“With the Apple Watch looming on the horizon for apparent release in the first quarter of 2015, the traditional watch industry is planning on how to react, both from a competitive product perspective, and anticipating how consumers will react,” Ariel Adams reports for Forbes. “Whether or not you personally want an Apple Watch or appreciate the design, most people agree that it will be a highly disruptive product. Not only is this the first serious smartwatch device meant for the mainstream consumer, but it also takes smartwatches to a new level of design, finishing, and pricing.”
“I knew exactly who to ask for an opinion: Mr. Jean-Claude Biver,” Adams reports. “After successful careers at Omega, Blancpain, and Hublot, Jean-Claude Biver currently runs the watch division at LVMH. That means he oversees luxury watch brands such as Hublot, TAG Heuer, and Zenith.”
with Midnight Blue Classic Buckle
• I was a little bit disappointed because we were awaiting and expecting a typical “Apple Revolution” and what finally we saw just a brave, somehow classically connected, watch. I still believe the next generation Apple Watch will be much better and therefore will not buy this first watch.
• The Apple Watch cannot compete with any prestigious watch from a prestigious brand. The only thing you might be able to do with your 18k gold Apple Watch is to melt it down and recoup the few grams of gold; end of story!
• Yes, of course it lacks soul. But it also lacks of aesthetic tension (yin and yang), and it’s not sexy at all. It’s just a perfect 3D computer design.
• The Apple Watch cannot compete at all with European watches.
• The Swiss watch industry will find an answer to the “connected watch.” Not the Apple answer, which, for the time being, is mere a miniaturization of the iPhone. Nevertheless, there will be a Swiss answer to the smartwatch, with their own concept and message.
• I welcome the Apple Watch and thank them for helping to promote and prepare the wrist for us in the Swiss watch industry.
Read more in the full article here.
MacDailyNews Take: As well he should be, Jean-Claude Biver is scared shitless.
Related articles:
What the Apple Watch says about Apple – September 15, 2014
Tim Cook of Apple Watch battery life: ‘You’ll want to charge them every night’ – September 12, 2014
Old school watch makers don’t get Apple Watch – September 12, 2014
Apple Watch, the world’s first real smartwatch, will be a massive hit – September 9, 2014
Apple iWatch designer Jony Ive: Switzerland is in deep shit – September 4, 2014
Even by delusional standards this reaches new heights. It really fell apart when he talked of the Swiss watch industry finding an answer. Best laugh of the night for the animatronic cuckoo has already been perfected guys the future of the watch is going in an entirely different direction which is far more like an iPhone but beyond that into areas your limited imagination can possibly contemplate and even if it did you will never have the kills to compete with. This is the real World now, yes stone age beauty has its place as do valve amplifiers but its celebration of the past, not mainstream future so just thank god Apple has little interest in chocolate and cheese.
As for his design comments, that nonsense about “tension” and “ying yang,” etc., is all a load of manure. What a douchebag.
Yes totally out of touch with reality and clearly in a time warp of meaningless cliches.
Apples and Oranges. Fine Swiss Mechanical watches are works of art, jewelry as much as timepiece.
A person isn’t going to say, “hmmm, Should I get this $15,000 Jaeger LeCoultre or this $349 Apple watch?”
Totally different markets.
I own an Omega and a vintage Rolex Submariner and I still see the purpose/utility for an Apple Watch.
They are not mutually exclusive products.
The dude is out of touch…….
What utter tripe. Let the Swiss put a footstool on their pedestal in attempt to climb above Apple. Do you not understand? Apple seeks not to “steal” your faithful, but to grasp those you cannot. ‘Tis not competition, but balance. Foolish be the Swiss to feel threatened by Apple and their foray.
“We don’t care about airplanes, we’re in the railroad business and they’re not railroads.”
I think Adam Osborn used to recall that quote (from the end of the railroad baron days, obviously) to point out that PC makers were myopic (note: this was in the days *before* the IBM PC, IIRC. Osborn computers were Z80 and running CP/M at the time if I have my dates correct).
By the time they get it, it will be too late to try and start another 3rd party app infrastructure.
Not that they have the ability to get it.
There’s always the market of people who appreciate Grandfather Clocks. Too bad most people have more rooms than they have wrists.
Here’s the trick…
It’s not supposed to compete :))
“PC guys are not going to just figure this out. They’re not going to just walk in.” – Ed Colligan, Palm CEO, 2007
And there will always be people who say that vinyl is better than digital. And it may be. But, like the iPod, the Apple Watch will appeal to the masses and be a success. It was never designed to replace a high end Swiss timepiece.
ROUND TWO. This time its the leaders of watch company to put their FOOT in the MOUTH!