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If I decide to get the Apple Watch, I'll at least get the Stainless steel model, if the Gold isn't too much more I might spring for the Gold. I don't like Rose Gold, I think that looks a little too feminine, but 18k Gold is cool.

It would be cool if they had Platinum, that would be cool.

Yeah no way I'm going for the rose gold either. Maybe a girlfriend or something lol ;)
 
The Apple Watch value to an individual really depends on what they value more - fashion/functionality vs longevity.

Many people here complain about buying a new phone every 1-2 years. And if not subsidized even more.

Also - and I might be mistaken - but the resale value on watches aren't going to be as high as resale on phones after 2 years of use.
 
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The Edition version of Apple's 18-karat gold Apple Watch could cost around $1,200, reports TechCrunch. The site consulted with "jewelers familiar with the material" Apple uses for the Apple Watch Edition, basing an estimate on the size and weight of the device.

18-karat yellow gold Apple Watch Edition with Red Modern Buckle band​
Any predictions on possible cost for the gold Apple Watch at this point are fairly rough estimates, as the exact dimensions of the device remain unknown. It is also unclear whether the Apple Watch is gold plated or solid gold alloy.

According to Apple's site, the 18-karat gold used in the Apple Watch Edition has been crafted by the company's metallurgists to be "twice as hard as standard gold." It also comes with a polished sapphire crystal display and rumors have suggested the gold watches will come in special boxes that can also be used for charging.

Early iWatch rumors from KGI Securities Analyst Ming-Chi Kuo suggested the wearable device would come in an array of colors and styles, with some of them costing several thousand dollars. Depending on the pricing of the Edition watches, Kuo's prediction may not be far off.

While Apple is aiming for the luxury market with the Apple Watch Edition line, the company is also planning to offer the Apple Watch in several other lower-priced configurations. The Apple Watch Sport, for example, does away with sapphire in favor of an Ion-X glass display and a lightweight aluminum casing, making it much more affordable. According to Apple, its line of watches will start at $349 and will begin shipping in early 2015.

Article Link: High-End 18-Karat Gold Apple Watch Could Cost Up to $1,200


I'm quite surprised that it's that low?
 
$1200 would be extremely inexpensive for a watch with some solid gold. This is PVD price range.

But it could be that inexpensive because it is a mass market throwaway gadget, not a real watch.
 
The solution for apple and the consumer is to NOT make a new apple watch every year. Every 20 years is better. People will still buy it in year 2,3,4,5 etc because it's not going anywhere. Apple still makes money, consumer doesnt worry about being outdated; everyone wins. Will competitors add new things to their smartwatches in the next 20 years? Sure. But that's not the point, Apple wont be making another one for decades, so its still worth the money.
 
1200 would be relatively cheap in the watch world. But what makes it a tougher sell is that unlike most premium watches that are often timeless in that you can wear them your whole life or pass them down if they are extra premium. Where is these watches will only have 2 year life span if that, like iPhones since the bodys will quickly become obsolete.

While you maybe able to use the straps on new generations you also more likely will not. Making 1200+ every two years a bit pricey since it's aimed at the low high end. People who buy high end watches for 5-10K, have more money to burn but someone buying a 1200 watch probably saved up a long time for it.
 
why?

why would anyone spend that kind of money for something that will be outdated within the year of purchase. Now if the inner module was replaceable going forward that would make more sense.

Course those with money to burn are the target audience here!
 
$1200 actually seems pretty low for gold. I guess we'll see the real prices when they're announced.

This would be among the cheapest solid gold watches available today (that are not used). Probably the cheapest.

Wow, only $1,200 for 18K Gold...not bad at all! That's actually pretty damn cheap!

I can't think of a solid gold, 18K watch less than $3K new. If the EDITION model is solid and only $1200, I'd be amazed, unless there just isn't much metal in the watch.

All correct. I wouldn't bet on $1,200 unless it's 18K plated. My gut guess for an 18K Apple Watch is toward $2K on a low-ball guess. If a metal band would also be 18K, I'd expect $4K+ on the low-end of the price range.

How do they expect people to buy version two of this watch?

How do they expect people to buy version 8 of an iPhone (a new one every year or two)? For Apple, it's basically offer it and they will come (better known as "shut up and take my money").

Buying a Rolex is a bit different than an Apple Watch. An Apple Watch dies after about 10 years. A rolex runs for 100 years at least.

No. A Rolex can run for a 100 years but you'll be paying for some handsome refurbishing/reconditioning maintenance every decade or less. How much is that? It could buy you a new iPhone or two unlocked and off contract.
 
Yeah no way I'm going for the rose gold either. Maybe a girlfriend or something lol ;)


It's not the rose gold that's girly.
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Just the men who feel girly wearing it.
 
What will it be worth when :apple:watch 2 comes out?

Hence the reason I think it will be gold plated and not solid gold. Until version 2 and maybe 3, this won't be a long term purchase. The battery life just won't be there. Once it needs weekly instead of daily charging this goes on a different cycle and a $2000 version becomes more justifiable.
 
1200 for a bulky watch? I'll wait for the Air version in 4 years.

My favorite past-time is reading reviews for 10,000 dollar watches on Amazon. Pretty Hilarious.

Those are hilarious!

As for the watch price goes. At least if it is real gold it should be able to retain its value better than a normal metal being used.
 
You don't want to buy an $1.2K Apple watch to discover 14months later there is a new round model with more sensors.


When Apple is known for having the highest resale value in the market I'm pretty sure you can sell your 1.2k watch for $850 and only pay $300 for the upgrade to the latest goldness with the latest sensors.
 
That's the most important question! For those who buy the high-end Edition version, what will they do, how will they feel when the next iteration is released?

Depends on how well the trade-in or resale value holds up. If there is a strong secondary market for one to two year old Apple Watches, a new Watch iteration might make me trade-up and spend more in Apple's stores.

Remember that there are people who pay several hundred dollars every few years just to service their fancy Swiss watches. If the new to trade-in differential is small enough, they could spend the same on Apple Watch product.
 
Maybe Apple will have a trade-in program to recapture some of that gold. Offer a reasonable amount off the next version upon surrendering your old watch and that takes the sting out of the upgrade. Gold is gold. They're going to need to buy gold for the new cases from somewhere anyway.


I think the watch must be plated because the price of gold varies per day so it would be hard for Apple to lock in a price for a whole year unless they priced it at the highest level so they wouldn't lose money if gold prices spiked upward.

Then again I suppose they could withhold supply or change composition/percentage of gold if that happened. They'd need to disclose that if it supposed to be solid gold, of course. I really can't imagine that it's not plated because that much solid gold is worth a lot.
 
The Apple Watch is so thick you can't fit it under a cuff.

The exact same is true for a lot of popular Tag and Rolex models. Even some $100k+ exotics are over 13mm.

The Apple Watch, with all it fitness sensors, is more like an executive's sport activity watch than a pure evening dress watch.
 
People who buy consumer electronics made out of gold don't care about the price.

Might as well charge $8,000
 
1. Red and gold is ugly

2. it's silly to buy an expensive piece of jewelry that will become obsolete.

Tell that to all the women dropping many hundreds on outfits, accessories and shoes for the latest fashion season. Guys too! (I'm in California.) It's a vastly bigger business than you think.

Also, if just the case production costs are $600, the total markup on the entire finished product will be a lot more than 2X. It could easily reach over 4X at full retail (thus the Apple stores could be even more mobbed on Black Friday 2015).

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I think the watch must be plated because the price of gold varies per day so it would be hard for Apple to lock in a price for a whole year unless they priced it at the highest level so they wouldn't lose money if gold prices spiked upward.

No different a problem than the Tiffany's and Cartier's stores in the same high-end malls as the Apple stores. They have fixed price tags on their thousand-dollar-plus gold bangles and watches.
 
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