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

[lkrupp]

If you have moolah and want to spend it, go for it! It is not my money!

Don’t you just love how the faux technorati on MacRumors like to tell you how to spend your money and how stupid you are if you don’t follow their instructions. Anything over $5 is overpriced to this crowd.

 

[scaramoosh]

Apple products are more expensive than anything else, so what do you expect Ive? You charge twice as much than any one else, I can built a £500 Windows PC that's more powerful than your £2500 laptops.

 

[Gasu E.]

No, design isn't subjective. There's a reason designers exist.

Yes, they are all part of God's Plan®.

 

[2457282]

So.. wait a minute.. how much exactly does one of those leather straps cost?

I bought a piece of leather once for about the same price, and it came with a floor, a roof, some doors and wheels, and an engine, and it was really useful. What does THIS piece of leather do?

You know at first I had the same concern (although I am not old enough to have ever bought a car for that price). Then I figured out that those prices includes the watch as well as the leather. Having spent $1k on the SS watch with the Links band, the price here is not too far off. Had it been available on day one (really it was day 45, but I'm not bitter... any more), I might be sporting the Hermes right now.

 

[Michaelgtrusa]

Can you just buy the bands?

 

[Gasu E.]

Apple is trying to pass off this authorized knock-off as a digital Hermes Cape Cod. To the casual customer shopping in a Hermes boutique, they might not realize the difference, or that Apple is even involved.

You contradict yourself. If Hermes displays this in one of their own boutiques, and a shopper is misled, the misconception would be entirely due to Hermes. In your scenario, Apple is not trying to "pass off" anything. Seriously, I doubt that Hermes would not want to make it 100% clear this is an Apple Watch-- the idea that Hermes would pawn off a smart watch on an unsuspecting customer who was thinking he was buying a traditional watch is ridiculous.

 

[Karma*Police]

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...

You don't even need to spend that much. A $25 watch will age just as well considering most watches look pretty much the same these days.

Except in a few years, these "classic" timepieces may all look dated next to smart watches and their brilliant, always on, animated displays; just like pocket watches look old next to wrist watches today.

 

[Bagaholic]

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").

It has a lot to do with Hermès's vision on the double strap. Hermès has a handful of double or triple wrap-around bracelets (Hapi or the very very popular: Kelly Double Tour). It's Hermès's touch on the Apple Watch. Now you may not understand the need for a "double strap", but Hermès has been in the fashion industry for a long time and they know their customers and they know what sells and what embodies the spirit of the brand. Their customer base is not you and I, it's those who can purchase an Hermès Birkin bag that costs a minimum of $11,000, up to $130,000 (Himalayan Crocodile with Diamond-paved hardware) without batting an eye, and they are SUPER ROYAL to the brand. $1,500 is actually a steal if you think of Hermès products (Check out the Collier de Chien bracelet).

Also, to other member who like to bash: Don't judge people's ability to spend money. It's not yours. You may think that it's unnecessary to spend on these Apple Watch Hermès and it's fine to think so. But to call other people names and judge them because they can, that just makes you pathetic and pitiful.

 

[ChrisCW11]

To be honest I was bored to tears with the Apple Watch potion of the keynote. Honestly I think this is just a failed product if the biggest announcement is a watch band partnership. Smart watches in general are a failed concept, Apple just failed better at it then the rest, but this whole market segment is just unappealing and boring.

 

[DoctorKrabs]

owen.meredith knows more about fashion than Hermès. Looking forward to your spring collection, owen

You waive your right to criticize anything ever by posting that response.

 

[nope7308]

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.

Do you really think Apple isn't going to reduce the thickness of the watch face? Personally, I think the watch looks a bit ridiculous as-is, but I understand it's a relatively nascent technology. The thickness of the Apple Watch reminds me of the Casio computer watches from the '80s.

Shell cordovan is some of the best leather you can get -- it's supple, extremely durable, and it outlasts typical leather by a long shot. You can find these straps on luxury watches that cost thousands more than the Apple Watch, but even then, replacement straps don't typically sell for more than $200 CAD.

Ultimately, I think you're paying for the name and nothing more with this version.

 

[nope7308]

You don't even need to spend that much. A $25 watch will age just as well considering most watches look pretty much the same these days.

Except in a few years, these "classic" timepieces may all look dated next to smart watches and their brilliant, always on, animated displays; just like pocket watches look old next to wrist watches today.

Really? Then why do Patek Philippe watches still sell for hundreds of thousands of dollars?

 

[Mac 128]

Not a fair analogy at all. In the case of the phone carriers, they were attempting to assert their dominance over Apple as provider. No Apple iPhone owner would delight in showing off an At&t or Verizon logo. That's not true with Hermēs, quite the contrary.

In the case of Hermēs, they're an invited partner, and their brand has élan and panache. People are willing to pay a premium for these products. Your dishonesty argument doesn't wash either, it's not being done behind the backs of Hermēs, it's with their willing participation and endorsement. And yes, this watch with the unique band and watch face was indeed designed and this watch was interpreted by Hermēs. I don't think any of the customers are going to be under the impression Hermēs designed the watch internals.

Just because Hermes is a premiere fashion house, and ATT is a despised utility, doesn't change what's happening. There would be no iPhone without ATT. The fact is the iPhone was an exclusive ATT offered product for several years. ATT had far more claim to co-brand the phone with Apple as Hermes does putting their name anywhere on the Watch.

And don't distort what I wrote. Of course Apple is doing this with the full co-operation of Hermes, money likely changed hands. And I couldn't care less whether the casual Hermes customer thinks the internals of the Watch were designed by them (however unlikely), I'm more concerned about the obvious externals, specifically the case of the watch that has the hermes trademark etched into it, when Hermes had absolutely nothing to do with that. What Apple is doing is trying to pass off the Watch as an authorized Hermes knock-off of the classic Cape Cod design. And while I don't have a problem with Apple doing it, I do think it marks a turning point in Apple's marketing policies, one that puts a fashion brand above their own. And this is absolutely no different than what the other smartwatch makers have been derided for doing.

 

[Mac 128]

You contradict yourself. If Hermes displays this in one of their own boutiques, and a shopper is misled, the misconception would be entirely due to Hermes. In your scenario, Apple is not trying to "pass off" anything. Seriously, I doubt that Hermes would not want to make it 100% clear this is an Apple Watch-- the idea that Hermes would pawn off a smart watch on an unsuspecting customer who was thinking he was buying a traditional watch is ridiculous.

You can deflect guilt off Apple all you want, as if Apple didn't know what they were getting into. The fact is, they are complicit in this unprecedented partnership. Apple wants to sell more watches, specifically to luxury watch people. That's why they have created a digital version of the classic Hermes Cape Cod, right down to the Hermes trademark on the watch face and case. There's no room for confusion about what is going on here by either side. Apple most likely begged for this partnership, Hermes likely could care less.

 

[Chupa Chupa]

Really like the face. Hopefully WatchOS 2.0 will bring some new 3rd party faces like this. I'd pay $20 for nicer faces than the stock ones. $1000 b/c it says Hermes, no thanks.

 

[danakin]

No, because Apple has always been exclusive

Only to people who actually work for a living and have money to spend on great products.

I have a hard time applying the terms "exclusive" or "luxury" to wares available at Wal-Mart. Apple may be considered premium - the same way similarly prices flagship Samsungs, Sonys, or HTCs are; but they are in no way luxury or exclusive. They're pretty darn ubiquitous.

 

[neutralguy]

Does anyone else think that the cuff looks like something they would use to strap you to a hospital gurney after you've gone insane?

It fits right into the story.. people buying apple watch definitely needs such strap

 

[neutralguy]

Sounds like Ive's ego is finally starting to get the best of him.

When Jobs was there, he used to put a check on Ive. But now him begin gone and Tim has no idea about anything else besides logistics, Ive is the boss and decision maker when it comes to technology and fashion!

 

[Four oF NINE]

Just because Hermes is a premiere fashion house, and ATT is a despised utility, doesn't change what's happening. There would be no iPhone without ATT. The fact is the iPhone was an exclusive ATT offered product for several years. ATT had far more claim to co-brand the phone with Apple as Hermes does putting their name anywhere on the Watch.

And don't distort what I wrote. Of course Apple is doing this with the full co-operation of Hermes, money likely changed hands. And I couldn't care less whether the casual Hermes customer thinks the internals of the Watch were designed by them (however unlikely), I'm more concerned about the obvious externals, specifically the case of the watch that has the hermes trademark etched into it, when Hermes had absolutely nothing to do with that. What Apple is doing is trying to pass off the Watch as an authorized Hermes knock-off of the classic Cape Cod design. And while I don't have a problem with Apple doing it, I do think it marks a turning point in Apple's marketing policies, one that puts a fashion brand above their own. And this is absolutely no different than what the other smartwatch makers have been derided for doing.

Not sure what your point is here.. AT&T had zero input into the design of the original iPhone. Why would Steve Jobs (or anyone else) agree to AT&T their glomming their logo over the iPhone? What exactly is the nature of this "claim" to co-brand you describe? AT&T can put their logo on their trucks, their billing statements, their websites, their retail stores if they so choose to do so, but I don't see how they would have claim to any logo space on the iPhone.

Nor is your inflammatory language of "knock off" of the Cape Cod design, and for Apple to "pass off" (as though there were something shady going on) especially honest. It would be a 'knock off' it were some fly-by-night operator in the streets of Hong Kong or Manhattan selling a cheap ass copy off as the original, or even knowing that the customer knows it's a cheap copy and they're buying anyway because it's cheaper than the real thing.

Yeah, this isn't that. Inspired by.. an interpretation of.. but it's no knockoff, nobody is going to confuse them. Everything is above board here, and your comments are on the provocative side.

So far as a turning point for Apple? You think this is a huge deal? It's still the Apple Watch, but this is the Hermēs edition. There's a synergy at work here. As to whether it's good, bad or indifferent, I'll leave that to future historians.

 

[rdlink]

"Can afford" and "buys" can be mutually exclusive, given how many posts and threads there are about payment plans for a new iPhone.

If someone is going to let me have interest free financing on the phone for 2 years I'm going to use their money even if I have the cash in my pocket to buy it on the spot.

One of the things that has occurred to me about this move toward full price phones being paid on installments, and especially the Apple Upgrade program is that it essentially means we're leasing our phones.

 

[KPOM]

Chicago isn't exactly on the level of a New York

It's not exactly cow town, either. Miami and Toronto have stores that sell the Hermes watch. There's no reason they couldn't send a few to Michigan Avenue or Lincoln Park, which sell the Edition.

 

[lazard]

Ivy is delusional. If you're teaming up with Hermes, that makes you exclusive.

 

[DanielSw]

I'd say both companies are having a bit of fun with this "pairing" of brands. Neither will be out terribly if it doesn't work. But it just may work very nicely, not only for Hermes and Apple, but for their customers with these unique offerings. Hermes gets to bring its brand into the 21st century with virtually no capital investment, and Apple gains more than a little prestige, at least amongst those customers who appreciate the Hermes brand, who now have a watch which fits that much better with their accoutrement. And the yapping, snarling hoi poloi get left in the dust yet again.

 

[KPOM]

I'm not a customer for an Apple Watch. Just not my thing. But this version has pushed me farther away. Putting the price aside for the moment, I hate the design. A strap that goes around twice? I cannot think of any watch band that would be less comfortable or functional than that. It looks awkward and clumsy.

It's a fairly classic Hermes design for women's watches. You are probably not the intended audience even if you are an Apple Watch customer. They have a single loop version that's more unisex.

Can you just buy the bands?

No, at least not now.

 

[DanielSw]

Chicago isn't exactly on the level of a New York

It's called test marketing. Chicago simply didn't make the short list.