http://www.afr.com/lifestyle/watches-and-jewellery/luxury-watch-market-hit-by-technology-and-politics-20170126-gtz8gc

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As it transpires, the Apple Watch is now the largest selling wrist machine after Rolex, and consumers – many of whom already have more than enough watches – have other things on their mind..

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This is only 2 years after the release? As the watch gets thinner, more refined, more functional, and the accessory wrist bands get more ostentatiously pricey(to fulfill the emotional splurge/status spending), are the swiss/rolex watches going to go the way of the blackberry and nokia?

When the ipad first came out, I thought it was just a big itouch. Boy was I wrong. When the apple watch came out I thought it was a gimmick niche product. It certainly isn't a revolutionary product compared to it's previous products. However as I window shopped at the local Apple store today there was a steady stream of purchasers of the watch even on Superbowl Sunday. And from what I understand, it did well during Christmas. It looks like that the Apple Borg/Tsunami is making a move on the watch industry.

Rolex sells more than say....Casio? Or swatch?

I'm holding out for iwatch 3. Fully waterproof and isn't tethered to the phone

burritos;842805015 said:

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http://www.afr.com/lifestyle/watches-and-jewellery/luxury-watch-market-hit-by-technology-and-politics-20170126-gtz8gc



This is only 2 years after the release? As the watch gets thinner, more refined, more functional, and the accessory wrist bands get more ostentatiously pricey(to fulfill the emotional splurge/status spending), are the swiss/rolex watches going to go the way of the blackberry and nokia?

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The idea that Apple will "kill" the high-end watch industry is an example of a specific type of overblown prediction I've always said people (both individuals and media) make way too often. It's no different from the predictions that online shopping would kill retail stores and that we'd all be using websites for 100% of our purchases by 2017.

It's a little more accurate to say Apple will probably take a bite out of high-end watch purchases, but that the segment of consumers who would pick a Rolex over Apple's shinest new toy isn't going away anytime soon, or ever.

Cellini is my favorite watch to wear and an Apple Watch can't replace it because it's not a comparable product imo.

510Bear;842805024 said:

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. It's no different from the predictions that online shopping would kill retail stores and that we'd all be using websites for 100% of our purchases by 2017.

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You mean it hasn't?😳

barabbas;842805027 said:

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You mean it hasn't?😳

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People still use Polaroids so it's not 100% dead am I right?

510Bear;842805024 said:

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The idea that Apple will "kill" the high-end watch industry is an example of a specific type of overblown prediction I've always said people (both individuals and media) make way too often. It's no different from the predictions that online shopping would kill retail stores and that we'd all be using websites for 100% of our purchases by 2017.

It's a little more accurate to say Apple will probably take a bite out of high-end watch purchases, but that the segment of consumers who would pick a Rolex over Apple's shinest new toy isn't going away anytime soon, or ever.

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Digitial phones. Ipods(what was before Ipods?). CDs. Cell phones. The are examples where companies have for the most part evaporated from the face of the earth. Young people aren't buying high end analog watch en masse. No reason this trend will not continue. Do you have one of these?

510Bear;842805024 said:

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The idea that Apple will "kill" the high-end watch industry is an example of a specific type of overblown prediction I've always said people (both individuals and media) make way too often. It's no different from the predictions that online shopping would kill retail stores and that we'd all be using websites for 100% of our purchases by 2017.

It's a little more accurate to say Apple will probably take a bite out of high-end watch purchases, but that the segment of consumers who would pick a Rolex over Apple's shinest new toy isn't going away anytime soon, or ever.

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+1

Don't believe everything you read, especially stats. Also, didn't the opening sentence state something about the Chinese cracking down on corruption? Hong Kong is part of Chinese, so...

BearinOC;842805035 said:

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+1Don't believe everything you read, especially stats. Also, didn't the opening sentence state something about the Chinese cracking down on corruption? Hong Kong is part of Chinese, so...

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100% is such a straw man. Of course not. Why even argue against it? It's obviously wrong. People who believe the luxury watch market will disintegrate will never say 100% but I understand that it's an easy target to argue against rather than the harder argument of realistically how much of an impact it will make.

A true timepiece has sentimental value and can also serve as an investment.
I just found out Andre Iguodala is a watch connoisseur.

https://www.hodinkee.com/articles/talking-watches-with-andre-iguodala

Apple Watch isn't gonna kill Rolex. Lmao.

NYCGOBEARS;842805051 said:

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Apple Watch isn't gonna kill Rolex. Lmao.

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But Casio calculators killed the abacus.

Little effect.

Luxury items across all product lines (not just watches) have been falling off very aggressively the past couple years. Maybe Apple watch takes a little revenue but not much from the Rolexes and Omegas etc. iWatch is a functional watch. Rolex is essentially a jewelry piece. They're two completely different things

I can't believe you started this thread the minute the Super Bowl started. Why not another minute?

Apple watches and expensive watches are totally different things.

You really don't need to have a watch nowadays if you have a smartphone, or even an iPod. I mean, how many find it more inconveniencing the 1 or 2 seconds it takes to grab your phone to look at the time vs. looking at your watch. Do you need to look at your watch every minute of the day. (okay, maybe if you're in class or something.)

So if you're buying a high-end watch, or a watch that costs a hundred or a few hundred dollars, you're doing it mostly for the look. As if it's jewelry.

And if you're buying a high-end watch, you're expecting for it to be useful for many, many years.

Smartwatches become obsolete/uncool after a few years.



Confession: A year ago, I developed this great urge to buy not just one watch, but like 5 watches, costing a total of $1100.

Now, I haven't owned a watch since the '90s. But I just had this urge. They looked so beautiful.

I decided that I will spend the money if I still had the jones for it in December.

I didn't, and I still am watchless.

Though I do someday plan to buy this $550 Shinola:

okaydo;842805061 said:

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I can't believe you started this thread the minute the Super Bowl started. Why not another minute?

Apple watches and expensive watches are totally different things.

You really don't need to have a watch nowadays if you have a smartphone, or even an iPod. I mean, how many find it more inconveniencing the 1 or 2 seconds it takes to grab your phone to look at the time vs. looking at your watch. Do you need to look at your watch every minute of the day. (okay, maybe if you're in class or something.)

So if you're buying a high-end watch, or a watch that costs a hundred or a few hundred dollars, you're doing it mostly for the look. As if it's jewelry.

And if you're buying a high-end watch, you're expecting for it to be useful for many, many years.

Smartwatches become obsolete/uncool after a few years.



Confession: A year ago, I developed this great urge to buy not just one watch, but like 5 watches, costing a total of $1100.

Now, I haven't owned a watch since the '90s. But I just had this urge. They looked so beautiful.

I decided that I will spend the money if I still had the jones for it in December.

I didn't, and I still am watchless.

Though I do someday plan to buy this $550 Shinola:

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Right, but the purchase preferences of our generation and older may not track with millennials and younger. Yes there will always be a small portion of people who will always want to get luxury goods across all cohort groups. But for a generation who grew up during the great recession, who have record student loans, housing prices beyond reach, and are very tech dependent...I think spending on high end watches that do nothing but tell time and flaunt status is not a growth industry, especially with Apple trying to devour market share everywhere.

I mean c'mon dude. the market that is looking at true high end watches (I mean these things are EXPENSIVE) in no way would consider a 6 figure tourbillon the same as a smart watch. it's just not the same markte

High end watches today for men are like purses or perhaps shoes for women. Geezers like me still think Omega, etc are worth the dough because of craftsmanship, quality, materials, etc. not simply computer chips, plastic and a dozen functions - including WiFi for gods sake. My $29 Ironman watch keeps better time than my Omega, but boy does a Seamaster feel good on the wrist. Want a 56 Chevy or a new BMW with all the bells and whistles? Big difference and it's reflected in our ages.

moonpod;842805081 said:

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I mean c'mon dude. the market that is looking at true high end watches (I mean these things are EXPENSIVE) in no way would consider a 6 figure tourbillon the same as a smart watch. it's just not the same markte

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I was going to ask earlier what the criteria was for " luxury"? The Apple Watch is firmly within the mass market range if you want to consider it a watch.

The market conflict between Apple watches and high-end watches is kind of unique, because it opposes a product that is the epitome of planned obsolescence to one that is the epitome of timelessness.

The main downfall of high-end watches is their reliability. Rolexes are relatively ugly watches that eventually gained status because they were well-made, extremely reliable, long-lasting products. The Mercedes brand also took that path, conflating sturdy quality with luxury.

High-end watches like Cartier tend to be timelessly elegant, the Tank watch is exactly a century old this year, yet it still looks great. There is a little bit of fashion cycle, even in the men's watch industry, like the recent trend towards bulky watches, but overall, your dad's nice high-end Swiss-made watch will go on forever if you take care of it, so you don't need to buy a new one.

This superbowl sucked, lol.

Cal88;842805090 said:

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This superbowl sucked, lol.

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dude I hope you are watching it now cause it just got REAL good

Lol, I knew I'd get nailed for that.

NYCGOBEARS;842805089 said:

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I was going to ask earlier what the criteria was for " luxury"? The Apple Watch is firmly within the mass market range if you want to consider it a watch.

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Some apple watch bands are in the thousands of dollars range. Don't think that is targetted at the mass market. Hermes is a major partner with Apple for bands

Major differences. An Apple watch is a limited duration timepiece that will be obsolete in two years and software updates will stop in 4 years and it will be junk, dead electronics. I still wear the same Rolex I got for High School graduation in 1966. Self winding I don't have to recharge it every few hours. For me the iWatch is non-functional as my life is not tied to an outlet and a charger. 50 years from now people around the world will be wearing Omegas and Rolexes and the iWatches will have been scrapped 40 years before.

Techno salespeople remind us how sailing ships were replaced by steamships which were replaced by diesel ships. But you know when I look at a bay on the West Coast there are a lot of boats with sails. If you enjoy something you don't really care about the march of technology.

hanky1;842805055 said:

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Little effect.

Luxury items across all product lines (not just watches) have been falling off very aggressively the past couple years. Maybe Apple watch takes a little revenue but not much from the Rolexes and Omegas etc. iWatch is a functional watch. Rolex is essentially a jewelry piece. They're two completely different things

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sp4149;842805148 said:

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Major differences. An Apple watch is a limited duration timepiece that will be obsolete in two years and software updates will stop in 4 years and it will be junk, dead electronics. I still wear the same Rolex I got for High School graduation in 1966. Self winding I don't have to recharge it every few hours. For me the iWatch is non-functional as my life is not tied to an outlet and a charger. 50 years from now people around the world will be wearing Omegas and Rolexes and the iWatches will have been scrapped 40 years before.

Techno salespeople remind us how sailing ships were replaced by steamships which were replaced by diesel ships. But you know when I look at a bay on the West Coast there are a lot of boats with sails. If you enjoy something you don't really care about the march of technology.

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Too simplistic of an analysis in my view. We need to break down the market in smaller pieces. Sure, the Apple Watch is growing in the fitness/smart watch communtiy among those who might have a less expensive functional watch (though that market is now fairly well saturated). And sure, the Apple Watch won't take away from the "buy a high end watch and wear it til I die" folks. Personally, I use both and appreciate both. I have a Tag Heuer watch that I used to wear all the time. Since getting the Apple Watch, I wear it only when, frankly, I'm more concerned about appearances (like at work). I find I miss the Apple Watch when I'm not wearing it. I still like the Tag but it probably means I'm less likely to get a new one as styles evolve and perhaps hang on to it a few years longer than I might have otherwise before getting the Apple Watch since I now wear it less and think about it less. It's this market in the middle where Apple may very well cut into luxury watch sales among people who can appreciate both. It may be a moderate impact but it's still an impact nonetheless which is why the luxury watchmakers are dabbling into more functional watches.

Cal88;842805090 said:

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The market conflict between Apple watches and high-end watches is kind of unique, because it opposes a product that is the epitome of planned obsolescence to one that is the epitome of timelessness.

The main downfall of high-end watches is their reliability. Rolexes are relatively ugly watches that eventually gained status because they were well-made, extremely reliable, long-lasting products. The Mercedes brand also took that path, conflating sturdy quality with luxury.

High-end watches like Cartier tend to be timelessly elegant, the Tank watch is exactly a century old this year, yet it still looks great. There is a little bit of fashion cycle, even in the men's watch industry, like the recent trend towards bulky watches, but overall, your dad's nice high-end Swiss-made watch will go on forever if you take care of it, so you don't need to buy a new one.

This superbowl sucked, lol.

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You don't have to pay $1000+ watch for it to last forever. I got my seiko for $100+ 17 years ago. Still works great. People compliment me on it. Maybe they are being polite. It looks like s shiny metally watch. I certainly am not fishing for compliments or envy. Maybe if I had paid $1000-$100,000 for it, I'd have some emotional investment in it. Compliments might well then affirm my decision to have spent a huge sum of money on it. Since I didn't, I just use it to tell time.

sp4149;842805148 said:

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Major differences. An Apple watch is a limited duration timepiece that will be obsolete in two years and software updates will stop in 4 years and it will be junk, dead electronics. I still wear the same Rolex I got for High School graduation in 1966. Self winding I don't have to recharge it every few hours. For me the iWatch is non-functional as my life is not tied to an outlet and a charger. 50 years from now people around the world will be wearing Omegas and Rolexes and the iWatches will have been scrapped 40 years before.

Techno salespeople remind us how sailing ships were replaced by steamships which were replaced by diesel ships. But you know when I look at a bay on the West Coast there are a lot of boats with sails. If you enjoy something you don't really care about the march of technology.

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That is great that your watch still works for you. I also appreciate the value of something lasting for a long long time. I wonder if one day in the near future if solar cells on the watch will be able to diminish or eliminate the need to charge. My scientific solar powered calculator built in 1987 still works great.

TheSouseFamily;842805162 said:

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TIt may be a moderate impact but it's still an impact nonetheless which is why the luxury watchmakers are dabbling into more functional watches.

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https://www.engadget.com/2017/01/20/tag-heuer-sold-more-1-500-smartwatches-than-it-expected/

I assume Tag wants to continue to make giant profit margins so it looks like they are diversifying their product portfolio to "high end" smartwatches. As this trend continues, the subset of people who want/need to outpay 99.9% of people for their watches will pay for an overpriced smartwatch and come up with nonsensical rationale as to why it is worth it.

burritos;842805015 said:

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When the ipad first came out, I thought it was just a big itouch. Boy was I wrong.

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On the other hand iPad sales have been falling for 3 years with no end in sight. Remember when people said iPads would replace computers? People are buying big phones instead of tablets and (cheap) computers when they want to get work done.

Unit2Sucks;842805182 said:

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On the other hand iPad sales have been falling for 3 years with no end in sight. Remember when people said iPads would replace computers? People are buying big phones instead of tablets and (cheap) computers when they want to get work done.

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Didn't know that. We have 5 in our household of 6 people. I suppose we could get more, but the planned obsolescence for the ipad hasn't kicked in for us.

burritos;842805168 said:

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You don't have to pay $1000+ watch for it to last forever. I got my seiko for $100+ 17 years ago. Still works great. People compliment me on it. Maybe they are being polite. It looks like s shiny metally watch. I certainly am not fishing for compliments or envy. Maybe if I had paid $1000-$100,000 for it, I'd have some emotional investment in it. Compliments might well then affirm my decision to have spent a huge sum of money on it. Since I didn't, I just use it to tell time.

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Santa* got me an Orient Blue Ray just last Christmas**, based on a thread here 1-2 years ago (thanks NYCGOBEARS and somebody else). Come to find out that there is a fairly large sub-culture of folks who are still into mechanical watches. Surprisingly large, including plenty of young people. Thing is, it's never going to be more than a sub-culture. Fifty years ago, it was everybody.

* My lil' kids still don't know "Santa" is actually me, so shhhhhhhh!

** Was I allowed to mention "the C word"? It just slipped out; I wan't thinking... Hey, well, the new Prez has got my back on this one thing.

I love Apple and have most of their products...However, I will never give up my Rolex for any wrist gadget.

Son-of-California;842805206 said:

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I love Apple and have most of their products...However, I will never give up my Rolex for any wrist gadget.

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That may be very true, but the younger generation may never buy a Rolex because what do you need a dumb watch for?

No, but Apple earpods are certainly killing the high-end earring market

I have a Rolex and a omega and I love my Apple Watch. I also love my Seiko automatic. I love watches. I also love clocks. We have at least two on every room. So I guess I am a bit weird about this. But I like fixing them.

I wear the Apple Watch to make sure I do not get fatter during the week and the others when I want to. It is all good.

I stopped wearing a watch over 10 years ago (feels great!). I don't think Apple products are a good value since the early ipods were matched by other imitators. I can think of many, many better ways to use disposable income than for a fashion watch, timeless style or other euphemisms for a pickpocket target.

But I'm fascinated by the number of people posting here about their love of Apple, Rolex, Brand Z. We all have our hobbies - one of mine is Cal Football - which seems to run me about 1/4 a Rolex each season :headbang

Oh.... and get off my lawn!

:gobears: