Spot on. Why imitate? well I Know why $$$$$$. At least the edition AW is gold, these bands cost more than the AW itself..... Easy money...
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Hermés Apple Watch is specially engraved
- Thread starter Rogifan
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No one is saying this is a Hermes watch. Hermes teams up with LOTS of manufacturers to add their touch, particularly with leather work:
No one is saying this is a Hermes watch. Hermes teams up with LOTS of manufacturers to add their touch, particularly with leather work:
Completely agree. Though in all those parternships, you get a subtle branding of Hermes. Putting Hermes on the watch face is branding a watch. I have no issues with the partnership, I do with the tacky watch face which says hermes. Just as tacky as every android watch pretending to be some high end. The leather strap looks good, though the Apple Brand should come first as in all the other partnerships you posted.
I disagree. Hermes isn't really even known for good watchmaking, anyways. They calibrated on a watch face design, so it makes sense to put their logo on there. I'm sure we'll see more of it in the future.
Do you see an apple logo on the watch? It makes no sense that they should be the only logo on the watch.
Bugatti, Leica etc, would never replace thier logos with a partner. In my opinion, the Hermes logo should be on the strap.
Yes, the Apple Watch logo is on the back of the watch, just like all other Apple Watches, and it's no different than the Veyron having both Bugatti and Hermes logos on it. None of the Apple Watches have the Apple logo on the screen. You've got to stop thinking about the dial in analog watch terms. These are little computers, and the Hermes watchface is essentially a screensaver, like the Ferrrari screen on the Asus phone.
It's a watch, analogue or digital is the same concept . You are thinking in terms of a computer and view this as a wallpaper .
It's very different to the Bugatti implementation . You can clearly tell what is the major logo.
Clearly we disagree on branding , so be it .
Which makes this no different than the Huawei and other's designs, and makes Apple no better just because they got permission to use the brand name. It's still trying to pretend to be something it's not.
But here's a question to ponder -- why did Apple fight to ensure their iPhone partners ATT & Verizon could not have any branding on the phones at all? Yet they are willing to bend over backwards and not only give the main screen the branding of their partner only, but have stamped their trademark on the case itself. Can you imagine an iPhone that had the ATT logo stamped as prominently on the back with the Apple? Or a launch screen that ONLY featured the ATT logo?
If you can honestly look at an Apple Watch, compare it the Huawei watch, and then not see the difference in design quality, then it's no wonder that you don't understand why the fashion/luxury houses would get behind the Apple Watch. The Apple Watch is still desirable to many of us who spend thousands on Swiss Watches, because the design is fantastic, and it's more functional than a mechanical watch. The Huawei looks like a cheap analog watch case from a mall kiosk.
Are you intentionally missing the point here? It's not about the actual implementation of the watch it's about the marketing strategy. Apple has crafted an authorized Heremes Cape Cod knock-off, complete with the the Hermes trademark emblazoned across the watch face. The intent is to make it LOOK like a Hermes watch, and sell watches under that brand. This is absolutely the exact same thing that Huawei and others are doing, regardless of how well they are able to execute it. But, no matter how prominent the Hermes branding, it's still NOT a Hermes watch. As far as the Huawei is concerned, I personally wouldn't opt for one of their skuemorphic faux luxury watch faces, but some people get a kick out of them -- it's not like Huawei is trying to fool anyone into thinking they're buying a Rolex. And there are certainly some watch faces that are just as tasteful as Apple's minimalist approach. Apple on the other hand is intentionally positioning the Hermes watch so that customers think they are buying a Hermes. And that's what makes it worse than how Huawei is approaching it.
They aren't trying to fool anyone with branding. They even call it "Apple Watch Hermes" in the copy on the Hermes website:
"Uncompromising craftsmanship. Pioneering innovation. Groundbreaking functionality. Apple Watch Hermès is the culmination of a partnership based on parallel thinking, singular vision, and mutual regard. It is a unique timepiece designed with both utility and beauty in mind. With leather straps handmade by Hermès artisans in France and Hermès watch faces reinterpreted by Apple designers, Apple Watch Hermès is a product of elegant, artful simplicity — the ultimate tool for modern life."
If you think that's bad, imagine Rolex giving their watches to Tiffany, back when they were trying to get into the luxury game. They wrote Tiffany right on the dial, and Tiffany didn't contribute anything else to the piece. Things sure worked out for Rolex, as now they're synonymous with luxury.
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Considering the Edition already comes with an exclusive gold color option for the stock faces, I'm surprised nobody has figured out how to load the exclusive faces onto the Apple Watch if they didn't ship with them. It can't be much more than a custom ROM.
Because both AT&T and Verizon are hated brands, and Apple didn't want to be associated with them (much). Plus Apple's culture/values (probably) don't mesh with either of those.
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"Authorized" and "knock-off" conflict here...
Yes, and that's why it's a... Apple Watch Hermes.
You'd so get burned on watch forums...
Yes, and that's why it's a... Apple Watch Hermes.
Yes, and those other watch faces aren't homages of other brand's iconic designs, taken without permission.
Samsung Gear S2 watch faces does this better, go have a look.
I seriously doubt any consumer who bought the AW Hermes will be fooled to think they just got an Hermes watch.
They aren't trying to fool anyone with branding. They even call it "Apple Watch Hermes" in the copy on the Hermes website:
"Uncompromising craftsmanship. Pioneering innovation. Groundbreaking functionality. Apple Watch Hermès is the culmination of a partnership based on parallel thinking, singular vision, and mutual regard. It is a unique timepiece designed with both utility and beauty in mind. With leather straps handmade by Hermès artisans in France and Hermès watch faces reinterpreted by Apple designers, Apple Watch Hermès is a product of elegant, artful simplicity — the ultimate tool for modern life."
If you think that's bad, imagine Rolex giving their watches to Tiffany, back when they were trying to get into the luxury game. They wrote Tiffany right on the dial, and Tiffany didn't contribute anything else to the piece. Things sure worked out for Rolex, as now they're synonymous with luxury.
I don't disagree with you at all. So we can expect to see Apple Rolex partnerships in the future. ;-)
My point is, it doesn't change what's happening here.
And none of this changes what's happening. Apple is selling out to get luxury fashion status, and promote their watch to luxury fashion watch wearers. It's the exact same thing Huawei and the others are doing with their faux traditional watch faces, attempting to appeal to a demographic they perceive as invested in these kinds of things, regardless of what you personally think about the execution of them.
This attitude is blatant hypocrisy -- it's OK if Apple does it, just not others.
As for how the watch is being sold this image says it all: There's a picture of a fruit next to the watch. The word Apple doesn't appear anywhere. But confusing the customer is not really the issue, and if so, they're probably going to figure it out before they add it to their purchase. The point being, would the Hermes customer even look at the Watch as replacing their Hermes Cape Cod if Apple wasn't creating an electronic imitation of it for them to buy? Perhaps. And if so, why is Apple so willing to take a backseat to Hermes here?
When worn, this is all anyone will see:
Come on, everyone knows
is Apple, and this is no different from the standard AW boxes. You're trying too hard.I think I may be finally getting your point. I agree. Yes, they're doing this, and I think it's absolutely necessary. Fashion/wearables is a much different market than computers/tech, and, to get their product on the fashion elite, they don't want to slather Apple branding all over it. It's imperative to get the fashion elite to wear this thing, because, if they accept it, it trickles down to regular consumers. Over the last decade or so, Apple has started to pivot from a tech company to a lifestyle company, which I think is smart.
The Hermes and Edition Apple Watches are halo products meant to help bring people in on the opposite end of the price spectrum. Getting wealthy and fashionable people to wear the Apple Watch shows everyone else that it's ok to wear a computer on your wrist. That's very important when you're working in a new category meant to be worn on the body.
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I consider this to be a Hermès watch, despite some of what has been posted in this thread.
Has anyone here ever owned a Hermès watch? They are essentially a leather company, and their bags may be the finest in the world. When you buy one of their watches essentially you are buying a simple movement on one of their fine leather bands. No one who owns a Hermès watch does so because of the movement in the case, they are buying the leather and the face - that is the same reason to buy the Apple Watch version.
While it says Apple 'designed' the face in California I do not think this is the best term that could have been used, as the face is very much Hermès. All Apple did was digitize a Hermès design.
One other thing to remember is that company largely caters to a female customer base, and most of their watches are designed for women. In fact with the Apple Watch Hermès there are only three options for men (Single Tour black and brown, and Cuff brown), whereas the 38mm case has different Single Tour colors and all of the Double Tour colors. Anecdotaly the women I have spoken to who have dismissed the Apple Watch are very interested in the Apple Watch Hermès.
It is very much at place in the signature orange Hermès box and in their boutiques in Manhattan, Beverly Hills, and Miami. This is definitely a Hermès watch and I have no problem with the brand stamped front and center.
Has anyone here ever owned a Hermès watch? They are essentially a leather company, and their bags may be the finest in the world. When you buy one of their watches essentially you are buying a simple movement on one of their fine leather bands. No one who owns a Hermès watch does so because of the movement in the case, they are buying the leather and the face - that is the same reason to buy the Apple Watch version.
While it says Apple 'designed' the face in California I do not think this is the best term that could have been used, as the face is very much Hermès. All Apple did was digitize a Hermès design.
One other thing to remember is that company largely caters to a female customer base, and most of their watches are designed for women. In fact with the Apple Watch Hermès there are only three options for men (Single Tour black and brown, and Cuff brown), whereas the 38mm case has different Single Tour colors and all of the Double Tour colors. Anecdotaly the women I have spoken to who have dismissed the Apple Watch are very interested in the Apple Watch Hermès.
It is very much at place in the signature orange Hermès box and in their boutiques in Manhattan, Beverly Hills, and Miami. This is definitely a Hermès watch and I have no problem with the brand stamped front and center.
Good points. It is about the leather, and it does seem to be aimed a bit at females, although I'd argue that the 38mm Apple Watch looks better on most men, too, but that's a topic for another thread. Either way, I don't see tons of women wearing the 42mm model, so it makes sense that they focused on 38mm.
If Huawei partners with Breguet (which likely entails Breguet's logo and design be on the watch face, along with press releases and smiling faces of executives from both sides), then it wouldn't be an homage and I wouldn't have a problem with it. How it looks, etc is another issue.
If Apple takes a signature Rolex and Omega watch face and offers it on the AW, without explicit permission by these brands, then it would *not* be right.
There *is* a big difference between using a design with approval, partnership, and permission (AW Hermes), and not (Huawei).
Another way to state this--do you have a problem with these copycat car designs?
http://www.carmagazine.co.uk/featur...copycat-cars-at-the-2015-shanghai-motor-show/
Same idea--they took designs without permission, and left out the logo to avoid legal issues.
And I'm not harping on Chinese companies in particular. See Kia and Hyundai designs from the 2000's.
You're *really* reaching on this one. The Apple logo is the top brand worldwide at the moment...
When worn, this is all anyone will see:
By your analogy, when said customer uses it with their iPhone covered by an Hermes case (so no Apple logo is visible), they'll think it's a Hermes phone...
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Unless you can show me the watch face that Huawei stole without permission, then this is absolutely the same thing. By your definition all luxury watches are stealing from each other because they all have a clock face, brushed metal accents and numbers. Ultimately I don't give a rat's behind about whether it's legal or not, it does not change the marketing aspect of this. Both are attempting to appeal to the same sort of traditional watch buyer.
Now who's reaching? I never suggested that people will literally think the Watch was designed and manufactured by Hermes, at least by the time the buy it. What I did say is the intent is to make the watch look like a Hermes watch for the benefit of selling it to Hermes customers, despite Hermes having zero to do with the design of the Watch. And that is in fact no different than Huawei putting an upscale watch face reminiscent of luxury watches on theirs. At least they aren't selling the watch with branding of a third party that had no input to the design of the watch at all.
I wouldn't discount the fact that Hermes made leather straps for this edition of the Apple Watch, which is what Hermes is known for. It's the whole point. If we were talking about the regular Apple Watch with an Apple strap simply using the Hermes watchface, I'd understand, but Hermes made bands for these things, which is a big deal.
My wife, who wears an Omega and an Apple Watch, would probably rather have the Apple Watch Hermes than the actual Cape Cod. I'm lucky that she already has the steel Apple Watch, and they don't sell the Hermes bands separately.
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A clock face, brushed metal accents, and numbers is not a distinct design.
Distinct, iconic designs are one like the moon watch, Submariner, GMT, Tank, Reverso, Royal Oak, Nautilus, Panerai, etc. Those are very different from one another, from the watch case shapes to the fonts to the textures to the lugs.
And yes, many companies copy those designs, which are usually called homages (not illegal but generally frowned upon). But if they also put the original brand's logo on it, it's a counterfeit and that's enforceable by law.
But the watch face design *is* Heremes'... the fonts, the placement of the numerals, the logo itself. They're in the design of the Cape Cod, Clipper, and Espace. These are not Apple's designs. Same goes for the bands as many others have pointed out. The rest of the watch, including the lugs, general shape, and obviously everything else software-wise, is Apple's.
It's a fusion of designs, is perhaps the best way to describe it. Arguing that it's soley Apple's or solely Hermes' design doesn't make much sense.
I see the AW Hermes not as imitation but a reinterpretation of those traditional designs for the digital age since Apple and Hermes partnered on it. Hermes can't imitate itself.
Not sure why you're so bothered by this. Apple wants to get into the luxury game, so this is the way they're approaching the game. As someone else pointed out, Rolex used the same approach with Tiffany back in the 50s and 60s, and it worked for them.
Why does it bother you so?