Apple would never promote its products as Swiss made. Swiss products envoke quality and tradition, while California's products are high-tech, cool and revolutionary.
iWatch will be yet another Designed in California revolutionary product changing the watch landscape and making many of the Swatch watches (not the luxury range which has primarily a status symbol function) feel like Kodak cameras of yesteryear. A big wake-up call in the watch industry is about to happen.
Your knowledge of Swiss watches and why they are famous world wide seems to be very limited.
Ask Casio how it went with their first smart watches.
If apple wants to stand out from the wearable "craze" which is very much Reminescent of the Japanese watch makers in the 80s and 90s, then it NEEDS to stand out.
The only way to really stand out is to merge swiss made with California technology.
Luckily Tim cook seems to know that and hired as much talent as he could from there. Believe me: Swiss managers are darn expensive, and probably our knowledge is limited only of the top hires.
Swiss made, though, means swiss made. And there is no way around it than manufacture it in Switzerland. Laws here are very strict about it. So it's hard for me to believe that a "Swiss assembled" watch will be made. As it cannot be labelled as Swiss made.
Ah, swatch group, the one that some criticize, makes 70% of the mechanisms in Switzerland, also for other brands (except the really hand crafted ones pretty much every one else uses swatch made mechanisms, including Hublot).
So, basically, apple NEEDS to talk with the watch makers.
Someone might remember the reaction of the Swiss watch makers when they copied the design of the iconic railway watch on the iPad? No fanfare, no court. Settlement and let's get along.
Boy was he way way off. What he predicted for the iPhone happened to them. Zune DoA. Was interesting times back then.
Amazing how blind some people are willing to be....
Quote:
Originally Posted by MJ Web
Hadn't seen this but it's along the lines of what I envision Apple releasing... High concept design.
This is more the magnitude of watch I expect from Apple also. More so than any other product, the iWatch will be the new definition of style, craftsmanship, and intelligence.
Unlike their phones, Apple will be able to put a huge divide between the top end (as the video shows what could be) and everyday health watch (other mockups we've seen). I would not be surprised if Apple put out a top end at over $1,000.
I'm sure Apple's design will be nice but I think it will defiantly look more like a gadget then a luxury watch. Which is why I'm going to wait a year or so to see what companies like TAG, Vertu and Kairos release. If I'm going to wear a watch I don't want something that was designed for the masses but a watch that is truly beautiful, unique and with enough functionality to be useful.
This is what I'm looking for in a SmartWatch;
Apple better buy this company before Samsung does!!
What about Liquid Metal? It's not an apple invention/product, apple only licenses it. LM has been used for years in the watch industry, by the Swiss of course.
Unless this lapsed, using LM in watches may still be exclusive to Swatch...
...but no doubt apple could strike a deal if it needs it.
You and others have commented on the Swatch Group's exclusive license to use Liquid Metal in its watches worldwide. This is a BIG deal.
As I read about the license, I learned the license was granted AFTER Apple's exclusive license to use Liquid Metal in all electronic devices worldwide.
The watches Swatch produced in 2010 and 2011 might not be considered electronic devices in the way the rumored iWatch will be considered. We all will discover what these exclusive licenses mean in the next few months.
Of interesting note is, Apple continues to extend its exclusive license to use Liquid Metal, but if I remember correctly it has a perpetual right to use Liquid Metal.
1) Thanks, but that really didn't explain with an ICON type display. I'd even take a simple pros and cons comparison to the other TOLED display outside of being sunlight readable. I really don't know what static, pre-set icons and colors means. I guess it means it's like a car's dashboard where different icons light up in the same place, but I can't be certain. Does that mean nothing is animated or able to have text outside of simple variations like with a digital clock?
2) The lack of inductive charging because the magnetic fields mess with the mechanical time keeping make me think Apple wouldn't do a mechanical/digital hybrid device. Their issues with a mic on a waterproof-resistant device is also a concern. How important is dictation into your wrist (or a camera, as we've seen on other devices)? I'm not sure there is a good case for it if it affects its ability to be reasonably water-resistant,
Cool video, yes Breitling, Rolex, Tag, Omega, etc. make very attractive watches that are intended for fashion, their largest sellers though are still the practical models. I think I mentioned before that my sister is married to a very lovely man who works for Omega, anyway their largest selling line is the Speedmaster Series, a watch that I've even seen on bus drivers. Though for me personally and God forbid my brother in law finds out, I still think the Monaco line of watches from Tag are still the most attractive men's watches around. If it had a transparent LCD overlay with Googles Watch UI on top, oh my gosh, there probably wouldn't be a price that would prevent me from buying one.
Your knowledge of Swiss watches and why they are famous world wide seems to be very limited.
Ask Casio how it went with their first smart watches.
If apple wants to stand out from the wearable "craze" which is very much Reminescent of the Japanese watch makers in the 80s and 90s, then it NEEDS to stand out.
The only way to really stand out is to merge swiss made with California technology.
I would tend to disagree here. Being Swiss made just lumps them into the same pile as all the other Swiss manufactures. Beyond that good watches use to be made in the USA, it isn't impossible for that to happen again.
Luckily Tim cook seems to know that and hired as much talent as he could from there. Believe me: Swiss managers are darn expensive, and probably our knowledge is limited only of the top hires.
Switzerland is a very expensive place to do business. Even the base labor rate is sky high compared to the rest of the world.
Swiss made, though, means swiss made. And there is no way around it than manufacture it in Switzerland. Laws here are very strict about it. So it's hard for me to believe that a "Swiss assembled" watch will be made. As it cannot be labelled as Swiss made.
Interesting because just about all products these days source materials from different countries. There would have to be some sort of percentage of acceptable non Swiss parts in a product.
Ah, swatch group, the one that some criticize, makes 70% of the mechanisms in Switzerland, also for other brands (except the really hand crafted ones pretty much every one else uses swatch made mechanisms, including Hublot).
So, basically, apple NEEDS to talk with the watch makers.
Someone might remember the reaction of the Swiss watch makers when they copied the design of the iconic railway watch on the iPad? No fanfare, no court. Settlement and let's get along.
I'm not sure they need to if the watch is electronic. If it has any sort of conventional mechanism then yes they need to talk.
Given that why wouldn't you want Apple to do business in Switzerland? For the most part the companies Apple buys end up doing far more under Apples management and access to cash then they could do alone. This is why companies seldom fight a buyout by Apple as opportunities expand when brought into the fold.
Hmmm yes. I flew military aircraft for a living. Didn't meet a single guy wearing a Breitling. I think i'd prefer my jam resistant, ftequency hopping, long range radio in my seat pack.
Good on Breitling for that marketing that makes people think their buying kit that fighter pilots have.
This is one of the sad aspects of high end watches, marketing that has not basis in reality.
Look at the Tag Tiger Woods rubber band square surface watch from 2010. If I was trying to do something that appealed to sport/health consumers with Apple tech I might look at that concept.
Do you also avoid friendships with anybody who drives a BMW?
Not at all. Given that I only know one person well that regurally drives a BMW! She is married so it isn't a relationship that can develop.
However your question is interesting because BWM does build functional cars that aren't technology dinosaurs. Their cars can actually be affordable and appeal to a wide array of owners. Contrast that with high end mechanical watches that are technology dinosaurs, are unreliable and have a very limited appeal.
Indeed, the same argument can be made of anybody who owns Apple products. After all, a Windows PC and an Android phone can do the job just fine. So why do you own an $800 iPhone and a $1200 Macbook?
That is an interesting question because I've gone both ways here. That is I've built many Linux based machines and have a Mac and an iPad both of which I use regurally.
Personally, I avoid people who are judgemental. They always think they are better than everybody else.
It is more a question of life experiences rather than being judgemental. The problem is people who wear these high end watches often, probably 99.9% of the time, do think they are better than everybody else. It's an attitude I want nothing to do with. So yeah if I see a high end watch on somebody's wrist then yeah it sends up red flags.
Comments
Aaaawwwwhhh, I hate cats!
cat + cheap watches > high-tech concept watch porn for geeks
Your knowledge of Swiss watches and why they are famous world wide seems to be very limited.
Ask Casio how it went with their first smart watches.
If apple wants to stand out from the wearable "craze" which is very much Reminescent of the Japanese watch makers in the 80s and 90s, then it NEEDS to stand out.
The only way to really stand out is to merge swiss made with California technology.
Luckily Tim cook seems to know that and hired as much talent as he could from there. Believe me: Swiss managers are darn expensive, and probably our knowledge is limited only of the top hires.
Swiss made, though, means swiss made. And there is no way around it than manufacture it in Switzerland. Laws here are very strict about it. So it's hard for me to believe that a "Swiss assembled" watch will be made. As it cannot be labelled as Swiss made.
Ah, swatch group, the one that some criticize, makes 70% of the mechanisms in Switzerland, also for other brands (except the really hand crafted ones pretty much every one else uses swatch made mechanisms, including Hublot).
So, basically, apple NEEDS to talk with the watch makers.
Someone might remember the reaction of the Swiss watch makers when they copied the design of the iconic railway watch on the iPad? No fanfare, no court. Settlement and let's get along.
Boy was he way way off. What he predicted for the iPhone happened to them. Zune DoA. Was interesting times back then.
Amazing how blind some people are willing to be....
Hadn't seen this but it's along the lines of what I envision Apple releasing... High concept design.
This is more the magnitude of watch I expect from Apple also. More so than any other product, the iWatch will be the new definition of style, craftsmanship, and intelligence.
Unlike their phones, Apple will be able to put a huge divide between the top end (as the video shows what could be) and everyday health watch (other mockups we've seen). I would not be surprised if Apple put out a top end at over $1,000.
I'm sure Apple's design will be nice but I think it will defiantly look more like a gadget then a luxury watch. Which is why I'm going to wait a year or so to see what companies like TAG, Vertu and Kairos release. If I'm going to wear a watch I don't want something that was designed for the masses but a watch that is truly beautiful, unique and with enough functionality to be useful.
This is what I'm looking for in a SmartWatch;
Apple better buy this company before Samsung does!!
Devon Steampunk watch. Very cool watch at $20,000. Imagine limited addition Sir. Jony Ive watches
You and others have commented on the Swatch Group's exclusive license to use Liquid Metal in its watches worldwide. This is a BIG deal.
As I read about the license, I learned the license was granted AFTER Apple's exclusive license to use Liquid Metal in all electronic devices worldwide.
The watches Swatch produced in 2010 and 2011 might not be considered electronic devices in the way the rumored iWatch will be considered. We all will discover what these exclusive licenses mean in the next few months.
Of interesting note is, Apple continues to extend its exclusive license to use Liquid Metal, but if I remember correctly it has a perpetual right to use Liquid Metal.
Apple better buy this company before Samsung does!!
Noooooo, leave my Swissy company alone!
1) Thanks, but that really didn't explain with an ICON type display. I'd even take a simple pros and cons comparison to the other TOLED display outside of being sunlight readable. I really don't know what static, pre-set icons and colors means. I guess it means it's like a car's dashboard where different icons light up in the same place, but I can't be certain. Does that mean nothing is animated or able to have text outside of simple variations like with a digital clock?
2) The lack of inductive charging because the magnetic fields mess with the mechanical time keeping make me think Apple wouldn't do a mechanical/digital hybrid device. Their issues with a mic on a water
proof-resistant device is also a concern. How important is dictation into your wrist (or a camera, as we've seen on other devices)? I'm not sure there is a good case for it if it affects its ability to be reasonably water-resistant,Samsung already owns a Swiss watch company.
Haas & Cie.
http://www.swccorp.en.ecplaza.net/about.asp
I'm wearing this, right now:-
Best watch is the good old TIMEX . RELIABLE AND DURABLE
I'm not sure they need to if the watch is electronic. If it has any sort of conventional mechanism then yes they need to talk.
Swissy? IPad spell check doesn't handle that one!
Given that why wouldn't you want Apple to do business in Switzerland? For the most part the companies Apple buys end up doing far more under Apples management and access to cash then they could do alone. This is why companies seldom fight a buyout by Apple as opportunities expand when brought into the fold.
This is one of the sad aspects of high end watches, marketing that has not basis in reality.
However your question is interesting because BWM does build functional cars that aren't technology dinosaurs. Their cars can actually be affordable and appeal to a wide array of owners. Contrast that with high end mechanical watches that are technology dinosaurs, are unreliable and have a very limited appeal. That is an interesting question because I've gone both ways here. That is I've built many Linux based machines and have a Mac and an iPad both of which I use regurally. It is more a question of life experiences rather than being judgemental. The problem is people who wear these high end watches often, probably 99.9% of the time, do think they are better than everybody else. It's an attitude I want nothing to do with. So yeah if I see a high end watch on somebody's wrist then yeah it sends up red flags.
Beyond that good watches use to be made in the USA, it isn't impossible for that to happen again.
It's already happening, your President wears a watch from this company, it was a gift from some of his bodyguards.
Contrast that with high end mechanical watches that are technology dinosaurs, are unreliable and have a very limited appeal.
Highly reliable and with care able to last hundreds of years, these watches are designed to become family heirlooms.
I've got a 1967 Rolex, picked it up, wound it and it started working after sitting in a box for twenty years.
It's all about the craftsmanship that goes into them, in a largely throw away society some people still appreciate things made to last.