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Why does a ceramic watch cost $1,200 while a ceramic coffee cup costs $1.20?
- Thread starter Aston441
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You Have to consider the casing is customized, which is then forged by a milling machine that crafts the casing. So there is manufacturing cost associated, followed by what It costs Apple and then of course they have a high mark up as well.
I bet there are different quality levels in ceramic. - ie.pore size and uniformness and density vs weight?
And manufacturing processes to make them have perfect shape to form perfect match up with the joining parts must involve a lot more work and cost than making a mug.
I am no expert but that's what i guess.
And manufacturing processes to make them have perfect shape to form perfect match up with the joining parts must involve a lot more work and cost than making a mug.
I am no expert but that's what i guess.
Good question, one that I cannot fully explain myself.
I suspect in large part because of the apple logo, i.e., its apple and they can.
One point to consider, the Apple watch Sport (LTE) has a ceramic back and it only costs 400 or 420 depending on the size. So its using the same material (granted on the rear), but yet costs a fraction of the full ceramic watch. That tells me its more marketing then anything else.
I suspect in large part because of the apple logo, i.e., its apple and they can.
One point to consider, the Apple watch Sport (LTE) has a ceramic back and it only costs 400 or 420 depending on the size. So its using the same material (granted on the rear), but yet costs a fraction of the full ceramic watch. That tells me its more marketing then anything else.
There’s a joke here somewhere. Something about coffee cups and mugs and Apple mugs and their desire to throw away money. I’ll have a think.
Working in the semiconductor industry for a while I saw ceramic parts with far less engineering design and less refined fetch a what I though was extraordinary prices.
Look at a the SS versions. I've purchased 316 stainless steel bird cages weighing 80+ pounds for the same price of a watch.
Does the SS body really contain $300 plus more of material.
I think the price of the watch is high. I haven't worn a watch in over 20 years until last year.
Look at a the SS versions. I've purchased 316 stainless steel bird cages weighing 80+ pounds for the same price of a watch.
Does the SS body really contain $300 plus more of material.
I think the price of the watch is high. I haven't worn a watch in over 20 years until last year.
I think its marketing more than anything. While I make no judgments towards those who buy it (I can't deny how nice it looks and how premium it feels), the fact remains that people buy it.
There are so many types of ceramic. A toilet is ceramic and even a diamond is considered ceramic. The ceramic in a watch is completely different then your coffee mug or porcelain throne. Check out the price of ceramic Swiss watches.
It’s about status level not cost of materials. The first Edition watches were $17,000 with a $50 sport band. They used about $3,000 worth of gold in casing materials. The Watch components didn’t make up for the $14,000 up charge. But it was still there and sold in exclusive high end stores.
Ceramic watches have been on the scene in the Swiss Watch market for awhile and have a high dollar value as well. It’s just a thing in this world. Like a pair of blue jeans that cost $150 even though the Levi brand for $30 is the same material.
Ceramic watches have been on the scene in the Swiss Watch market for awhile and have a high dollar value as well. It’s just a thing in this world. Like a pair of blue jeans that cost $150 even though the Levi brand for $30 is the same material.
SS is still the overall best material for a watch in my opinion.
http://quillandpad.com/2016/12/18/heres-stainless-steel-precious-metal/
http://quillandpad.com/2016/12/18/heres-stainless-steel-precious-metal/
Why a glass cup costs $9 and iPhone X with glass front and back costs $999?
In the box of the ceramic edition there is a little booklet meticulously explaining the manufacturing process(es). There are way more steps involved vs the aluminium or stainless watches and it takes much longer to make. In manufacturing, time is money. Add to that the desirable properties of the material (e.g. very high scratch resistance) and the higher markup that "luxury" items generally command and the price of the ceramic edition becomes almost reasonable. Which is why it sold/sells quite well and certainly in much higher numbers than the S0 gold editions.
It doesn’t matter if 1,000 mugs have millimeters of discrepancies, but watches cannot.
That and R&D.
That and markup.
I would agree with you if we were talking about mechanical luxury watches, which are in fact, timeless. However, in this case it is not a reason for marking it up it is simply justifying it. Personally, my consumer practices couldn't have me pay this kind of price for a watch, let alone a cell phone, that has planned obsolescence. For me, the ceramic material also provides no practical advantages over the other materials, just trade offs for a significantly higher price. I think it's all about Apple marketing and personal status of the consumer.
I’d totally be interested but it will be in a landfill prob in 5 years so it just doesn’t make sense. Like you said a mechanical it’s fine. Ceramic is timeless the AW isn’t at all.
As I explained, it is not ALL about that, it's ALSO significantly harder and time-consuming to produce. Whether or not the different material is worth the higher price to you is another question entirely.
The ceramic in Apple Watch Edition has less of a relation to coffee mugs & bricks and more in common with Medical Implants & Jet engines. Zirconia (Zirconium Oxide, ZrO2) has very fine pores. If that sounds familiar that's because it's the chemical cousin of Cubic Zirconia. It's both hard (resistant to deformation / scratching) & resistant to cracking in addition to changes in temperature & moisture. The same material is used in hip-replacement prosthetics & to cover the blades of jet engines. Apple added alumina (another ceramic) enhancing strength while giving it a white appearance. The result is a material that's nearly as hard as diamond and almost unbreakable.
On the hardness scale I believe is as follows
Aluminum 2.9
Steal 6
Tungston 9
Zirconia 12
Diamond 15
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Pretty simple. Markup! You don't get to be the most valuable company in the world by offering reasonable prices.
I have two of them. You just have to go to the company store to get them.
Way, way cheaper than the watch.