Sidebar Sidebar
Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.

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

firewood said:
Why be good at one thing when one can be good at two?
Click to expand...
I goes against everything that Apple usually stands for.

Their very narrow focus and strictly limited range of products and options - hailed by some and criticized by others - is what made them what they are today.

Going into the watch/fashion business might be the most logical step to grow further, but it may also very well be a huge mis-step diluting their brand. Only time will tell.
 
You think $1200 is bad? In the unveil video, Jony I've or someone mentioned that sapphire was the hardest transparent material aside from diamond. That instantly made me think "Apple Watch 4, now with a diamond display."

$$$$$$$$$$$$$$
 
This is Apple Gold, so add a few hundred extra to bring it to $1999.

I'm not a watch guy but I totally understand the allure of a watch, especially an Apple Watch. But gold? Why wrap a depreciating tech item in gold? I hope Apple offered the gold watch as a marketing tool shape the Apple Watch image, because it serves no useful purpose otherwise.
 
rGiskard said:
This is Apple Gold, so add a few hundred extra to bring it to $1999.



I'm not a watch guy but I totally understand the allure of a watch, especially an Apple Watch. But gold? Why wrap a depreciating tech item in gold? I hope Apple offered the gold watch as a marketing tool shape the Apple Watch image, because it serves no useful purpose otherwise.
Click to expand...


Solid gold watches usually cost much more than $2000.
In fact, I'm not sure if there are any that cost less than $2000, new.
 
$$$ money in the piggy bank.. :)

What a profit ?!!!

$1,200 to make but only starts at $349 ? Someone's seriously getting screwed here.

And that's just the watch, we haven't even got to sapphire yet, unless the price includes it.


"luxury" my ass.
 
McCool71 said:
I goes against everything that Apple usually stands for.

Their very narrow focus and strictly limited range of products and options - hailed by some and criticized by others - is what made them what they are today.

Going into the watch/fashion business might be the most logical step to grow further, but it may also very well be a huge mis-step diluting their brand. Only time will tell.
Click to expand...

Good point, but I see it more as a form of distraction from what is Apple's raison d'etre. Every hour and day Apple's leadership wastes on watch bands is a day that could have been better spent thinking about mobile devices or updating their neglected desktop lineup. Android is poised to own mobile computing, yet Apple's latest iPhones are merely catching up on hardware and tweaking iOS here and there. At this point in the battle, Apple should be cramming tech into the iPhone and rethinking some of iOS's limitations.
 
electroplating

Could add a whole $0.10 in gold. Same time, a solid gold watch with buckle even at 30 grams of gold would be $1300. Seems ridiculous to make disposable electronics solid gold. It is Apples style to charge $1000 for something 10 cents though. lol. If it is solid... Be fairly thin perhaps. We will know when they publish a product weight.

$1200... I'd rather get a Sinn German made mechanical with swiss movement
 
the difference between spending thousands on a real watch and then thousands on an Apple Watch...is that the real watch actually obtains its value beyond what its material scrap value is.

what is the point spending this amount of money on an Apple Watch version that has gold in it and is attempting to be stylish...only to have smiley faces, mickey mouse icons, and beating pink heartbeat graphics. if i was spending that absurd amount of money, i would want something with class and all class. no cartoon characters

but then again it's a moot point b/c i'm not going to be a customer for this product anyways


:apple: Think Again :apple:
 
Tech198 said:
$$$ money in the piggy bank.. :)

What a profit ?!!!

$1,200 to make but only starts at $349 ? Someone's seriously getting screwed here.

And that's just the watch, we haven't even got to sapphire yet, unless the price includes it.


"luxury" my ass.
Click to expand...


Do the math again.
 
Moonlight said:
"The lower end sport versions will start at $349 and presumably the standard versions, simply called Apple Watch, will receive a premium over that."


Hmmmm....

I would say the sport watch will be a premium over the standard watch, instead of the other way around. It has stronger glass, composite back and who knows what else.

So... This makes me think this guy knows NOTHING. :rolleyes:
Click to expand...

Methinks YOU know nothing ... It has glass - NOT sapphire.
 
SHNXX said:
Solid gold watches usually cost much more than $2000.
In fact, I'm not sure if there are any that cost less than $2000, new.
Click to expand...

I was just adding Apple's markup to the article's $1200 guess, I don't care what they cost. Set me loose in an Apple store with $100,000 and the LAST thing I'd come out with is a gold watch.
 
rGiskard said:
I was just adding Apple's markup to the article's $1200 guess, I don't care what they cost. Set me loose in an Apple store with $100,000 and the LAST thing I'd come out with is a gold watch.
Click to expand...


It's an accessory.
Differences in opinions are natural.
 
Medic311 said:
what is the point spending this amount of money on an Apple Watch version that has gold in it and is attempting to be stylish...only to have smiley faces, mickey mouse icons, and beating pink heartbeat graphics.
Click to expand...

Isn't it astonishing that nobody at Apple realized how incongruous the day-glo iOS design is with the sleek and elegant :apple: Watch design? Ive even made a point to brag about how the physical design and the software blend together! :eek:

It's becoming apparent just how much Ive collaborated with Jobs and relied on him as a sounding board.
 
Medic311 said:
the difference between spending thousands on a real watch and then thousands on an Apple Watch...is that the real watch actually obtains its value beyond what its material scrap value is.



what is the point spending this amount of money on an Apple Watch version that has gold in it and is attempting to be stylish...only to have smiley faces, mickey mouse icons, and beating pink heartbeat graphics. if i was spending that absurd amount of money, i would want something with class and all class. no cartoon characters



but then again it's a moot point b/c i'm not going to be a customer for this product anyways





:apple: Think Again :apple:
Click to expand...


Just because you cannot afford to waste 2k on such an item, doesn't mean others might not.
People have different income, net worth and different degrees of profligate spending.

Obviously it's not for those who don't have $2000 to waste on such a device.
The idea of putting gold on an electronic device will only appeal to those who do not care about reselling them or "worth" of such items.
Among those who could afford to do such a thing, only a fraction among those will find this attractive enough for purchase.
That's why it's going to be a limited edition device.

Really in the grand scheme of luxury goods, this isn't excessive at all.
 
SHNXX said:
Just because you cannot afford to waste 2k on such an item, doesn't mean others might not.
People have different income, net worth and different degrees of profligate spending.

Obviously it's not for those who don't have $2000 to waste on such a device.
The idea of putting gold on an electronic device will only appeal to those who do not care about reselling them or "worth" of such items.
Among those who could afford to do such a thing, only a fraction among those will find this attractive enough for purchase.
That's why it's going to be a limited edition device.

Really in the grand scheme of luxury goods, this isn't excessive at all.
Click to expand...

Indeed. It's actually quite comparable to other watches with similar metal content, weight, and craftsmanship.
 
cmaier said:
Indeed. It's actually quite comparable to other watches with similar metal content, weight, and craftsmanship.
Click to expand...


People put gold on their iPhones by paying jewelers. That's much more excessive IMP.
 
AZREOSpecialist said:
Those who are buying the 18k version are most likely using it primarily as a classy time piece. In that respect, it won't become obsolete.
Click to expand...


As much as I love Apple and all their products, even I struggle to see the Apple Watch ever being regarded as a classic time piece.

That said, in terms of software I expect Apple will treat this a lot like the Apple TV. So far, they have only killed off the original Apple TV from receiving updates. Because the ATV software has modest hardware requirements, and I expect the watch to be much the same. This approach will help preserve the value of a device that will be regarded as technology first ahead of the things a true watch aficionado cares about.
 
Typically gold plated watches cost little more than their stainless steel equivalents because there isn't much gold used in the process. Many watch companies don't even charge more for gold variations of watches when the same model can be bought in stainless steel or ion plated.
 
bunnicula said:
I dig that rose gold one. I'm not a yellow gold type. Alas, if it costs 1.2k, methinks I'll be going for the standard or the sport, but with a decent band (none of that neoprene-looking stuff, something leather or metal).

If the rose gold comes in under 1k, I'll be tempted for collector's item reasons.
Click to expand...

I want the rose gold too. I dont care the price, i must get one! :p
 
bpeeps said:
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.
Click to expand...

If you go to ANY industry that sells products to consumers you can find tons of examples of what "regular" people would find outrageously priced.

There are companies that take Apple (and others) products and do gold plating, stick crystals and diamonds all over the place and charge tens of thousands of dollars and they seem to be doing enough business to continue doing it.

Here's an example of one company.

http://gadgets.ndtv.com/mobiles/new...y-alexander-amosu-costs-gbp-17-million-589753

It kind of makes $1200 for a 18K gold plated watch seem cheap.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Register on MacRumors! This sidebar will go away, and you'll see fewer ads.
Top Bottom
Back