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Swiss Manufacturer Creates High-End Mechanical Apple Watch Clone

The back of it is beautiful. They should be sued for the rest. Copyright violation is what it is regardless of the number of times you do it.
 
No worries Apple won't be suing them but if it was the other way around I bet Apple would be sued.

-Mike
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Mac2me said:
I don't necessary think Apple and other smartwatches will kill their traditional watch industry, but clearly they chose to "copy" what they (and other companies in the tech industry as far as other Apple products designs) see as a winner with customers. They didn't pick a loser smartwatch to be "inspired" by after all, that would be foolish I'm sure they thought. They see what is selling. As flattering as it may be, I really find it sad that they are design bankrupt to have to be so closely inspired.
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True, for some reason they didn't pick the Samsung or the Pebble design...Hmmmm...Although the new Pebble actually looks nice at least in the pics I've seen.

-Mike
 
Canada420 said:
@ 26:30 he's wearing a watch that looks idenical to Apples watch design but it's in the 1980's. Lets tone down the blatant calls of "ripoff"
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Your definition of "identical" is a bit different from mine :) Apart from the very low quality of the video, all I can see is a squarish and very thick watch. That said, comparing the watch that we are discussing here with the images at http://www.apple.com/uk/watch/ , I can't find that watch very similar either. A bit of inspiration taken from the Apple Watch maybe, but most definitely not a "clone".

melendezest said:
Men need manly watches. The Apple watch is FAR from that.
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Real men don't need manly watches.
 
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It's funny how all this copying signals that Apple is still at the top in most people's minds even if they don't want to admit it ;)
 
AlifTheUnseen said:
The MacRumors article implies that new Swiss watch took the Apple Watch as a design role model. That's ridiculous -
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The MacRumors article implies this because it's, pretty obviously, true to any normal human being with just a minimal understanding of design and normally functioning eyesight.
 
Congratulations! You've made literally a direct copy of the Apple Watch design, (minus the capabilities) with a crown that's way easier to break due to it sticking out too far!
 
Rojo said:
I'm all for Swiss watch companies ignoring the smartwatch fad, and standing by their commitment to make mechanical watches at a premium price. But UNIQUE watches.

So why on Earth make a physical clone of the most well-known smartwatch out there??? Who would be dumb enough to pay THAT much for something that will constantly be mistaken for a watch that's considerably cheaper and assumes tons of functionality that's not actually there??

This is seriously one of the dumbest ideas I've seen....
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H. Moser & Cie is a small independent watch manufacturer from Switzerland. They produce high-end mechanical watches, however even among watch collectors this brand is not so well known. Some publicity won't hurt them.

To answer your question: Any watch collector with enough money could buy the watch. I doubt it will ever be mistaken for an Apple watch because those 50 pieces will probably never find their way into a Starbucks or Apple Store where all the Apple hipsters hang out.

Bear in mind this watch is in white gold, is mechanical, has a completely different dial and strap and is targeted at another demographic than the Apple Watch is.

It's a jab at Apple. But so what?

PS: When you buy a high-end watch you don't buy it because of its functions. You buy it because it's a luxury item and can sometimes even be considered as art.

PS 2: Being mistaken for a cheaper watch is not a bad thing per se. Not everybody has the uncontrollable urge to show off how they rich are. Many high-end watches can easily be mistaken for a cheap quartz watch from China until you take a second look at them.
 
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It looks like the joke passed over the head of Juli Clover (the MacRumors writer) and many of the commenters on this board.

H. Moser & Cie is MOCKING Apple. They are copying the design intentionally and saying their watch is better because it's mechanical: "No upgrade needed." Watch the video, you morons.

 
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BvizioN said:
Actually must mechanical watches I have seen look very ugly.
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There are many, many horrible looking mechanical watches and some of the designs are quite bizarre but there are still a lot of beautiful and functional watches to chose from. There are dozens of watches I would love to own based on their looks and the high quality of their manufacture but I've yet to see a really great looking smartwatch from any company from what is available so far.

I don't like this H. Moser homage though. :(
 
MacRumors said:



Ahead of the Apple Watch's launch, many high-end Swiss watch makers were critical of its design and Apple's efforts to position it as a high-fashion item. TAG Heuer CEO Jean-Claude Biver went as far as to call it "too feminine," saying the Apple Watch looked like "it was designed by a student in their first trimester."

As time has passed, opinions on the Apple Watch have changed. It has prompted some high-end luxury watch makers to consider delving into the smart watch market themselves, and it also seems to be the inspiration behind high-end watchmaker H. Moser & Cie.'s latest product.

swissalpwatch.jpg

Shared today by watch site Hodinkee, H. Moser & Cie.'s Swiss Alp Watch has a design that's immediately familiar, featuring a rectangular watch face with curved, rounded edges, a crown at the side, and Apple Watch-style lugs for holding a band in place.

Constructed from solid 18-karat white gold, the Swiss Alp Watch measures in at 38.2mm by 44mm, with a depth of 10.3mm. That's comparable to the 42mm Apple Watch, which is 35.9mm by 42mm with a depth of 10.5mm. It comes with a beige kudu leather strap with a white gold pin buckle.

The resemblance between the Swiss Alp Watch and the Apple Watch is purely physical. There is no processor, no OLED display, and no sensors in the Swiss Alp Watch, which is entirely mechanical. When flipped over, there's no heart rate sensor -- instead, the inner mechanics of the watch (a finished tonneau movement with a Straumann hairspring, according to Hodinkee) are visible through a clear sapphire crystal panel.

swissalpwatch2.jpg

H. Moser & Cie. does not mention the Apple Watch on its website or in its marketing materials, but when speaking to Hodinkee, H. Moser & Cie. CEO Edouard Meylan said the Swiss Alp Watch is symbolic, serving as a proof traditional mechanical watchmaking has a future in a world where the digital smart watch is becoming commonplace. Swiss watchmaking, he says, has weathered other challenges and it will continue on.Given that H. Moser & Cie. is pricing the white gold Swiss Alp Watch at $24,900 with only 50 pieces available, it's unlikely Apple will take offense over the copycat design.

The full story of the H. Moser & Cie. Swiss Alp Watch, which includes background color on the Swiss watch industry and hands-on details, can be read over at Hodkinee.

Article Link: Swiss Manufacturer Creates High-End Mechanical Apple Watch Clone
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[doublepost=1452158045][/doublepost]If they can copy the apple watch, Apple should copy the watch face and have that available to use by existing owners
 
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H. Moser ... who? Never heard of that company before. Saying this as a Swiss; there are more watch shops then grocery stores in my town, one of the world's largest watch marketplaces.
Sounds like a publicity stunt to me.
 
kgtenacious said:
yeah, nobody mentioned the Apple Watch in relation to this, except MacRumors. What will they say about all of these? http://www1.bloomingdales.com/shop/fine-jewelry/fine-watches/Watch_style/Rectangle?id=22108
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I'm not into watches at all, but that black Fendi looks awesome!

Edit: I just watched the video: It is pure fun! They make fun of the whole ecosystem. And that was worth it. Apple and Apple fans are taking the whole thing too seriously. Loosen up and laugh! And yes, I agree... get a life. :)

PS: Watch the video till the very end and listen carefully. :)
 
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This is one good looking wrist band!
And a watch with bolts and cugs and everythin'

H. Moser & Cie.'s version of Beats Radio is also coming up:

bp629f01.jpg
 
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