Demise of the Gold Apple Watch
It is concluded in a new industry report that the only recent growth in watch sales came from more expensive luxury brands, while lower-priced watches stagnated. However, we point out that only the world's most successful smart-watch, the apple watch, doesn't follow this rule; While the standard model continues to sell well -- in fact, far more than mechanical the best replica watches overall -- the much-hyped 18k gold Apple Watch, which starts at $10,000, has been discontinued due to low sales.
With the recent news that the gorgeous smartwatch will cease major software updates this fall. While the watch is worn on the wrists of superstars including Beyonce, Kanye West, Ferrell, Katy Perry, Drake, and Karl Lagerfeld, it usually boosts sales.
So how are other brands doing about luxury smartwatches or "connected" watches? Accurate sales data are not easy to come by, but the fact that few high-end brands enter this segment continues to caution, in most cases, that such a release of a single model suggests that there is not much evidence that high-end replica watch buyers demand this type of watch.
TAG Heuer's connected watches seem to do best after the series. But we suspect that the low price is the real attraction. In fact, the price of basic blended labels fell last year. At the same time, however, the company introduced a platinum and diamond watch that costs $197,000, more than most ultra-luxury mechanical watches. As Fortune noted dryly, the Watch costs more than 10 times as much as the gold Apple Watch, and overpriced watches can be hard to come by.
Other brands, even those that typically charge more for fake watches, are taking a more cautious approach. The referee smartwatch, called Hublot Big Bang, was first unveiled last year to appeal to World Cup fans. At about $5,000, it seems almost reasonable. It is also a limited edition that does not promise the company's mass production runs.
Finally, as Breitling's only foray into the smartwatch market, the Exospace B55 connected watch, which costs $8,900, is an extremely powerful, tailor-made watch.