AppleInsider Staff
A rumor on Tuesday claims Apple's upcoming Apple Watch will be priced at $500 for the mid-tier steel model and up to $5,000 for top-end gold "Edition" versions, a number much higher than previous estimates.
Citing an unnamed source, French website iGen reports Apple is looking to field the Apple Watch at a proposed retail cost of $500 for versions with stainless steel cases and between $4,000 and $5,000 for Apple Watch Edition models. This leaves the Apple Watch Sport version as Apple's lowest-priced option, which the company said would come in at $350.
While the website has been accurate in predicting recent Apple product launches, the claims are unverifiable and should be taken with a grain of salt.
Previous estimates from jewelers and industry analysts pegged high-end Apple Watch Edition models at $1,200. Edition versions are crafted from 18-karat gold, feature sapphire crystal and come with a variety of luxurious strap options. Apple has not commented on whether the entire chassis is solid gold, or merely gold plated, but the company apparently developed a variant of the metal twice as strong as the standard.
Additionally, the source claims Apple is still shooting for a launch on Valentine's Day.
Prior to the Apple Watch announcement, noted analyst Ming-Chi Kuo accurately predicted that the device would come in two sizes and multiple models spread across a wide range of price points. At the time, he speculated the wearable could cost into the "thousands of dollars."
Apple announced its anticipated first foray into the wearables market in September, saying only that pricing would start at $350. Given that the Apple Watch Sport is made from relatively low-cost materials — aluminum, elastomer band and non-sapphire window — many believe it to be the entry-level model.
Andrew Orr
Amber Neely
William Gallagher
Christine McKee
247 Comments
Sounds good to me!
This watch is obviously not made for Android users.
The gold version should cost many thousands of dollars!
just like other higher end watches, Rolex, Tag, a $5000 version is obviously not being sold based on accuracy, or gold content, but based on desire.
[quote]Citing an unnamed source....[/quote] Blind Freddy could have told you that $1500 for the dearest watch was laughable. I think their most expensive version will easily top $5000 because Apple has the technology to make individual watches one at a time and I'm sure they will do that too. In fact if you make the Italian chain band out of gold as well, you'd be looking at 20 grand just for the gold.
And in 5 years when Apple stops supporting it and the battery won't hold a charge anymore, it will be worth $100.
Here's my issue. Why have it as Apple Watch ($500), Apple Watch Sport ($350), Apple Watch Edition ($5000). Having the model listed in the middle as the cheap one doesn't make sense. And the Sport model is always listed in the middle. Going with the $350 version regardless because that's probably all I'll be able to afford next year.