Apple Watch Pricing to Reportedly Start at $500 for Stainless Steel, $4,000 for Gold

[AppleScruff1]

Steve would never have put this thing on his wrist

That's for sure!

 

[stasha]

I really want the regular one,the black or silver

 

[barondebxl]

Apple can so kiss my a$$ for these prices.

 

[filmantopia]

You are so wrong!!! A $50k watch would not be obsolete in 10 years and even if you don't want to use anymore you may be able to recoup most of your money if not more. An Apple Watch will be obsolete in 2 or 3 years (see how the new IOS won't work in older iPads and iPhones) and for sure it will be at least outdated in 1 year when the Apple Phone 2 is launched.

But you will be able to recoup the money by selling it or trading it into Apple when you get an updated model. The gold won't lose its value.

Hoe many people want to wear the same watch over 10 years? Most people want to change it up every once in a while, anyway.

 

[peterdevries]

Well okay. That is pretty cool. A good purchase for folks then. I wouldn't call it an investment (since even in what you suggest that doesn't keep up with other investment classes like stocks and real estate over the last 14 years), but it certainly defrays a HUGE amount of the cost of ownership of these timepieces if you can get your principle back plus a little after enjoying it for a decade.

Well, there is the caveat that there is a regular investment (about every 5 years) into maintenance of the watch. That keeps up the value of the watch, but increases the overall cost of the watch. I should have mentioned that..

 

[bawbac]

I think it's funny how people rationalize a watch purchase by passing it down to someone or holding value. We all know that those aren't the real reasons people buy expensive watches. And having an expensive watches that everyone know will be outdated soon is even more reason for people to buy it to flaunt.

I genuinely feel bad for you that you need to purchase your way to be seen and accepted by society.

It's a weird world...

 

[justinthesommer]

Release date will be April 1, 2015. 39 years since the incorporation of Apple.

 

[peterdevries]

Omega suffered similar problems in the late 1970s. there was a fantastic case study in Harvard Business Review about 20 years ago or so, about how Nicholas Hayek revived the brand, partly by reducing the price spread of Omega models and leveraging Swatch to cater to the lower price market with trendier designs.

I believe Longines did this with Wittenauer but they haven't really returned to their former glory... something in their strategy is still missing.

Thanks! Just downloaded the case study..

Considering strategy I think Longines needs to focus on a more tight customer segment and reduce the amount of different models. At their low end they compete with Seiko and Tissot and a bit higher up with Tag Heuer, while probably providing better quality. I think though that that tail in the low end might hurt their high-end lines, because the brand is viewed as less exclusive. And I doubt that they generate much revenue at the low end, because it just is not a brand that is marketed very well for that segment.

I think they also need to look at their design language. It is now very diverse and difficult to find a signature Longines look. Some models now look like a cross between Festina and Breitling, while others resemble the IWC Portugese line. The elegance line resembles Jaeger LeCoultre.

Reduce product line complexity, focus on a specific an clear segment, direct marketing towards that segment and for gods sake put the display on the other side of the store next to Breitling and IWC and keep it away from the other brands such as TW Steel, Fossil and Guess.

 

[hoxuantu]

It is ridiculous when paying $500 for a electronic watch! The mechanical watches are timeless.

 

[MarkusL]

Release date will be April 1, 2015. 39 years since the incorporation of Apple.

April 1? Yeah, that sounds about right for a gold watch that will be obsolete in 2 years.

 

[StyxMaker]

My interest in the Apple Watch just took a dive after reading the specs on Jawbone's new Up3 fitness band. You can swim and dive with it on and it has more fitness sensors than the Apple Watch for half the price.

 

[darkslide29]

I said it earlier, will post again since that was pages back. The $500 price does make sense if the aluminum one is $350.

Here's why: the aluminum one @ $350 comes with a plastic band. It's reasonable to expect the stainless accessory bands to retail for $99. So if one had an aluminum watch w/ stainless band it would cost them $449. That makes the price difference for the stainless face vs the aluminum face $50, which makes sense because it costs more than aluminum at wholesale and is also more durable.

Also, I believe that the aluminum model comes with a scratch resistant glass of some sort (for a lack of a better differentiating term), while the stainless steel and gold models come with sapphire glass.
I am not sure what kind of price difference this would dictate, but it is a differentiating spec.

 

[Risco]

Apple products used to be about beauty, desirability and functionality. The Apple watch offers none of the above for me.

 

[apolloa]

For the record, there is not a single "smartwatch" currently shipping that is being built with the same class of materials and workmanship as the Watch line.
-K

Actually there already are:

http://www.imsmart.com/en/i-m-watch/collections/jewel
http://www.hyetis.com/

And Tag Heuer are making their own smartwatch:

http://www.pcworld.com/article/2607289/tag-heuer-says-its-going-to-make-a-smartwatch.html

And here's another much better looking Swiss made smartwatch coming out:

https://kairoswatches.com/


So no matter how much you want to make out Apple are some sort of exclusive luxury brand, I'm afraid they are not, they have electronics mass made in sweat shop factories, bar the Mac Pro. And it will be very very very interesting to see it compete with proper Swiss made devices with mechanical movements, something Apple currently can only dream off.

Oh and by the way, do you have any proof the Apple Watch is made by the hands of people with years and years of experience, or are they made by robots and machines like every other Apple device?

 

[Keirasplace]

Welcome to the internet. Is today your first day here? People use this thing called Google. It's great for checking out "facts" and calling BS.

A Commodore 64 launched in 1982 for $595. I got mine in 1983 iirc for $400.

The Apple III started at $4500 and had major design flaws. The revision that fixed them dropped the price to $3500 pretty quickly, but the product flopped horribly. It was basically an Apple II with a different keyboard. It was a huge embarrassment for Apple and very few sold. After it flopped, Apple went back to the Apple II line.

The IBM PC AT launched in 1984, not 1987, $4000 didn't even include a hard drive model, and at that price it was so cheap it shocked the industry. It may not have been high level compared to mainframes and minicomputers. But for a desktop computer, the AT at launch most certainly was "the highest level computer. And it had the competition quaking in their boots until the clone wars started. Very few "normal people" bought them. $4000 was several months pay back then. Normal people bought much cheaper clones, usually still XT in 1984, and yes even Apple IIe's in 1984.

So, I'm not sure what orifice you plucked your figures out of, but if you want to play on the internet with the big kids, you really shouldn't make stuff up. Because someone will call you out and rip your fictional "Facts" to shreds.

And since you find it funny that people find a $700 tablet expensive. I suggest you check a calendar (even on said tablet if you want) which will tell you that this 2014. And hopefully some day you will come to understand that technology has changed quite a bit over the past 30+ years.

I also don't believe you bought multiple Apple III's. Doing so compared to the Apple II or IBM PC would have been such a stupid thing to do, you'd still be embarrassed to admit it to this day.

the C64 monitor cost $400, the keyboard/computer $400, the diskquette drive cost $400 (Think they were on sale). Bought them all in Plattsburg New-York during the summer of 1983. They were cheaper there than in Montreal. That's it. How do I know, I got the bills for them. I've got the whole equipment in functioning order 20 feet away from my keyboard.

The AT cost about $4000 (or slightly under) in 1987 (not at launch), BTW, Paid $8000 for a PS2 Model 80 in 1987 so I think I know the price of computers. I'm 47, I've actually lived through those time.... Been using the Internet, the not the local BBS's since 1986 and got my computer engineering degree in 1992.

 

[Mr Staunton]

Something smells funny

It's a watch! Not paying that much, looks like I'm opting for a Fitbit then!

 

[Ieo]

LOL! Well, if this pans out, it makes it just that much easier for me to sit gen 1 out. A $500 fitbit that I can take phone calls through is a bit too much for me.

 

[Keirasplace]

It just seems nuts that iWatch requires an iPhone to function.

IT doesn't. Certain functions need the Iphone, but not all.

 

[YtseThunder]

Does anyone remember the stories about the iPad costing $1000 dollars?

Also it's gotta be said that Apple Watch Edition is going to be like the Mac Pro; a real halo product. It's just going to be a status symbol that drives people to the cheaper products.

 

[Keirasplace]

Look at the Galaxy Gear S ..........

Image

Its much much bigger, so you have a point?

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Who is saying "Nothing says I love you like a watch."? I'm sure if it were true De Beers and Hannoush Jewelry would be on that bandwagon but they aren't unless there is another version is hiding that is encrusted with diamond.

If the new standard for a Valentines Day gift is a $350+ watch I'm screwed with my offer of a dozen roses and chocolates. Great way to further monetize ones love and affection for another.

Edit: I'm sure it's be said before but I'm not going to read through the 1000+ posts relating to the release date rumors.

Because roses and chocolates and the meal, etc, is already not monetized? Every celebration these days is a total sellout, except maybe veteran'S day.. But, even there I've seen some sales for that day too!

 

[kajpin]

That's what your phone is for. No one is going to stop carrying a phone with them just because they have a watch for at at least another 3-5 years.

The sport version should have GPS or it's useless. The only reason to get the watch as a sports device is to stop carrying your phone when working out...or running or cycling.

As a fashion piece sure but as a sport watch no way. In the end I'll just get a running watch. The rest was just fluff to me...nice fluff but not at the expense of functionality

 

[kerrikins]

Funny how people rewrite history so quickly.

I remember in the lead-up to Apple's announcement, we were reading the rumours here thinking it was just unbelievably amazing what was being described and would just be impossible to become reality. And we were assuming starting price of $1000.

During Steve's launch presentation, it was obviously going to change the world, and pretty much everyone here knew it. And his by the way it's $500 really did make it seem like magic.

Uh, all anyone could talk about when the iPad launched was period and 'maxi' jokes, and the industry at the time thought that there was no need for tablets. Nobody is rewriting anything unless you are purely thinking of the diehard Apple fans who were sure it'd be a success.

 

[socshop]

Are the high prices scaring people away?

Who else is still planning on purchasing the Apple Watch even after knowing about the high price? What is the highest price people are willing to pay for digital luxury?

 

[kingofwale]

Does anyone remember the stories about the iPad costing $1000 dollars?

Also it's gotta be said that Apple Watch Edition is going to be like the Mac Pro; a real halo product. It's just going to be a status symbol that drives people to the cheaper products.

Yes, but I love how people conveniently forget to mention that the $1000 iPad was supposed to be more like full OS than iOS.

 

[AppleScruff1]

My interest in the Apple Watch just took a dive after reading the specs on Jawbone's new Up3 fitness band. You can swim and dive with it on and it has more fitness sensors than the Apple Watch for half the price.

Jawbone is saying water resistant to 10 meters. How does that differ from being waterproof? Apple says the watch is water resistant, but I don't think they have specified a depth. The Microsoft Band says splash resistant, so it sounds like it provides the least protection against water damage.