Public Reaction to Your Apple Watch

[ReallyBigFeet]

Most of my friends know I collect high end watches. When I first wore my Galaxy Gear they were all "Ewwwww...that's hideous!"

Got a slightly better reply when wearing my Pebble. Slightly.

Have had only a few see my Apple Watch and the response has been pretty universal the same as the Galaxy Gear. Most can't believe Apple would release something that looks so geeky.

Ultimately, I won't be wearing it other than as a novelty. Same as my other smart watches. For going out, business meetings and such, I prefer my Omega's.

 

[simsdaniel]

Most of my friends know I collect high end watches. When I first wore my Galaxy Gear they were all "Ewwwww...that's hideous!"

Got a slightly better reply when wearing my Pebble. Slightly.

Have had only a few see my Apple Watch and the response has been pretty universal the same as the Galaxy Gear. Most can't believe Apple would release something that looks so geeky.

Ultimately, I won't be wearing it other than as a novelty. Same as my other smart watches. For going out, business meetings and such, I prefer my Omega's.

What model and band are you using? SS with Link and/or Milanese doesn't look "Geeky" in the slightest.

 

[aohus]

Surprisingly, I've had none. I think people do notice it because of the distracting blue band, but otherwise...no questions. I'm trying to keep it that way.

did i see you at church on sunday? was that you ? lol

 

[Flow39]

Haha, I've been to highschool with it and they we're almost all surprised how it turns on when raising wrist.

I love this fame

Haha that's what happened to me at school today too! People were all impressed that the display turned on when I raised my wrist. They also went ahead and asked "What, can you make calls and text on that too?" I told them yes, and they were blown away. They asked what else I could do with it and I gave them a bunch of other stuff it could do. They were even more blown away after that!

 

[dexterbell]

I ordered an Edition, sold a bvlgari and my Submariner is going to be gathering dust from now on.

I'll buy your Submariner for $500. Its an ancient, outdated antique right?

 

[newagemac]

I think your are missing what a quality watch represents in modern society.

Let me put it another way, if Apple launches an apple car, do you believe the likes of BMW, Mercedes, rolls Royce will lose sales ?? People who buy high end watches are in the same position.

Good question. When Ford released the automobile, what happened to the finest, most expensive thoroughbred horses?

Don't get me wrong, I'm sure they still exist somewhere although even people with the finest tastes don't ride them up and down the highways and roads anymore (regardless of how beautiful those thoroughbreds still are). I guess functionality matters.

Good luck Rolex, you're going to need it.

 

[Flow39]

I made no effort to show it off or anything("oh yes this is the new apple watch"); i think it looks very discreet but apparently not.

I feel for you. I don't try to show it off, but I am wearing short sleeves which makes it easier to spot. I thought it would be at least a little discreet, but after today, not so much. If I so much as glance down to check the time, not even use it, I have people look at it. I'm not even trying to show it off, but people keep seeing it and asking about it.

Part of me kind of likes the attention, but I mostly prefer to stay anonymous

 

[dljeffery]

So you are saying a wealthy, successful business man is going to aspire to buy an Apple Watch over a high end Rolex? LMAO!!!! wait, let me catch my breath...LMAO!!!! Some of you are straight up delusional.

High quality mechanical watches aren't going to go away because of smart watches. Lower quality ones probably will at some point, though.

But anyone who has the means and interest to buy a "high end Rolex" might also decide to pick up an Apple Watch Edition on a whim, as a curiosity or occasional wear watch. The Edition pricing starts in the ballpark of Rolex's lower end models.

 

[anup.chavda]

So was at a car audio show over the weekend (my brother in law is a manager there) and he wanted to have a look at it as he was interested in buying one previously. I made no effort to show this thing off, instead i was wearing long sleeves and then a jacket on top.

Whilst he was looking, a crowd of people started forming all wanting to have a look and the feedback was (surprisingly) positive. in fact i know of 2 people who there and then placed orders for 1 sport and 1 ss via the app on their phones.

common feedback was:
"Its not as big as i thought (in a good way)" (i have a 42 SGS)
"Wow, its quick" (the interface)
"The camera viewfinder was very smooth" (i.e. no lag between what the camera was pointed at vs what appeared on the watch

It was a very positive reaction, which is more than i can say for the Facebook Post that is going around about some guy that was hoping to get a positive reaction when wearing it to work and then getting slated. Jeez...the amount of keyboard warriors out there telling people what they should and shouldn't spend their money on is incredible. I work hard to earn my money so that i can spend it on things that i want. just because you don't like it, keep your opinions to your self.

<edit> here is the post...very negative of people, but whatever floats their boat i guess. Man’s first day of wearing Apple Watch to work not going as hoped

 

[Wishbrah]

Good question. When Ford released the automobile, what happened to the finest, most expensive thoroughbred horses?

Don't get me wrong, I'm sure they still exist somewhere although even people with the finest tastes don't ride them up and down the highways and roads anymore (regardless of how beautiful those thoroughbreds still are). I guess functionality matters.

Good luck Rolex, you're going to need it.

Shots fired, poetically

 

[hipnotizer]

I have had some people act surprised...the guy checking me out at the grocery store didn't know what to do when I presented my watch to pay. He actually scanned the watch with the laser gun because thats how he thought it worked. haha. I chucked.

 

[leenak]

Gym, worked out with trainer and went to store, no one noticed still My trainer is into apple products but I think she just assumed my watch was a sports watch, many of her clients wear them including herself.

 

[KPOM]

Have had only a few see my Apple Watch and the response has been pretty universal the same as the Galaxy Gear. Most can't believe Apple would release something that looks so geeky.

Ultimately, I won't be wearing it other than as a novelty. Same as my other smart watches. For going out, business meetings and such, I prefer my Omega's.

Which version did you get? I won't compare the Apple Watch to a high-end mechanical watch, but the reaction from my colleagues has been that it compares favorably to mid-range quartz watches in the several hundred dollar range, which is the market I think Apple is targeting with this. I have the stainless steel with the classic band.

 

[leenak]

So you are saying a wealthy, successful business man is going to aspire to buy an Apple Watch over a high end Rolex? LMAO!!!! wait, let me catch my breath...LMAO!!!! Some of you are straight up delusional.

So you think people want to be successful so that they can buy watches? That seems delusional. I know a lot of execs with 7 figure salaries. Most of them wear fitbits... (if they wear anything)

 

[DononyG2]

I wore it out last night for the first time with some friends. I made a point not to mention that I got one. When they realized I had it, they were surprisingly interested. Most don't care to stay up to date on gadgets, but even they said they had been interested to see one in action.

I was honestly expecting to be made fun of a bit for having one already, but it seems surprisingly "socially acceptable." At least within my friend group, which is surprising. We do a good job of giving each other a hard time

I live in a large city (Berlin) and I have gotten some curious glances on the train/in public when I check an alert or read a message.

Berlin is awesome!

 

[spittingllama]

I have stainless steel Milanese and no one in general public has noticed. But I think the sports watch will stand out more and people will notice the strap colours. I haven't been to gym yet with it. So maybe people will notice then.

 

[ReallyBigFeet]

Good question. When Ford released the automobile, what happened to the finest, most expensive thoroughbred horses?

Don't get me wrong, I'm sure they still exist somewhere although even people with the finest tastes don't ride them up and down the highways and roads anymore (regardless of how beautiful those thoroughbreds still are). I guess functionality matters.

Good luck Rolex, you're going to need it.

Tesla is a better analogy. Its a cool car, lots of incredible technology and most of it well implemented.

But Ford/GM and most other automaker responses to the Tesla was to commoditize a few of the functions, make them cheaper, then market the hell out of it.

I personally find little in the AWatch to make it really revolutionary beyond what's been out there for quite a while in the smartwatch category already. A much better OS for certain, but the apps will take some time to make it shine. But what I really hope is that some of the other watch makers will take note of its success and copy it.

For example, I'd really love to have a motion sensor built into a nice Omega Speedmaster so that I could wear a classy, iconic watch that looks good, functions flawlessly AND still doubles as a digital motion device. So I don't have to keep wearing an Up bracelet WITH a nice watch.

But others out there may be happier with a digital device on their wrist that just happens to double as a digital watch.

Lets hope the tech goes both directions so we have more options.

 

[xPad]

The internal combustion engine is very much still going strong

Today's engine is nothing like an engine from 50 years ago.

Sorry you clearly don't understand what a quality mechanical watch means

Nope. You are the one who is deluded here. A "quality mechanical watch" means you spent a lot of money to pay someone to go through all the work required to assemble a complex set of gears that can't even keep time reliably over the course of a year.

You're just buying "prestige". Barely functional prestige at that. Yay, I just spent $2,000 to tell time. Poorly.

LOL

and why smart watches will not impact those sales. Looking at a blank screen on someone's wrist.... Think about it

Yup, think about it. How many people buy high end Swiss watches? Nowhere near as many who will be buying Apple Watches.

Swiss watches are little more than jewelry. The Apple Watch is jewelry that is infinitely more functional. You may as well buy a fancy horse-drawn carriage.

Honestly, how many people do you think are going to look at a one-trick pony watch, and a watch that can provide so much more functionality, and choose the more expensive, less functional one?

Sure, some will. The difference here is that people aren't unhappy with traditional watches. So you think, incorrectly, that that's all that's needed to keep the barbarians at the gate. But people will like their Apple Watches more.

It's no contest. The Swiss watch industry will undergo a correction over the next few years. It'll still be around, but only a fraction of what it is now.

And that's great news all around.

 

[Wishbrah]

If the younger market (high schoolers, etc) takes off and is saturated with sport watches, what do you think they will look for in their next watch? Years later, they aren't going to go find a mechanical watch. They are going to love the infinitely-greater utility of a smart watch.

At this point, old school watch makers will HAVE to change up their game and play catch up (some are). They are grasping onto a dying market if they don't adapt. Trouble is, Apple is so far ahead of the game in terms of software, and ecosystem, that their efforts better be jaw-dropping...or they won't be able to hang on.

 

[rijc99]

No public reaction. Did have a few excited Apple store employees ask me how I liked it when I went in looking for bands on the 24th. They said I was the second person they saw with the watch all day. (~6:30PM)

 

[MacMePls]

I love my macbook pro, i love my iPhone 6 and i love my iPad. The Apple watch i have zero interest in. So if I ever did see one out in public it wouldn't get much interest from me either.

The idea of having to put your watch on charge every day just sucks, I have a Casio GBA 400. That will do me just fine

Than why are you in the forum?

 

[rawlus]

The internal combustion engine is very much still going strong

Sorry you clearly don't understand what a quality mechanical watch means and why smart watches will not impact those sales. Looking at a blank screen on someone's wrist.... Think about it

The thing I'm wondering is, I have many fine timepieces... That I love wearing. But will I still want to or be able to wear them if I become somewhat dependent on the conveniences of the Apple watch?

I appreciate finer watches and have collected several, not $20k watches but severs, over the $1000 mark. What am I going to do with these? Wear them on my other wrist? Rotate them during the week and lose the added functionalities of the Apple watch?

It's something I've been seriously thinking about.

 

[nasa25]

The thing I'm wondering is, I have many fine timepieces... That I love wearing. But will I still want to or be able to wear them if I become somewhat dependent on the conveniences of the Apple watch?

I appreciate finer watches and have collected several, not $20k watches but severs, over the $1000 mark. What am I going to do with these? Wear them on my other wrist? Rotate them during the week and lose the added functionalities of the Apple watch?

It's something I've been seriously thinking about.

Same issue I have. I'd hate to abandon my other watches.

 

[samcraig]

Do people want to read this thread to feel better about their decision to buy or not buy the watch?

Can one simply just enjoy their decision without needing outside validation?

Just curious, of course.

 

[Natzoo]

Most of my friends know I collect high end watches. When I first wore my Galaxy Gear they were all "Ewwwww...that's hideous!"

Got a slightly better reply when wearing my Pebble. Slightly.

Have had only a few see my Apple Watch and the response has been pretty universal the same as the Galaxy Gear. Most can't believe Apple would release something that looks so geeky.

Ultimately, I won't be wearing it other than as a novelty. Same as my other smart watches. For going out, business meetings and such, I prefer my Omega's.

I don't want hate but i would honestly buy a samsung watch if it was compatible with the apple OS. Like apple is famous because its just famous. But I'm still an apple boy fan.