I'm not bashing the Apple Watch, I think the design is good and I intend to buy one. But I was in Target today and I couldn't help but notice the similarities between it and a vtech smartwatch.
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The Apple Watch Looks 'Like It Was Designed By A Student'
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$500 for a phone?!?!
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Say again....that hideous mess costs $35,000 USD? Wow.
Keep in mind though. They probably sell a 100 of those per year, so a select group of collectors. Much like the Ferrari, its not made for the 'market', its made for a certain group of buyers.
You are mistaken. The low end Apple Watch is $350, but that is far from the "range" that you think it will stay in.
The Apple Watch Edition (the 18k gold encased one) will be $5k at MINIMUM. The raw materials for it alone cost around 3-4k. I am not joking I'm 100% serious. Look up the cost of 18k solid gold and then look up the specs of the Apple Watch encasing and weight. It will probably come with a leather strap as standard. If you want a gold strap alone will be another couple of thousand dollars. This means that an Apple Watch can be anywhere in the range of $350 to $10k depending on how you configure it.
Apple is absolutely competing in the high end of the market. Apple did not make a smartwatch. Apple made a watch. Notice that no where in their market do they mention "smartwatch".
The Apple Watch Looks 'Like It Was Designed By A Student'
Well it's hard to disagree with Steve jobs but as of now, I would bet that the gold edition will be a very limited number production run, thereby limiting its impact on the high-end watch segment, even if it does compete in that space.
But more importantly, I don't believe that the gold apple watch competes directly against high end watches, even if it's priced sort of like one.
I don't know if you buy watches in the high end segment (let's say comfortably above 5k since we are comparing to the apple gold watch) or if you know people who do but as a watch collector and someone who really frequents WUS and TRF, I sincerely don't believe that the apple watch is going to be directly competing against the luxury watch brands (Rolex, Panerai, Patek, Lange, Breguet, audemars piguet, Richard mille, etc).
Reasons people buy those types of watches usually have nothing to do with any kind of utilitarian functions and I don't think that the Apple watch, as an electronic device, can ever have the emotional appeal of a handmade work of art like a Lange Datograph.
Well it's hard to disagree with Steve jobs but as of now, I would bet that the gold edition will be a very limited number production run, thereby limiting its impact on the high-end watch segment, even if it does compete in that space.
But more importantly, I don't believe that the gold apple watch competes directly against high end watches, even if it's priced sort of like one.
I don't know if you buy watches in the high end segment (let's say comfortably above 5k since we are comparing to the apple gold watch) or if you know people who do but as a watch collector and someone who really frequents WUS and TRF, I sincerely don't believe that the apple watch is going to be directly competing against the luxury watch brands (Rolex, Panerai, Patek, Lange, Breguet, audemars piguet, Richard mille, etc).
Reasons people buy those types of watches usually have nothing to do with any kind of utilitarian functions and I don't think that the Apple watch, as an electronic device, can ever have the emotional appeal of a handmade work of art like a Lange Datograph.
I'm not so sure it will be 18k "solid" gold. It will be plated. Their assertions that "our metallurgists developed to be up to twice as hard as standard gold", is frankly, a joke. The way you make Gold stronger is to mix it with alloys, or to plate an alloy in it. That way you get the "Gold" look, while maintaining strength. Gold is natural, there's no magical alchemy you can use to make solid gold any stronger than what it actually is. It's not a man made substance.
I think it's kind of funny that with so little information on a device, people have all but settled on its pricing (something not even Apple know) and have already settled on all it's specifications.
I'd be utterly surprised if the "gold" watch isn't retailed for around $799 or less.
I think it's kind of funny that with so little information on a device, people have all but settled on its pricing (something not even Apple know) and have already settled on all it's specifications.
I'd be utterly surprised if the "gold" watch isn't retailed for around $799 or less.
As someone posted in another thread, the back of the watch clearly states 18-karat gold. Jony Ive said it was 18-karat gold in the Watch video. Apple executives told John Gruber it was NOT gold plated. It would be pretty stupid and highly irresponsible for them to lie about something like that.
I've noticed a trend lately. We are now at the point where people assume the worst even when apple directly states something to the contrary.
Apple: it's not gold plated
Forum: it must be plated
apple: we can't extract data from your phone for the cops because we don't have the keys
Forum: Apple has the keys and is secretly giving data to the NSA
Heh, pretty much. I posted some quotes from Tim Cook's Businessweek interview. It's clear that the Watch is just the beginning for Apple.
I can only imagine what people here will say when Apple gets further away from iPhones and Macs. I highly doubt they hired Marc Newson to help design the next MBA.
I don't love the way the Apple Watch looks, but I think the key for this first model is software . If the software gets set the way it is, the hardware can be updated as the components get smaller.
I'd say he has a point. My kids make me gifts out of project supplies all the time that fit better and take up less space. Chunky Apple watch could have been stylized by a 2 year old. Except then it would probably still be sleeker looking.
Not gonna be strapping this thing on any faster than I'm going back to the cell phones that looked like 2 x 4 blocks. I like not having my sleeves bunch up against my watch.
The day I have to remove my watch to change my shirt, the watch goes in the trash.
Not gonna be strapping this thing on any faster than I'm going back to the cell phones that looked like 2 x 4 blocks. I like not having my sleeves bunch up against my watch.
The day I have to remove my watch to change my shirt, the watch goes in the trash.
I don't see this as the same market at all; a classic and expensive timepiece that will keep its appeal and value for many many years is a whole other thing than a smart watch which is largely obsolete (compared to newer models) in 2 years.
You know... that I'd buy... at least it'd be useful.. I could hand it to my kids and let them play with it when we're in the car...
Much more useful, and just as attractive.
And, it doesn't require an iPhone to do something.
Completely agree... unfortunately, I don't think people are going to wear a smartwatch and regular watch at the same time - they'd look like idiots... so if smartwatches become as popular as smartphones, your 'classic and expesive timepiece' because nothing more than an expensive paperweight or something you were on the rarest of occasions.
This is why I believe their business will be dramatically downscaled.
The Apple Watch Looks 'Like It Was Designed By A Student'
Solid gold Hublots are above 20k.
Lowest priced mens hublots are around 10k new.
It's a different market.
Solid gold Hublots are above 20k.
Lowest priced mens hublots are around 10k new.
It's a different market.
apple is likely going for the $500/$1K/$5K watch markets given the extreme quality and precision of the bands and case. I think they could take it quite easily. Their three editions I think delineate the markets they are after.
Nobody is going to give up a 10K watch for it of course, any more than someone will give up his 1960 mustang, but folks own more than one watch and most will probably move beyond analog watches.