Since it was introduced in the Spring of 2015, the Apple Watch has had a huge impact throughout the tech industry, sparking a debate: Apple watch vs Rolex and other luxury watch brands — which is better?
Is an Apple watch a substitution for a timeless classic? How digital technology impacts the sales of mechanical luxury watches has been an ongoing point of interest. If luxury watches can’t do things like send a text or track daily activity, will they be less valued as time goes on? Let’s consider some of these common questions to see how the two categories compare and you can decide. Did you give up your Rolex, Hublot, Jacob & Co., or other luxury brand classic timepiece for an Apple Watch?
Quick comparison:
Luxury | Apple | |
Price | At least several thousand, and often more | Less expensive: < $400 |
Shelf life | Decades, if not centuries, with proper maintenance | A few years, generally |
Value | Depends on the watch, many hold their value, many actually appreciate | Quick and steady depreciation |
Aesthetics | Many different beautiful designs | Mostly the same, can choose from a limited color selection, with many digital dial options |
Functionality | Some have additional functions – date, multiple time zones, | Many different technological functions |
Battery | While most luxury watches are automatic and don’t those that do are often long-lasting, then cheap and easy to replace | Needs to be constantly recharged, loses capacity over time |
Price: Apple Watch vs Rolex, Hublot, Jacob & Co., etc.?
If you buy a true luxury watch, you can expect to spend anywhere from a couple thousand dollars to hundreds of thousands of dollars. Apple Watches, on the other hand, cost between $269 for a Series 1 to $1,499 for the Ceramic Edition. Sure, they may be cheaper, but there’s a catch — one lasts much longer than the other.
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Shelf-life Comparison
A mechanical watch sometimes depreciates in value the second it leaves the store, but not always. Usually, after a few years, its price and depreciation will either stabilize, and its value will remain consistent, or, it can appreciate, as many Rolex models have.
Though luxury watch companies innovate, they do so at a much slower pace than tech companies, and, when they do, old models don’t become obsolete. In fact, older luxury watches are often more sought after, and actually have appreciated in value since their purchase. When new models are introduced, it doesn’t mean older watches are destined for the trash.
Furthermore, many classic watches such as Rolex and Hublot are fully mechanical, made with hundreds of tiny parts working in unison, and can run for decades or even centuries if kept in good condition.
It would be hard to expect Apple Watches to retain value in a similar way, because as new tech arrives, current devices become obsolete. If Apple continues with its usual pattern, as new Apple watches are released, along with new updates to its iOS operating system, current Apple Watches will eventually run slower, stop holding a charge, and will no longer be technically supported.
Design Comparison
High-end watches offer a range of styles, sizes and materials to choose from. Whether you are looking for a Rolex, Omega, Patek Phillippe, Hublot, or another luxury watch brand, there are a ton of different aesthetics that give collectors a wide variety of choice, from subtle and elegant, to splashy and emphatic, and everything in between.
While the Apple Watch offers its fair share of unique features, with a modern, sleek and seamless square with clean lines, is attractive to users, and the option to personalize the watch face with both digital and analog options, when it’s inactive, the watch is just a black screen.
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Functionality of an Apple Watch vs Luxury Watches
The Apple Watch is useful for a lot of things — namely, tracking fitness performance and daily activity, staying connected with family and friends. With the exception of a chronograph or pulsometer complication, luxury watches can’t really do much in this regard. However, with an Apple Watch you need Wi-Fi or a Bluetooth connection to retrieve your information, and it also requires daily charging.
Luxury watches, however, while being limited in their functions, can still do some amazing things, such as display dates, calendars, multiple time zones, and even phases of the moon. Furthermore, with the exception of a few high-end Quartz-powered watches, they mostly work without needing a battery.
Summary of the Apple Watch vs Luxury Watch debate – is the Apple Watch Luxury?
While the Apple Watch is a very innovative technology and includes many useful features. it’s not even close to taking over the luxury watch industry. As we’ve seen in the last few years, demand for Rolex and other luxury watch brands is stronger than ever.
The notion that the growing popularity of the Apple Watch will eventually replace luxury watches is far-fetched, as the two simply appeal to different people.
While those that enjoy technology, and appreciate programs on their wrist, instead of just in their pockets on their smartphones, will enjoy the Apple Watch, luxury watch buyers will continue to value the design of traditional watches and in awe of their mechanical magic.