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Swiss Watchmakers Rebuff Apple's Partnership and Hiring Advances
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I agree this won't affect high end watches because those are bought for a different reason...status.
But this will affect low end watch makers.
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Sound familiar?
But again, these guys all think about the current iteration of what a watch is. What Apple is doing is not going to be a watch. It's going to have watch features obviously but much more.
Most likely it will be more of a band in design that fits snugly around your wrist.
Really? Swatch owns Omega and Rado. Are those not considered high end watches?
Watchmakers sell many unique styles, tailored to the interests of a diverse customer base. Shocking that they wouldn't want to partner with a company that wants to sucker everyone into believing that every single human being should wear exactly the same watch.
Most tech enthusiasts are probably fine with that idea. The rest of the world with even a minimal degree of fashion sense......uh, no.
Most tech enthusiasts are probably fine with that idea. The rest of the world with even a minimal degree of fashion sense......uh, no.
This is the watch Jony Ive wears. I don't know what it would retail for as only a few were made. But the one auctioned off at the RED auction went for $365K. How do Apple executives design and build a watch they themselves would want to wear at a price point people will be willing to pay? That's why I'm skeptical we'll ever get a watch from Apple. Ive & Co. aren't going to design something they wouldn't use/wear.
Jaeger's are niiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiice. They typically run from $6K to $280K for this (pictured). Apple definitely isn't chasing this market. I can see an iWatch impacting the lower end market. Lower being relative since some might not see $300 for a watch as lower end.
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If the iWatch resembles a traditional watch I'll be very disappointed. The look of a traditional watch makes perfect sense for what it is, but I don't like the idea of taking a watch and replacing the face with a screen (like the mockup). I think a more band-like design makes more sense.
Took the words (letters?) right out if my mouth. I remember the Nokia's scoffing at the idea of a phone made by Apple. They aren't anymore.
Apple's wearable won't be named or made to be used primarily as a watch. It will be something much more that happens to tell the time also. Then the headlines from the watch sect will read:
1-"haha!!! no one will pay $xxx for this."
2-"swatch and other watch makers to start adding (insert Apple's wearable features) to their offerings."
Don't be too rough on Jimmy. Like many others on this forum, their knowledge of Swatch is limited. There are a lot of companies who are larger than their reputation, Swatch being one of them. Along with Omega and Rado, they own Harry Winston, Blancpain, and Longines. Volkswagen is another. Their brands include: Audi, Lamborghini, Bentley, Porsche (don't read this as "porsh" or I will kill you
porsh-a), and Bugatti. Point being we can only comment on what we know. After reading your quote and mine, Jimmy will know just a little more.
Oh let me not forget to give a hat tip to wikipedia for info on Swatch Group.
I had one of those when i was a kid. sure set myself up for some geeky ridicule in highschool wearing one of them!
I still though wear a watch 20 years later. Everyday. I Own a couple watches that i wear (depending on where and what).
I have my cheap Fossil watch, then i have a more expensive Citizen (though, even relatively cheap compared to what watches CAN cost).
one of the limitations of smart watches are going to be the design. I dont want a computer on my wrist. I want a fashionable timepiece, that CAN do extra things.
So far, not a single "smartwatch" hits that.
Interesting you say this as The Verge had a collective boner when Android Wear was announced and the Moto 360 had a circular watch face.
That's the best iWatch concept model I've seen yet. If you can imagine no data showing on screen except the hour, minute, second hand, and maybe the date, it would look like a normal watch. This is the kind of design I'd expect Apple to go with. Apple isn't about crazy and radical like all the other smart watches on the market. Apple is about elegant and practical. I'd buy an iWatch if it looked like this.
Medical tech companies has been trying to do that accurately and consistently for years, without luck. I doubt Apple will figure it out in a year.
Anyone who claims their Chinese knock off watches are equal to their Swiss (or even japanese) hand made counter parts have never had their hands on a legit higher end watch.
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Lol, most watches look exactly the same from a distance, and its not like looks isn't something high on apple's priority list.
I wear a Rolex Submariner 16610 circa 1988 with a 3135 COSC movement, 904L stainless steel & sapphire crystal. This watch has been on my wrist for almost 20 years, survived USMC Force Recon screening and selection, combat dive & jump schools & many fun months in the sandbox with barely a scratch. I had the thing serviced once and that's it. It keeps excellent time and still looks as good as when I recieved it. This is why you purchase a good Swiss watch..
My current watch battery lasts more than a year. I don't want a watch that has to be removed From my wrist for a period of time to be recharged. That defeats the purpose, especially of a health monitoring device. At best (and likely a long shot) charge might last a week. Call it what it is, a iPod nano with a strap that has a few extra features.
Yeah, so I've heard on the Vergecast many times.
I think traditional watches are only round because the rotating hands make a circle, it's the most natural. It also makes sense for traditional watches to have a case the houses the movement, and a band that's separate. I don't know why people want to limit smart watches to the traditional form factor, other than how a watch is "supposed" to look. A form factor like the Gear Fit or this concept make more sense to me.
