If the Apple Watch has zero aesthetic appeal to you, then there's no price point at which you'd want it. So they could charge $10 or $10 million and it wouldn't matter.
However, it does have an aesthetic appeal for many people, myself included.
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Apple Watch Pricing to Reportedly Start at $500 for Stainless Steel, $4,000 for Gold
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If the Apple Watch has zero aesthetic appeal to you, then there's no price point at which you'd want it. So they could charge $10 or $10 million and it wouldn't matter.
However, it does have an aesthetic appeal for many people, myself included.
4k for this watch! Where will Apple make this watch? For 4k I want skilled craftsman to make this watch, not slave labor where they have no human rights.
After reading every page of this, I've come to help
Let's see how it works out.
1. Price
Let's just get this out of the way now. Apple isn't making a Pebble Steel. Apple is make couture. Now, some of us realize some of you have no...clue what that is and that is fine. If you are judging on the past efforts of gadget makers, your confusion is noted. 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. A couple are scheduled within the next quarter and, well, that's where they are priced too.
The competing product for currently shipping stuff is theWatch Sport.
$500 Stainless Steel watches are not even *remotely* rare. $500 *smartwatches* are.
2. Gold
At the time of this posting, the base cost of 18K gold is $865.50 per *ounce* (75% of listed price). An ounce is fairly light...it is about the weight of the usb wall plug that comes with iPhones + 1 US dime + I US nickel in your hand. A typical metal watch weighs 4.5 - 6 ounces. Gold isn't cheap. As the metal used on and thru the watch is an 18K gold alloy...well, do the math. It has been reported that compared to both the aluminum and stainless steel models, the weight is "substantial".
Hopefully, this clears this up. Apple isn't making a cheap gold-plated watch.Watch Edition is solid 18K Gold...which means, it isn't for "the Poors". Obviously and clearly...as it is an 18K gold watch, with sapphire crystals front and rear. Not plastic, not glass. Sapphire. "Look it up".
3. Tech
See: Pebble. This thing is still kicking around. It is hardly anything and there are hundreds of apps and watchfaces for it. Interestingly, Google is noting ~175 Wear apps/wear-enabled apps
The WatchKit SDK drops this month...and you had better believe that like myself, Apple Ecosystem devs are more than ready for a new platform to exploit with both native and tethered apps. There is no "wait and see" in this ecosystem...it's Ride or Die. Anyone betting against the dev community on this platform has been ignoring history.
I'll put my chip in right now: that "ridiculous" $500Watch will be a runaway success. People will be angry because they sold out @ pre-order and will be hard to get/constrained for weeks and weeks. Sport will be available if you want it, but it won't appeal to folks that want something more premium as far as 'jewelry' is concerned than frosty-looking aluminum and glass. Los Angeles and the Valley will be swollen with Watch Edition wearers. Far from a flop, it will be as typical as Teslas are around here...that is to say, where you live, you'll see an Watch Edition with about the same frequency as you would a Tesla Model S.
Hopefully, some of this helps someone, because after 8 pages of foolishness, it became clear that there was a general lack of insight/disconnect from reality. For someone that has say, dropped like $4K since January or so for Apple gear, a $500 watch isn't going to even be something they hesitate over and $350 is practically an impulse buy.
-K
Let's see how it works out.
1. Price
Let's just get this out of the way now. Apple isn't making a Pebble Steel. Apple is make couture. Now, some of us realize some of you have no...clue what that is and that is fine. If you are judging on the past efforts of gadget makers, your confusion is noted. 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. A couple are scheduled within the next quarter and, well, that's where they are priced too.The competing product for currently shipping stuff is the
Watch Sport.$500 Stainless Steel watches are not even *remotely* rare. $500 *smartwatches* are.
2. Gold
At the time of this posting, the base cost of 18K gold is $865.50 per *ounce* (75% of listed price). An ounce is fairly light...it is about the weight of the usb wall plug that comes with iPhones + 1 US dime + I US nickel in your hand. A typical metal watch weighs 4.5 - 6 ounces. Gold isn't cheap. As the metal used on and thru the watch is an 18K gold alloy...well, do the math. It has been reported that compared to both the aluminum and stainless steel models, the weight is "substantial".
Hopefully, this clears this up. Apple isn't making a cheap gold-plated watch.
Watch Edition is solid 18K Gold...which means, it isn't for "the Poors". Obviously and clearly...as it is an 18K gold watch, with sapphire crystals front and rear. Not plastic, not glass. Sapphire. "Look it up".3. Tech
See: Pebble. This thing is still kicking around. It is hardly anything and there are hundreds of apps and watchfaces for it. Interestingly, Google is noting ~175 Wear apps/wear-enabled apps
The WatchKit SDK drops this month...and you had better believe that like myself, Apple Ecosystem devs are more than ready for a new platform to exploit with both native and tethered apps. There is no "wait and see" in this ecosystem...it's Ride or Die. Anyone betting against the dev community on this platform has been ignoring history.
I'll put my chip in right now: that "ridiculous" $500
Watch will be a runaway success. People will be angry because they sold out @ pre-order and will be hard to get/constrained for weeks and weeks. Sport will be available if you want it, but it won't appeal to folks that want something more premium as far as 'jewelry' is concerned than frosty-looking aluminum and glass. Los Angeles and the Valley will be swollen with Watch Edition wearers. Far from a flop, it will be as typical as Teslas are around here...that is to say, where you live, you'll see an Watch Edition with about the same frequency as you would a Tesla Model S.Hopefully, some of this helps someone, because after 8 pages of foolishness, it became clear that there was a general lack of insight/disconnect from reality. For someone that has say, dropped like $4K since January or so for Apple gear, a $500 watch isn't going to even be something they hesitate over and $350 is practically an impulse buy.
-K
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A few years? The Apple1's are selling big now. And they were release in the early 80's. That is 30+ years later. So if you want to make serious out of your $4K Apple Watch purchase, sell it in the year 2045.
Everyone is saying my iPhone 1 will be worth a mint in the future. It's still working too. Who knows. We shall see in the year 2037.
Then it's not for you. (It's not for me either.)
Don't gold Rolexes start around $20k? The gold WATCH will be one of those on-a-whim purchases for folks with a Rolex or two already.
That's why it's only $4k.
I have 3 Rolex and I would have to voluntarily check myself into the funny farm if I spent 4k on a piece if wearable battery operated tech. They will sell some to celebrities, pro athletes, and the more money then they could spend crowd but for 99.5% of the population or more that is stupid.
THis is a joke right??
You can't replace RAM and Battery in Apple computer, phone and music device, but you can do it to Apple watch?
You'd be replacing the SOC with 90% of things the watch can do integrated. I doubt that would be possible for the low end. But, for the $5000 one it makes perfect sense.
If they did that they probably could make it $10K and it would still sell.
I doubt that would be eternal, even for the high end one. After 3 years, tech advances would probably make it painful to keep supporting the hardware interface. So, I'd see 3 year hardware upgradability for the high end watches and probably 3 years more software upgradability. Means a Watch could get software upgrades for 6-7 years and new inners for 3 years. After that, the watch would continue working OK with current hardware for probably about 5 years more.
So, I'd say 10 years would be the normal use for the top end watch. If the guy upgrades the inners once for $500 and changes the battery 4 times in 10 years ($50 a pop), you'd get a very reasonable price for the high end watch. Even would possibly buy one if they set it up that way.
THis is a joke right??
You can't replace RAM and Battery in Apple computer, phone and music device, but you can do it to Apple watch?
Not a joke at all.
I don't know what Apple's plans are, but if Apple always did what Apple always did, they'd still just be selling computers.
Perhaps Apple is assuming (as you are) that the Watch market is going to work exactly like the phone market. Maybe they can't change direction after making phones and tablets for a hundred and seventeen years (or is it just 8).
I guess we'll have to wait and see.
Only $4-5K? That's a steal! Imagine how you'll feel when version 2 comes out correcting everything that is wrong with version 1! And after a couple of years, toss it in the recycling bin.
It's aimed to the people to whom $4-4k means a pocket change.
For the rest of us, there is a cheaper one!
Gez....!!
Oh, and by the way why throw it in the bin? iPhone 3g which is 6 years old goes between £50 to £80 on eBay!! First gen iPad even more. But you can still throw it in the bin if you wish.
lol, perfect.
Yes, just like those people with the Google glass. Instant disclaimer when you see someone with thick iWatch.
I think apple is playing it right here.
1. they start of with differentiation (unlike iphone).
2. they are targeting the tech market, the sport/health market and the luxury market at the same time. there are quite many people that can pay 4000 USD just to have the gold iwatch. and can you imagine the margins on that watch? and - apple has nothing to loose on also addressing that market right? See it as PR if you wish.
But - I agree with other sceptical readers. The watch will look dated as soon as a slim'er Watch is released. And since it is quite much focus on function rather than 'jewelery' value will go down. But do you remember when Swatch watches went up in value? Last but not least. How on earth can they release Watch without a GPS?
Oh and btw - i'm not solid for 4000USD watch. But 500 is not a problem and i will get one
1. they start of with differentiation (unlike iphone).
2. they are targeting the tech market, the sport/health market and the luxury market at the same time. there are quite many people that can pay 4000 USD just to have the gold iwatch. and can you imagine the margins on that watch? and - apple has nothing to loose on also addressing that market right? See it as PR if you wish.
But - I agree with other sceptical readers. The watch will look dated as soon as a slim'er Watch is released. And since it is quite much focus on function rather than 'jewelery' value will go down. But do you remember when Swatch watches went up in value? Last but not least. How on earth can they release Watch without a GPS?
Oh and btw - i'm not solid for 4000USD watch. But 500 is not a problem and i will get one
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I use a TV tray for a dining room table and usually just have a can of soup for dinner. 4G for a watch!!!???
The other problem is that it is as silly looking as google glass. Walk around with the fat gold toy watch while the adults wear real watches.
Honestly I've always liked the look of the aluminum one best. And no, I'm not just saying that... (I doubt I'd buy the Watch next year anyway)
Why would anyone buy a timeless watch, no matter how flawlessly it worked?
If I get the
Watch, I'll likely get the less expensive one, but I'll still expect it to be timely, and it should also buy me dinner.To those who say it is too expensive:
There are many watches that cost far more.
A typical gold Rolex costs $30,000 USD and a typical Patek Philippe costs more than $50,000 USD.
A grande complication Patek Philppe or other high-end watches such as complicated Richard Mille can go for more than $1 million USD.
To those who say it is cheap:
The watches mentioned above retain their value very well and often appreciate because they are artisanal goods made in small quantities.
They are timeless and will likely be valuable for decades, if not centuries.
Thus dropping 4K on a Apple Watch v.1 simply cannot be compared to dropping 5k+ on what many consider an heirloom quality watch (around this price range, one can get a used Rolex, many different Omegas, some used Panerais, used Breitlings, etc).
There are many watches that cost far more.
A typical gold Rolex costs $30,000 USD and a typical Patek Philippe costs more than $50,000 USD.
A grande complication Patek Philppe or other high-end watches such as complicated Richard Mille can go for more than $1 million USD.
To those who say it is cheap:
The watches mentioned above retain their value very well and often appreciate because they are artisanal goods made in small quantities.
They are timeless and will likely be valuable for decades, if not centuries.
Thus dropping 4K on a Apple Watch v.1 simply cannot be compared to dropping 5k+ on what many consider an heirloom quality watch (around this price range, one can get a used Rolex, many different Omegas, some used Panerais, used Breitlings, etc).
Those adults still have glove boxes full of paper maps, and they don't shop at Amazon because Amazon won't send them a catalog.The other problem is that it is as silly looking as google glass. Walk around with the fat gold toy watch while the adults wear real watches.