
I can see it now... a smart Apple tiara that will communicate with you mentally and boost your psychic powers. Apple magic, wouldn't it be grand?

It also looks classy with a business suit in a sales pitch meeting. Turn up with a smart tiara on, go home with the deal.

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Just wondering - hasn't it always been a distinctive mark in jewelry that it has only very limited functionality? Its main purpose is to adorn the bearer.

Yes, a luxury mechanical watch shows the time, perhaps date and moon phases, and does that well. But that's it.

Limited usefulness in jewelry is a feature. The Apple Watch requires too much attention and interaction from the user to qualify, gold or not. It's a tech gadget.
I think it depends more on why you wear it than what it does. If you wear your ID card around your neck, it's not jewellery. But, the Apple watch is not merely a device. It's supposed to be seen by others but from a personal choice point of view.

Now, personal choice could mean wearing a rubber band such as the Livestrong band. But, I don't think that qualifies as jewellery as its more for building awareness to a cause. Jewellery is to compliment what you wear. The Apple watch wouldn't be too popular if it didn't do that. Probably why most other smart watches are failing. It's also why I'm upgrading my Fenix 2 to Fenix 3. Classy looking watch with GPS, waterproofing, great battery, interesting apps, interchangeable bands, improved display and music control. It's smart jewellery.
 
Why does it have to be either? Minimizing a product into what it is or isn't is no different than people evaluating a product on specs vs experience. It's essentialism. Non-practitioner, academic, masturbatory essentialism.

It's so easy to fall into this or that definitional thinking, but that's not realistic. Real life doesn't have these fine lines between categories. Whatever you choose to call it won't change it.

It falls somewhere between these predefined categories, in the messy platonic folds.

What happens to this "watch" without an iPhone? It no longer tells accurate time.

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.

How can jewellery be mass produce in China?

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.

The Apple watch is not jewellery. Jewellery is buying a Rolex/AP/Patek and not giving a monkeys that it tells the time.

I wear my APs and dont even use it to look for the time alot of the time. Still naturally get my phone out for that.

They all do the same thing, perform the same, have the same internals.

The only difference is the way they look, maybe feel.

That's jewelry.

A real watch is s time peice and timeless. It can be showcase all the time ... Not a blank black face

Wow, such platonicity. The basis of these comments is basically "It definitely is/is not in this category because of this one belief I have about this whole category." Not surprisingly, falling for representativeness and availability biases, or the emotion of having a category that's precious being invaded.
 
How about we just all agree it's a tiny general purpose computer on a wrist strap.

The strap and the tiny computers case are both available in different colours, and materials.


It is limited in functionality by it's physical size, and always will be,
And also currently limited in performance and operational lifespan, again due to it's physical size.


If we can agree on those things, which are all truth, we can just move on and be happy. :D
 
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