The Apple in Your Eye

[santafe2]

Re: The Apple in Your Eye

But will something that relies on the timeliness of technology make inroads into high end watches that focus on timelessness(of design/style)?

Resale value of high end watches and that secondary market might have Apple swimming against a strong tide.

I'm not sure but if they pull this off can the Apple handbags, cufflinks, attaches or sunglasses be far behind? How about a spinoff, Apple Attire?

[aaron]

Re: The Apple in Your Eye

But will something that relies on the timeliness of technology make inroads into high end watches that focus on timelessness(of design/style)?

Resale value of high end watches and that secondary market might have Apple swimming against a strong tide.

Coincidentally, we just took the case off the kid's iPad 1. It looks gorgeous. I considered putting the case back on and putting into a drawer for years down the line. (it could be a collectible!) Unfortunately, the battery cannot be replaced.

Apple watch? It will sell and make money. It will not change the world unless it does something compelling. In Chinese medicine, the doctor is able to feel your pulse(s) and determine you health problem. My last experience with this was amazing. If the Apple watch could tap into whatever the Chinese doctors feel, then that could change the world.
"Aaron, the Qi to your left lung is not flowing ideally, would you like me to send the proper stimulation ?"
"OK Siri, shock me"
...small electric micro-puncture tingles my wrist. My lung fills with qi and I feel better. I can no longer pee straight, but I can get Google to fix that. (don't ask).

[GRG55]

Re: The Apple in Your Eye

But will something that relies on the timeliness of technology make inroads into high end watches that focus on timelessness(of design/style)?

This theme of timelessness is best captured by much higher end watches than Rolex. Patek Philippe might be the masters at it:

Resale value of high end watches and that secondary market might have Apple swimming against a strong tide.

Rolex is seen as the upper class "working man's (or woman's)" high end watch, which is why I compared Apple's latest effort to that particular brand. Apple makes no pretense about owners handing down the watch, or anything about timelessness...it is a purchase for those suffering from at least a modest case of narcissism...and the belief that their lives will be enhanced if they are able to collect, track and analyze more information about...ta da...themselves. Isn't that what all the sensors are about?

Similar theme ("this watch looks after you"), from a simpler time:

[thriftyandboringinohio]

Re: The Apple in Your Eye

I agree with you that "design" must count. It may be the only reason the Italians still have an economy of any sort whatsoever, near as I can tell.



In reality the iPod was not competing against any of these knock-offs. It was competing against, and completely destroyed, the dominant personal music player of the day...the Sony Walkman. A "computer company" moved into the exclusive space of the consumer electronic giants. Who saw that coming?




Perhaps Apple is trying the create the new "Rolex" for the more tech-savvy generation that came after me? Maybe the question I asked above (about what the Apple watch does) is not relevant. Maybe it's more about this watch becoming the new age aspirational jewelry accessory?

Thanks GRG55. All good observations.

[flintlock]

Re: The Apple in Your Eye

What exactly does the watch do that the iPhone does not?

My thoughts also. Seems to me someone will carry a phone with them almost always. Does he still need a fancy watch? I can see it selling in Sport Watch form for people who are active and don't want to hang onto a phone. The great ability of Apple products to share information between devices automatically means it may be used more as an add-on to your other IOS stuff rather than a stand alone device. Going for a run? Leave the phone home and just take the watch. Basically a GPS watch with enhanced abilities. It won't sell like the Iphone, or even the Ipad, but it will sell. I'm assuming it will require additional cellular charges?

[flintlock]

Re: The Apple in Your Eye

I'm not sure but if they pull this off can the Apple handbags, cufflinks, attaches or sunglasses be far behind? How about a spinoff, Apple Attire?

The Icar! Comes only in white or black and you have to use Apple's version of fuel.

[flintlock]

Re: The Apple in Your Eye

Watches in general make for an interesting study in marketing.

[lakedaemonian]

Re: The Apple in Your Eye

Patek Philippe might be the masters at it:

Funny that!

I used Patek's marketing line of "looking after it for the next generation" as a challenge to my marketing team.

[lakedaemonian]

Re: The Apple in Your Eye

Watches in general make for an interesting study in marketing.

They really do......and it's a pretty significant market.

I've only visited Switzerland once and very briefly....I'd love to go back and tour some of their better known watch factories to learn a bit more.

Some really interesting mixes of old and new both in manufacturing as well as marketing.

[GRG55]

Re: The Apple in Your Eye

They really do......and it's a pretty significant market.

I've only visited Switzerland once and very briefly....I'd love to go back and tour some of their better known watch factories to learn a bit more.

Some really interesting mixes of old and new both in manufacturing as well as marketing.

I have a Swiss partner who lives in Geneva. Been there many times. At night the River Rhone, the egress of Lac Léman, reflects the lights of the signs on the top of the commercial buildings in central Geneva. If one was to judge the make up of the economy of Geneva from the companies identified on these signs, one would come to no other conclusion than it is entirely dependent on mechanical watch makers, investment bankers and the occasional property agency (which will be happy to help when you land that coveted, all-expenses-paid United Nations posting):



Amusing story (maybe): Many years ago a grateful boss, for whom I had made a lot of money, gifted me a Rolex as part of my Christmas bonus. After 11 years, now living in the Middle East, it no longer kept adequate time. My partner is a personal friend of the manager of the Rolex service centre in Geneva, and offered to take the watch back and deliver it for the apparently overdue service. 750 Swiss Francs later I got the watch back. After a few days I noticed it still didn't keep very good time (compared to my Seiko quartz). I spoke to my partner, who spoke to his friend, who then called me to explain the error of my expectations with a sniff..."Monsieur, you do not own a watch. You own a Rolex".

[santafe2]

Re: The Apple in Your Eye

The Icar! Comes only in white or black and you have to use Apple's version of fuel.

And no lane changes. Many off-ramps are 2 years in the future. Talk to our contractors, we didn't build the highway.

[santafe2]

Re: The Apple in Your Eye

..."Monsieur, you do not own a watch. You own a Rolex".

Similar to the way FL Wright viewed his work. It was art first, then architecture and purportedly a domicile.

[don]

Re: The Apple in Your Eye

Similar to the way FL Wright viewed his work. It was art first, then architecture and purportedly a domicile.

Beware of architects in capes selling flat roofs . . . .

[lakedaemonian]

Re: The Apple in Your Eye

I have a Swiss partner who lives in Geneva. Been there many times. At night the River Rhone, the egress of Lac Léman, reflects the lights of the signs on the top of the commercial buildings in central Geneva. If one was to judge the make up of the economy of Geneva from the companies identified on these signs, one would come to no other conclusion than it is entirely dependent on mechanical watch makers, investment bankers and the occasional property agency (which will be happy to help when you land that coveted, all-expenses-paid United Nations posting):

I enjoyed the view of my brief visit(finance/banking division of an Italian company's product I distributed down here), wish I could have stayed longer.

I reckon it's a place I could spend 3-6 months to get to know better someday.

Amusing story (maybe): Many years ago a grateful boss, for whom I had made a lot of money, gifted me a Rolex as part of my Christmas bonus. After 11 years, now living in the Middle East, it no longer kept adequate time. My partner is a personal friend of the manager of the Rolex service centre in Geneva, and offered to take the watch back and deliver it for the apparently overdue service. 750 Swiss Francs later I got the watch back. After a few days I noticed it still didn't keep very good time (compared to my Seiko quartz). I spoke to my partner, who spoke to his friend, who then called me to explain the error of my expectations with a sniff..."Monsieur, you do not own a watch. You own a Rolex".

Yeah.....my wife got me my Omega Seamaster back in 2007 after returning from an extended work trip away from home...and she is the one who's sorted getting it serviced. Thankfully we have a local authorized agent.

I asked her how much it cost, she said I don't want to know.

But it holds time perfectly and I have put mine through absolute hell. Ostentatious, but thankfully not gaudy.

Spending a lot of time in the flagship airports, I always swing by the watch stores just to look at prices and look at shoppers.

I can't remember ever seeing anything sold, but I haven't seen a western caucasian window shopper in years......always seems to be keen Asian/GCC interest though.

Just another one of millions of little anecdotals.

[don]

Re: The Apple in Your Eye

I can't remember ever seeing anything sold

Priceless. Another of life's mysteries . . . .