Following the smartwatch’s formal unveiling last week, latest reports have suggested that the gold Apple Watch Edition could be handed a massive $5,000 (£3,061) price tag.
Although Apple has confirmed that Apple Watch prices will start ‘from $349’ (£214), this already lofty fee only accounts for the entry-level, aluminium bodied ‘Sport’ rendition of the wearable.
With three families of Apple Watch set to be available – Apple Watch Sport, Apple Watch and the luxurious Apple Watch Edition – we expect these prices to quickly scale up.
Analyst John Gruber is expecting the same thing. He laid out the following predictions for the tied Apple Watch pricing structure:
- Apple Watch Sport (aluminum/glass): $349 (not a guess)
- Apple Watch (stainless steel/sapphire): $999
- Apple Watch Edition (18-karat gold/sapphire): $4999
Revealing his predications, he stated: “Most people think I’m joking when I say the gold ones are going to start at $5,000. I couldn’t be more serious.”
Speaking via his official blog, Gruber added: “Apple has even been steadily pushing prices down and making their products more consumer-friendly so they’re now in some cases a markedly better value than what their competitors offer.
“With the Apple Watch, that is no longer the case — there’s a gold version whose only substantial differentiating feature is that it’s more expensive.
“Because it’s “gold” and not “gold-coloured”, it’s not just a style choice, it’s a lifestyle choice. In other words — it’s the watch that most people won’t have.”
Although Apple has yet to formally announce pricing for its high-end Apple Watch options, the company has detailed exactly what the ‘Edition’ line will entail.
According to Apple: “The Edition collection features six uniquely elegant expressions of Apple Watch. Each has a watch case crafted from 18-karat gold that our metallurgists have developed to be up to twice as hard as standard gold.”
The Cupertino-based company adds: “The display is protected by polished sapphire crystal. And an exquisitely designed band provides a striking complement.”
These premium materials are sure to be a major factor on the Watch’s eventual price.
With an Apple Watch release date having been tentatively pencilled in for ‘early 2015’, we might have quite the wait to find out official Apple Watch Edition pricing.
Despite the likely high cost, however, retailer John Lewis recently told us it does not expect the Apple Watch price to be a barrier to success.
“I don’t think the pricing is going to be a barrier,” Will Jones, Tablets and Computing Buyer at John Lewis said speaking exclusively with TrustedReviews.
He added: “If you look at it in the wider context of the watch market, there are a lot of watch from world famous brands which costs thousands and tens of thousands of pounds per device.
“If you look at the wider category of what people wear on their wrist, then actually it’s relatively low priced.”
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