Swiss watch "Ice Age" approaching with Apple Watch release says Swatch co-creator

[Chewbacca]

Interesting read.

http://business.financialpost.com/20..._lsa=067d-e8d9

[GradyPhilpott]

This:

“I wouldn’t call the Apple Watch a threat for the industry,” he [Jean-Claude Biver] said Tuesday by e-mail. The Apple Watch may lead more young people to wear watches, and eventually they’ll be more likely to buy mechanical ones, he said."

http://business.financialpost.com/20..._lsa=b742-5579

The problem with all these doom and gloom prognostications about the Swiss watch industry is that so far smart watches haven't put a dent in anything, watches or otherwise. People who own them don't even wear them after the novelty wears off.

So, if any of this is to come true, the Apple watch will have to have capabilities so strong that it will make all other smart watches seem primitive and so essential that people will ignore the fact that they are wearing the 21st Century version of the Casio digital watch/databank/calculator.

And they will have to be so enthralled by it all that they'll ignore the fact that everything the watch can do, the smart phone in their pockets can do better and on a larger screen.

The Apple watch will sell and it will sell big because Apple has its cult following. However, for it to last, it will have to be nothing short of miraculous.

There are a lot of people in this world, even well to do people, who can't justify wearing a watch that costs more than $100. Getting those people to buy an Apple watch will be hard and people who are able to buy Apple watches will eventually want something more reflective of their tastes than a goofy techno-bauble.

[chemistman]

Originally Posted by GradyPhilpott

This:

“I wouldn’t call the Apple Watch a threat for the industry,” he [Jean-Claude Biver] said Tuesday by e-mail. The Apple Watch may lead more young people to wear watches, and eventually they’ll be more likely to buy mechanical ones, he said."

http://business.financialpost.com/20..._lsa=b742-5579

The problem with all these doom and gloom prognostications about the Swiss watch industry is that so far smart watches haven't put a dent in anything, watches or otherwise. People who own them don't even wear them after the novelty wears off.

So, if any of this is to come true, the Apple watch will have to have capabilities so strong that it will make all other smart watches seem primitive and so essential that people will ignore the fact that they are wearing the 21st Century version of the Casio digital watch/databank/calculator.

And they will have to be so enthralled by it all that they'll ignore the fact that everything the watch can do, the smart phone in their pockets can do better and on a larger screen.

The Apple watch will sell and it will sell big because Apple has its cult following. However, for it to last, it will have to be nothing short of miraculous.

There are a lot of people in this world, even well to do people, who can't justify wearing a watch that costs more than $100. Getting those people to buy an Apple watch will be hard and people who are able to buy Apple watches will eventually want something more reflective of their tastes than a goofy techno-bauble.

Very well written. So far Apple's watch has nothing miraculous to show for. Battery life of 18 hours is simply not going to be enough, also given that the phone can already do all its function.

[Andad]

Originally Posted by GradyPhilpott

This:

“I wouldn’t call the Apple Watch a threat for the industry,” he [Jean-Claude Biver] said Tuesday by e-mail. The Apple Watch may lead more young people to wear watches, and eventually they’ll be more likely to buy mechanical ones, he said."

http://business.financialpost.com/20..._lsa=b742-5579

The problem with all these doom and gloom prognostications about the Swiss watch industry is that so far smart watches haven't put a dent in anything, watches or otherwise. People who own them don't even wear them after the novelty wears off.

So, if any of this is to come true, the Apple watch will have to have capabilities so strong that it will make all other smart watches seem primitive and so essential that people will ignore the fact that they are wearing the 21st Century version of the Casio digital watch/databank/calculator.

And they will have to be so enthralled by it all that they'll ignore the fact that everything the watch can do, the smart phone in their pockets can do better and on a larger screen.

The Apple watch will sell and it will sell big because Apple has its cult following. However, for it to last, it will have to be nothing short of miraculous.

There are a lot of people in this world, even well to do people, who can't justify wearing a watch that costs more than $100. Getting those people to buy an Apple watch will be hard and people who are able to buy Apple watches will eventually want something more reflective of their tastes than a goofy techno-bauble.

x2

[Kingair]

Just look around you

Who may people are wearing expensive watches . . . .

Just a few fools being members on TRF ;)

[SUBversive]

Ice age? Like when I keep buying cloud memory and my phone says it can't backup due to low cloud memory. Oh wait, I don't have that problem with my Swiss watch.

[Chewbacca]

i don't agree with the assertion in the article from the swatch co-creator but it would be nice to revisit this in a few years. who knows?