Nearly a month after the Apple Watch officially went on sale, gold Edition models have begun arriving for non-celebrity customers who placed the earliest online orders. As expected, the Apple Watch Edition’s white external packaging is nearly identical to the cardboard box for the stainless steel Apple Watch, save for the box noting the color of the 18-Karat gold casing and unique band on the side.
Inside the box, however, the items are a bit different. As we’ve noted before, the Apple Watch Edition includes a colored leather-covered box that integrates the MagSafe charger. The Edition also includes a color-matched cleaning cloth with the word Edition embossed into the material. The steel Apple Watches instead include a plastic white box with lining and a beige cleaning cloth. The Edition also includes a booklet explaining the manufacturing process.Â
When you power on the Apple Watch Edition for the first time, a gold, not silver, description of the Watch’s hardware materials appears (as can be seen above). MacRumors noted earlier today that Editions started to ship, and the images of arrived Watches first appeared on their forums. You can find a gallery of more images below.
Update: Below, we’ve also added the first video unboxing of the Edition as well as pictures of the bundled booklet into the gallery.
Video:
Thanks, Shemar!
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How to modify your Apple Watch box into an Edition-style charging case for under $10Â (Video)
http://9to5mac.com/2015/05/08/diy-apple-watch-box-charging-case/
Also the box clearly says “White sport band†and yet we see a black one. And last and final issue with the box, it says “rose gold†and clearly the pictures are yellow gold.
So either they bought two of them and decided part way through the photo’s to change watches, and/or boxed, OR this is fake.
;)
Firstly, it smacks of Ive and Newson’s pursuit of recognition among the elite in fashion design. While Jobs and Ive may have intensely bondedâ€"resulting in Ives receiving a lion’s share of control in Appleâ€"the Edition represents a noteworthy departure from Apple’s ‘where science and the humanities come together’ philosophy because the Edition has nothing to do with either. That departure is to achieve a single goal: recognition among wealthy fashion purveyors and consumers. It’s a lot to sacrifice for such a hollow goal.
Edition supporters (not that most of them could ever hope to afford the Edition) argue it has the exact same functionality, which it does. But it’s the departure from the philosophyâ€"not the functionalityâ€"that’s bothersome. Apple will continue to do great things, but dividing their customer base in this way isn’t one of them. There’s a definite value to knowing that the rich and famous as well as the common consumer participate in the same “cool†which Apple has long represented.
Ive and Newson can revel in the attention they are receiving from fashion design circles, but it won’t last. The Edition will receive attention only so long as Apple funds that attention. When Edition V.2.0. rolls out, we’ll go through the ridiculous (and expensive) checking in with the fashion world about whether it’s relevant. It won’t be. And honestly, 99% of people won’t care: they can’t afford to. But Ives and Newson do, and that’s why I think we have this ridiculous gold watch.
We own nearly every Apple product out there but philosophically the watch is not one I can support. In my mind it is nothing more than an iPod Nano attached to a watch band with a heart rate sensor. What more does it really do on its own with out its big brother companion the iPhone.
This version 1 gold watch is even more so a foolish purchase. It’s a first generation product that obviously needs some improvements. I’m speaking as a ‘launch day’ Apple Watch owner. I knew after my first week wearing this Watch that it’s going to be a relatively short relationship- perhaps shorter than my iPhone 6. I’m already looking forward to version 2.
The gold Watch is bought by people who like making statements. I understand that, really. However, it’s not like a traditional watch that can be worn for years, if not decades, and still be considered in-style and relevant. A person who wears a 2015 Apple Watch Edition in late 2016 or even 2017 will be seen in their social circles, which are probably different than my social circle, as ‘so yesterday’. That owner knows this and that’s why their $10-17k watch will be sitting in a drawer sooner than later, just like those gold iPhone 4s I saw years ago.