Apple started introducing gold variants of its devices with the “champagne” iPhone 5s in 2013. Given the unexpected popularity of that device, it was only natural that Apple would keep the color scheme going for future devices — which now includes the Apple Watch, as unveiled yesterday.
While Tim Cook didn’t dwell on too many details regarding the individual Apple Watch models during his keynote, technology journalist David Pogue does have some additional information about the 18-karat gold Edition variant of the Apple Watch, which he claims will come in a “gorgeous jewelry box” that doubles as a charger.
The back of the box features a Lightning connector, and the inside sports the Apple Watch’s magnetic round charger pad. Wirelessly charging the Apple Watch is therefore just a matter of slipping your watch off before you go to bed, laying it in its case and then letting it charge overnight.
No word from Pogue or anyone else on how much this gold Apple Phone Edition will set users back financially, but it’s likely to be a whole lot higher than the $349 starting price.
There’s no confirmation either regarding the wearable’s battery life (which was previously described as “disappointing.”) Pogue’s best guess is that it will last “one day,” which is about in line with what we’ve heard elsewhere.
Source: Yahoo
Luke Dormehl is a U.K.-based journalist and author, with a background working in documentary film for Channel 4 and the BBC. He is the author of The Apple Revolution and The Formula: How Algorithms Solve All Our Problems … and Create More, both published by Penguin/Random House. His tech writing has also appeared in Wired, Fast Company, Techmeme and other publications.
19 responses to “Apple delivers its 18-karat gold Watch in a jewelry box charger”
Why is there a huge bump on the bottom of the watch. That looks super uncomfortable and annoying. If anything it should be curved the other way to fit the wrist.
You think Apple employees have never tested the product, and you just found out about a major issue, just by looking at an image? LOL
I think this is the first try at a new product and it’s the first Apple product that people will actually wear against their skin so yea, I think it could be an issue. Hopefully I’ll be wrong, but just because a group of programmers can design great software doesn’t mean they are experts in watch fitting.
Apple players closer attention to detail than any other electronics manufacturer on this planet. I think it’s safe to say the watch is ergonomic, especially after reading all of the reviews from the conference yesterday and the hands-on experiences.
Did you watch the live stream of event? They had one job to do and clearly someone in the loop was not paying attention to detail.
I don’t think comfort is going to be an issue. The hump is there because that is the part that needs to make close contact with your skin to accurately monitor heart rate. Probably why you have to press down on the face to get it to work, as far as I can tell its not passive monitoring.
I’m fairly certain those sensors need to stay in close contact with the skin but as long as the convex curve is wide enough, you’re unlikely to feel any discomfort at all. Stick a dime or even a quarter under your watch and in a few minutes I’ll bet you won’t even notice it’s there.
Or stick a $350 gold coin in there too, won’t notice a bit.
That said, I want one.
If a bump on the back created a better fit, I would imagine that companies like Rolex and Tag would have figured that out by now and added one to their line of watches. Rather I think apple needs this thing close to take your heart rate and it’s going to cause an unusual fit and feel. I guess we’ll find out.
My Tag Carrera does have a similar bump on the bottom …
Rolex does have a ‘bump’ on the underside. Most mechanical/automatic watches do. Apple Watch is not mechanical, of course, and their bump houses the heart rate monitors, etc.
If you didnt know, the rolex deep sea dweller does have quite a huge bump on the bottom of their watch too.
Any thoughts on the pricing of the gold watch edition? I’m speculating close to 10K. By the way a Rolex does have a slight bump on the back.
For 18 karat, I’m agreeing with you, Lisa. Probably in the $10k neighborhood.
18 karat is 75% pure gold. Pure gold (24 karat is about $1,250/troy ounce. I don’t know how much gold is in the Watch, but it ain’t near enough to justify a cost of $10K.
If Jony Ive is saying watch out Switzerland he and apple are aiming at Rolex, Omega, Breitling, Tag Heuer etc. those watches start at over 5k for stainless steel and go way up for gold. It’s not how much it weighs.
Exactly right.
I own quite a few nice Swiss watches, and it isn’t the gold weight or content which regulates price. There isn’t $10k worth of gold in a Rolex Cellini quartz either, but that’s what you’ll pay.
10K??? Really??? No, not really. Check out the price of gold per troy ounce and rethink.
It is not a bump, that is the charger, it is flush on the back.