Got a tip for us?
Let us know
Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.
Apple Watch Revenue Will Likely Be Dominated by Expensive Gold Edition
- Thread starter MacRumors
- Start date
- Sort by reaction score
agreed. That seems a little ridiculous to think a million edition watches will be sold total, let alone initially shipped.
There will obviously be people who are so rich that the Apple Watch Gold Edition will simply be as expensive as a cup of coffee. Therefore they probably won't mind buying it using it however they want.
What I do wonder though is the longevity of these devices. A new product from Apple will generally not last very long in terms of smoothness and usability when it's been updated to one or two new OS-versions. I do wonder if Apple will use the same kind of business model for these watches like the iPhone and iPad that get updated yearly. After all, the first iPhones and iPads felt pretty obsolete since Apple made such advancements early on for both products, whereas I feel they've really matured at this point.
I guess people somehow might expect the watch to have longer longevity, but since it's technically not only a watch at this point I might be wrong. I guess it would be easier to somehow "accept" the fact that an Apple Watch that's between 350-500 dollars might feel obsolete pretty quickly, but the gold editions? I don't know.
What I do wonder though is the longevity of these devices. A new product from Apple will generally not last very long in terms of smoothness and usability when it's been updated to one or two new OS-versions. I do wonder if Apple will use the same kind of business model for these watches like the iPhone and iPad that get updated yearly. After all, the first iPhones and iPads felt pretty obsolete since Apple made such advancements early on for both products, whereas I feel they've really matured at this point.
I guess people somehow might expect the watch to have longer longevity, but since it's technically not only a watch at this point I might be wrong. I guess it would be easier to somehow "accept" the fact that an Apple Watch that's between 350-500 dollars might feel obsolete pretty quickly, but the gold editions? I don't know.
I think they will because showing off a time piece on your arm is a thing of "ego" so the price of it makes it something that is bling bling. For the "peasants" there is the cheap apple watch.
I would tend to agree here. But I'm more on the fence regardless. I feel that even though I want to purchase one around launch day, I'm afraid that the watch will loose it's appeal after about six months. Especially considering that I really don't wear watches; and the watches I do have basically just sit at home.
I hate to break it to many posters who think that the $4,000 watch competes with a Rolex. You aren't getting into a new Rolex for under $7k and that is for a 36mm stainless which looks like a woman's watch on most men.
To get into a new Rolex you are likely going to spend $10,000ish (on the extreme low end) or 2.5x the cost of an Apple watch.
To get into a new Rolex you are likely going to spend $10,000ish (on the extreme low end) or 2.5x the cost of an Apple watch.
Will they let me trade in my $10,000 Macintosh IIfx for one of these? Or will the watch depreciate in value just like the old computer?
I agree with that, but at the end of the day it is a smartwatch. It will probably be updated every single year. They have their premium product with the Edition. They have the entry level model, but they don't want to price stainless steel out of the market.
I wonder how many will rationalise it by "well it still tells the date and time"
and is that something apple is banking on?
I predict free product upgrade/exchange for at least four years on the $4000 model and at least one year on the $1000 model. What I mean is that with apple watch 2 or 3 or 4 comes out owners of the $4000 watch can walk in to any Apple store and exchange their watch for the new watch, for free.
Sure.
The fact that everyone knows it will be out of the date in 2 years make it even more of an extravagant purchase. People who will buy it will send the message "I have so much money, I don't even mind spending it on something with a short lifespan". For people who want to show off their status, sometimes a worse value has a higher value to them. It seems like a contradiction, but that's often how it works in the high-end luxury market.
See: Veblen good.
While it hasn't been publicly confirmed, I have friends that work at Apple who have already gone through the training for it. They have all stated that the Apple Watch is the entry model at $349, (The one with stainless steel/ sapphire display cover). The sports model is the middle of the road model. I know it should be taken with a grain of salt, but there is no reason as to why I wouldn't believe them.
Possible apple service update for gold watch.
I'll bet you Apple will offer a "return/update" service for the gold watches. You send your watch in, and they replace it with a new one for the offset cost. Most of the value comes from the gold so returning the gold and then the upgrade and handling fee would make sense - ahhh somewhat.
Also, I think the idea of a Gold Apple watch is against the company philosophy. It's not something I could have seen Jobs ever agreeing with, even if people want it - The whole idea behind the company has always been affordable lux and high quality for the average person. Oh well, let's see where things go.
I'll bet you Apple will offer a "return/update" service for the gold watches. You send your watch in, and they replace it with a new one for the offset cost. Most of the value comes from the gold so returning the gold and then the upgrade and handling fee would make sense - ahhh somewhat.
Also, I think the idea of a Gold Apple watch is against the company philosophy. It's not something I could have seen Jobs ever agreeing with, even if people want it - The whole idea behind the company has always been affordable lux and high quality for the average person. Oh well, let's see where things go.
nah not a chance. I wouldn't do that. Would you offer that if it were your business?
you can pay for the upgrade but i wouldn't offer it for free as in i'll take it back giving you a discount on the new version and sell the old one as a second hand watch.