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Jony Ive Says Apple Watch Hermès Doesn't Make Apple 'Exclusive'

Infinitewisdom said:
I disagree. I think they look great and would be a reason for me to buy the Apple Watch. I just wish it wasn't $1500. Can't any other third party manufacturers make something that looks/feels similarly great?
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Ditto, I wasn't a huge fan of the Apple Watch but with those straps I'd love one. For me, it's a bit much to spend on a watch whose tech (and probably style) is going to be outdated in a few short years. It's quite a bit different from buying a watch that's old-fashioned to begin with.
 
That first strap looks like one I got when I was about 10 years old (mid 70's) for my Timex.

Still, not knocking it, if people like it and can aford it, good luck to them.
 
Al Downie said:
So.. wait a minute.. how much exactly does one of those leather straps cost?
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I was wondering the same thing. If the only difference is the leather strap, then this is straightforward gouging. How much R&D do you need to invest in a leather strap? I can get a luxury shell cordovan leather strap for ~$100 CAD retail...
 
Price / cost doesn't make something exclusive. Limiting supply does. Is Hermés only making a couple dozen of these you think?
 
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whooleytoo said:
Ditto, I wasn't a huge fan of the Apple Watch but with those straps I'd love one. For me, it's a bit much to spend on a watch whose tech (and probably style) is going to be outdated in a few short years. It's quite a bit different from buying a watch that's old-fashioned to begin with.
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In a few years, the current watch will still be able to do everything it can do today. If today's offering meets your needs why not grab one? Sure, new features will be added over the years that may not make it to the current model but all that means is you're limited to what you have now which by the way, is really good.
 
acctman said:
Where is that Watch face... don't see it under customize
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I'm wondering if they are using the diagnostic port to connect to the band for verification. Only with that expensive band do you get the watch face enabled. At least that's what I'm thinking. It would make sense, that way Rolex, Omega, and all those other high end watches can create faces that require you to buy an overpriced band. The the watch face is only enabled if you have a legitimate band.
 
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whooleytoo said:
Ditto, I wasn't a huge fan of the Apple Watch but with those straps I'd love one. For me, it's a bit much to spend on a watch whose tech (and probably style) is going to be outdated in a few short years. It's quite a bit different from buying a watch that's old-fashioned to begin with.
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The left and middle aren't so bad, the one on the right I don't honestly dislike a lot (and also don't quite understand the need for a "double strap").
 
Infinitewisdom said:
I disagree. I think they look great and would be a reason for me to buy the Apple Watch. I just wish it wasn't $1500. Can't any other third party manufacturers make something that looks/feels similarly great?
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I would agree with the prices but unfortunately of all the cheap leather third party straps I've tested for my Apple Watch so far I've never found a better justification to ever spend as much as £130 (~$200) on the office classic buckle!

I guess what you can take from that is that I'm sure it'll be really really nice!
 
There seem to be discussions on this on several media outlets this morning, including MacRumors and CNBC. I suppose it is a faux drama to bring mindshare to Heremes Apple Watch, and it is working but the debate is transparently a promotional push.

Nothing wrong with fashion and for the "middle class" a $1500 price point and below for a durable product with functional value is not out of bounds.

If you want to talk exclusive, lets talk Apple Watch Edition. That is conspicuous consumption.

Adding similar colors to the sport line clearly is a nod to the masses, some of whom already wear clone watches and low cost bling.

Rocketman
 
How lame looking, I wouldn't wear it if it was given free to me. But then again, I wouldn't wear the apple watch with any strap.
 
nope7308 said:
Meh, I don't see this selling very well. It's priced correctly -- just below the typical entry-level luxury watches -- but I don't think it will appeal to the luxury watch crowd. I mean, the watch itself will be obsolete in a few years, and then it will look horribly dated.

For another $500-$1k, you can get a classic timepiece that will age much better. Perhaps I just fail to grasp the "it factor" of the Apple watch...
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I would guess apple is not going to change the design of the watch anytime soon. I bet the next few generation will look pretty much the same.

If you were to spend a thousand plus on a Hermes band it will likely be in good condition for years and years.

The quality of Hermes leather is outstanding, the same cannot be said of apples own leather bands.
 
So we have gone from an Apple Watch that we thought would almost exclusively focus on the health market, making others healthy, etc., to an overpriced fashion accessory that has been bracketed into specific tiers centered around an individual's "status" in society?

The Watch is no longer about the tech of the product itself, but what the watch says about the individual person. Was that really the plan from the start with this device? Or did things change when they brought in a certain someone from the fashion industry? Either way, I hate the direction Apple decided to take this device, and most of their product lines. Gold, flashy, screaming EXPENSIVE. Apple is becoming less about the actual tech inside its machines and more about the "brand."
 
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Rogifan said:
He is right. That $1K Hermés watch is exactly the same as my $349 sport watch except for the band and branding. In some ways this could be Apple's most egalitarian product as the functionality is the same where the you spend $349 or thousands.
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It's called "luxury"—one of the many pleasurable rewards of hard work and living well. More should try it.
 
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