Reviews & Thoughts on Apple Watch 4 vs. DaytonaC 10 Days Later...

[macrowatch]

But first, the under card round...AW4 vs Omega Speedy...

With each passing year, I've looked at the Apple Watch with some amusement, each time ultimately deciding against adding another doohickey...until the 4th iteration came out to tempt me.

I finished the first week pretty impressed at how well the watch replaced my phone 90% of the time, even with making phone calls. It was quite freeing to head to the gym with nothing but the watch and keys. I also found the activity monitor to positively nudging along my behavior ever so slightly like a test hamster being tricking itself into running on the hamster wheel more. I started the week thinking out I might return it, but ultimately decided that as a 'tool' watch, defined by the things that it can do, the AW4 was actually a pretty amazing watch to keep.

However, that was in a vacuum working all week, and suddenly being around other friends wearing amazing time pieces like Speedy Pros reminded me of the unavoidable truth...that while the Apple watch is super functional...it didn't exactly "spark joy" and failed the Marie Konda measuring stick.

However, At the end of the undercard round between the Speedy and AW4 though, I would say the functionality was just useful enough to outweigh the ugly looking black brick nature and give the edge to...the AW4.

This is however, TRF, so next up demanding wrist time I figured it was time to throw in a heavy weight -- the modern Daytona. Full disclosure: I'm totally biased thinking either the white dial or WG Oysterflex is the best pound for pound looking watch in the modern era. After being separated from the Daytona for a mere week, I was ready to banish the new AW4 back into the sock drawer after putting the Daytona back on.

Getting philosophical a bit though, the AW4 made me think hard for a moment about why I bother wearing something less 'functional', was it simply because it looked better and was I vain enough to forego the benefits of new tech?

I left with two takeaways. #1 at times the Apple Watch feels like a Tomagatchi pet. It always demands your attention. Chirping here to feed this message, chirping there reminding you to move around more, and chirping here to plug it in or it literally dies. What was once liberation from the phone became a new prison on the wrist. #2 If the real benefit of the AW4 is cutting the cord on the phone or living a more active lifestyle...both of those outcomes could be achieved by simply...choosing to lead and designing a more awesome life rather than succumbing to the brains addiction to distract itself.

So with that simple epiphany, it's back to enjoying to art that sparks love on the wrist.

[watchwatcher]

At the end of the day, you just gotta strap on what makes you feel good.

For me, the Apple watch doesn't even make into the ring to go up against any watch I own. But...that's me.

[richard371]

I currently only have the 116500LN and it is by far my fav Swiss mechanical on the market. It's been my everyday watch. I also love tech and to me Apple really hit a home run with the AW4. I picked up the DLC space black SS and am very impressed with the quality and speed of the watch. I find all the features and health benefits very usefull. I do like the looks and prestige of the Daytona better but the AW is far more useful. In a perfect world id love to wear both but that would look very odd. I live in SF where most people including my friends wear an AW and I even feel out of place wearing the Daytona at times. My friend looked at my Daytona the other day and asked when my AW4 is coming as "i need to upgrade that old thing". He is a Dr lol.

At the end of the day I'll keep both and rotate them regardless of what others wear and think :).

I do think there will be a day like with smart phones where smart watches will almost be a must.

[frankfrazetta]

You are comparing an orange to a car, or some other mismatch. A Rolex will last for generations. That apple watch will be outdated and kicked to the curb in less than five years.

[tom2517]

Originally Posted by frankfrazetta

You are comparing an orange to a car, or some other mismatch. A Rolex will last for generations. That apple watch will be outdated and kicked to the curb in less than five years.

Why do we always come down to a Rolex will last generations and Apple Watch won't. Everyone knows Apple Watch won't, that's not the point, it's like saying Apple Watch can makes calls but a Rolex can't.

[richard371]

My dad has some nice pocket watches that have lasted generations. My concern is these smart watches will become so useful it will be hard not to want to wear one for many of us. I agree mechanical watches are works of art that last for ages but the more useful I find smart watches the harder it is not to wear one.

Yes they are apples and oranges I just wish it was socially acceptable to wear both and enjoy the best of both worlds.

[GreatScott]

Originally Posted by macrowatch

But first, the under card round...AW4 vs Omega Speedy...

With each passing year, I've looked at the Apple Watch with some amusement, each time ultimately deciding against adding another doohickey...until the 4th iteration came out to tempt me.

I finished the first week pretty impressed at how well the watch replaced my phone 90% of the time, even with making phone calls. It was quite freeing to head to the gym with nothing but the watch and keys. I also found the activity monitor to positively nudging along my behavior ever so slightly like a test hamster being tricking itself into running on the hamster wheel more. I started the week thinking out I might return it, but ultimately decided that as a 'tool' watch, defined by the things that it can do, the AW4 was actually a pretty amazing watch to keep.

However, that was in a vacuum working all week, and suddenly being around other friends wearing amazing time pieces like Speedy Pros reminded me of the unavoidable truth...that while the Apple watch is super functional...it didn't exactly "spark joy" and failed the Marie Konda measuring stick.

However, At the end of the undercard round between the Speedy and AW4 though, I would say the functionality was just useful enough to outweigh the ugly looking black brick nature and give the edge to...the AW4.

This is however, TRF, so next up demanding wrist time I figured it was time to throw in a heavy weight -- the modern Daytona. Full disclosure: I'm totally biased thinking either the white dial or WG Oysterflex is the best pound for pound looking watch in the modern era. After being separated from the Daytona for a mere week, I was ready to banish the new AW4 back into the sock drawer after putting the Daytona back on.

Getting philosophical a bit though, the AW4 made me think hard for a moment about why I bother wearing something less 'functional', was it simply because it looked better and was I vain enough to forego the benefits of new tech?

I left with two takeaways. #1 at times the Apple Watch feels like a Tomagatchi pet. It always demands your attention. Chirping here to feed this message, chirping there reminding you to move around more, and chirping here to plug it in or it literally dies. What was once liberation from the phone became a new prison on the wrist. #2 If the real benefit of the AW4 is cutting the cord on the phone or living a more active lifestyle...both of those outcomes could be achieved by simply...choosing to lead and designing a more awesome life rather than succumbing to the brains addiction to distract itself.

So with that simple epiphany, it's back to enjoying to art that sparks love on the wrist.

I was an "early adopter" on smartwatches with the Pebble. You said my feelings exactly, it feels liberating but then it is prison with constant vibrations. I actually became stressed out feeling like I had to check it all the time. I got rid of them for good.

unplugging from everything is freedom. I believe this is referred to as going analog.

Sent from my Pixel 2 XL using Tapatalk

[Pauln]

I’m doing everything I can to disconnect from work. Smart watch would drive me crazy.

[Double Barrel]

I much prefer the apple watch series 4 tbh. The modern daytonas do nothing for me

[007_Omega]

The last thing I need is to be connected with a smart device even more. The functionality of the Apple Watch doesn't make it a necessity or something extremely useful for me yet.

I'll take a beautiful mechanical watch everyday. It tells me the time and if I need to be connected then I'll just take out my phone.

Another thing I hate is the battery life. I don't need another thing I have to plug in everyday.

[macrowatch]

Couldn't figure out how to edit the original post, but obviously since we are on TRF, in the end, I picked back up the DaytonaC.

I will also add one interesting realization is this idea that I probably don't want to add multiple new say 20k watches into the collection as the march of the inevitable comes along with technology, and find myself tempted to consolidate some unworn watches into an overpriced gray market black dial to add to the collection.

As another poster said, it's apples to oranges. Just that the apple has gotten a lot nicer, and I don't want any clementines any more, that it better be the best darn orange out there and I'd be willing to swap 3 clementines to 1 orange so that it holds up better against the apple. =)

[FriscoSalvi]

No comparison at all. I had an Apple Watch in 2015 and won’t switch back to it after Rolex. Everyone’s got one, most of the features are futile if you already have the phone, it’s lifespan will probably be nowhere near a decade, and you have to worry about charging and updating software (until they no longer support your watch version). You can’t compare that to fine Swiss craftsmanship and their proven durability.

[asiparks]

Originally Posted by frankfrazetta

You are comparing an orange to a car, or some other mismatch. A Rolex will last for generations. That apple watch will be outdated and kicked to the curb in less than five years.

I have a few $200 Seikos, that will cheerfully last for generations, it's not a unique quality. You can also buy around 16 Apple watches for the cost of a Rolex, so that's what, 80 years worth of evolving tech ?

That said, whilst I admire what it can do, I don't wish to be any more connected than I already am and the watch feels more intrusive than my phone, so I have no plans to buy one.

[aleeboy]

Originally Posted by tom2517

Why do we always come down to a Rolex will last generations and Apple Watch won't. Everyone knows Apple Watch won't, that's not the point, it's like saying Apple Watch can makes calls but a Rolex can't.

Agreed. I personally don’t care about leaving generations of my legacy lol

And let’s not forget mechanical malfunctions and service costs. What a rort.

[DLRIDES]

Originally Posted by watchwatcher

At the end of the day, you just gotta strap on what makes you feel good.

For me, the Apple watch doesn't even make into the ring to go up against any watch I own. But...that's me.

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