I suspect most high end luxury watch buyers are driven by the aesthetic and social aspects of watches, not by functionality. Wearing a flashy Rolex lets the world know that you are sporting some serious financial means. I don't see the inclusion of "smart" features having any impact on sales of watches in the luxury category. The fact that they tell time is more than enough. I also wouldn't read too much into any single data point at this time.
The Apple Watch is highly functional but it doesn't totally give up on style, say like a Casio plastic & rubber watch does. Apple could have gone purely functional but instead put thoughtful design and material selection into their product. But it's still a watch and watches are still a niche market. I hope Apple stays in it for the long haul and analysts quit trying to grade it on the same scale as the iPhone. Smart phones have become necessities for most people but watches are highly optional, especially when you always have a smartphone nearby. If you can afford an Apple Watch and enjoy the augmentation it adds to your smartphone feature set you will really like it. I expected other wearable devices that augment the smartphone feature set to become more commonplace over time. It makes a lot of sense for companies like Apple that build all of the system components to specialize the functional contribution that each peripheral component adds to the mix rather than trying to cram every possible function into a single device.
Did you really expect a product released a few months ago almost exclusively online and with massive supply constraints to overthrow established watchmakers more widely available worldwide? Look at the industry a year or two from now and then judge the Apple Watch's impact. iPhone didn't put fear into phone makers in three months available on only one carrier, but by a few years had a massive impact. This report along with the one you linked are useless at this point in time.
Most U.S. watch sales data is limited to exports of Swiss watches to that market, which don’t measure sales to consumers. Those shipments rose every month except May in the first half of 2015, according to according to Federation of the Swiss Watch Industry data available on Bloomberg Intelligence. The first half increase was 4.2 percent.
Of course you will now invoke the usual smokescreen of shipments vs sales argument and warehouses bulging at the seams with unsold Tags and Rolexes
Utility - what something can do - will ultimately prevail. People will come to expect that thing on their wrist to track at to of their fitness, alert them about appointments (a very watch-like function that mechanical watches simply cannot provide)'
Of course they can. There's companies already working on them. Kairos, Tag Heuer, Bulgari. . .
You've been posting this tidbit in every Watch-related story of late.
So, let me say again: when it actually gets past vaporware status, and has been out for a few months (so that you can estimate shipments or sales or whatever), please let us know.
Of note a smart-watch scheduled to debut later this year from one of the Swiss companies will have replaceable digital cores allowing hardware updates for the watch you bought. No need to buy a brand-new one to get new features or faster hardware.
I am sure they will... in fact they should say "replaceable digital cores" in their advertising. I am sure it will sell very well.
Again, do come back and fill us in if/when/how it happens.
"David Singleton, director of engineering for Android Wear said: "We're thrilled to be working with Tag Heuer and Intel to bring a unique blend of emotion and innovation to the luxury market. Together, and using the Android Wear platform, we can imagine a better, beautiful, smarter watch."
We also assume that means iPhone owners interested in the Tag Heuer watch will be straight out of luck."
"<span style="color:rgb(51,51,51);font-size:16px;line-height:1.4em;">David Singleton, director of engineering for Android Wear said: "We're thrilled to be working with Tag Heuer and Intel to bring a unique blend of emotion and innovation to the luxury market. Together, and using the Android Wear platform, we can imagine a better, beautiful, smarter watch."</span>
<p style="color:rgb(51,51,51);margin-bottom:11px;">We also assume that means iPhone owners interested in the Tag Heuer watch will be straight out of luck."</p>
You didn't bother to look at them the last time we discussed this? Just do a web search, you'll trust your own results more than mine. You know the old lead a horse to water stuff.
Laughably, you set yourself up. The giveaway is the "two year battery life".
Not even close to a smartwatch.
The OP was suggesting that smartwatches would have to come with Android or something similar. I was noting something from the "other" category. Whether that makes it a smartwatch has more to do with the needs of the user IMO, tho you might insist if it's not an Apple Watch, well it's not an Apple Watch. 8-)
Not a buyer - but I do have friends that own them and relatives..... I asked my friend if his watch was worth it... and he said it was the one of the only "investments" that he has purchased that has gone up in value (with the exception of the land/house he lives in Singapore). I also have family that have the same watch now that they purchased 50 years ago.
Me, well the longest I have owned a watch period is 3 days.... I don't know how well they are made, they are not going to survive me
That's interesting. I'm guessing that because of the Apple Watch Edition's digital/computing nature, it will not likely be considered an investment. I can't be sure though. Maybe due to its limited quantity and version one status, it will become a collector's item?
Being a pragmatic person, I have stopped wearing watches for many years. But the Apple Watch is causing me to reconsider.
You didn't bother to look at them the last time we discussed this? Just do a web search, you'll trust your own results more than mine.
No, tbh, I didn't, the last time.
I did take look at your links this time, and I am kind of sorry I did: the pictures you linked looked somewhat grotesque, especially the Kairos mechanical + digital. (But, on the bright side, they take bitcoins, apparently; interesting consumer segment they're catering to!).
Comments
The Apple Watch is highly functional but it doesn't totally give up on style, say like a Casio plastic & rubber watch does. Apple could have gone purely functional but instead put thoughtful design and material selection into their product. But it's still a watch and watches are still a niche market. I hope Apple stays in it for the long haul and analysts quit trying to grade it on the same scale as the iPhone. Smart phones have become necessities for most people but watches are highly optional, especially when you always have a smartphone nearby. If you can afford an Apple Watch and enjoy the augmentation it adds to your smartphone feature set you will really like it. I expected other wearable devices that augment the smartphone feature set to become more commonplace over time. It makes a lot of sense for companies like Apple that build all of the system components to specialize the functional contribution that each peripheral component adds to the mix rather than trying to cram every possible function into a single device.
all vaporware. real products, please.
Did you really expect a product released a few months ago almost exclusively online and with massive supply constraints to overthrow established watchmakers more widely available worldwide? Look at the industry a year or two from now and then judge the Apple Watch's impact. iPhone didn't put fear into phone makers in three months available on only one carrier, but by a few years had a massive impact. This report along with the one you linked are useless at this point in time.
http://news.motionx.com/motionx/2015/02/26/mmt-announces-the-swiss-horological-smartwatch-with-launch-partners-frederique-constant-alpina-and-mondaine-powered-by-motionx/
http://www.alpina-watches.com/news/horological-smartwatch_1080.aspx
Of course you will now invoke the usual smokescreen of shipments vs sales argument and warehouses bulging at the seams with unsold Tags and Rolexes
You answered your own (implied) question.
Utility - what something can do - will ultimately prevail. People will come to expect that thing on their wrist to track at to of their fitness, alert them about appointments (a very watch-like function that mechanical watches simply cannot provide)'
Of course they can. There's companies already working on them. Kairos, Tag Heuer, Bulgari. . .
You've been posting this tidbit in every Watch-related story of late.
So, let me say again: when it actually gets past vaporware status, and has been out for a few months (so that you can estimate shipments or sales or whatever), please let us know.
MotionX...
http://news.motionx.com/motionx/2015/02/26/mmt-announces-the-swiss-horological-smartwatch-with-launch-partners-frederique-constant-alpina-and-mondaine-powered-by-motionx/
http://www.alpina-watches.com/news/horological-smartwatch_1080.aspx
Limited capabilities, so may find a niche, but doubtful will compete against smartwatches.
Next.
Of note a smart-watch scheduled to debut later this year from one of the Swiss companies will have replaceable digital cores allowing hardware updates for the watch you bought. No need to buy a brand-new one to get new features or faster hardware.
I am sure they will... in fact they should say "replaceable digital cores" in their advertising. I am sure it will sell very well.
Again, do come back and fill us in if/when/how it happens.
(Sorry, typos)
Android?
http://www.wareable.com/android-wear/tag-heuer-android-wear-price-release-date-specs-958
I love this, from the link:
"David Singleton, director of engineering for Android Wear said: "We're thrilled to be working with Tag Heuer and Intel to bring a unique blend of emotion and innovation to the luxury market. Together, and using the Android Wear platform, we can imagine a better, beautiful, smarter watch."
We also assume that means iPhone owners interested in the Tag Heuer watch will be straight out of luck."
You keep up on tech stuff. I'm sure you'll know about it without needing me to bring you up to date.
Oh, I do. That's why I am reasonably confident it'll be vaporware. Or, likely crash and burn.
I was just pulling your chain....
Others being planned by the Swiss are being advertised as both iOS and Android compatible. But I'm not telling you anything you didn't already know.
Link?
Oh, geez, not with the "Next" stuff. It's already used derisively by another prodigious poster. One is enough.
Laughably, you set yourself up. The giveaway is the "two year battery life".
Not even close to a smartwatch.
Not a buyer - but I do have friends that own them and relatives..... I asked my friend if his watch was worth it... and he said it was the one of the only "investments" that he has purchased that has gone up in value (with the exception of the land/house he lives in Singapore). I also have family that have the same watch now that they purchased 50 years ago.
Me, well the longest I have owned a watch period is 3 days.... I don't know how well they are made, they are not going to survive me
That's interesting. I'm guessing that because of the Apple Watch Edition's digital/computing nature, it will not likely be considered an investment. I can't be sure though. Maybe due to its limited quantity and version one status, it will become a collector's item?
Being a pragmatic person, I have stopped wearing watches for many years. But the Apple Watch is causing me to reconsider.
Link?
You didn't bother to look at them the last time we discussed this? Just do a web search, you'll trust your own results more than mine.
No, tbh, I didn't, the last time.
I did take look at your links this time, and I am kind of sorry I did: the pictures you linked looked somewhat grotesque, especially the Kairos mechanical + digital. (But, on the bright side, they take bitcoins, apparently; interesting consumer segment they're catering to!).
Here's GG's link, in case someone else wants to take a look: https://kairoswatches.com/watches/ ;(Warning! May cause misery!!)