Gold Apple Watch, Like All Jewelry, is a Rip-Off

[Gabriel Porto]

Well, Apple gave up on making people's lives easier, now they're being just silly. This watch does nothing special that others does and can't improve my life in any means. If i want to track my sleep/heart rate I can get other products that do a better job and lasts more than a day in a charge. Oh, and maybe at half the price too.

Now they're obsessed with how thin they can make a Mac/iPhone/iPad and throwing gold in every thing they can.

 

[rawoysters]

"the fact that it will be outdated in a year is why regular timepieces are better. this will die and be dead forever." If I was Apple I make the inside of those upgradeable. If I was going to spend that much on a watch , being upgradeable (ala yanking the guts out and replacing) would almost have to be mandatory.

 

[eriko]

It looks nice, and if someone has the spare money & buys it, more power to them.

I'm not an Apple fan, but with Apple having such a one-track-mind, cult fanbase, I'd be making solid gold watches, and phones too.

Wrinse 'em for all you can get Apple. Nice play indeed. I really do tip my cap to you this time. You built the brand, now cash in.

 

[bit_user]

Fine jewelry — anything containing precious metals or stones — has been a waste of money for thousands of years, because it has no inherent value.

Not true. Gold and gemstones do have a market value and industrial uses.

The only reason I clicked on this article is that I expected it to quote the market value of the gold contained in the Apple Watch. That would have actually been informative. *sigh*

I did get a chuckle out of your suggestion to use a 4k TV in place of an engagement ring. Tell me... do you have a wife or girlfriend? The reason they generally like jewelry is as a status symbol. They cannot wear a 4k TV and invite far fewer people into their home than they would encounter in public, so it doesn't work as well.

 

[bit_user]

In fact, the ideal status symbol has no practical use. If the goal is to show how wealthy you are, then you want to send the message that you can afford to waste large amounts of money on completely useless crap.

 

[mazty]

Actually a high end rolex can gain value over time so can be rightfully seen as an investment. Something tech based like the Apple Watch will only depreciate over time.

 

[zblade]

"Fine jewelry — anything containing precious metals or stones — has been a waste of money for thousands of years, because it has no inherent value."

I have to disagree with this statement. Fine jewelry like Rolex, Omega, Gucci and etc goes up in value as it gets older. A simple search through ebay and you will see that old Rolex watches are more expensive than when they were new (at the time they were released). Gold is a commodity and it has gone up a lot in the past 10 years.

But I do completely agree that the gold apple watch is a complete ripoff. It will be nothing but a paper weight once apple stop supporting in. In my opinion, the gold apple watch does not even look like a $300 watch let alone $17,000.

 

[fuzzion]

For that price you could get someone to carry your phone with a clock mounted to their chest for 6 months.

 

[Vosgy]

It's genius, unlike a conventional watch that cost 10k+ and will likely go up in value and last for a lifetime, this one stops working in a year and the suckers have to fork out 17k+ each year for the next one, genius!

 

[daglesj]

The other issue with the Apple Watch is that once someone really breaks it down they'll find that it only has around $40 worth of gold scrap value. Plus it's not even pure gold, it's an alloy.

 

[Houndsteeth]

Personally, after a couple years with a fitbit, I am ready to see what the Apple Watch can do that the fitbit can't. And I'm already looking forward to being able to subtly screen my calls and texts while I'm in a meeting without having to drag out my phone. I'm also very interested in how apps will be enhanced when paired with my phone and my MacBook. Apple is creates an unbelievably complete experience as long as you are willing to go entirely vertical with their products. That's the environmental synergy where Apple can really make this product shine.

 

[apiltch]

Thanks for all your comments. Can't you imagine these being given out in goodie bags at next year's Oscars?

 

[xxsk8er101xx]

I thought about spending 1100 on the black steal watch with the black linked wrist strap. But then I was like "I can buy a 2015 Gibson SG Standard instead" so that's what I did. I don't understand why apple thinks these small tiny devices mass produced by the millions are worth just as much as a hand made guitar that's work of art.

 

[egmccann]

As has been mentioned - actual jewelry can be a good investment, something the author doesn't seem to "get" (especially with the "Give your fiance a TV, not a ring" bit. If someone tries it, please have a video camera running. We'll laugh at it on Youtube.) But this, unlike actual precision watches.... yeah, this is ridiculous. Much like the Ferrari phones that were lagging behind in hardware and software, but were dressed up with logos, leather and carbon fiber or whatnot.

 

[xelliz]

I'd have to go with a down payment on a new car. My daily driver is a 2003 Protege and even though its only at 130k miles, I've had it for 12 years...

 

[morrisch]

"18-karat gold casing" ... I'd rather buy pure gold with that price....

 

[g-unit1111]

The Apple Watch Bill of Materials is like $25 MAX. They charge $350 for it. That's a 100X markup, or 1000% markup. I have never seen apple markup the price of something like this. Usually it's a healthy 300% like the iphone and iPad but not for the watch. Gotta pay for that R&D ya'll.

Really? Do you have Apple sales bills that prove this? In a conservative estimate, the raw materials on the standard Apple Watch are most likely $250 with the gold model being something around the $6,000 range. Forbes estimates that the standard Apple watch uses something like $219 worth of raw materials, while the gold watch uses about $2400 of raw materials. Plus from an accounting standpoint you also have to take into account the machine that's being used to make these watches and if a specialized machine is being used to make the gold model.

Although I wonder if this is where all the "Cash 4 Gold" submissions went. :lol:

 

[Titillating]

Cash 4 Gold - Supplying your gold Apple Watches since 2015

 

[Unolocogringo]

Gold Apple Watch, Like All Jewelry, Is a Rip-Off
If you are buying jewelry at the mall, then it is definitely a rip off. 500% mark up on all of their items. That is why they can have a 50% off sale and still make a killing.
If you shop around a little you can find some good deals from local jewelry stores and also haggle a little on the price.
You just have to be a little "Jewish", I'm half Jewish before all of you get your panties in a wad.
My wife LOVES her jewelry collection that I have assembled over the years.
And every piece has appraised for a lot more than I paid for it.
Now as far as Apple products, I refuse to own anything they make, out of principal. Simple as that.

 

[g-unit1111]

Cash 4 Gold - Supplying your gold Apple Watches since 2015

Hey I wouldn't discount it - all the Cash 4 Gold places where I live have gone out of business. I just watched that South Park episode last week. :lol: