“With the breathless hype surrounding next year’s release of the Apple Watch and the novelty of being able to read Twitter and Facebook updates from your wrist, there is still an elusive something the watch will never be able to deliver: emotion,” Mia Taylor reports for MainStreet. “At least that’s the reaction from some luxury watch industry insiders.”
“‘I cannot say it would never appeal to the luxury market. But when someone buys a high-end watch, they’re buying it because of the emotion, because it makes them feel special. It’s a feeling you cannot get with an Apple Watch, iPhone or computer,’ says Philip de Palma, founder and CEO of The Watch Enthusiast, a luxury watch review app with 166,000 users in 129 countries. ‘A luxury watch is mechanical, hand-made, hand finished. It produces its own energy, and it tells time. And only time. The old-fashioned way,'” Taylor reports. “‘It’s nothing special. Frankly speaking, I’m a little disappointed, I was expecting something with more innovation,’ de Palma says. ‘Apple invented the iPhone, iPad and iPod. This is just another one of those things. We have seen this already.'”
Taylor reports, “‘Will it be the death of watch industry? Definitely no,’ de Palma says. ‘It’s not the same audience. It’s going be watch No. 15 or 20 of the true watch collector who will buy it just for fun because it’s Apple and he wants to do something wild or different like ‘Look at me putting on my Mickey Mouse glasses and this watch.””
Read more in the full article here.
MacDailyNews Take: Just getting this guy on record for future use.
Happy Friday! Hoist!!!
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I have a feeling the Apple Watch (needs a better name, really) will be an epic seller 3-5 years from now. Morning has broken on the Watch era.
No the name is perfect. A Cartier watch is called a Cartier watch and a Rolex watch is called a Rolex watch. it’s a watch made by Apple so it’s Apple watch. Better than some stupid iName
You buy a high end watch because:
1. You can afford and want it.
2. It is a thing of beauty.
3. You want to show off.
4. Resale value.
5. You collect watches, like people collect stamps. Variety.
They said that about the iPod, the iPhone, the iPad.
Funny how they were all WRONG!
Apple watch or not… I think the mechanical “makes you feel special” watch industry is/was on its way out… The new generations seem to have little interest in them…. Especially when the ‘thing’ mostly in front of their face (aka smart phones) show you the time anyways….
“…We’ve been selling watches since time began. Computer guys are not gonna’ just waltz in and take over the watch industry…”
If this guy really thinks owners will not be overwhelmed with a sense of giddiness enthusiasm and joy when a new owner puts on an Apple watch he’s clueless fool! I think a lot more emotion comes out of a gadget freak getting a new amazing gadget than watch owners getting a new watch.
People buy a watch to ” feel special” ? They must have really low self esteem.
All I know is that I want an apple watch. I can hardly wait.
Mr. Palma is an OWL! Why is he talking about emotional bonding with something not yet out!. And this guy has no idea what Innovation means. And he is CEO of watch enthusiast! Now that’s a WAMMY
I can hardly wait for Apple to finish the engineering and start mass production of the Watch. The anxiety I feel waiting for the Watch is very emotional, as will the moment be I first strap it to my wrist, as will the follow-on experiences I have actually using it.
I agree that there’s joy in wearing a beautiful mechanical anachronism on your wrist for dress up, but day to day, there’s also joy in wearing a beautiful device on your wrist that connects you instantly to the world.
Fascinating discussion, actually. Aside from the trollish comment here and there…
Seems clear to me that the Apple Watch is a thing apart. There’s really no “watch” product like it. Or fitness band. Or “smart watch.” It’s rather a category unto itself and thus a market yet to be defined.
If I may say, though, I think the Watch will do very, very well in the (non-US) world market. I believe that many of the wealthy and near-wealthy in BRIC markets will be drawn to the Watch. This is the knowledge base that Angela Arendts brings and that Tim Cook has clearly identified as a market where Apple must do well.
Totally. That this idiot says we’ve seen it before is completely bogus. The apple watch is a unique take on the wrist appliance.
It’s nothing special. Frankly speaking, I’m a little disappointed, I was expecting something with more innovation,’ de Palma says. ‘Apple invented the iPhone, iPad and iPod. This is just another one of those things. We have seen this already.’”
2001 -iPod? Aren’t there enough MP3 players already?
2007 -iPhone? What can Apple be thinking? What can they possibly do that hasn’t already been done with a phone?
2010 -iPad? Well it’s just a handicapped laptop. No one doing any serious work would think of owning one. A very limited market.
2015 -Apple Watch? It’s already been done. And where’s the “Emotion”?
Those who ignore history are bound to repeat it.
You are right! That $2500 Tag Hauer that only tells time and date with no light on the dial is way cooler than the Apple Watch!