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The Gold Watch Problem - My Thoughs on wild predicitions.

ricktat said:
The good news is that we only have to guess for another 6 days.

Then the guessing will turn into complaining.

Wait until we her about the GB options... $349 Sports 1GB but $399 for 8GB:eek:
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It is entirely possible that the memory will not be the same in all versions, as another reason for people to be upsold.

Mind you, on the other hand, doing that really goes against the new way of thinking on this device.

The 3 watches are sold for different audiences, Sports, Normal and Dress.

Be no point in someone who wants a sports watch as its being sold for SPORTS wanting to change to the steel one, not designed for sports as it has more memory.

So, really it would be silly upping the spec as they are designed for different purposes.
 
Pammylu said:
Has anyone considered that wearing one of the Edition gold watches (yellow or rose) will be a huge signal to everyone to "come over here and point a small hidden gun at me and rob me of a pricey chunk of 18kt gold."

It's not the same as wearing a Rolex that might be a knock-off, this would scream 'known item with known price tag.' It also would not be hidden beneath a cuff for a quick glance at the time every now and then, it would be "used" often as the technology that it is... thus, showing off in everyone's face. I'd be fearful of wearing it as a daily functioning piece of technology enclosed in a high-priced jewelry-store item begging to be stolen off my wrist at gunpoint. Just saying' ....
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If I get the Edition, my next phone call may be to my insurance company to get a jewelry rider added to my homeowner's policy.
 
Piggie said:
Be no point in someone who wants a sports watch as its being sold for SPORTS wanting to change to the steel one, not designed for sports as it has more memory.
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I would argue that the stainless steel watch would make a far better "sport" watch because it's way more durable. A "sport" watch would benefit from more memory as well. If I'm on a run, bike ride, or at the gym I probably wouldn't have my phone on me and I'd like to have as much music as possible.
 
bnorthro said:
I would argue that the stainless steel watch would make a far better "sport" watch because it's way more durable. A "sport" watch would benefit from more memory as well. If I'm on a run, bike ride, or at the gym I probably wouldn't have my phone on me and I'd like to have as much music as possible.
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I can't disagree with you.
Personally I find it quite hilarious that all these so called super fit sports people, lean and well toned bodies, muscles in the prime of fitness are unable to deal with the unbearable crushing immense weight of a steel watch around their wrists.

:)

Also, yes, a sports watch will be far more likely to get knocked or damaged than sitting at a desk in a suit.

So, again I agree.

Personally, Titanium would/could be a better sports watch material.

The only problem then for Apple would be that, in the public eye, Titanium would be seen as more high end than old stainless steel you kitchen sink is made from.

I've no doubt in time Apple may offer more material choices.
 
The difficulty with wearables is public acceptance. Even being a bit of a tech geek, and I've owned a Pebble and fitness band, I still think Android watches look a little dorky out in the wild.

Apple is battling this by going upmarket and getting involved in the fashion industry, which is a brilliant move, because they absolutely need the public to change its perception of wearables, and making desirable, expensive options will help get them there.

The bottom line is, Apple is likely expecting most to buy the Sport version of the Watch in the under $500 category. The Edition is there to bring in high fashion/wealthy people, and that will help get the cultural opinion of wearables where it needs to be. My big question is the steel model. It could be more expensive than we think.

Tissot makes some of the least expensive gold watches that I can think of, in the $2k-3k range. To give a price comparison of one model they make that comes in both steel and gold, the Tissot Heritage Navigator in steel is $1650, and the Tissot Heritage Navigator in 18K is $8250. Granted, it looks like more gold than what would be in the Watch. I'm still guessing $5K for the gold Watch.

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There are going to be big price jumps between each of the models, I am sure of it.

Apple are trying to position the sport model as the 'everyman' model, you can see in the advertising they've already released - in sport magazines, mainstream fashion magazines.

The stainless steel will be a considerable jump up in price, in the thousands of dollars. This is vital to ensure it has a luxurious appeal, it needs to attract the kind of people that will pay $1000-$2000 for a leather bag or shoes, or would traditionally purchase a Tag Heuer watch. It will also be priced just low enough to make people like you and me lust over it and consider purchasing it over the sport.

The edition is not something we will consider (we being the general tech geek population, and 99% of the rest of the population too). It will be advertised in Dubai airport, in financial newspapers to rich husbands for their wives and on billboards on 5th Avenue and the Champs Elysees. It needs to attract the kind of customer where spending $2000-$3000 for a watch is too little to even consider. It needs to be priced up over $5000 at minimum to be attractive to these customers.

This is a different strategy for Apple and I'm not sure if it will work, but I am 99% sure the above will be accurate come March 9th.
 
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i0Nic said:
There are going to be big price jumps between each of the models, I am sure of it.

Apple are trying to position the sport model as the 'everyman' model, you can see in the advertising they've already released - in sport magazines, mainstream fashion magazines.
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If it is as you suggest, where is the wide range of straps being shown off for this "everyman" model ?
 
douglasf13 said:
Granted, it looks like more gold than what would be in the Watch. I'm still guessing $5K for the gold Watch.
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I still don't get the thinking that Apple is going to blow in here with "the cheapest gold watch ever"! Lots of cognitive dissonance going on here based on what people want it to be priced at and not what the evidence showing us. I mean, it would make a lot more sense for the watch to baseline our estimates off comparably sized gold watches from traditional manufacturers, wouldn't it?
 
Piggie said:
If it is as you suggest, where is the wide range of straps being shown off for this "everyman" model ?
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There is no wide range of straps, there's the sport band, maybe the basic leather band. In future we may see some other fabric or leather style bands for it.

If you want a wide range of luxury bands, step up to the stainless steel model.
 
i0Nic said:
There is no wide range of straps, there's the sport band, maybe the basic leather band. In future we may see some other fabric or leather style bands for it.

If you want a wide range of luxury bands, step up to the stainless steel model.
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I know, which is why I could not understand why you said:

"Apple are trying to position the sport model as the 'everyman' model, you can see in the advertising they've already released - in sport magazines, mainstream fashion magazines."

Is that was the case, as you suggested, then they would have more straps than basically just the rubber one they keep showing it with.

I feel they see the Steel one as the "everyman" model, hence the range of straps, and it will be priced less than some wild numbers on here.
 
Piggie said:
Also, yes, a sports watch will be far more likely to get knocked or damaged than sitting at a desk in a suit.

So, again I agree.

Personally, Titanium would/could be a better sports watch material.
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Apple claims it's custom "7000 series" aluminium is 60% stronger than standard alloys. Standard 7068 (aluminium-zinc) alloy is the hardest standard Aluminium available, and already as strong as many steels. I'd expect it'd be not far off the SS in durability.

Remember the original Titanium Powerbook G4s? They were actually pretty weak and fragile compared to the Aluminium models that came later.
 
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Piggie said:
I know, which is why I could not understand why you said:

"Apple are trying to position the sport model as the 'everyman' model, you can see in the advertising they've already released - in sport magazines, mainstream fashion magazines."

Is that was the case, as you suggested, then they would have more straps than basically just the rubber one they keep showing it with.

I feel they see the Steel one as the "everyman" model, hence the range of straps, and it will be priced less than some wild numbers on here.
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Yes, if Apple wanted to position this as the 'everyman' model, they'd make the straps (or at least some of them) in an Aluminium finish so people could buy them. They will not want to lose out on people not purchasing straps as they don't match with the watch they have.

Apple made a billion dollar business out of smart cases. Just imagine the amount they could make on Watch Straps if they are priced right.
 
General Motors is a mass market company and it sells both Cadillac Escalades, which sell for more than $100,000 and it makes low end cars for around $20K.

So Apple makes high end watches and low end watches. What's the problem with that?
 
paulsdenton said:
General Motors is a mass market company and it sells both Cadillac Escalades, which sell for more than $100,000 and it makes low end cars for around $20K.

So Apple makes high end watches and low end watches. What's the problem with that?
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I think we all agree that the sports watch is the low end, and the Edition is the high end. What is not clear is the steel watch. Some people think that it would be high end too, other people think it's the middle ground.
 
The thing going against the Apple watch is the fact that it is "tech" and will be outdated quickly unlike your typical watch. Because of that I suspect prices will be slightly lower than other watches.

I paid roughly $1100 for my Rolex Submariner in 1985. I still wear that same watch today, 30 years later and it now sells for around $5k (SS). The Apple watch will be in a junk drawer in 30 years. Heck in 3 years.
 
I think you'll be hard pressed to find a new Submariner for under $7k.

I expect Apple will have an upgrade plan in place. People with nice automatic watches, like your Submariner, are used to having them serviced periodically. I have a Breitling Superocean Professional that is coming up on it's 5 year service date. I don't know the exact price, but I think I read those run like $500 which is steep IMO. If that's a standard "upkeep" cost of a swiss watch, I think a $200 upgrade offer every 2 years is totally reasonable for the Apple Watch.
 
bnorthro said:
I think you'll be hard pressed to find a new Submariner for under $7k.

I expect Apple will have an upgrade plan in place. People with nice automatic watches, like your Submariner, are used to having them serviced periodically. I have a Breitling Superocean Professional that is coming up on it's 5 year service date. I don't know the exact price, but I think I read those run like $500 which is steep IMO. If that's a standard "upkeep" cost of a swiss watch, I think a $200 upgrade offer every 2 years is totally reasonable for the Apple Watch.
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Yes I've had my Rolex serviced to the tune of around $500 several times over the years. It does come back looking brand new!
 
Night Spring said:
I think we all agree that the sports watch is the low end, and the Edition is the high end. What is not clear is the steel watch. Some people think that it would be high end too, other people think it's the middle ground.
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I decided I'd pay up to $1K for a stainless model, if it's over that I'll go aluminum.

Also, I can't believe they won't have an upgrade path; maybe even replaceable internals. Otherwise, why would you buy a $5,000 (or ?) gold version?

By the way, $5,000 is chicken feed for a watch. Anyone priced Girard-Perregaux or Patek Philippe recently? Rolexes are cheap by comparison.
 
paulsdenton said:
By the way, $5,000 is chicken feed for a watch. Anyone priced Girard-Perregaux or Patek Philippe recently? Rolexes are cheap by comparison.
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Priced a Moto 360 lately?

Apple isn't making handmade swiss timepieces. Sheesh. Do you honestly believe that somebody would be in the market for either a Patek Philippe OR an Apple Watch? Seriously?
 
paulsdenton said:
Right, but all they do is tell time. They may have value as collectors items and wealth indicators, but a gold Apple watch may serve the latter purpose fairly well at 10-20% the cost of those watches.
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Think about this:

Would you value a 32" TV above an oil painting?

The TV can display the oil painting, actually ANY oil painting as well as video, games, and so much more! :D
 
9to5Mac is reporting that Apple is having some heavy duty safes installed in each store, additionally, the Edition is going to be displayed in a bulletproof case that is only accessible through the store employee's iPhone app. Finally, they just hired all contract security guards to full-time.

This seems like a lot of precaution for a watch less than $3,000. They have $3,000 laptops just laying there :p.
 
J4B3 said:
This seems like a lot of precaution for a watch less than $3,000. They have $3,000 laptops just laying there :p.
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As well as $5000 "trash can" Mac Pros. ;)

But you have to admit it's far easier to pocket watches than laptops and trash cans. Hence maybe these precautions are warranted even if Edition is $3000?
 
J4B3 said:
9to5Mac is reporting that Apple is having some heavy duty safes installed in each store, additionally, the Edition is going to be displayed in a bulletproof case that is only accessible through the store employee's iPhone app. Finally, they just hired all contract security guards to full-time.

This seems like a lot of precaution for a watch less than $3,000. They have $3,000 laptops just laying there :p.
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Why bother with a bullet proof case?

You point the gun at the Apple employee who can open it.
Much easier :D
 
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