14 DAY TRIAL // One of the most anticipated products of 2015, the Apple Watch, will launch in a plethora of colors and models, giving everyone a choice to match the device to their wardrobe and their lifestyle.
While it’s true that the gold version (dubbed Edition) will sell in the thousands, we’re more interested in how many units Apple will sell in the normality realm, i.e. the Sport version or the models with more expensive bands.
18 models in all
Apple plans to sell 18 different configurations of the thing, but they really aren’t that much different from one another. There are basically two screen sizes and a lot of different options regarding the case, the band, and the coloring. That’s it! Just two distinct watch models and a lot of customization in between.
One version that will surely sell like hot cakes (provided that there will be high demand for the product itself) is the entry-level Sports model, which word on the web has it that it will cost $349. In Europe, we’re estimating that the figure will be identical. Converting the sum, that gets us to €280. However, you can bet your pants it will be higher than that.
An interim model will be the bigger-screen, steel-encased 42mm model, which most likely will appeal to the male population. A Space Black model is showcased in some of Apple’s promotional materials. By all accounts, it seems to be the most elegant of the mid-tier models and also the most masculine. The regular Stainless Steel models (silver steel) are similarly attractive.
Here’s what Apple has to say about the 42mm watch with Stainless Steel Case and Stainless Steel Link Bracelet (from the product’s marketing pages).
“Crafted from the same 316L stainless steel alloy as the case, the Link Bracelet has more than 100 components. The machining process is so precise, it takes nearly nine hours to cut the links for a single band. In part that’s because they aren’t simply a uniform size, but subtly increase in width as they approach the case. Once assembled, the links are brushed by hand to ensure that the texture follows the contours of the design. The custom butterfly closure folds neatly within the bracelet. And several links feature a simple release button, so you can add and remove links without any special tools. Available in stainless steel and space black stainless steel.”
How many will Apple sell?
You don’t need a degree to make predictions about Apple products. Whenever they roll out something new (and it’s not an iPhone 5c), the customer base can hardly resist not owning that all-new thing.
Only the existing fan base is enough to rake in huge profits, and there surely are many curious cats out there that currently have no ties to the Apple ecosystem but are still intrigued by the upcoming wearable computer. After all, Apple is the first to make it look like a true computer sitting on your wrist, as well as a good replacement for your beat-up watch that you were going to dump in a few months anyway.
