Apple Watch vs the watch industry

[xtshabi]

http://seekingalpha.com/article/366...dot:42b059452a9ffbc7c623fdf35fde19f3&uprof=45

I thought this article was interesting, because it raises the point that most people will not wear two watches simultaneously and as such, Apple Watch will impact sales of even high end watches, simply by the fact that it will take over wrists of their owners.
What do you guys think?

 

[douglasf13]

I've been saying it all along, and I'm already selling off my Rolexes and Omegas. I've had a lifelong interest in horology, but I find the Apple Watch too useful everyday to wear anything else.

 

[Nightrich]

While I still like the idea of one day owning a nice Omega Aqua Terra, I can see how the activity tracking aspect and goal keeping of the Apple Watch would make me think twice. I might feel like I "missed" out on my fitness tracking if I were an Omega for example.

 

[douglasf13]

While I still like the idea of one day owning a nice Omega Aqua Terra, I can see how the activity tracking aspect and goal keeping of the Apple Watch would make me think twice. I might feel like I "missed" out on my fitness tracking if I were an Omega for example.

The Aqua Terra is actually one of the watches I'll be selling.

 

[convergent]

This is kind of a "duh" to me. Of course smartwatches will alter the watch industry. It will take time, but eventually the traditional watch will be relegated to the "buggy whip" path.

 

[jasie02]

I have been telling myself ever since I own AW, it is hard to go dumb, once you go smart.
As beautiful/handsome as some of my traditional watches are, they are dumb!

Smart Watch can do hundred if not thousand of things now and more in the future, and most important, since it is a wearable device ("most" people does not use iPhone as "wearable", I know there is exception who have iPhone on they hand with eyes on it all the time, other than sleeping), notification become so instant and I rarely missed any notification/call/message, this is with both AW and iPhone in vibrate mode.

This is going to be like voice-only-phone to smartphone revolution, it will take time, but once there is enough app for everyone, and Apple start putting multi-cores processor, and increase memory size, there will be more people, who already wear watch or want to use wearable device, welling to exchange there dumb watch to smart watch.

 

[L.C.W.]

This might be a sign of things to come from the traditional watch industry... I'm sure brands like Omega, Rolex, Breitling, etc are watching what Tag is doing very carefully...

http://www.theverge.com/2015/11/9/9695842/tag-heuer-connected-luxury-smartwatch-android-wear

http://www.theverge.com/2015/11/9/9...ra-connected-android-wear-smartwatch-hands-on

http://www.engadget.com/2015/11/09/tag-heuer-connected-watch-official/

 

[BarracksSi]

The Aqua Terra is actually one of the watches I'll be selling.

Which version? How much?

I can't say I would buy an AT, though, or even any other Omega. It's a rare event when I wear any of my other watches now.

 

[Nightrich]

For the right price I could find room for a nice Aqua Terra in my collection . Especially after seeing Spectre this weekend!

 

[foxkoneko]

the old watches will end up losing in the long run. Other types of droid watches will eventually come out to compete with the watch

The old watches will rise again , once we switch over to non watch wearables like implants or full body tech suits

 

[xtshabi]

the old watches will end up losing in the long run. Other types of droid watches will eventually come out to compete with the watch

The old watches will rise again , once we switch over to non watch wearables like implants or full body tech suits

I think this is possible as well, but the watch form factor might stick for as long as 5-20 years, which would mostly kill of the watch industry except at the very top (haute horlogerie).

 

[ultravisitor]

What do you guys think?

No. I actually read recently--can't remember where--that the Apple Watch has had the effect of making people more interested in watches of ALL types, not just smartwatches.

Additionally, as I've mentioned before, I highly doubt that Apple will be content to remain on the wrist. Eventually, technology will improve and move on to contacts, glasses (in a better form), earpieces, implants, etc. Apple will want in on that action. The traditional watch companies, however, have never tried to be more than what they've always been, so they'll be around and they'll be content with simply being a watch. Hell, the demise of the traditional watchmakers has been predicted in the past with other technological advances in watches, yet the traditional makers are still around.

Personally, I doubt that my Apple Watch will ever completely replace my traditional watches. In fact, my Apple Watch has made me appreciate my Rolex and other watches even more. I pay much more attention to them whenever I wear them now than I did before my Apple Watch.

 

[Cowboy1629]

I think there will always be a market for traditional watches just like there is still a market for dumb phones as well as people who have no desire to own a cellular phone. I think the traditional watch industry will shrink but I'll bet they will survive.

 

[thewap]

Traditional watches have withstood the time of time - design, quality, craftsmanship, endurance, universality. There is a reason Apple watch cannot replace traditional watches as it is limited in it's environmental uses.

Watch designs have advanced throughout the ages predominantly through their case designs - snap backs to oyster cases, shock resistant to anti magnetic, water resistant to water proof, to gas suspended complications, and shatter proof crystals.

The Apple watch with it's glued on back, lack of waterproofness, questionable case robustness, and crystal that shatters if dropped, all while depending on electrical outlet recharge, is less than ideal for many as in - sailing, hiking, camping, climbing, diving, expeditions, 3rd world travels - the list goes on.

Most traditional watches are tools, not tech gadgets, that can be used for time, timing/chrono functions, marine and astro navigation - if you have the knowledge in your noggin - combined with robustness and precision of the perpetual motion mechanism whether spring or auto propelled, anywhere, anytime, any environment, even the north pole. Try that with the Apple watch.

 

[Jessem1133]

Traditional watches have withstood the time of time - design, quality, craftsmanship, endurance, universality. There is a reason Apple watch cannot replace traditional watches as it is limited in it's environmental uses.

Watch designs have advanced throughout the ages predominantly through their case designs - snap backs to oyster cases, shock resistant to anti magnetic, water resistant to water proof, to gas suspended complications, and shatter proof crystals.

The Apple watch with it's glued on back, lack of waterproofness, questionable case robustness, and crystal that shatters if dropped, all while depending on electrical outlet recharge, is less than ideal for many as in - sailing, hiking, camping, climbing, diving, expeditions, 3rd world travels - the list goes on.

Most traditional watches are tools, not tech gadgets, that can be used for time, timing/chrono functions, marine and astro navigation - if you have the knowledge in your noggin - combined with robustness and precision of the perpetual motion mechanism whether spring or auto propelled, anywhere, anytime, any environment, even the north pole. Try that with the Apple watch.

Agreed.
I love my Apple Watch to death.
With that being said, I doubt it will ever replace the feel, look, and class of a real watch.

 

[zetaplus93]

Traditional watches have withstood the time of time - design, quality, craftsmanship, endurance, universality. There is a reason Apple watch cannot replace traditional watches as it is limited in it's environmental uses.

Watch designs have advanced throughout the ages predominantly through their case designs - snap backs to oyster cases, shock resistant to anti magnetic, water resistant to water proof, to gas suspended complications, and shatter proof crystals.

The Apple watch with it's glued on back, lack of waterproofness, questionable case robustness, and crystal that shatters if dropped, all while depending on electrical outlet recharge, is less than ideal for many as in - sailing, hiking, camping, climbing, diving, expeditions, 3rd world travels - the list goes on.

Most traditional watches are tools, not tech gadgets, that can be used for time, timing/chrono functions, marine and astro navigation - if you have the knowledge in your noggin - combined with robustness and precision of the perpetual motion mechanism whether spring or auto propelled, anywhere, anytime, any environment, even the north pole. Try that with the Apple watch.

Prior to shatterproof crystals, watchmakers a century ago tried celluloid crystals that could easily catch fire. Imagine what critics back then said:

http://forum.tz-uk.com/showthread.php?334340-From-the-New-York-Times-July-1916

Give the AW a few more iterations and see where it goes.

 

[douglasf13]

Traditional watches have withstood the time of time - design, quality, craftsmanship, endurance, universality. There is a reason Apple watch cannot replace traditional watches as it is limited in it's environmental uses.

Watch designs have advanced throughout the ages predominantly through their case designs - snap backs to oyster cases, shock resistant to anti magnetic, water resistant to water proof, to gas suspended complications, and shatter proof crystals.

The Apple watch with it's glued on back, lack of waterproofness, questionable case robustness, and crystal that shatters if dropped, all while depending on electrical outlet recharge, is less than ideal for many as in - sailing, hiking, camping, climbing, diving, expeditions, 3rd world travels - the list goes on.

Most traditional watches are tools, not tech gadgets, that can be used for time, timing/chrono functions, marine and astro navigation - if you have the knowledge in your noggin - combined with robustness and precision of the perpetual motion mechanism whether spring or auto propelled, anywhere, anytime, any environment, even the north pole. Try that with the Apple watch.

Through the ages? Wristwatches have only been around about a hundred years, and they really didn't become popular until after World War I. The Swiss Watch industry barely survived the quartz movement over 40 years ago, and they did so by primarily transitioning from being tools, as you mentioned, to essentially becoming jewelry. The quartz movement was one thing, as it essentially offered the same features in a more economical package, but highly functional smartwatches are a tougher battle.

I've been a mechanical watch fan my whole life, and I've owned several high'ish end (think Rolex, not Patek) watches in my life, but even I can see that the interest in mechanical watches will someday be limited to a niche collector market, and most of the industry will be gutted over the next couple of decades, now that digital watches offer more than basic functionality.

FWIW, Apple Watch aside, my solar powered G-Shock is more robust and accurate than my Submariner, and it also doesn't require a $700+ service every 5-10 years. Many Rolex owners that I meet are afraid to wear the thing in a shower. High end mechanical are a fun past time/interest, but lets not fool ourselves. They aren't the tools that they were in the 60's, for the most part.

 

[xtshabi]

Through the ages? Wristwatches have only been around about a hundred years, and they really didn't become popular until after World War I. The Swiss Watch industry barely survived the quartz movement over 40 years ago, and they did so by primarily transitioning from being tools, as you mentioned, to essentially becoming jewelry. The quartz movement was one thing, as it essentially offered the same features in a more economical package, but highly functional smartwatches are a tougher battle.

I've been a mechanical watch fan my whole life, and I've owned several high'ish end (think Rolex, not Patek) watches in my life, but even I can see that the interest in mechanical watches will someday be limited to a niche collector market, and most of the industry will be gutted over the next couple of decades, now that digital watches offer more than basic functionality.

FWIW, Apple Watch aside, my solar powered G-Shock is more robust and accurate than my Submariner, and it also doesn't require a $700+ service every 5-10 years. Many Rolex owners that I meet are afraid to wear the thing in a shower. High end mechanical are a fun past time/interest, but lets not fool ourselves. They aren't the tools that they were in the 60's, for the most part.

This is how I see it as well. We may see a resurgence of mechanical watches but my intuition tells me that smart watches, until they take a form that can coexist with normal wTches, will become dominant.

 

[jasie02]

This is how I see it as well. We may see a resurgence of mechanical watches but my intuition tells me that smart watches, until they take a form that can coexist with normal wTches, will become dominant.

Resurgence for what purpose?

Smart watch will dominate in the future, when the next generation grow up, it will be hard for majority of them to appreciate mechanical watch which is beautiful but could only do few things, vs smart watch could do hundred/thousand things.

There will always be classic car collector, but most of new car sells now because high tech design in and out, not classic look with few function. Watch will go through this transition in the future.

 

[xtshabi]

Resurgence for what purpose?

Smart watch will dominate in the future, when the next generation grow up, it will be hard for majority of them to appreciate mechanical watch which is beautiful but could only do few things, vs smart watch could do hundred/thousand things.

There will always be classic car collector, but most of new car sells now because high tech design in and out, not classic look with few function. Watch will go through this transition in the future.

That assumes that the dominant form factor for wearables continues to stay as "watches."
Even assuming that to be true, there should be a market for haute horlogerie (hand made artisanal watches, perhaps with complications) at the high end.
If the wearables transition to alternate forms such as wrist bracelets, clothes, glasses, etc, then we may see a resurgence of high end watches as fashion items.

This is just speculation, of course, but I do think that smart watches lack certain artistic qualities that high end watches have, and just like people still keep high end art even though they can buy cheap re-prints, I think people will still collect some high end watches. But it may only be true for the absolutely high end, such as tourbillons, minute repeaters, perpetual calendars, etc from Lange/Patek/Vacheton/et al.

 

[L.C.W.]

The craftsmanship involved in super high end mechanicals is insane...

 

[WarHeadz]

How can this beauty not take over my wrist? I couldn't wear a regular watch anymore at this point. They don't do anything useful.

 

[Jessem1133]

How can this beauty not take over my wrist? I couldn't wear a regular watch anymore at this point. They don't do anything useful.
View attachment 599483

At least mechanical watches have tighter seams on the band...

 

[OllyW]

I couldn't wear a regular watch anymore at this point. They don't do anything useful.

Mine are very useful, they do exactly what I bought them for and tell the time.

They are also better looking than your digital wonder (in my opinion of course).

 

[WarHeadz]

At least mechanical watches have tighter seams on the band...

They would probably be tighter if the band wasn't a knockoff.

For $60 I can live with it, compared to Apple's $500. The seams also tend to be more prominent in photos for some reason.