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Well, the Hermes face appears to be the only elegantly designed face for the AW, at least for the time being. I suppose Apple is milking them until they're obsolete, at which point they'll have to come up with their own elegant watch faces. It's just a matter of time.
Really you think this watch face is elegant? I don't see how it's any better/worse than Apple's analog faces.
 
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Again, respectfully, that's not the issue. I'm thrilled Apple is doing it, and expected them to do this from the beginning. Anybody who paid attention to Apple's rhetoric and marketing efforts could easily see that they were positioning this watch as luxury fashion statement. But why is the person wearing the watch and using that watch face then? Because it says Hermes. It's disingenuous at best from that perspective and absolutely no different than what the round watch makers have been doing, whether you happen to like their efforts or not. In fact it's worse because they are essentially trading on a brand that has nothing to do with the watch beyond attaching a leather strap. At least the Huawei's and others are not trying to pass off their watches as something they are not, while offering their customers freedom of choice for a device they are going to wear.
Apple partnered with a luxury brand. I fail to see what is disingenuous about it. And if that watch face was really skeuomorphic it would have faux shadows and depth to make it look like a physical piece of hardware.
 
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But why is the person wearing the watch and using that watch face then? Because it says Hermes.

It's the same reason someone would be anything by Hermes. It's well designed, and it says Hermes. These watch straps are no different.
 
I'm talking about this specific watch face.

So you're of the opinion that the Hermes watch face isn't elegant? Well, I beg to differ with you. Apple is using analog watch dials designed for circular displays. Luxury rectangular watches don't do this, and this is reflected in the Hermes face. I'd like to see the dial along the perimeter of the watch (possibly in Roman numerals) and complications inside the dial.
 
So you're of the opinion that the Hermes watch face isn't elegant? Well, I beg to differ with you. Apple is using analog watch dials designed for circular displays. Luxury rectangular watches don't do this, and this is reflected in the Hermes face. I'd like to see the dial along the perimeter of the watch (possibly in Roman numerals) and complications inside the dial.

I pretty much agree, although there are luxury watches that are square with a circular dial...especially from Newson's Ikepod line that has the Apple Watch DNA.

ikepod%20manatee.jpg

ikepod-solaris-scb31-scb31_9421.jpg


Here's a particularly cool Omega that I like:
Omega-Watches-from-Museum-30.jpg
 
They were talking on Bloomberg today that you will be able to purchase the Hermes band separately for about $350
 
This is disputed by several sites. Did they confuse it with the $350 Sport?
No they were specifically talking about the Hermes band because the lady said she already had a watch but really likes their bands and the guy said he spoke to someone after the keynote yesterday and they will release the bands.
 
Yea we will see. You know how the media is, probably just made it up haha
 
When transformed into an Watch it still says Hermes stamped into the case.

Sure. Is this a problem?

Do you know for a fact that Huawei is using other brands watch faces or designs without their permission?

It's very likely. First, you don't hear anything from Huawei about any sort of partnership with the luxury brands. Second, other brand's logos aren't displayed anywhere. Third, I seriously, seriously doubt that these brands would want to be associated with Huawei, a brand that is not luxury.

This is the game that homage watches play. They copy the design and just don't put the logo on the watch, thereby getting around potential legal issues (for the most part). Huawei is doing the same thing.

I'm not arguing your taste here, as taste is subjective. For instance, I would never wear this watch, and I think it's horrific combined with Apple's tasteful minimalist design. It does no favors for Apple, other than propel them into the realm of luxury branding that Huawei and others are already offering as an option, without the inclusion of an actual brand that has little to do with the design of the watch or the face.

While I wouldn't wear it, I think it's a nice design that's tastefully done. It's another way for luxury brands to get into the wearable market, and I think it'll help Apple market the AW for another segment of the market.

As for Huawei's "luxury" branding... I seriously doubt the general public would think of that as luxury, especially when no luxury brand is on it. As for the AW Hermes? People might see it as luxury, we'll have to see how it fares in the marketplace.
 
Apple partnered with a luxury brand. I fail to see what is disingenuous about it. And if that watch face was really skeuomorphic it would have faux shadows and depth to make it look like a physical piece of hardware.

You have specifically stated repeatedly that Apple is not pursuing the luxury watch market. Yet here they are. Moreover, who do you think is going to buy a Hermes Watch? Clearly Apple is targeting fashion watch wearers with a Hermes knock-off watch face which Hermes didn't actually design, much less in Paris. It may not be technically skuemorphic, but it certainly is designed to mimic the classic Hermes design. And who would want that? People who don't wear watches? Or someone who cares what their watch face looks like and says?

Your hypocrisy is astounding.
 
As for Huawei's "luxury" branding... I seriously doubt the general public would think of that as luxury, especially when no luxury brand is on it. As for the AW Hermes? People might see it as luxury, we'll have to see how it fares in the marketplace.

Exactly. You have to build your public perception to play in the luxury arena, and Hermes is a good place to start. There was a time when a Rolex Sub was just a solid tool watch that divers bought. Eventually, Rolex wisely starting positioning and marketing themselves as a luxury lifestyle brand, which allowed them to survive. I think the same could be said of Leica camera, too, which reminds me...Leica M9 Hermes:
hermes.jpg
 
You have specifically stated repeatedly that Apple is not pursuing the luxury watch market. Yet here they are. Moreover, who do you think is going to buy a Hermes Watch? Clearly Apple is targeting fashion watch wearers with a Hermes knock-off watch face which Hermes didn't actually design, much less in Paris. It may not be technically skuemorphic, but it certainly is designed to mimic the classic Hermes design. And who would want that? People who don't wear watches? Or someone who cares what their watch face looks like and says?

Your hypocrisy is astounding.

Do we know that someone at Hermes didn't design that watch face? I'm sure that they had some input on it.
 
Do we know that someone at Hermes didn't design that watch face? I'm sure that they had some input on it.

I agree. There's no way Hermès would agree to release something that they have no control over. They have way too much power to let that happen. Plus, the three typeface that you can customize on the watch: Cape Cod, Clipper and Espace are all three fonts that Hermès created. The number 8 on the Cape Cod typeface is the infamous Chaîne D'ancre from Hermès jewelry line.

Mac 128, I agree with the other poster that you are making a big deal out of nothing and you really let this collaboration bother you for a strange reason.
 
It's very likely. First, you don't hear anything from Huawei about any sort of partnership with the luxury brands. Second, other brand's logos aren't displayed anywhere. Third, I seriously, seriously doubt that these brands would want to be associated with Huawei, a brand that is not luxury.

This is the game that homage watches play. They copy the design and just don't put the logo on the watch, thereby getting around potential legal issues (for the most part). Huawei is doing the same thing.

So this is your presumption and there's no actual proof that Huawei is stealing famous luxury designs and selling them as their own?

I could care less about any smartwatches partnering with a luxury brand. If Apple is able to make it happen, so much the better for the watch. But whether or not it's successful, the idea that simply because Apple is partnering with a luxury brand makes what they are doing somehow better than what Huawei is doing is silly. Subjective taste aside, unless Huawei is actually doing something illegal, they are marketing a smartwatch as a traditional watch replacement, just like Apple is doing with their Hermes Cape Cod knock-off. And to the extent that's not enough to convince someone, I'd suggest that branding a watch face with a famous brand to give the impression of actually wearing a watch by that designer is in fact worse than what Huawei is doing.
 
Do we know that someone at Hermes didn't design that watch face? I'm sure that they had some input on it.

I agree. There's no way Hermès would agree to release something that they have no control over. They have way too much power to let that happen. Plus, the three typeface that you can customize on the watch: Cape Cod, Clipper and Espace are all three fonts that Hermès created. The number 8 on the Cape Cod typeface is the infamous Chaîne D'ancre from Hermès jewelry line.

From the Apple website: "With leather straps handmade by Hermes artisans in France and an Hermes watch face reinterpreted by Apple designers in California."

Of course Hermes approved the design. Still they did not design it -- Apple did. Yet the watch is branded with Hermes Trademarks.

And again, that's not the issue, but rather that some think this is somehow different marketing by Apple than what Huawei and others are doing with their watch faces. Is Apple doing it better? I'd say so. But they are still emulating a classic Hermes Cape Cod design to sell the Watch to those who are looking for their smartwatch to imitate their existing luxury smartwatches.
 
So this is your presumption and there's no actual proof that Huawei is stealing famous luxury designs and selling them as their own?

Yes. They're doing what other homage watches do in the traditional watch world, and homage watch vendors certainly don't ask for permission from the original design creators.

Huawei (little known brand outside of tech) would love to put well known brands on their products (see Ferrari phones from Asus). But they can't because they'd be sued. Luxury brands protect their brands and logos vigorously.

But whether or not it's successful, the idea that simply because Apple is partnering with a luxury brand makes what they are doing somehow better than what Huawei is doing is silly. Subjective taste aside, unless Huawei is actually doing something illegal, they are marketing a smartwatch as a traditional watch replacement, just like Apple is doing with their Hermes Cape Cod knock-off.

Firstly, the AW Hermes is not a knock-off. Hermes is on board with the design.

Second, what Huawei is doing isn't illegal, but it's certainly distasteful (my opinion).

If Huawei put other brand's logos on there, it's them be illegal unless the brands gave their permissions.

And to the extent that's not enough to convince someone, I'd suggest that branding a watch face with a famous brand to give the impression of actually wearing a watch by that designer is in fact worse than what Huawei is doing.

Again, Hermes is on board with this. They must have agreed with the design and branding because they're the original creators of the design.

I seriously doubt Breguet and others are on board with what Huawei is doing.
 
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So you're of the opinion that the Hermes watch face isn't elegant? Well, I beg to differ with you. Apple is using analog watch dials designed for circular displays. Luxury rectangular watches don't do this, and this is reflected in the Hermes face. I'd like to see the dial along the perimeter of the watch (possibly in Roman numerals) and complications inside the dial.

This is where I think Apple missed on watch faces with me. I think the biggest strength of the watch is the digital information oriented faces. Love the solar and motion faces but you can't get info on them. I know you don't want them cluttered because they are beautiful but they could both easily handle a text complication on the bottom. The utility is great but can be a little too much going on text wise and still can look a little too bland with the monochrome. I do like the multi color option coming with os2 though. I think that strikes a good balance. Basically the faces I like the most solar and motion soon to be time lapse don't take advantage of my favorite feature which is complications.

Then on the analog side the small circle with complications around it kind of kills the look for me. Like I love the look of the chronograph but there's just so much wasted space and the circle is so small in relation to the watch. I'd love a rectangular analog with the complications inside the face. At least as an option.

I guess overall I think they were really smart and bold to embrace the rectangular face and embrace how the watch would function showing information instead of going with just convention. Then with the watch faces they kind of completely backpedaled on that and tried to shoehorn conventional shaped faces back into it. And then personally to me one of the biggest strengths of the watch the digital informational type faces are kind of neutered except for utility which can be a bit of overkill. Kind of a rant I guess but this post really resonated with me. I'd really like a Hermes type analog face, wouldn't even really care about the branding I just think it looks really natural on the watch. Same with the look of that omega something like that would look great and strikes a great balance between the two. Kind of bummed I can't get something like them honestly.
 
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This was a collaboration between Apple and Hermés. They even put out a joint press release about it. I think it's nonsense to think Apple would have designed the watch face without input from Hermés.

https://www.apple.com/pr/library/20...Unveil-the-Apple-Watch-Herm-s-Collection.html

With some of this discussion I have to wonder if some are a bit miffed that Hermés would choose to partner with Apple because it ruins the meme that Apple wants to be a luxury brand but it's not. Honestly I can't see Hermés partnering with Huawei, LG or Lenovo on anything.
 
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If only it was possible to download the Hermes watch face. It's pretty much a package deal.

It's an apple watch, not a Hermes, I kinda find it tacky. Looks as tacky as all the android smart watches running Rolex, Hermes etc etc watch faces. Though each to their own.

I hope apple at one stage will allow custom watch faces, not to pretend it's another exclusive brand but allow creative folk to design watch faces.
 
This was a collaboration between Apple and Hermés. They even put out a joint press release about it. I think it's nonsense to think Apple would have designed the watch face without input from Hermés.

https://www.apple.com/pr/library/20...Unveil-the-Apple-Watch-Herm-s-Collection.html

With some of this discussion I have to wonder if some are a bit miffed that Hermés would choose to partner with Apple because it ruins the meme that Apple wants to be a luxury brand but it's not. Honestly I can't see Hermés partnering with Huawei, LG or Lenovo on anything.

What do you mean designed? It's the classic Hermes face.

HermesTonneauE.jpg


Does not ruin any meme for me, it's an Apple watch, an image portraying it as a Hermes is tacky for me, just like seeing highend watch faces on cheap android smart watches......tacky!!

Does an official press release by both apple and Hermes make it less tacky than seeing an exact Hermes watch face in a rectangular android smart watch......just so slightly, at least the android user did not fork out loads of money to put lipstick on a pig as they call it.

I love my apple watch, it's an apple product, I will not pretend it's better than any other apple watch out here cause of a watch face.....just an image. If I want a Hermes, I'll buy one.

since when is Huawei, LG or Lenovo at the same level as Apple? Feel free to compare when they raise thier prices by an big amount. Maybe cause Apple has Angela to make the connections for them? Hey are paying her a huge amount
 
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