Users will not be able to replace any components

Nov 5, 2014 08:27 GMT  ·  By

A report from France confirms our fears that the Apple Watch Edition will be inaccessible to most users because of its price tag. Well-placed sources in the country say the device could sell for as much as $5,000 (€4,000).

Apple has yet to announce the pricing scheme associated with the watch models it plans to sell early next year. The company has only confirmed the starting point: $349 (€278) for the 38mm Sport model.

The California company also has 42mm models lined up for sale early next year, including a more elegant stainless steel model and the high-end Edition model that comes in gold and has a sapphire display.

“The Edition collection features six uniquely elegant expressions of Apple Watch,” according to the product’s marketing pages. “Each has a watch case crafted from 18-karat gold that our metallurgists have developed to be up to twice as hard as standard gold. The display is protected by polished sapphire crystal. And an exquisitely designed band provides a striking complement.”

Only for big spenders

Everyone knows to expect a hefty price tag when it comes to gold. But if you were hoping to part with only a couple of thou’, prepare to be disappointed.

Sources cited by igen.fr say that the Stainless Steel model will start at $500 (€400), while the gold-crafted Edition watch will be priced in the $4,000 – $5,000 range, which translates into €3,190 and €4,000, respectively. It’s hardly a surprise, considering the premium pricing already in practice at Apple.

Non-removable parts

Another aspect that we’ve come to expect from any Apple product is that few to no parts are user-removable. Aside from the strap, nothing in the Apple Watch can be serviced or replaced by the user or anyone else except Apple. Not without voiding the warranty, anyway.

According to the aforementioned sources (Google-translated), “No part of the package of Watch (excluding strap, so) can be easily removed to replace the battery or another component.”

Apple will offer servicing to all buyers, including battery replacements and other repairs under warranty as well as via its AppleCare program that acts a bit like an insurance policy.

The company’s retail chief, Angela Ahrendts, has confirmed in a message to employees that the Apple Watch will be released in Spring 2015, ruling out the possibility of seeing the device hit the shelves any sooner than March. This means the device can go on sale any time between the 1st of March to the 31st of May.