Apple Watch: Impact on Traditional Horology

Key Points from the Discussion

• The Apple Watch, like the iPad to the PC, is fundamentally different from a traditional mechanical watch; it's a media playing device with a clock function, not a time-measuring instrument.
• Apple has a history of disrupting markets, and while the Apple Watch might not replace luxury mechanical watches, it could significantly impact the sub-€1000 segment.
• The Apple Watch is essentially a computer on the wrist, and its success hinges on becoming an indispensable, always-on device, despite current battery life limitations.
• If smartwatches become essential, the appeal of mechanical watches as functional jewelry could diminish, as the 'smart' device would handle primary utility.
• The wrist is the most convenient location for a wearable computer, making the Apple Watch a 'wrist computer' that happens to tell time, rather than a traditional timepiece.
• The Apple Watch's commercial success is likely, but it will not kill the traditional high horology market, which caters to a different consumer value proposition.
• The increasing use of high-tech materials and specific construction details in traditional watchmaking, such as silicon escapements or welded components, can make repairs more difficult and impact longevity.