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Don't waste your time. I don't know if he's clouded by Apple hate or some form of cataracts, but this guy is determined to prove that all square watches are the same and, by definition, Apple is copying any square watch ever made. I mean using the Galaxy Gear and an iPod Shuffle for comparison shows an exceptional kind of delusion.
And if we're going to use this definition than every round smartwatch is just a ripoff of Rolex, Tag, Omega etc. I would argue something like Huawei watch looks more like a replica of a mechanical watch than Watch does. I mean that seems to be the point of all those watches, the idea that people will only wear a smartwatch if it looks like a traditional mechanical watch.

To be fair, even the H. Moser doesn't look "utterly identical" to the :apple:Watch, though it is very similar. :)

Ok if you want to get pedantic on me. :) but I don't think many if any of those square watches look "very similar" to Watch.
 
Ok if you want to get pedantic on me. :) but I don't think many if any of those square watches look "very similar" to Watch.
The Patek OllyW posted from the '70's; the 3582. No pedanticism with this one. Bracelet is even reminiscent.
Apple-Watch-Omega-Speedmaster-Patek-Philippe-Comparison-Review-aBlogtoWatch-10.jpg

Apple-Watch-Patek-aBlogtoWatch-4-e1434748017723.jpg
 
I think you misunderstand. I have a house full of Apple products. My daily driver is a iPhone 6s Plus. I am typing this on my rMBP.... wireless provided by my 2TB Time Capsule.
People can't be accused of copying Apple's designs when prior designs existed already before the AW.
The watch in question does look very similar to the AW. The AW looks similar to a lot of prior watches too...but so what..... get so tired of all this copying stuff!

All good. I think we can both agree that the success of the Apple Watch means better toys for us down the road!
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The Patek OllyW posted from the '70's; the 3582. No pedanticism with this one. Bracelet is even reminiscent.

I'll give you this...the Patek Philippe is the single watch that most closely resembles the Apple Watch, although you're talking about a 40 year difference in time to market. Also I doubt that the band style is a Patek exclusive.
 
That watch is 100% classier than the Apple watch and it will last forever and can be handed down to the next generation. Apple watch gen 1 will be useless in 5 years.
 
I'll give you this...the Patek Philippe is the single watch that most closely resembles the Apple Watch, although you're talking about a 40 year difference in time to market. Also I doubt that the band style is a Patek exclusive.

Not that I want you to leave the thread, but...

"Second, regarding your position that AW designs existed before the AW...if you show me one watch in the last 100 years that has looked so utterly identical to the AW as H. Moser & Cie.'s model, I will gracefully bow out of this thread."

To be clear, I don't want you to leave the thread. All opinions are welcome and appreciated, in my opinion of course. :) I'm not exactly sure where you were going with the comment about the Patek band's exclusivity. Afaik, no one claimed or implied that. I only mentioned it in the context of similarity. Notice, I said similarity instead of identical. Removes a level or two of unnecessary pedantics.

In the end, it doesn't really matter does it? In the context of the watch from Moser, it's supposed to look like the Apple watch. That was the intent. In the broader context of copying/inspiration, it has always been and it will always be part of any successful product. Nothing will ever change that. But discussion about it does keep the internet churning doesn't it. Well, that and cat videos... mainly cat videos. Interesting little known fact you can use at parties. The internet was invented primarily for the transmission of cat videos. Al Gore loved cats and wanted friends out west to see his cat participating in recycling projects. Thus, the internet came to be. So thank Al Gore. And if you pick up chicks with that little factoid, thank Al again. And me. Mainly me.

edit: And that friends, is how you go completely off the rails.:eek:
 

@ 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"

Please, don't be ridiculous. We are talking about fashion, design, not technical improvements. In the design world, it's plausible to reactivate ideas that have been off the market for decades and been forgotten by 99.99% of the people, especially if that action does successfully attract consumer attention. On the other hand, if the idea / design you borrow / copy is just hot and fresh on the market, that's plain shameless.
 
Not that I want you to leave the thread, but...

"Second, regarding your position that AW designs existed before the AW...if you show me one watch in the last 100 years that has looked so utterly identical to the AW as H. Moser & Cie.'s model, I will gracefully bow out of this thread."

Well played ;)


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That watch is 100% classier than the Apple watch and it will last forever and can be handed down to the next generation. Apple watch gen 1 will be useless in 5 years.

It looks identical to the Apple Watch yet it's "100% classier" than the Apple Watch o_O

This is the stuff that makes the internet great.
 
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I don't see how the actions of a tiny company having a bit of fun at Apple's expense can reflect that badly on the Swiss watch industry. :confused:
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I don't think it will be glued together though. :D
That's the Chinese knock off
 
It looks too feminine. It looks like it was designed by a student in their first trimester....

Heh, that's kind of a funny reaction. But, I guess if you look at it from a CAD type perspective, the Apple watch looks pretty simple... kind of like an extruded pill shape. On the other hand, I'm not really into wearing a tractor wheel on my wrist either (back when I wore watches). A lot of men's watches look just plain goofy, IMO.
 
If all these adver-- I mean "leaks" of unreleased products from Apple would never come out, then the competition wouldn't get a chance to copy the feminine college student design (though I've seen real life rounded corner rectangular watches for decades and don't see how the CGI representation shown in the article is original or innovative to any posh company, Apple, or otherwise... but Apple did patent rounded corners first, so whatever...)




OllyW said:
Go back before the 80s and you'll find a watch that's even more of a match...

Patek Philippe 3582 from 1970

Apple-Watch-Omega-Speedmaster-Patek-Philippe-Comparison-Review-aBlogtoWatch-2.jpg
(and)
That is stunningly beautiful too.

Apple invented a time machine, went back in time, and made that watch first - don't people know this? And for every other squarish-looking watch??
 
Heh, that's kind of a funny reaction. But, I guess if you look at it from a CAD type perspective, the Apple watch looks pretty simple... kind of like an extruded pill shape. On the other hand, I'm not really into wearing a tractor wheel on my wrist either (back when I wore watches). A lot of men's watches look just plain goofy, IMO.
Read the first few lines of the article, he's mocking tag heuer
 
If you are able to look at an Apple Watch then at an iPhone 6/6s (uncased) then back at the watch & then once again at the iPhone 6/6s that is where Apple have got their design idea from for the main part of the watch, I don't think for one minute any copying has gone on, borrowed ideas for like the crown & watch strap certainly but clearly they went with that form as it best resembles the device that the watch is an accessory to...
 
The Patek OllyW posted from the '70's; the 3582. No pedanticism with this one. Bracelet is even reminiscent.
Apple-Watch-Omega-Speedmaster-Patek-Philippe-Comparison-Review-aBlogtoWatch-10.jpg

Apple-Watch-Patek-aBlogtoWatch-4-e1434748017723.jpg
Seems to me the Apple Watch is more reminiscent of the first iPhone in terms of shape than any traditional watch.

Apple-Watch1.jpg


It's not like rounded rectangles are new to Apple. ;) and I don't think anyone has claimed the milanese loop or link bracelet didn't exist prior to Watch.

I'm sure people could find plenty of mechanical watches that closely resemble Huawei Watch.

Huawei-Watch-Pricing.001.jpg
 
I'm sure people could find plenty of mechanical watches that closely resemble Huawei Watch.

No one's claiming that traditional watches are copying the Huawei Watch :)

Hardly unexpected. An Apple 's product criticized at launch and then blatantly copied

As someone already pointed out, what the lead article is missing is that this model is an (expensive) tongue in cheek reply from a low-volume Swiss watchmaker as to what they intend to do about the "smartwatch threat."

That's why in their video they jokingly point out that their watch has "Only one app: Telling Time", lasts for days on one "charge", and how people need to "Get a Life, Upgrade to a Mechanical Watch!" and start interacting directly with other people :D -- (kind of reminds me of Shatner's famous "get a life!" skit).

The clear watchcase back emphasizes that it is a jewel-like mechanical device, not a mass produced electronic one.

The video ends with a loud crunch of someone biting into an apple.


The point is, they're not just taking a jab at Apple, but also mocking all the big mechanical watch companies that are forgetting their roots and coming out with hybrid devices.

As most online news blogs are pointing out, it's quite humorous, especially for a relatively tiny company that only sells something like a thousand watches a year.

"The Swiss Alp Watch does not allow you to make calls, or send messages to share the latest gossip; it does not give you the option to send beautiful sketches you have created on a two-inch screen or to share your heart rate. It does much more than that: it lets you reconnect to what matters in life. It takes you back to sharing emotions with your nearest and dearest without a filter, interface or embellishment. Most importantly, it is something you can pass on to your children one day without having to upgrade it!" - product announcement
 
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As someone already pointed out, what the lead article is missing is that this model is an (expensive) tongue in cheek reply from a low-volume Swiss watchmaker as to what they intend to do about the "smartwatch threat."

That's why in their video they mock the Apple ad style, talking about how their watch has "Only one app: Telling Time", lasts for days on one "charge", and how people need to "Get a Life, Upgrade to a Mechanical Watch!" and start interacting directly with other people :D

The clear back emphasizes that it is a jewel-like mechanical device, not a mass produced electronic one.

The video ends with a loud crunch of someone biting into an apple.

But the point is, they're also mocking all the big mechanical watch companies that are forgetting their roots and coming out with hybrid devices.

As most online news blogs are pointing out, it's quite humorous, especially for a relatively tiny company that only sells something like a thousand watches a year.

"The Swiss Alp Watch does not allow you to make calls, or send messages to share the latest gossip; it does not give you the option to send beautiful sketches you have created on a two-inch screen or to share your heart rate. It does much more than that: it lets you reconnect to what matters in life. It takes you back to sharing emotions with your nearest and dearest without a filter, interface or embellishment. Most importantly, it is something you can pass on to your children one day without having to upgrade it!" - product announcement

Why I don't get is...is this a real product or not? If it is, they're still blatantly ripping off the Apple Watch even if they're trying to be cute about it.

If it's not a real product and just a publicity stunt, then it's actually pretty damn funny!
 
Why I don't get is...is this a real product or not? If it is, they're still blatantly ripping off the Apple Watch even if they're trying to be cute about it.

It's real, but it's not trying to rip off the Apple Watch per se. If it were, the crown would be further up and there'd be a button, too.

It's designed for people who want to make a stand against smartwatches in general. From the comments I've read, that's exactly the kind of people who plan to buy one.

The AW just happens to have a general shape that most people recognize, and thus fits the bill.

If it's not a real product and just a publicity stunt, then it's actually pretty damn funny!

I think, looking at it from the standpoint of a gnat having the cajones to stand up to smartwatches, whilst huge watchmakers are now merging in smartwatch functionality, it's still pretty funny :D

It's like they're saying, "We will not go quietly into the night!" but instead, plan on being around for a long time making just mechanical watches.
 
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Seems to me the Apple Watch is more reminiscent of the first iPhone in terms of shape than any traditional watch.

Apple-Watch1.jpg


It's not like rounded rectangles are new to Apple. ;) and I don't think anyone has claimed the milanese loop or link bracelet didn't exist prior to Watch.

I'm sure people could find plenty of mechanical watches that closely resemble Huawei Watch.

Huawei-Watch-Pricing.001.jpg
I was specifically addressing your comment: "Ok if you want to get pedantic on me. :) but I don't think many if any of those square watches look "very similar" to Watch."

There's no doubt the AW looks very similar to the Patek. I only mentioned the band in conjunction with the watch because that combination looks even more similar to the AW with the milanese loop. It was not mentioned as a claim of copying.

Not sure why you're referencing Huawei's watches. No one made any assertions about Huawei. Besides, their watches are designed to look like mechanical watches.

If you think the AW looks more reminiscent of the OG iPhone than the Patek... everyone is entitled to their opinion.
 
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Not sure why you're referencing Huawei's watches. No one made any assertions about Huawei. Besides, their watches are designed to look like mechanical watches.

Exactly.

If you think the AW looks more reminiscent of the OG iPhone than the Patek... everyone is entitled to their opinion.

Rog got that from my other posts, where I point out that Jon Ive's contribution to the Apple Watch was undoubtedly the perfectly rounded rectangular shape that he does so often. (Heck, why mess with something that made you famous?)

But Marc Newson and his Ikepods were clearly the source of most of the other AW design cues:

He had already done the slip-in watch bands and similar case:

ikepod-manetee.jpg


We also know Apple used his 1996 sport band:
newson_sport.png


And some of his Ikepod metal bracelet:
ikepod_link.jpg


Even the Ikepod package shape and watchbands inside little paper slips are similar:
ikepod_watchcase2.png


A digital crown was of course, nothing new. Even the colored crown dot had been done.
braun-dot.jpg
 
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Read the first few lines of the article, he's mocking tag heuer

Actually, that was the TAG CEO mocking Apple's ID team. And, from just a pure physical shape perspective, I'd agree. There's nothing special about the design. The technical integration... now that's another story.

Why I don't get is...is this a real product or not? If it is, they're still blatantly ripping off the Apple Watch even if they're trying to be cute about it.

If it's not a real product and just a publicity stunt, then it's actually pretty damn funny!

re: publicity stunt - No kidding!

I wouldn't say they are 'blatantly ripping off' as there isn't much to rip off. I'd say they are blatantly playing off of the particular styling Apple followed with their design. It's more like... if you folks like the look of the Apple watch, here's a real watch that looks similar.

And, I guess I'd agree, as I've yet to see any good use for an Apple Watch, and if you're buying it for style, this is more beautiful (though not the style I'd pick if I *were* to consider wearing a watch again.... which I'm not).
 
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