14 DAY TRIAL // If you happen to be in Paris today, either visiting or out to grab a bite at the pâtissier on the corner, consider dropping by the Colette store at 213 rue Saint-Honoré, 1st Arrondissement. You’ll see the Apple Watch there.
So far, only a select few members of the media have been able to see and touch the thing, but Apple has yet to load the watches with their original functions. Presumably, the watches on display at Colette are the same.
First glimpse of Apple Watch
Whether or not you consider this a privilege, it’s your call. If you’re an Apple fan, you probably won’t want to pass on the opportunity. As a nay-sayer, you’ll probably think it’s stupid to just hang the product in a window for one day, then take it down.
Apple is undoubtedly trying to build more hype around the elusive smartwatch, and we wouldn’t be surprised if the person behind the initiative was Angela Ahrendts, the Cupertino giant’s newly-appointed head of retail coming from British fashion house Burberry. Considering Mrs Ahrendts’ credentials, it’s quite obvious that Apple indeed wants to position the watch as a fashionable item, as previously discussed in the media.
Evidence that the company wants the watch to be as wearable as possible also comes in the most visible way possible: its design. There are endless customization options, both inside and out, and there are three flavors to choose from: standard, sport, and a gold-crafted model that features a sapphire crystal screen. As you can imagine, not all models will be priced the same.
Floating watch
The display window features spherical boxes that have been slashed through to accommodate the Apple Watch. The all-around lighting system makes it appear as if it’s floating in mid-air, something that bodes well with the product’s chic design.
According to reports, the display is only for marketing purposes. No one is allowed to touch the smartwatches, and we hear they’re running some sort of demo software that shows some key functions in action.
2015 launch
One of the primary reasons why these watches are not running a full-blown iOS is because the Apple Watch is not going on sale until next year. The good news is that Apple has provided a timeframe – early 2015.
If the company’s product naming is any indication (i.e. early/mid/late-yy), that means somewhere between January and the end of spring. If you want one, have $349 (€274) ready around that time.