Watch Straps sold separately?

[Lostanddamned]

Are we sure that the watch straps will be sold separately?

If speculations on price are correct, I will probably be going for the Apple Watch Sport, and I don’t particularly want a space grey face, but I’d definitely prefer a black band; so buying a black band separately and a silver watch with a coloured band (probably blue, I really like that one shade of blue Apple uses) will be the ideal solution for me.

Of course, if we have overestimated the price of the regular Apple Watch… Count me in for that!

 

[Julien]

Are we sure that the watch straps will be sold separately?....

Since all bands are interchangeable and easy to swap it's a sure bet Apple's not going to pass on this lucrative, high profit and easy gravy train.

...A different band can really change the look of Apple Watch...

 

[Piggie]

My view is [Unfortunately]

Apple will force you to buy one its IT'S selected straps with your watch.
they will not allow you to buy the watch without any strap.

You will then be able to purchase any strap seperatly that will fit any watch.

But they will be priced very high, Apple Tax, and then you can mix and match whatever you like.

3rd part straps will come out pretty quickly as it's just a simple clip in mechanism that will be easy to copy and such 3rd party straps will after a few brands also try and cut into a major mark up, be able to be found really cheaply.

See some typical pricing for perhaps black steel straps that with the right connector added would look great with the Apple watch.

And if you are going to get a new one each year, then why not get a new reasonable strap also

http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=sr_nr_n...&ie=UTF8&qid=1414160438&rnid=2941120011&ajr=2

 

[OllyW]

Apple will force you to buy one its IT'S selected straps with your watch.
they will not allow you to buy the watch without any strap.

Isn't that standard practise when you buy a watch?

 

[Piggie]

Isn't that standard practice when you buy a watch?

A watch yes, but this is not watch really
It's more akin to a tiny iPod touch on your wrist, and generally the strap of a watch is more designed to blend into that particular watch.

As I said some time ago, it would make the logistical side a lot easier for Apple if they did it this way and sold them separate like a case for an iPhone.

So you ordered your watch body of choice, then moved down your order page and bought your strap of choice to go with it.

Would save Apple having to guess how many of each colour strap to fit on each colour watch at the factory, they would be shipped together, just as seperate items.

 

[JayLenochiniMac]

Nobody is sure until we get the official word from Apple.

 

[OllyW]

A watch yes, but this is not watch really.

Apple seem to be really pushing it as a watch, as most of the focus so far has been on the fashion side. They seem very proud of their straps and I don't think they are going to let you buy the watch without one, though you will have plenty of options.

I agree the straps won't come cheap but the plastic bands shouldn't be too expensive.

 

[Rogifan]

A watch yes, but this is not watch really
It's more akin to a tiny iPod touch on your wrist, and generally the strap of a watch is more designed to blend into that particular watch.

As I said some time ago, it would make the logistical side a lot easier for Apple if they did it this way and sold them separate like a case for an iPhone.

So you ordered your watch body of choice, then moved down your order page and bought your strap of choice to go with it.

Would save Apple having to guess how many of each colour strap to fit on each colour watch at the factory, they would be shipped together, just as seperate items.

So that's why the name of the product is Watch...because it's not really a watch. OK...

My guess is when you order the watch you're going to pick a watch body/face and then choose what strap you want. Note that Tim Cook wears the stainless steel body with white band. Jony Ive has been seen wearing rose gold body with white band. And Craig Federighi and Kevin Lynch have worn stainless steel body with milanese band. Perhaps some combinations will be more expensive than others.

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Apple seem to be really pushing it as a watch, as most of the focus so far has been on the fashion side. They seem very proud of their straps and I don't think they are going to let you buy the watch without one, though you will have plenty of options.

I agree the straps won't come cheap but the plastic bands shouldn't be too expensive.

It seems quite clear that Apple designed the watch and bands together. They look like a cohesive product. The complete opposite of the Almost 360 which looks like Moto designed the aluminum tire and the bands were an afterthought. I agree you won't be able to get the watch without a band, but who would want to? I still think eventually Apple will allow 3rd parties to design watch bands, but it will be tightly controlled. The last thing Apple wants is a bunch of cheap 3rd party bands that are a piece of crap and make the watch look bad.

 

[Piggie]

So that's why the name of the product is Watch...because it's not really a watch. OK...

My guess is when you order the watch you're going to pick a watch body/face and then choose what strap you want. Note that Tim Cook wears the stainless steel body with white band. Jony Ive has been seen wearing rose gold body with white band. And Craig Federighi and Kevin Lynch have worn stainless steel body with milanese band. Perhaps some combinations will be more expensive than others.

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It seems quite clear that Apple designed the watch and bands together. They look like a cohesive product. The complete opposite of the Almost 360 which looks like Moto designed the aluminum tire and the bands were an afterthought. I agree you won't be able to get the watch without a band, but who would want to? I still think eventually Apple will allow 3rd parties to design watch bands, but it will be tightly controlled. The last thing Apple wants is a bunch of cheap 3rd party bands that are a piece of crap and make the watch look bad.

Couple of points:

Apple could call it the Apple Pink Hippo on a beachball it's just a name.
It's being touted as a watch, though the definition of a watch is woolly I'd grant you.
One could argue that a computer with a screen irrespective of size is not a watch of course 🙂

In cold reality, the Apple Watch is no more a watch than strapping an iMac on your wrist with a leather belt.

Re the watch/strap ordering process, you agree with what I would like to see happen, and I'm sure EVERYONE would like to see happen.

As part of the ordering process you order the body you want, then the strap you want, and you get a charge at the bottom and you are sent both items.

Yes, we all want that. but part of me thinks Apple won't allow you to go that.
You will HAVE to have the sports watch with one of say 4 colour plastic straps they have selected and that's that.
You CAN then go and order additional straps of your choice afterwards, but you will still have to buy the watch with the strap you don't want to start with.
I hope I'm wrong on that one.

Finally no. Apple will not in any way be able to control 3rd party straps.
they will have their very expensive Apple branded straps.
there will be some Apple Approved 3rd party straps either right away or perhaps a little while later.

But I feel there will be a lot of nice unofficial MUCH cheaper straps come onto the market pretty quick that we can pick from to make our sports watch look a lot better for minimal outlay.

No one has to reverse engineer a complex chip or electrical connector or anything.
It's a bit of metal with a spring and button on it.
Probably could all be done and in production within a week of a workshop getting their hands on one.

I don't suppose you can even copyright it in the 1st place.

You can copyright an exact mechanism but you only have to change the design a little bit, as long as it slides into place and some spring clips in and holds it there, you are good to go.

 

[OllyW]

You will HAVE to have the sports watch with one of say 4 colour plastic straps they have selected and that's that.

I could see that restriction being in place for the entry level Sport Watch but I think you'll have a lot wider choice on the two more expensive models.

 

[Julien]

....It's being touted as a watch, though the definition of a watch is woolly I'd grant you....

I don't suppose you can even copyright it in the 1st place.

You can copyright an exact mechanism...

You can't copyright any mechanism. 😱 Copyright is for software. Hardware is patented.

Watch definition: a small timepiece worn typically on a strap on one's wrist.

So the aWatch meets the definition of a watch.

 

[Piggie]

You can't copyright any mechanism. 😱 Copyright is for software. Hardware is patented.

Watch definition: a small timepiece worn typically on a strap on one's wrist.

So the aWatch meets the definition of a watch.

Agreed, however, I think we know we are really pretending it's a watch.

It's not REALLY a 'Timepiece" is it?

I know it tells the time.

Yes, so it is a watch according to that, but I don't feel the 'Spirit' of the original meaning of the word was a small computer.

It's really skeuomorphism moved from screen into the real physical world.
It's pretending a computer is a watch by making it look like one, even to the point of putting on a fake winder to even more pretend it's a watch.

I cannot say it does not meet the criteria of a watch, just that, it's bending the original sentiment of the term probably.

If anything watch is an insult as it's far more.

Smart. No not really, very very dumb in fact as the moment.
Even your iMac is dumb. 🙂

And I'm not just saying that about the Apple device that applies to the all 🙂

 

[KPOM]

Nobody is sure until we get the official word from Apple.

The gallery on their website displays 34 different combinations, which matches the description of each series (e.g. the Edition web page states it is a collection of 6 watches, which matches the available size and band combinations that appear in the gallery).

It appears that you will have to choose one of the 34 combinations. My guess is that they will also offer replacement bands separately, but not every band will be offered in both 38mm and 42mm, and some of the colors won't match. e.g. the only bands that match the rose gold gold model are the white sport band with rose gold pin (38mm and 42mm), and the rose gray leather modern buckle (38mm only). While there are other modern buckles for the main Apple Watch line, they have stainless steel trim. It might work, but won't be an exact match.

 

[Rogifan]

Couple of points:

Apple could call it the Apple Pink Hippo on a beachball it's just a name.
It's being touted as a watch, though the definition of a watch is woolly I'd grant you.
One could argue that a computer with a screen irrespective of size is not a watch of course 🙂

In cold reality, the Apple Watch is no more a watch than strapping an iMac on your wrist with a leather belt.

Re the watch/strap ordering process, you agree with what I would like to see happen, and I'm sure EVERYONE would like to see happen.

As part of the ordering process you order the body you want, then the strap you want, and you get a charge at the bottom and you are sent both items.

Yes, we all want that. but part of me thinks Apple won't allow you to go that.
You will HAVE to have the sports watch with one of say 4 colour plastic straps they have selected and that's that.
You CAN then go and order additional straps of your choice afterwards, but you will still have to buy the watch with the strap you don't want to start with.
I hope I'm wrong on that one.

Finally no. Apple will not in any way be able to control 3rd party straps.
they will have their very expensive Apple branded straps.
there will be some Apple Approved 3rd party straps either right away or perhaps a little while later.

But I feel there will be a lot of nice unofficial MUCH cheaper straps come onto the market pretty quick that we can pick from to make our sports watch look a lot better for minimal outlay.

No one has to reverse engineer a complex chip or electrical connector or anything.
It's a bit of metal with a spring and button on it.
Probably could all be done and in production within a week of a workshop getting their hands on one.

I don't suppose you can even copyright it in the 1st place.

You can copyright an exact mechanism but you only have to change the design a little bit, as long as it slides into place and some spring clips in and holds it there, you are good to go.

Apple's website is very clear on what bands are available for the sport and watch collections. There are 5 different watch bands (10 different combinations in total) for the sport collection and 6 different watch bands (18 different combinations in total) for the watch collection. So I'm not sure what you mean by "but you will still have to buy the watch with the strap you don't want to start with". Who's going to want the aluminum watch with a stainless steel milanese band? That makes no sense. I'm not sure what cheap band you think is going to come out that will make the sport watch look better. Can you give an example?

You have yet to see the watch in person but have already reverse engineered how the bands work? Just like you're so confident the gold watch is really just a thin layer of gold over an aluminum case, even though you have no evidence to support that. I'm just curious where the "spring" is in the Watch band as I'm not seeing a "spring" anywhere.

Sure it's possible unauthorized third parties will figure out how to design cheap bands, just like there are cheap lightning cables. But you won't see those in Apple stores and you'll never see Apple promoting them. And my guess is they will never look as good as Apple bands or Apple authorized third-party bands. They may show up and sell in places like China but I doubt they will be popular any place else.

----------

The gallery on their website displays 34 different combinations, which matches the description of each series (e.g. the Edition web page states it is a collection of 6 watches, which matches the available size and band combinations that appear in the gallery).

It appears that you will have to choose one of the 34 combinations. My guess is that they will also offer replacement bands separately, but not every band will be offered in both 38mm and 42mm, and some of the colors won't match. e.g. the only bands that match the rose gold gold model are the white sport band with rose gold pin (38mm and 42mm), and the rose gray leather modern buckle (38mm only). While there are other modern buckles for the main Apple Watch line, they have stainless steel trim. It might work, but won't be an exact match.

I actually think this whole conversation is hilarious considering some think this is absolutely the wrong approach as too much choice is bad for consumers and if Steve Jobs were alive we'd have one watch that would be the perfect embodiment of a "smart watch".

 

[JayLenochiniMac]

The gallery on their website displays 34 different combinations, which matches the description of each series (e.g. the Edition web page states it is a collection of 6 watches, which matches the available size and band combinations that appear in the gallery).

It appears that you will have to choose one of the 34 combinations. My guess is that they will also offer replacement bands separately, but not every band will be offered in both 38mm and 42mm, and some of the colors won't match. e.g. the only bands that match the rose gold gold model are the white sport band with rose gold pin (38mm and 42mm), and the rose gray leather modern buckle (38mm only). While there are other modern buckles for the main Apple Watch line, they have stainless steel trim. It might work, but won't be an exact match.

Bolded is the part nobody can be sure about until we hear from Apple officially, but it's a good guess.

 

[KPOM]

Bolded is the part nobody can be sure about until we hear from Apple officially, but it's a good guess.

It is mostly a "common sense" guess. Over time, leather watch bands wear out and/or get discolored, no matter how well-made, steel bands can break, and polymers can crack or discolor over time.

It's possible that the replacement bands, particularly the ones with gold trim, or full stainless steel, could go into the hundreds of dollars.

 

[DeltaMac]

A watch yes, but this is not watch really
It's more akin to a tiny iPod touch on your wrist, and generally the strap of a watch is more designed to blend into that particular watch.

...

It's a bit of a stretch to compare an iPod (any iPod) to an Apple watch. Whether you want to call it a watch is immaterial. The iPod can be used without any case at all, let alone any accessory for an iPod that makes it wristwear. The Apple watch, OTOH, is mostly useless unless it is on a wrist (with whatever strap works for you). And, some functions, such as Apple pay, require the watch back to be in contact with your skin. No such limitation exists on an iPod, which can certainly be used for any function without any case at all.
Good luck using an Apple watch without a strap 😀
I expect that can be an easy area that Apple will offer other strap choices when the watch actually begins selling.

 

[Julien]

Reading the descriptions of the bands on the aWatch site sure points to exclusive high end materials which will be expensive. Looks like they will be made in Europe (sans the fluoroelastomer band). Just reading the band's descriptions sure points to Watch and Edition as being at least semi-exclusive and Gruber price prediction plausible.


LINK BRACELET

...more than 100 components. The machining process is so precise, it takes nearly nine hours...Once assembled, the links are brushed by hand...

MILANESE LOOP

...Woven on specialized Italian machines...

MODERN BUCKLE

A small French tannery established in 1803 produces the supple Granada leather...inner layer of Vectran weave....same material NASA used to create the parachute strings for the Mars Rover....

LEATHER LOOP

The Venezia leather for this band is handcrafted in Arzignano, Italy. With an artisan heritage spanning five generations, the tannery has a history of partnership with some of the most prestigious names in fashion....

CLASSIC BUCKLE

From the renowned ECCO tannery in the Netherlands, the Dutch leather...

 

[Piggie]

I'm not saying a spring as in the sense of a coil spring

The home button on iPhone and iPads is a spring of sorts.

If you slide a bar into a slot, which is what we have here, and it clicks into place, then to remove it, you press the button on the back of the watch and the strap slides out then there is a spring of sorts inside.

Either in the body of the watch that's pushing a lug into a recess in the strap, or the straps lug pokes out, it gets depressed due to a taper as it's slid in and it pops back up when it finds the hole in the watch body.

Either way, this ain't rocket science folks!

Unless Apple has done some crazy thing like fit some tiny electrical sensor thing in the strap which means the watch won't work without official straps in position, but I don't think even Apple is quite THAT crazy.

Not yet anyway 🙂

 

[Piggie]

Reading the descriptions of the bands on the aWatch site sure points to exclusive high end materials which will be expensive. Looks like they will be made in Europe (sans the fluoroelastomer band). Just reading the band's descriptions sure points to Watch and Edition as being at least semi-exclusive and Gruber price prediction plausible.


LINK BRACELET

...more than 100 components. The machining process is so precise, it takes nearly nine hours...Once assembled, the links are brushed by hand...

MILANESE LOOP

...Woven on specialized Italian machines...

MODERN BUCKLE

A small French tannery established in 1803 produces the supple Granada leather...inner layer of Vectran weave....same material NASA used to create the parachute strings for the Mars Rover....

LEATHER LOOP

The Venezia leather for this band is handcrafted in Arzignano, Italy. With an artisan heritage spanning five generations, the tannery has a history of partnership with some of the most prestigious names in fashion....

CLASSIC BUCKLE

From the renowned ECCO tannery in the Netherlands, the Dutch leather...

Sorry, those descriptions are the biggest load of old flannel in an attempt to make things sound special that I've ever read.

It's so easy to use words like that on many everyday objects.

Hand woven, brushed by hand, Woven on Hungarian looms, Baked in the Moroccan sunshine and hand picked, all stuff like that.
I think we are all grown up enough to spot fancy marketing talk when we see it.
Tabasco sauce I believe is hand filled and left in oak barrels for 3 years!

 

[Rogifan]

Sorry, those descriptions are the biggest load of old flannel in an attempt to make things sound special that I've ever read.

It's so easy to use words like that on many everyday objects.

Hand woven, brushed by hand, Woven on Hungarian looms, Baked in the Moroccan sunshine and hand picked, all stuff like that.
I think we are all grown up enough to spot fancy marketing talk when we see it.
Tabasco sauce I believe is hand filled and left in oak barrels for 3 years!

Fact is you have no idea where or how this stuff is manufactured. Why are you so hell bent defining this as some cheap thing that anybody could crank out in a couple hours if they wanted to.

 

[Rogifan]

I'm not saying a spring as in the sense of a coil spring

The home button on iPhone and iPads is a spring of sorts.

If you slide a bar into a slot, which is what we have here, and it clicks into place, then to remove it, you press the button on the back of the watch and the strap slides out then there is a spring of sorts inside.

Either in the body of the watch that's pushing a lug into a recess in the strap, or the straps lug pokes out, it gets depressed due to a taper as it's slid in and it pops back up when it finds the hole in the watch body.

Either way, this ain't rocket science folks!

Unless Apple has done some crazy thing like fit some tiny electrical sensor thing in the strap which means the watch won't work without official straps in position, but I don't think even Apple is quite THAT crazy.

Not yet anyway 🙂

Not rocket science to you anyway. 😉 You've never seen one of these watches in person but seem to think you know all about how it's made.

Never mind that people who know a thing or two about watches have high praise for the bands. No, according to you any Tom, Dick or Harry will be able to pop out a nice, cheap, watch band in few hours.

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

 

[Piggie]

Not rocket science to you anyway. 😉 You've never seen one of these watches in person but seem to think you know all about how it's made.

Never mind that people who know a thing or two about watches have high praise for the bands. No, according to you any Tom, Dick or Harry will be able to pop out a nice, cheap, watch band in few hours.

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

I work all day long in very high precision engineering in the finest medial grades of stainless steel and titanium, also heavily involved in the tooling and quality control aspects of them.

And for the record, I personally often work to plus or minus 1 micron accuracy.

No a watch strap connector is NOT rocket science. I think even you know that.

I'm not trying to cheapen anything, just hoping to waft away a glaze of bull crap spoke about things in attempt to big them up beyond reality what they are.

I have no doubt they will be of excellent quality.
Without question they will be beautifully made for a consumer product.

Just please keep you feet on the ground here when you hear quotes from makers who are deliberately doing their very best to big things up.

We can all use fancy works, phrases and describe things in way that make a normal product. It's done all the time.

That's all.

 

[mtmac]

There's no question in my mind that you'll surely be able to buy any band separately. This watch like all others will be sold with a band. Apple's bands are very high quality along with some Apple-approved bands as well. Then there will be a plethora of cheap Chinese bands of low quality. While a man will likely pick one or two quality bands depending on use, many women will have some nice ones along with a bunch of costume jewelry bands to match their outfits.

And yes this is a watch. A model T was a car that had a hand crank in the front of it to start it. No battery, starter, alternator, seatbelts or radio. A new car with navigation, bluetooth, voice command, airbags, antilock brakes, and traction control is still a car, not a new devise because it has more bells and whistles. This watch is the current evolution of a watch, but it still is a watch, the same way a iPhone is still a phone. Terms like smart watch or smart phone are temporary names, where the term "smart" will ultimately be dropped once most devices are. It is more common already to refer to smart phones as phones.

Apple's marketing terms for their bands are a bit grandiose, but they do need to differentiate their product from the lower quality aspects of what is typically offered by other watches in a competing price range. I really think department and jewelry stores are needed to help justify the price of their watches. When the quality is compared to traditional watches in their price range, the Apple watch will be more refined than the competition. The average customer will have either never worn a watch, or haven't done so for a decade. Buyers will have to be educated to justify the purchase of a pricier watch, just as traditional upscale watches are typically sold.

 

[ditzy]

It wouldn't make sense to make the straps easily interchangeable and then not allow you to buy a strap to interchange it with.