Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.
There are a few interesting retro mechanical watches and some purpose-built "ABC" watches. But, outside of the Sistem51 mechanicals, the watch industry has been rather devoid of innovation. It has instead focused on growing wrist watches to the size of yesteryear pocket watches as a "measure of bravado." The Apple watch begins its life as an ABC watch on steroids with focus on packing a lot into a diminutive package. And, it does so at a price that is competitive with higher-end ABC watches. Not too bad for a first gen.
 
It seems shortsighted to think that Apple can design a watch better than a watchmaker giant.

By that logic it would be foolish in 2006 to think Apple can make a better phone than established phone giants.

One thing Apple does well is focus on design right through the product, end to end, with a focus of producing the best. I personally have no use for an Apple watch. I still think Apple does products well.

I do think the Apple watch we've seen so far is ugly. It seems to have taken it's design cue from the iPhone and JI does like to evolve a product. I would have liked to have seen the side profile modified to look sleeker.
 
The genius of the Apple Watch is how completely normal and yet customizable it looks. All other Smart Watches have made the wearer look like they're wearing something incredibly dorky or strange.

When people see them in person, they'll understand. The Apple Watch is in a completely different category style-wise than any of the Android Wear devices out yet, including the Moto 360
 
Good, this is my favorite watchmaker. Can't wait to see what they come out with. Granted, I'm already getting an Apple watch having worn one and played with it, but competition is a good thing.
 
haha, this is a funny story. Apple should be VERY worried, not for their low end Apple Watch models, but the stupidly overpriced high end Gold ones, because Tag will destroy it in quality and desirability.

Tag will destroy in quality? Since you haven't seen an Watch in person what are you basing that on? Here's what a high end watch blogger who has seen Watch in person said:

http://www.hodinkee.com/blog/hodinkee-apple-watch-review

Again, Apple has paid excruciating attention to detail in the design and wearability of the Apple Watch. In many cases, its offerings make what is coming out of Switzerland (or Asia) look amateurish.
 
Que the apple watch/tag heuer edition apple watch. Electronics by apple, body by tag heuer. Priced reasonably around $3-5k. #

I wouldn't mind seeing Apple partnering with OEMs such as Tag Heuer. Wearables is so personal that no one company can dominate from a hardware standpoint. And since the Apple watch is considered an accessory to the iPhone (for now, anyway), I think it would benefit Apple and its customers immensely if Apple licensed iOS for wearables.
 
It was launched about 4 weeks ago and no one noticed due to the absence of any marketing.

Yes and no. Microsoft intentionally has held back the marketing to counter the Apple watch when it launches.

The marketing strategy from what I have been told is they are currently moving the Microsoft watch product into the distribution chains with them on the shelves at the time of the Apple Watch launch.

When there are shortages in Apple stores and other retailers, then the big ad campaign from Microsoft hits with the "We have plenty of smartwatches!" storm going out.

Will that play out well? I have no idea.
 
Luxury watches and the apple watch won't even be operating in remotely the same market segment. One is a gadget, the other is a piece of fine jewellery or a master timepiece.

I'll be able to pass my Omega Seamaster on to my child if I have one, can't see that happening with the apple watch. A watch just isn't something you should have to "upgrade" every single year.
 
Note: Not all rich people are stupid.
Some are VERY careful with money and don't throw it away.
they buy very expensive things as they know they are quality and will last, and perhaps even appreciate in value over the years.

Sure there are some dumb ones that just throw their money away, but I might suggest they are just the media ones that we see in the trashy papers.

A luxury purchase doesn't fall into smart or dumb. If that were the case, most luxury goods purchases, or any purchase that is not a basic need for that matter, would fall into the latter category.

Buying luxury products is an emotional decision. It's about how that product/brand makes one feel; It's about getting the best possible experience, even if it's slight, and paying a premium for that experience. And if you have the means, why not? You only live once.
 
I still think the two watches will be sold to different categories. As much as a fashion piece the Apple Watch will be, it's still aimed at the tech industry. I don't see someone buying one that is just interested in fashion, but would possibly buy a Tag watch if it had some smart watch capabilities but was built by a fashion designing company
 
i like my mechanical watch and i will not be getting any smart watch.

the reason why i upgraded to the iPhone 6 was to get a larger screen. i fail to see the point of reading stuff off the watch. don't mind taking out my phone...
 
Even tough I want one so badly, I'll wait for some kind of jailbreak that makes it iPhone-free.
 
Tag will destroy in quality? Since you haven't seen an Watch in person what are you basing that on? Here's what a high end watch blogger who has seen Watch in person said:

http://www.hodinkee.com/blog/hodinkee-apple-watch-review

Sure, attention to detail and quality are different things. In Tag's market segment, it will destroy Apple. Luxury high value watches are not the same as smart phones.
 
I can see the advantages if you're an iPhone user like us but as 90% of smartphones run Android that leaves a whole lot of market for the rest of the watch industry to exploit.

I don't think the Apple Watch will be the roaring success some people are predicting.

1) If the Mac, iPhone, or iPad are any indication, the Watch will be the most impactful product on the industry that makes its customers the happiest. It will consistently set the standard, if you can swallow the price. Then after 2-3 years and other companies get their act together, they'll produce 30 different competing products that altogether put Apple in a marketshare minority, but make no money and are of varying quality.

2) Also based on the past, the Watch will likely become less iPhone-dependent in the future. iTunes/iPod used to require a Mac, then it came out on Windows. The iPhone used to require a computer to download content, run updates, etc. and became "PC-free" with iOS 5.

I'm sure in 2-3 years, it'll be relatively untethered, cheaper, thinner, better, and more cross-compatible.
 
Regardless, the software will likely be crap.

And the Apple watch software is better? I loved that watch until I saw it in action. I never seen anything so cluttered in my life.
Sadly people will buy this watch because of the Apple logo and quality, not for its functionality.
 
And the Apple watch software is better? I loved that watch until I saw it in action. I never seen anything so cluttered in my life.
Sadly people will buy this watch because of the Apple logo and quality, not for its functionality.

Yeah right, as opposed to all the mockups/idealizations from armchair designers who tried to squeeze the whole iOS that you see on the iPhone into the tiny watch screen.
 
TAG Heuer already makes smartphones... anyway, being a "low-end luxury" watchmaker it's a normal decision to try with them at first and not with Hublot f.e., but I think they can't compete with apple since I doubt they can improve and refresh the software continuously and software is a big part when you're selling consumer electronics, not only luxury hardware.

I mean, look at vertu, they are crap for arab aladdin wannabes, it's their only reason for being, the "ohh look at me I'm rich" attention whore thing.
 
The mobile phone industry is heading exactly where the watch industry is now - if its not there already. High end makes all the money. Low end moves volume for pennies.

For mobile's - Apple owns the high end and a decent chunk of the middle.

They are going after the same segment in watches... and they'll get it.

High end mechanical watches ($3,000+) will be on a 10 year slide from 1.6 million produced a year to a couple hundred thousand for the ultra enthusiast.

They don't have the background to complete with Apple in this new age.
 
My watch has a titanium case, waterproof to 1000 feet, COSC certified, and the chrono pushers work underwater with no risk of leak so I can time anything, anywhere. I can read it in the dark thanks to it's Superluminova markings and the whole thing generates all the power it needs to run through normal wear. I can't think of anything much smarter than that. Oh, did I mention my watch has actually gone up in value from when I purchased it? :D

That sounds like an awesome watch.

Does it monior your pulse rate? Does it give you meeting notifications? Does it give you email and sms notifications? Can it be used standalone to play music?

I dont think it does any of that.

The two products are aimed at different product segments.

It is a bit like saying a Porsche 911 is not as good as a Grand Cherokee because it doesn't have good off road capability. Both are cars in the same way that an Apple Watch and an Omega Seamaster are watches bt serve different purposes.

I have a Tag Monaco - ballpark same price as an Omega Seamaster (give or take $1000 or so) - even in a similar product category (luxury watches) each of them has different features that make them appeal to different people. It doesnt make one a better watch than the other.
 
Register on MacRumors! This sidebar will go away, and you'll see fewer ads.