Without fail, a new Apple product release causes considerable buzz in the tech world. Normally, watch folks only care about how good their wrist shots will look on the updated camera and screen. However, this time around, the Apple Watch has prompted us to actually pay attention and ponder the impact on the watch market as a whole. The specs and functionalities of the new “smartwatch” have been done to death already, so I’ll stay away from that. What I will do is weigh in on how the Apple Watch may (or may not) set a new course for watches as we know them today.
I’ve read dozens of bloggers’ opinions on the new product, as well as hundreds of comments, and I’m still not sure what to think. At this point, it’s probably safe to say that this iteration of the Apple Watch (can I just call it the Watch? That sounds ridiculous) will not seriously affect the Swiss watch industry, but it could easily be a sign of things to come. Although it appears Apple made a huge effort with the Watch, seeing as it must be paired with an iPhone, I don’t think this generation was an attempt at world domination. I’m betting one of the next iterations will work either on its own, or with any type of OS. They will undoubtedly sell a butt load of these things to their dedicated users and get a good feel of where to take the product next.
One reaction by a commenter was to compare this to the automobile replacing horse and buggy. While that could eventually be an apt comparison, I think it comes from a place of revisionist history. The invention of the modern automobile is largely credited to Karl Benz’s 1886 creation. It wouldn’t be until the 1910s that the number of automobiles would surpass the horse and buggy, and even then, the horse and buggy was common into the 1920s. What I’m getting at here is that the transition won’t be as clean as replacing a golden idol on a booby-trapped pedestal with a sack of sand (yep, Indiana Jones). If the smartwatch is to replace the “dumbwatch”, it’s going to take some time. Right now, smartwatches don’t seem to be quite smart enough to have that level of impact, though it may only be a matter of time.
If there’s one Apple Watch functionality that could play a major factor in the market, it’s the new pay system. In just the last 15 years, we’ve seen the dependence on debit and credit card payments grow and grow. And now in the last couple of years, payment via smartphone apps has started to gain serious popularity. To me, paying with an even more accessible item is the next logical step. I don’t think it’s a bold prediction to say that Apple’s iPay and its inevitable future competitors will spread like wildfire, and the smartwatch is an excellent vehicle for that growth. Even still, the takeover will require a bit of a transition time.
The biggest immediate change I see in the market is with low-end quartz watches. For the time being, mechanical watches really should be pretty safe. People buying mechanicals aren’t looking for the latest in wrist technology to begin with, hence the reason why they’re buying “old tech”. I see this as a huge positive. But the more overpriced fashion watches that can be replaced by smartwatches, the better. Get rid of them all. A world of well-made mechanical watches and cutting edge smartwatches is a world I want to live in.
The long-term outlook – maybe 20 years or so – for mechanical watches could be in jeopardy. Sure, I love mechanicals. Neil and Isaac love mechanicals. And I’m guessing if you’re reading this, so do you. The problem is, how many more generations will? As much as we can try to pass down our passion, things will slowly change. When smartwatches, or maybe even something beyond, progress far enough to make our lives noticeably better, it will get increasingly difficult for the youngest generations to care about mechanicals. I sure hope I’m wrong, but only time will tell. For now, we can sit back and watch tech companies leapfrog each other with fast-changing products while our dependable escapements tick away.
Let us know what you think about the new Apple Watch and its impact on the market.
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