But what is the Price?

[Tycho24]

From the specs I've seen, that doesn't seem plausible. It looks like the cheapest version is the stainless steel & sapphire... NOT the lighter & stronger Aluminum & Ion-X glass.
I don't disagree that that could be one of the "free" band options, but again- that doesn't make perfect sense, as the plastic one (at least in marketing & mind-share) appears to be getting paired with the more premium Sports version, not just the basic Apple Watch.

 

[KPOM]

From the specs I've seen, that doesn't seem plausible. It looks like the cheapest version is the stainless steel & sapphire... NOT the lighter & stronger Aluminum & Ion-X glass.
I don't disagree that that could be one of the "free" band options, but again- that doesn't make perfect sense, as the plastic one (at least in marketing & mind-share) appears to be getting paired with the more premium Sports version, not just the basic Apple Watch.

Aluminum and glass are cheaper than stainless steel and sapphire. Plastic is cheaper than steel or leather. Sure, some of the Edition have plastic bands, but they have 18kt gold buttons. The Edition also has sapphire. If X-Ion glass were pricier they'd have used that instead.

 

[Tycho24]

Well, if I have to stand corrected I will.
However; I'm not expecting to. They list them like this: Apple Watch, Apple Watch Sport, Apple Watch Edition... in that order.... in EVERY reference to them. It is a convention to list things in a "good, better, best" order. I suppose they could be going "basic name, but premium priced product... then product with additional moniker & cheaper actual starter product, then lastly.. most premium product"... but that seems bizarre. When's the last time you ordered a Coke & they asked you: "Do you want a medium, small, or large?" instead of "small, medium, large"?
At any rate, what I'm most curious about is band cost... Assuming Apple will make the bracelets fit at least 3-4 gens, I plan on getting a few.

 

[JayLenochiniMac]

It is a convention to list things in a "good, better, best" order.

Apple, of all things, are against convention. "Think different."

"Watch Sport, Watch, Watch Edition" sounds weird.

 

[KPOM]

Well, if I have to stand corrected I will.
However; I'm not expecting to. They list them like this: Apple Watch, Apple Watch Sport, Apple Watch Edition... in that order.... in EVERY reference to them. It is a convention to list things in a "good, better, best" order. I suppose they could be going "basic name, but premium priced product... then product with additional moniker & cheaper actual starter product, then lastly.. most premium product"... but that seems bizarre. When's the last time you ordered a Coke & they asked you: "Do you want a medium, small, or large?" instead of "small, medium, large"?
At any rate, what I'm most curious about is band cost... Assuming Apple will make the bracelets fit at least 3-4 gens, I plan on getting a few.

Here's the standard, the cheap for those of you who can't spare more than $350, and the really expensive at $5k. Take a step back. How many car commercials have you seen with the large print "Starts at $19,995" and the fine print reading "$28,995 as equipped"? It's the same here.

 

[Julien]

Well, if I have to stand corrected I will....

You will. The stainless is estimated to start in the $500 to $1000 range. Apple should have named it Premium (or something) to cut the confusion.

Also stainless steel/sapphire/ceramic or much stronger and more expensive than aluminum/glass/NO ceramic. Gruber theorized that Apple is positioning the more expensive Watch first because it wants to position the aWatch as a quality time piece first and not just another smart watch.

 

[kerosene]

Interestingly, MacRumors has just quoted an earlier article (which I missed) in their Paris presentation report saying the Edition may cost up to $1200. Perhaps Gruber's with his $5000+ prediction got it all wrong and was misled on purpose to create an 'Aha' effect when the pricing is revealed?

To me this price would make much more sense.

https://www.macrumors.com/2014/09/12/gold-apple-watch-1200/

 

[Julien]

Interestingly, MacRumors has just quoted an earlier article (which I missed) in their Paris presentation report saying the Edition may cost up to $1200. Perhaps Gruber's with his $5000+ prediction got it all wrong and was misled on purpose to create an 'Aha' effect when the pricing is revealed?

To me this price would make much more sense.

https://www.macrumors.com/2014/09/12/gold-apple-watch-1200/

The source of the information is from the TechCrunch Sep 12 article (click the link on 'Run up to'). So while it may be right or wrong it is nothing new.

It also predates Gruber's estimate.

 

[Tycho24]

Obviously, the plastic bands will be cheap (I'm thinking $39-$49), but what do you guys think about the more high end ones, like the Milanese loop?

 

[Julien]

Obviously, the plastic bands will be cheap (I'm thinking $39-$49), but what do you guys think about the more high end ones, like the Milanese loop?

Here is my guesstimate from another thread.

"No one can have any idea since Apple has not said. It also likely pricing has not been finalized. In all likely hood there will be an enormous price spread. The Sport's fluoroelastomer band (rubber) will probably be in the $25 to $50 range while the 18K/Leather Edition's band could be well over $200."

I would think the Milanese loop would probably be in the $100 to $200 range.

 

[Tycho24]

Here is my guesstimate from another thread.

"No one can have any idea since Apple has not said. It also likely pricing has not been finalized. In all likely hood there will be an enormous price spread. The Sport's fluoroelastomer band (rubber) will probably be in the $25 to $50 range while the 18K/Leather Edition's band could be well over $200."

I would think the Milanese loop would probably be in the $100 to $200 range.

Ugh.
I'm wanting stainless with the Milanese & the butterfly... Bracing myself for about $650.

 

[Julien]

Ugh.
I'm wanting stainless with the Milanese & the butterfly... Bracing myself for about $650.

If your lucky that may be about right but it could be up to 2x or even more.

There is a chance the Watch and Edition may be upgradable in the future which would ease the sticker shock if the Watch is in the $750 to $1000 (Edition $3000 to $10,000) starting range.

For me it's Sport all the way (at least that's what I think now). I would rather be cheap and safe when it comes on gen 1. Even if gen 1 Watch/Edition are upgradable they will still likely be missing sensors and also a likely thiner form factor of latter gens.

 

[megadon]

Interestingly, MacRumors has just quoted an earlier article (which I missed) in their Paris presentation report saying the Edition may cost up to $1200. Perhaps Gruber's with his $5000+ prediction got it all wrong and was misled on purpose to create an 'Aha' effect when the pricing is revealed?

To me this price would make much more sense.

https://www.macrumors.com/2014/09/12/gold-apple-watch-1200/

I'd have to agree with you on that. If in fact the gold case only costs apple $600 means there isn't a lot of gold actually.