the future
macrumors 68040
That whole „heirloom watch“ idea is probably the result of intense watch industry marketing.
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Falling Out Of Love
- Thread starter pauloregan
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That whole „heirloom watch“ idea is probably the result of intense watch industry marketing.
BSG75
macrumors 6502
I think there's a lot of truth to that. Remember the Patek Phillippe line, "You never actually own a Patek Phillippe, you merely take care of it for the next generation."
A mechanical watch can be an excellent purchase to commemorate a milestone. I own quite a few mechanicals myself and used to think I would pass them down to my daughter and nephew. Both are in their teens and neither have the least bit of interest in a mechanical watch. Maybe that will change with time, but I'm not holding my breath.
As much as I like mechanical watches, if I could only wear one watch, it would be an Apple Watch. It's the true "tool watch" of the 21st century.
I really wish Apple didn't call the "Apple Watch" a "Watch". It isn't a watch. It's a fitness tracker, an extension to the iPhone. It's not a heirloom watch, it's not something to be passed down generation to generation. It's disposable, it'll be thrown away when it's broken, or no longer works because the newest iOS doesn't support the watch.
ericwn
macrumors G5
But it’s a watch as well. Stuff telling the time and worn on the wrist is usually called a watch. Of course at the end of the day it’s a computer, just like the iPhone is (folks refer to that as a phone still although it really does so much more). Apple doesn’t adverrtise the watch as something you want to pass on to the next generation - and most other more traditional watches are in the same boat, they get thrown away one day.
BSG75
macrumors 6502
Agreed. Inexpensive digital Casios, G-Shocks, and very low-end automatics are usually thrown out when they no longer work. They are far from heirloom watches as well. IMHO, the Apple Watch is a 21st Century interpretation of a wrist watch.
I kept mulllng over whether to buy an Apple Watch but I'm just not sure how much I'd use it?
The devices I find genuinely useful (possibly indespensible) are my Macbook, iPhone and Airpods. Even things like the ipad I've found i rarely use these days as the phone is always more to hand and whereas my Macbook is more convenient (larger screen, keyboard) if I need to reach for another device to do something more involved. My iPad has kind of found itself in the category of not being convenient enough to carry around but too small to carry out serious work/productivity work on (for me personally).
I have a cheap Mii band which I like (tells the time/vibrates when I get a call/message/media control and only needs charged once every fortnight). What would an Apple watch offer above and beyond this?
The devices I find genuinely useful (possibly indespensible) are my Macbook, iPhone and Airpods. Even things like the ipad I've found i rarely use these days as the phone is always more to hand and whereas my Macbook is more convenient (larger screen, keyboard) if I need to reach for another device to do something more involved. My iPad has kind of found itself in the category of not being convenient enough to carry around but too small to carry out serious work/productivity work on (for me personally).
I have a cheap Mii band which I like (tells the time/vibrates when I get a call/message/media control and only needs charged once every fortnight). What would an Apple watch offer above and beyond this?
I've had an AW on my wrist since a few months after they came out. Recently I had my AW replaced for a cracked glass, and because of the way Applecare+ works, I had to deactivate mine before they'd send me a replacement. Shipping was delayed, and I was without the AW a day and a half instead of one day.
Turned out it was an opportunity for me to appreciate just how useful the watch has become to me. It's not one particular feature that makes it such a great piece of kit, but the combination of them. Sort of like a Swiss Army knife, only the individual tools seem to work better than they do on the SAK. Here are a few, in no particular order:
Receiving and replying to texts. The concept is basic, and my Pebble (the gateway drug) did that, too. However, the AW does it very, very well. If a simple reply is all that's needed, it lets me reply with standard phrases, or by writing on the watch if need be. At minimum, I know I've gotten a text, can see it easily, and respond when it's convenient.
Apple Pay. Doing this from the AW is so much easier than hauling my phone (or credit card) out of my pocket to pay for something, doing anything else now seems primitive.
Answering the phone without taking it out of my pocket, or if it's not nearby, and, as importantly, declining spam calls from my AW.
Timers. I use this feature at least two or three times a day, and it's really quite handy.
Shopping lists (using the built in Reminders app) are much more accessible on my wrist; I don't have to fumble with my phone in the shopping cart or wherever.
Weather at a glance, with more detail available with one press of the screen.
Exercise tracking, including heart rate, distance covered, and rate of travel.
Being reminded to stand at least once per hour.
Notifications for appointments.
Shazam on the AW, for me, is simpler and easier than on the phone.
Driving directions from Maps show up on my wrist, which is often less distracting than looking at the phone or CarPlay, and it taps my wrist when I need to turn left or right. It's one of my favorite features.
Controlling music playback on my AirPods, or on CarPlay.
Siri. I don't use it often, but when I do, it works pretty well.
Heart Rate, ECG, and Blood Oxygen level. Nice to have on occasion.
The UI. In my opinion, Apple nailed this one.
And, FWIW, charging hasn't been an issue for me. I've needed to charge mine during the day only two times since the first one I've owned, and it normally goes on the charger at night. Most of the time so does my phone. I've had a few occasions where I ran it for two days on a single charge.
I'm glad to have my Watch back. It does much more for me than it did when I got the first one (A0), because of the features Apple added over time, and because I've spent time fine tuning it for my needs. I currently have an AW6 GPS, and will probably upgrade in the next generation or two.
Turned out it was an opportunity for me to appreciate just how useful the watch has become to me. It's not one particular feature that makes it such a great piece of kit, but the combination of them. Sort of like a Swiss Army knife, only the individual tools seem to work better than they do on the SAK. Here are a few, in no particular order:
Receiving and replying to texts. The concept is basic, and my Pebble (the gateway drug) did that, too. However, the AW does it very, very well. If a simple reply is all that's needed, it lets me reply with standard phrases, or by writing on the watch if need be. At minimum, I know I've gotten a text, can see it easily, and respond when it's convenient.
Apple Pay. Doing this from the AW is so much easier than hauling my phone (or credit card) out of my pocket to pay for something, doing anything else now seems primitive.
Answering the phone without taking it out of my pocket, or if it's not nearby, and, as importantly, declining spam calls from my AW.
Timers. I use this feature at least two or three times a day, and it's really quite handy.
Shopping lists (using the built in Reminders app) are much more accessible on my wrist; I don't have to fumble with my phone in the shopping cart or wherever.
Weather at a glance, with more detail available with one press of the screen.
Exercise tracking, including heart rate, distance covered, and rate of travel.
Being reminded to stand at least once per hour.
Notifications for appointments.
Shazam on the AW, for me, is simpler and easier than on the phone.
Driving directions from Maps show up on my wrist, which is often less distracting than looking at the phone or CarPlay, and it taps my wrist when I need to turn left or right. It's one of my favorite features.
Controlling music playback on my AirPods, or on CarPlay.
Siri. I don't use it often, but when I do, it works pretty well.
Heart Rate, ECG, and Blood Oxygen level. Nice to have on occasion.
The UI. In my opinion, Apple nailed this one.
And, FWIW, charging hasn't been an issue for me. I've needed to charge mine during the day only two times since the first one I've owned, and it normally goes on the charger at night. Most of the time so does my phone. I've had a few occasions where I ran it for two days on a single charge.
I'm glad to have my Watch back. It does much more for me than it did when I got the first one (A0), because of the features Apple added over time, and because I've spent time fine tuning it for my needs. I currently have an AW6 GPS, and will probably upgrade in the next generation or two.
Piplodocus
macrumors 6502a
Yeah. Ditch my phone after work and see how fast the watch loses over half its battery life and dies a death if going for a few hours mountain biking with Strava on where the cellular signal is poor.
It's sometimes useful to have cellular, but generally it's a load of extra money for a function I'm going to disable to save battery life if using it standalone while out on my bike! Even with my phone on and my watch cellular disabled/screen turned off I can rinse the battery if going for about a ~6.5hr ride with Strava turned on.
I do like it and it's useful, so I haven't "gone off" it, but it is frustrating how short it lasts while running a fitness tracking app so the heart rate monitor has switched to full sampling rate. I've never bothered to try it with headphones as I either have my iPhone on me, or I'm doing my damnest to conserve battery so no way it can be unnecessarily running music at the same time.
I figured I'd treat myself to the watch instead of a more expensive new phone a couple of years ago though, which I think was the right choice. Still running an iPhone 6S with it which works fine. But definitely a new phone due this year or next.
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the future
macrumors 68040
Running a workout/activity tracker 5+ hrs at a time is a niche case, though. Apple usually builds their devices more for a general consumer audience. That‘s why you have Garmin et al. in the market. But maybe the new rugged version that is supposed to be released this fall will have a bigger battery for these types of use cases.
FWIW I love the cellular functionality of the Watch. For short(er) workouts or jogging/walking and also running errands I often leave the iPhone at home.
FWIW I love the cellular functionality of the Watch. For short(er) workouts or jogging/walking and also running errands I often leave the iPhone at home.
A feature that I forgot to mention in my post above (#232):
Flashlight. At first I didn't think I'd use this, as the idea of it seemed awkward. As it turns out, however, this feature has been really handy for me on a number of occasions. Certainly not as bright as a dedicated flashlight, but bright enough for many tasks, and it's always with me.
Flashlight. At first I didn't think I'd use this, as the idea of it seemed awkward. As it turns out, however, this feature has been really handy for me on a number of occasions. Certainly not as bright as a dedicated flashlight, but bright enough for many tasks, and it's always with me.
Hicksmat1976
macrumors 6502a
this sounds like a bunch of people trying to justify an expensive purchase to me.
there's so many other cheaper options that do much of what the AW does...... I used to own one myself, I went back to my Omega PO and my Xiaomi Mi Band 6.
there's so many other cheaper options that do much of what the AW does...... I used to own one myself, I went back to my Omega PO and my Xiaomi Mi Band 6.
the future
macrumors 68040
Yeah, because you can judge better what is useful to us than we can ourselves, right?
Enjoy your prehistoric artefact. 😉
MarkX
macrumors 68000
There are many cheaper options that do exactly what an Omega Planet Ocean does too
deckard666
macrumors 65816
There are many cheaper options that do exactly what an Omega Planet Ocean does too
Are they? What cheaper option conveys financial status and ego more than a luxury watch? Because this is exactly why mechanical watches are still a thing.
I also have a Mi Band 6 and the experience is not even close to the one offered by the AW.
BSG75
macrumors 6502
Just speaking for me personally, I've never bought a luxury watch to impress others, I bought them because I liked them. No one has ever come up to me and said, "Nice Speedy," when I'm wearing my Speedmaster Moonwatch, or "Nice Seamaster," when I wore my Seamaster 300. Honestly, the only people who remotely care what you wear on your wrist are watch enthusiasts and they are a very, very small fragment of the population. Ask most people what the best watch is and they will most likely say Rolex. However, Rolex is not high horology. I'd be willing to bet a number of them have never heard of AP, PP, VC, AL&S, Blancpain, etc..
In addition to my Apple Watch, my collection ranges from a Casio F-91w to Omegas. Each watch I bought for my enjoyment, not to flex or show off to others. The flexing, FOMO and snobbery have really soured me on watch collecting. I guess that's why I've been sticking to my Apple Watch.
The luxury watch industry still exists because people like to flex. Of course there is a minority of people who are watch enthusiasts (me including). A luxury watch is one of the most cost effective way for a man to flex.
stanza.richi
macrumors 65816
It’s nice that a lot of people on watch’s forum say that Rolex and AW are used for the same purpose, to flex. In Apple product’s forums people say that Rolex is used to flex.
😂
In my case, I was in love with the Sub 116610 LV (the Hulk), because I liked green bezels and dial. Unfortunately it is overpriced in the grey market and luckily I had the opportunity to try and then buy the 124060, that I like a lot for the symmetry of the dial without the date. I agree that is something expensive to just know what time is it, but I repeat: it’s something that I like, it’s something that I can afford, it’s something matched with personal and professional milestone. Maybe after the honeymoon period I will use it only in some events and went back to use my AW daily, I don’t know. But fore sure it will be the first piece of a new passion 🙂
😂
In my case, I was in love with the Sub 116610 LV (the Hulk), because I liked green bezels and dial. Unfortunately it is overpriced in the grey market and luckily I had the opportunity to try and then buy the 124060, that I like a lot for the symmetry of the dial without the date. I agree that is something expensive to just know what time is it, but I repeat: it’s something that I like, it’s something that I can afford, it’s something matched with personal and professional milestone. Maybe after the honeymoon period I will use it only in some events and went back to use my AW daily, I don’t know. But fore sure it will be the first piece of a new passion 🙂
BSG75
macrumors 6502
Fortunately, it looks like the grey markets are softening a bit, but some of those prices are too rich for my blood! IMO, if I can buy from a grey at a price that is equivalent to MSRP + tax, then I would feel comfortable that purchase. The Hulk is a beautiful watch! I'm hoping to get an Explorer I as a milestone birthday present to myself. Hopefully, things will settle down a bit more by then.
I'm on record as saying that if I could only have one watch, it would be an Apple Watch, and I stand by that statement. However, I like ALL watches; smartwatches, digital, quartz, automatic and mechanical. So, I have a bit of a problem! 🙂
I try to rotate my traditional watches in the evening while charging my Apple Watch to get the best of both worlds.
The-Real-Deal82
macrumors P6
Apple Watch used to flex? Along with the millions of other people who also own them lol. There’s some good deals on certain Rolex now, many of which have plummeted in price whereas some have gone up to unsustainable levels. The Daytona’s have come down a hell of a lot.
As someone who has quite a few mechanical watches and been into them for a couple of decades, I’ve learned 9 out of 10 people you meet have absolutely no idea whether the Watch you are wearing is expensive or not. It’s an almost solitary passion in all reality.
BSG75
macrumors 6502
That's been my experience as well. Buy what you like for yourself, not to impress others.
stanza.richi
macrumors 65816
Explorer I is something that, at least in Italy, you can find from AD at list price with few months waiting. A friend of mine received it from my AD after 3-4 months.
mikext
macrumors 6502a
I must say, the "unlock with Apple Watch" feature is so clutch when you're wearing a mask. That was the most beneficial feature of the Apple Watch to me, but now it's a feature in iOS. I really don't find my watch to be a must-have anymore. I enjoy it for the fitness tracking but I can live without it. At this point, I really don't want another device in my life bombarding me with notifications, dings, and buzzes.
Once my Series 3 kicks the bucket, I don't see myself getting another Apple Watch.
Once my Series 3 kicks the bucket, I don't see myself getting another Apple Watch.
You pay money on a regular basis so that you can know the exact temperature outside? What?
I'm using a 5 year old Android watch and it can check the weather for free. Genuinely curious what your lifestyle looks like if (a) checking the weather and knowing the exact temperature is so critical to your workflow (because stuff like rain/snow etc are pretty hard to miss unless you're frequently deep underground away from windows and it's a long trek to the surface) and (b) minute variations in temperature substantially impacts what you do, yet (c) checking your iPhone is too difficult to do for some reason. I honestly can't imagine what that scenario would be.
I realize I sound like a troll but maybe I'm just missing something and I'm genuinely curious.