jkingston
356
A new category
Mar 11, 2015,09:50 AM
Actually I don't see that the impact on the traditional Swiss watch industry will be great. At the low end, a classic Swatch is priced well below the Apple watch. It offers something radically different..artistic style, interesting themes and colors. At higher price points, again Swiss watches offer something very different.
The Apple watch, I think, appeals to those who have not been wearing watches at all. Those for whom the phone is good enough to tell time. Its appeal is three fold: first as a cool gadget, second as a demonstration of hipness; three as a convenience so that the owner can be spared the overwhelming burden of fishing the phone out of a pocket or purse. On the other hand, it will be a pain to have the watch and keep it charged. UGH. One more battery to worry about.
I do think the Apple watch will motivate some innovation at the low end of watch market. But still believe that the main source of demand for these will come from those who otherwise would not buy a watch at all.
We should put all these prognostications in a vault somewhere and examine them 10 years from now to see who got it right.
Jeff