The Apple Watch Sport may start at a mere $349, but the product line’s price point could well soar from there!
According to Daring Fireball‘s John Gruber, Apple’s 18-karat gold Apple Watch Edition may sell for as much as $4,999.
“Most people think I’m joking when I say the gold ones are going to start at $5,000,” Gruber writes in a new blog post. “I couldn’t be more serious.”
Gruber notes that the device might cost $1,999 at a bare minimum, but this is unlikely since the components alone would cost more than this.
While $4,999 would give the Apple Watch Edition the dubious distinction of being both one of the company’s most expensive products and its smallest, Gruber points out that the device will not just be gold-plated, but actually manufactured using 18-karat gold.
With that said, is anyone going to want to regularly upgrade a solid gold watch that costs them the same as a Swiss watch which could conceivably stay in a person’s family for a lifetime?
For the record, Gruber thinks the stainless steel/sapphire Apple Watch will set customers back $999.
Guess we’ll find out for sure in early 2015, when the Apple Watch finally ships.
Hey, at least the gold Apple Watch Edition comes with a snazzy charging case.
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.
24 responses to “The gold Apple Watch Edition could set you back a whopping $4,999”
ON one hand, I don’t disagree with his logic: luxury watch brands cost a hella lot. Having something to compete against Rolex, et al., seem like a way to bring attention to a new product. Part of Gruber’s thesis is that tech folks will freak when they see these prices, in part because a lot of folks don’t go around buying four-figure (and up) watches.
However, I think the solid gold ones are more to get attention. A Swiss mechanical watch is a status symbol and an heirloom–the only reason I have an Omega Speedmaster is that I unfortunately inherited it. While a watch is certainly technology, it’s a fairly mature one that doesn’t iterate that quickly. There is little need to upgrade unless it doesn’t suit your style. Also, it’s quite common to have multiple watches–I have a much cheaper casual watch.
On the other hand, an Apple Watch is as much tech as it is jewelry. The technology will improve, or get patched, or new sensors will get stuffed inside of it. I can’t see anyone buying a $5000-10000 Apple Watch every few years as batteries wear out, technology improves, or versions fall out of support.
What I would expect:
-Several iterations of the Apple Watch Sport and Apple Watch with different memory, bands, etc. at price points similar to the iPhone/iPad. Mostly under a grand. 95% of the Apple Watches you see in the wild will be of this variety.
-Alternate and third party bands bringing gold, or velcro, or whatever really works.
-A few high-end ones produced to play in the Rolex space. They’ll sell, but history will look back on them as a special edition. Expect Apple Watch 2.0 to drop those models.
The more I think about it, folks who wear Rolexes don’t wear digital watches. Either they won’t want an Apple Watch for aesthetic reasons, or it will be their secondary watch.
I 100% agree with this. I see celebrities and athletes being the target group here. I don’t see a scenario where a gold Watch is handed down generation to generation, maybe idk.
The Watch will improve. Very likely every year, or at least every other year.
Middle class won’t give 8-10% of their income to update… or maybe some will lol.
Of course since that sucker is 18K Gold. That’s some expensive stuff. I’m sure there are celebrities out there who would sport that in a second and replace it the minute the next version comes out. If I had the disposable income I definitely would myself.
But who would want to buy a second hand, outdated watch? After 2-3 years the watch becomes worthless and the only value is the gold its made of.
Hi Michael. I still have all of my iPhones and iPods. If anything, I’d consider giving it away to a worthy individual. However, to your point, it will be interesting to see how the software evolves and how iPhone upgrades will impact the first generation Apple Watch.
This is an attempt to prompt Apple to spit some prices out.
I seriously doubt it will be that expensive.. but we’ll see I guess.
Hmm a few days ago it was only $1,200. No thanks Gruber I’ll wait until Apple sets the price..
No thanks. I’ll put my $4999 against a new car loan. Many aren’t going to spend $4999 on a gold watch. A 4K TV perhaps.
For those who do not want to spend $4999 on a gold Apple Watch, there are stainless steel and aluminum Apple Watches.
Gold is not a feature and buying a less expensive model will not make the watch less useful.
Agreed, and buying the gold edition is a sure way to make your money spent LESS useful.
People who spend $5000 for a watch do not care much about making their money useful.
I don’t see the SS / sapphire premium being more than $100. The cost difference between a stainless and an aluminum case is negligible. The cost of a sapphire crystal for a typical watch is under $100 from a jeweler – mass produced it should be much much less.
I have a number of expensive watches and my rule of thumb is that any quality watch has a sapphire crystal. The reason is that other “hardened” crystals scratch over the years and will look like garbage in a decade. A quality watch is designed to last a lifetime and be handed down through generations.
I realize the Apple Watch will not last more than 3 or 4 years but the same rules of quality manufacture for a quality product should apply.
I really hope you’re right. I would consider paying $500 for the stainless steel, “male” size watch, but any more than that is a deal breaker. $999 would be totally out of the question. And I don’t want the aluminum watch. I’d be very disappointed if I was priced out of getting an Apple Watch altogether.
Of course, I’ll be waiting for the 2nd generation anyway, so I suppose it doesn’t really matter.
I really really doubt this is the case. There are other reports Apple is expecting to sell 50 Million of these in 2015. There is no way selling them at $999 and $4,999 would lead to selling 50 Million of anything.
I’m more excited to see what the other prices will be. The sports version w/out sapphire is pricy. I want to see where Apple values their sapphire, and the Watch is definitely going to give us answers. 2015 can’t come soon enough!
I think Gruber is shilling for apple, setting expectations super high, that way when it drops it will seem like a deal compared to $5000. Same thing happened when the original iPad was rumored to be over $1000, 499 seemed like a deal.
Maybe, but that’s what everyone said about the initial analyst rumors that the watch would start at $400, which turned out to be about right.
This conspiracy IS an Apple conspiracy! #MindBlown #Illuminati
I personally think pricing it high ($3000+), is a great idea (marketing wise). It will make it desirable to people that will drive sales (via media exposure) to the lesser priced watches. How many celebs do you see wearing Moto 360s (which is a inch looking watch too)? And let’s face it, the people who can afford a watch that will need to be upgraded in a few years really won’t care.
I personally think pricing it high ($3000+), is a great idea (marketing wise). It will make it desirable to people that will drive sales (via media exposure) to the lesser priced watches. How many celebs do you see wearing Moto 360s (which is a nice looking watch too)? And let’s face it, the people who can afford a watch that will need to be upgraded in a few years really won’t care.
Fad fad fad
Just like curve TVs
Fad
I am getting an apple sport watch plain and simple;watches are not in style anymore, anyways is just a look, a fad.