The Gold Apple Watch Could Cost As Much As $1,200

[ETRJ]

A jewelry contact familiar with the matter told TechCrunch that the gold, 18-karat version of the Apple Watch could cost around $1,200 retail when it launches in January. This has been corroborated, based on size and weight, by jewelers familiar with the material Apple is using to make its Apple Watch Edition pieces. It should be noted that this is an estimate and the piece could come in well below that price.

Although there is still some confusion as to whether the watch will be gold plated or actually made of gold, the jeweler suggested that it would be sub-optimal not to make the watch out of solid gold alloy, a decision that will drive up the price. The estimate is based on the leaked design images of the iWatch that appeared this weak.

Chad Rickicki, a watch expert in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania said that a case the size and shape of the Apple Watch in 18 carat gold would cost about $600 to make. The rest – the electronics and markup could double that price.

That doesn’t mean that all of the Apple Watches will rest in the rarified air of haute horlogerie. The lower end sport versions will start at $349 and presumably the standard versions, simply called Apple Watch, will receive a premium over that. The Edition watches, however, are expensive because gold is expensive, even at 18K and intermixed with Apple’s alloys.

What does this mean? It suggests an interesting move by the company to turn Apple Stores into luxury destinations. While I’m sure Prada and Louis Vuitton are clamoring to be given access to Apple’s unique band connectors, the upside for a more fashionable, luxury-leaning Apple Watch display in stores means the company will control quality and, more important, control profits on band upgrades.

Apple is entering a fascinating new world of potential partnerships as is, to some degree, the makers of Android Wear devices. Now consumers are going to have to get used to armed guards standing over cases of (tastefully) blinged-out Apple Watches.

Source: http://techcrunch.com/2014/09/12/the-gold-apple-watch-could-cost-as-much-as-1200/

[JoaoPRSousa]

Nope wouldnt buy it... I dont know who would, apparently them rich guys -.-

[GhostWindGamer]

Waste of money

[That Norwegian Guy]

It's an important public service Apple are providing. It's probably the most effective public idiot identifiers we could ever have!

[mr moose]

There was a ten thousand dollar iphone not that long ago, it was encrusted with diamond.  You can make anything worth more by gluing expensive shit to it. 

[OriginalPromise]

Go to 9to5Mac for your Crapple needs. 

[murratri]

This is dirt cheap compared to a Rolex

[LAwLz]

And next year they will release a far superior version without any of the early adopter flaws...

Then again, someone spending 1200 dollars on a smart watch can probably afford to get the next version as well.

[ETRJ]

This is dirt cheap compared to a Rolex

I'd prefer to have a Rolex

[Imaginaerum]

I'd prefer to have a Rolex

But sometimes you have to wonder, one Rolex or ten iWatches?

[ETRJ]

But sometimes you have to wonder, one Rolex or ten iWatches?

definately the Rolex because in the long run the Rolex will keeps its value or be even more in value

[murratri]

definately the Rolex because in the long run the Rolex will keeps its value or be even more in value

arent rolexs milled from blocks of gold?

[Builder]

Go to 9to5Mac for your Crapple needs. 

I'm sorry, could you please tell me the title of this site? LinusMicrosoftTips? LinusWindowsTips? LinusAnythingbutAppleTips? No. It's LinusTechTips. We don't need your sectarian crap.

 

arent rolexs milled from blocks of gold?

Pretty sure this is too.

[Yoinkerman]

If an apple watch had a lifespan of 20+++ years, I would see it as a much better buy.  An actual gold watch is like an heirloom.  A first gen smart watch. . . maybe not.

[Tech_Dreamer]

 

Well..........................

[ETRJ]

Well..........................

?

[lttiscancer]

Only $1,200? I was expecting something like the $15M iPhone 5.

may we ever feel his touch by the noodly appendage

[lttiscancer]

arent rolexs milled from blocks of gold?

Depends on what you mean. do you mean the band? yes, do you mean the face? sometimes

 

They also use the left over gold from the process and re-smelt it to make another block. 

[Victorious Secret]

I eagerly await members of this forum going on about how 1,200 is too much for a watch and that this will fail. 

 

While completely forgetting that watches of this nature go for FAR more, and often offer a hell of a lot less, and that Apple can leverage their brand name to sell a shit ton to well of people who just want the newest thing. 

But hey, lets crap on these already and not understand that Apple doesn't give a SHIT about selling to people like us. 

[Tech_Dreamer]

?

that's the exact reaction i had when i heard it...

[Electrostatik]

I eagerly await members of this forum going on about how 1,200 is too much for a watch and that this will fail. 

 

While completely forgetting that watches of this nature go for FAR more, and often offer a hell of a lot less, and that Apple can leverage their brand name to sell a shit ton to well of people who just want the newest thing. 

But hey, lets crap on these already and not understand that Apple doesn't give a SHIT about selling to people like us. 

 

Exactly

[AlexGoesHigh]

Pretty sure this is too.

not really, gold is pretty damn easy to mold vs other metals, and considering the shape of the watch it could simple be melted gold to create flat pieces, to then cut and use pressure molds to shape them, this is why gold plated connectors exist, so the plug is more flexible and have better lifespan

[Builder]

not really, gold is pretty damn easy to mold vs other metals, and considering the shape of the watch it could simple be melted gold to create flat pieces, to then cut and use pressure mold to shape them, this is why gold plated connector exist, so the plug is more flexible and have better lifespan

And this means it's not machined why? The other ones are machined, and this gold is specially formulate to be stronger.

[AlexGoesHigh]

And this means it's not machined why? The other ones are machined, and this gold is specially formulate to be stronger.

well, not my problem if they want to use a much expensive method to achieve almost the result, they must have their reason, i'm not an industrial engineer anyways, just saying

[RexinOridle]

Middle East people . . . . . . . . .