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Jony Ive On iWatch: Switzerland is in Trouble

if this comment by Johny is true - it's disappointing. it means the watch is aimed at those that wear watches, you know those overpriced bits of jewllery that serve no real purpose these days other than as fasion and status symbols.

It also fits with the earlier rumors that the watch will be in the $5,000+ price range made of actual silver/gold, maybe with a el-cheapo aluminium obefor $400 for the masses.
 
he also said ip5c was ‘unapologetically plastic.’ uh, yea ok dude, whatever. there's no way any smartwatch will have the same effect as mechanical watches from AP, Hublot, etc. different league my friend. people buying a smartwatch is not gonna stop people from buying swiss watches that cost anywhere from 5k - 50k.

lay off the fairy dust.. you're sniffing too much of it.
 
mozumder said:
People that buy $10,000-$50,000 watches aren't going to not buy them because of Apple.

There was an interview with one of the luxury watch vendors CEO back when the first digital watches came out in the 70's. The interviewer asked about the threatening competition from digital watches, and the CEO gave back the answer "We're not in the watch business. We're in the Jewelry business."

The Swiss watchmakers have nothing to worry about.
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True, but I will play devil's advocate and say that vertu got in trouble when millionaires were starting buying iPhones instead of gold plated pocket phones.
 
mackinmike said:
he also said ip5c was ‘unapologetically plastic.’ uh, yea ok dude, whatever. there's no way any smartwatch will have the same effect as mechanical watches from AP, Hublot, etc.

lay off the fairy dust.. you're sniffing too much of it.
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That's assuming he said this. It's basically hearsay at this point.
 
Whatever watch Apple makes will be targeted at the masses. They will be looking to sell tens of millions of these a year at a high profit. That's not going to happen with a device that costs $1000+. They're not going after a niche market. This device will be as mainstream as possible and will be priced accordingly.
 
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What really happened.

Jony: "We should work on something new. I just got a new Swiss watch" (looks at wristwatch)
Witness to RandomPerson: "Dude, I met Jony this morning for a cup of Joe. It would be cool if Apple made a watch, like the Swiss"
RandomPerson to RandomPerson 2: "Man, Jony Ive designed a watch, like the Swiss."
RandomPerson 2 to RandomPerson 3 to RandomPerson X to RandomPerson 2040 : "Jony Ive said that the iWatch, which is already built in China, is going to better than everything that the ****ing Swiss ever made."
[rumor stopped here, otherwise next was going to be: "Jony Ive is a ****ing Swiss watch"]
 
"In Apple Cupertino, they came first for the north-west American OS builders, and I said nothing because I was not a north-west American OS builder. When they locked up the Finnish mobile phone makers, I remained silent; I was not a Finnish mobile phone maker. When they came for us Swiss watch makers, there was no one left to speak out."
 
Apple said the same thing about the mobile phone industry, and look how wrong they were. Maybe they can be wrong twice in a row.

For those whining about Apple's 'arrogance', you can stay back in the days of DOS. Apple's always thought it could do better. The history of human civilization is a demonstration of the ridiculous arrogance of humanity. Without that, we'd be living in the dirt like monkeys do.
 
usarioclave said:
Apple said the same thing about the mobile phone industry, and look how wrong they were. Maybe they can be wrong twice in a row.

For those whining about Apple's 'arrogance', you can stay back in the days of DOS. Apple's always thought it could do better. The history of human civilization is a demonstration of the ridiculous arrogance of humanity. Without that, we'd be living in the dirt like monkeys do.
Click to expand...

I thought monkeys lived in trees.
 
usarioclave said:
Apple said the same thing about the mobile phone industry, and look how wrong they were. Maybe they can be wrong twice in a row.

For those whining about Apple's 'arrogance', you can stay back in the days of DOS. Apple's always thought it could do better. The history of human civilization is a demonstration of the ridiculous arrogance of humanity. Without that, we'd be living in the dirt like monkeys do.
Click to expand...


Swiss watch companies target to consumers who appreciate this.

AkriviA-Tourbillon-Monopusher-Chronograph-SalonQP-11.jpg


versus

FS_Quartz.jpg


Some of the most expensive, most lust after watches look like regular $10 timex. The appeal is in the craftmanship of the first example.

Just look at the detail and the chamfered edges inside a case where you don't see it. The chamfered edges are inside the edges on a 30millimenter movement. Then the round polishing of the precious metals. Meticulous.

One of my most cherished watch is a Zenith El Primero. I bought it before it was even noticed in WIS circles. It is the most planest; dullest watch but I like it for it's craftmanship and unique movement.
 
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Chaszmyr said:
Not necessarily true. You can only (reasonably) wear one watch at a time, whether it is a smart watch or a high end luxury fashion item. If the former is compelling enough, you won't be buying the latter, even if they're in different product categories.
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People who own $10,000 watches will also own an iWatch. Just wear them at different occasions, lots of people have more than one watch. I have a nice watch which I enjoy wearing. I can also see owning an iWatch if it provides function that's useful to me at different times of the day or on different days of the week.
It doesn't have to be all or nothing on one device.
 
AppleScruff1 said:
Whatever watch Apple makes will be targeted at the masses. They will be looking to sell tens of millions of these a year at a high profit. That's not going to happen with a device that costs $1000+. They're not going after a niche market. This device will be as mainstream as possible and will be priced accordingly.
Click to expand...

^^^^
This
 
I actually really hope it doesn't threaten the Switzerland watch industry. Traditional watches are unique pieces of art that are prized for their craftsmanship. I would hate for them to disappear.
 
technopimp said:
Sorry, but I'm not ditching my high-end Swiss timepieces for this.
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You don't have to ditch em. Just don't keep buying as many more.

And if your kids buy half as much from these Swiss companies, and your grandkids generation buys half that, those watchmakers are really (... insert rude word here ...)

Maybe the high-end vintage watch repair shops will stay in business?
 
What's the probability of an Apple designer fessing up to the existence of an iWatch to the NYTimes? Do Apple designers have a reputation for spilling the beans of their own creations to journalists? Maybe, but highly unlikely.

Also, looked what smartphones (led by iPhone) did to the Finnish cellphone industry? Some of the best cellphones were associated with Nokia, where is Nokia now?

.
 
myforwik said:
if this comment by Johny is true - it's disappointing. it means the watch is aimed at those that wear watches, you know those overpriced bits of jewllery that serve no real purpose these days other than as fasion and status symbols.

It also fits with the earlier rumors that the watch will be in the $5,000+ price range made of actual silver/gold, maybe with a el-cheapo aluminium obefor $400 for the masses.
Click to expand...

Well,

1. my watch serves a purpose... to tell me what time it is at a glance. I don't wear my phone on my wrist, so it's more effort and also not always sociably correct to pull my phone out of my pocket.

2. The Swiss watch industry is as diverse as the U.S. car industry. GM makes cheap-o Chevys and high end Caddys. So when Ive says it's going to pinch the industry he is talking broadly, not just to the high end brands.

3. His statement doesn't fit into any rumor regarding price, only that people will want to wear an Apple watch over whatever they are now wearing, or not wearing for that matter. It was a bit of pre-game flourish, but maybe not off the mark entirely. Top hats use to be a "must have" with the social set until JFK refused to wear them. All the sudden no one wore them. It just takes a few important opinion leaders to change fashion habits.
 
tennisproha said:
I actually really hope it doesn't threaten the Switzerland watch industry. Traditional watches are unique pieces of art that are prized for their craftsmanship. I would hate for them to disappear.
Click to expand...

They'll probably continue to exist as an art boutique business (invitational events, like fashion shows). Just not as a luxury retail store business (where the revenue volume is).
 
Apple will be competing with the likes of Uniform Wares and Stock Watches, not Tag Heuer and Rolex.

So people who want hideous pieces of overpriced status bling have nothing to worry about. Oh wait, Apple will be offering okay looking pieces of overpriced status bling. Crap, they should be worried!

*Note: The second part of this post is entirely sarcastic, please don't become enraged.
 
I'm surprised by all the people who are laughing and saying the iWatch isnt going to be a piece of jewelry like a Swiss watch. Apple has been hiring executives from the fashion industry and taking YEARS to perfect this product. I am certain the iWatch will look NOTHING like any smartwatch we have seen yet. There may be a smart band like the fuelband or gear fit but there will be a very well designed watch that is customizable to be a piece of jewelry.

One thing is likely, this time next week the entire tech world is going to be going crazy trying to copy apple after realizing their product is not at all what people want.
 
BS. It won't change a thing in Switzerland. When the high Tech Prius came out people still buy high end European cars. There is nothing like having a purely mechanical swiss time piece.
 
Jony Ive's swag level is on high right now. I dig it. No matter what happens, I can't wait for the event next tuesday!
 
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