Thats a stretch seeing Apple hasn't sold a single watch yet and Rolex was founded in 1905 and moved to Switzerland in 1919. To compare a first generation Apple Watch to a Rolex is a bit much even for this forum. Rolex made the first waterproof watch in 1926 so far in 2015 the best Apple could do is let you wash your hands with it on.
Apple is trying to push this as fashion putting the full court press on the fashion industry, the jury is still out if the consumer will see it as fashion or wearable technology. Apple may sell these like crazy or there may be no bullet to dodge.
People keep talking about Swiss watch brands like they're these magical timepieces that once you buy them and put them on your wrist, they keep time forever, perfectly and without power – That couldn't be further from the truth:
The nature of a fully mechanical watch is that it requires servicing and is prone to faults. While anecdotal I have recently been enquiring with fellow watch wearers and I'm yet to meet anyone that hasn't run into trivial faults: from diamonds falling out to even a crown that came free, these are not what you'd expect for a luxury item over 10k AUD.
Automatics lose their winding when taken from the wrist for a short amount of time, most will operate for around a day off the wrist, but will still need to be topped up by manual winding once wearing resumes. It's a PITA and I find myself resetting the date/time/phases about once a week due to inconsistent wear. The apple watch not only keeps time longer than an automatic (up to three days on the lower-capacity model), but losing charge doesn't result in having to reset the time/inconveniences.
Luxury watch bands rarely perform well with water and not even stainless steel chain links are recommended for showering. (These tend to bleed lubricant onto the wearer.)
The apple watch isn't there to replace switzerland, but it will certainly win much of the money that would automatically go to them. There is now competition for the wrist and frankly that's better for everyone.
Thats a stretch seeing Apple hasn't sold a single watch yet and Rolex was founded in 1905 and moved to Switzerland in 1919. To compare a first generation Apple Watch to a Rolex is a bit much even for this forum. Rolex made the first waterproof watch in 1926 so far in 2015 the best Apple could do is let you wash your hands with it on.
Apple is trying to push this as fashion putting the full court press on the fashion industry, the jury is still out if the consumer will see it as fashion or wearable technology. Apple may sell these like crazy or there may be no bullet to dodge.
OK... following your analogy, can I ask you to imagine what a descendant of the AppleWatch will look like in the year 2111?
After all, you're comparing an as-yet-unreleased product to a 96-year old Swiss version of it.
Of course, just like the feature phones and dumb phones on sale today.
Not even remotely compairable
Nonsense. Of course they are. The $350 - $1,000 segment of the Swiss watch market (where most of the unit sales happen) is screwed. The $10,000+ crowd will be less impacted, but it's quite likely that people with that level of affordability will own both a Patek Philippe equivalent and an AppleWatch Edition.
OK... following your analogy, can I ask you to imagine what a descendant of the AppleWatch will look like in the year 2111?
After all, you're comparing an as-yet-unreleased product to a 96-year old Swiss version of it.
That was exactly my point. Talking about a first generation watch making Swiss watch makers nervous or saying they "can't dodge the bullet" is a bit of a stretch when the watch hasn't even been released. Also another point that I feel is valid even if the Apple Watch sells 80 million units a year that doesn't mean people don't own more then one watch.
I'm fairly excited about the Apple Watch but that doesn't mean I will never buy another watch made by someone else.
People keep talking about Swiss watch brands like they're these magical timepieces that once you buy them and put them on your wrist, they keep time forever, perfectly and without power – That couldn't be further from the truth:
In fact watches with incredibly complex 3 axis tourbillon movements have been argued to reduce accuracy, but it's there for the beauty of its complexity.
Ah, so it seems like the Swiss watchmakers are getting jittery about Apple's impending entry into their market eh... But this is only delaying the inevitable anyway, i.e. the Watch's debut in the home of luxury watches and taking away some market share!
As a Swiss citizen I find it extremely interesting how a population that couldn't tell Switzerland apart from Swaziland and Sweden yesterday have become experts on anything Swiss over night, simply by the fact that some old trademark surfaced somewhere in a dusty folder. Kudos to you!
Today's word of the day boys and girls is "Protectionism."
That's spelled with a capital "P" - as in "Pathetic" and "Puny."
The easy workaround: Basel.
Do read the article. It might help your understanding of the actual issue and then you could attempt to make a comment that makes sense. Pay particular attention to the date 1984 in the article.
According to "The Swiss Federal Institute of Intellectual Property" the trademark owner has an obligation to use the trademark:
Obligation of use
After a five year period of grace, the applicant is obliged to make use of the trademark in relation to the goods and services entered in the register. If the trademark is not used for an uninterrupted period of more than five years, it may be deemed to have become invalid. Invalidity means that the trademark right is cancelled and can no longer be asserted.
Thats a stretch seeing Apple hasn't sold a single watch yet and Rolex was founded in 1905 and moved to Switzerland in 1919. To compare a first generation Apple Watch to a Rolex is a bit much even for this forum. Rolex made the first waterproof watch in 1926 so far in 2015 the best Apple could do is let you wash your hands with it on.
Apple is trying to push this as fashion putting the full court press on the fashion industry, the jury is still out if the consumer will see it as fashion or wearable technology. Apple may sell these like crazy or there may be no bullet to dodge.
So you're saying it took Rolex over 20 years to finally produce a waterproof version. Hmm how long do you think it will take Apple? Be honest.
As a Swiss citizen I find it extremely interesting how a population that couldn't tell Switzerland apart from Swaziland and Sweden yesterday have become experts on anything Swiss over night, simply by the fact that some old trademark surfaced somewhere in a dusty folder. Kudos to you!
What population?
Swaziland, most people wouldn't know were that is, even the Swiss. Though, watching too many movies about Mandela have told me that its an independent state that is an enclave inside South Africa.
- Most people know at least more cultural cliches (and even facts) about the Swiss (more than the Swedes)
- Banking, strong money and economy, neutrality, punctuality & watches, cleanliness chocolate & cheese, mountains, herders, Yodel, Olympics, diplomats, winter sports, own guns (been in the army), frugal, conservatives, women are blonde
- Speak sort of German, in the middle of Europe somewhere close to France and Germany
Comments
The Swiss watchmakers are desperate.
They are gonna be toast and they know it and they just cannot dodge the bullet.
8.0+ Richter disruptions coming to the watch industry only to be followed by tsunamis.
Here is a link to the document
https://s3.amazonaws.com/s3.documentcloud.org/documents/1700140/2015-04-02-detail-marques.pdf
Thats a stretch seeing Apple hasn't sold a single watch yet and Rolex was founded in 1905 and moved to Switzerland in 1919. To compare a first generation Apple Watch to a Rolex is a bit much even for this forum. Rolex made the first waterproof watch in 1926 so far in 2015 the best Apple could do is let you wash your hands with it on.
Apple is trying to push this as fashion putting the full court press on the fashion industry, the jury is still out if the consumer will see it as fashion or wearable technology. Apple may sell these like crazy or there may be no bullet to dodge.
Best comment by far.
Why those chocolate eating cheese holing neutral bastards.
Can't take credit for this, saw it posted somewhere once.
The Swiss are a rich and hi-tech people, it's not a market you want to miss out on.
People keep talking about Swiss watch brands like they're these magical timepieces that once you buy them and put them on your wrist, they keep time forever, perfectly and without power – That couldn't be further from the truth:
The nature of a fully mechanical watch is that it requires servicing and is prone to faults. While anecdotal I have recently been enquiring with fellow watch wearers and I'm yet to meet anyone that hasn't run into trivial faults: from diamonds falling out to even a crown that came free, these are not what you'd expect for a luxury item over 10k AUD.
Automatics lose their winding when taken from the wrist for a short amount of time, most will operate for around a day off the wrist, but will still need to be topped up by manual winding once wearing resumes. It's a PITA and I find myself resetting the date/time/phases about once a week due to inconsistent wear. The apple watch not only keeps time longer than an automatic (up to three days on the lower-capacity model), but losing charge doesn't result in having to reset the time/inconveniences.
Luxury watch bands rarely perform well with water and not even stainless steel chain links are recommended for showering. (These tend to bleed lubricant onto the wearer.)
The apple watch isn't there to replace switzerland, but it will certainly win much of the money that would automatically go to them. There is now competition for the wrist and frankly that's better for everyone.
Thats a stretch seeing Apple hasn't sold a single watch yet and Rolex was founded in 1905 and moved to Switzerland in 1919. To compare a first generation Apple Watch to a Rolex is a bit much even for this forum. Rolex made the first waterproof watch in 1926 so far in 2015 the best Apple could do is let you wash your hands with it on.
Apple is trying to push this as fashion putting the full court press on the fashion industry, the jury is still out if the consumer will see it as fashion or wearable technology. Apple may sell these like crazy or there may be no bullet to dodge.
OK... following your analogy, can I ask you to imagine what a descendant of the AppleWatch will look like in the year 2111?
After all, you're comparing an as-yet-unreleased product to a 96-year old Swiss version of it.
Of course, just like the feature phones and dumb phones on sale today.
Not even remotely compairable
Nonsense. Of course they are. The $350 - $1,000 segment of the Swiss watch market (where most of the unit sales happen) is screwed. The $10,000+ crowd will be less impacted, but it's quite likely that people with that level of affordability will own both a Patek Philippe equivalent and an AppleWatch Edition.
Actually, more like rotary dial POTS analog land line phones.
OK... following your analogy, can I ask you to imagine what a descendant of the AppleWatch will look like in the year 2111?
After all, you're comparing an as-yet-unreleased product to a 96-year old Swiss version of it.
That was exactly my point. Talking about a first generation watch making Swiss watch makers nervous or saying they "can't dodge the bullet" is a bit of a stretch when the watch hasn't even been released. Also another point that I feel is valid even if the Apple Watch sells 80 million units a year that doesn't mean people don't own more then one watch.
I'm fairly excited about the Apple Watch but that doesn't mean I will never buy another watch made by someone else.
People keep talking about Swiss watch brands like they're these magical timepieces that once you buy them and put them on your wrist, they keep time forever, perfectly and without power – That couldn't be further from the truth:
In fact watches with incredibly complex 3 axis tourbillon movements have been argued to reduce accuracy, but it's there for the beauty of its complexity.
Today's word of the day boys and girls is "Protectionism."
That's spelled with a capital "P" - as in "Pathetic" and "Puny."
The easy workaround: Basel.
Do read the article. It might help your understanding of the actual issue and then you could attempt to make a comment that makes sense. Pay particular attention to the date 1984 in the article.
According to "The Swiss Federal Institute of Intellectual Property" the trademark owner has an obligation to use the trademark:
Obligation of use
After a five year period of grace, the applicant is obliged to make use of the trademark in relation to the goods and services entered in the register. If the trademark is not used for an uninterrupted period of more than five years, it may be deemed to have become invalid. Invalidity means that the trademark right is cancelled and can no longer be asserted.
See: https://www.ige.ch/en/trademarks/after-registration.html
So you're saying it took Rolex over 20 years to finally produce a waterproof version. Hmm how long do you think it will take Apple? Be honest.
What's an I-Watch?
As a Swiss citizen I find it extremely interesting how a population that couldn't tell Switzerland apart from Swaziland and Sweden yesterday have become experts on anything Swiss over night, simply by the fact that some old trademark surfaced somewhere in a dusty folder. Kudos to you!
What population?
Swaziland, most people wouldn't know were that is, even the Swiss. Though, watching too many movies about Mandela have told me that its an independent state that is an enclave inside South Africa.
- Most people know at least more cultural cliches (and even facts) about the Swiss (more than the Swedes)
- Banking, strong money and economy, neutrality, punctuality & watches, cleanliness chocolate & cheese, mountains, herders, Yodel, Olympics, diplomats, winter sports, own guns (been in the army), frugal, conservatives, women are blonde
- Speak sort of German, in the middle of Europe somewhere close to France and Germany