Few can open an Apple Watch Edition , but that does n’t mean you ca n’t get your hands on one . When Apple started taking preorders for all Watch framework last Friday , it also open up up appointments to try them on in person , with a peculiar appointment process for the Edition .
Macworld ’s Leah Yamshon and Caitlin McGarry tried on all three models in San Francisco and New York , respectively , and compared notes on what the demos are like , how they take issue , and which Watch is the best in person .
What we expected
Caitlin : I admit , my expectations for the Apple Watch Edition stress - on date were gamey . I ’ve been lusting after the roseate gold Edition with rose gray Modern Buckle dance orchestra for months . I counted all the living quarters in my change jar / retirement account to see how airless to $ 17,000 I could get . ( Not close , not even a little . ) Even though I have no plans to grease one’s palms an Edition any time shortly , or ever , I was looking forward to getting a little appreciation of luxury at the Edition appointment . I ’ve been in other situations where gamy - end good are at stake , like fancy jewelry stores and car dealership , so I was expecting special handling . possibly a field glass of champagne . A little red carpet rollout would have been appreciated .
Leah : Oooh , Champagne-Ardenne ! I mean , my nail salon give me champagne if I involve for it , so Apple totally could , too . That would have been a nice touch . skilful call , McGarry .
Caitlin : I really do n’t think champagne is too much to inquire . Costs as little as $ 3.99 at some stores . ( OK , not the good kind , but still . )
The fanciest part is the cool box that the Edition number in , as captured by Instagram exploiter @irisdecreus .
Leah : My expectations were n’t as high . I read aBusiness Insiderarticle on Friday that described a lacklustre experience at Apple ’s Covent Garden computer memory in London — so I went in to my own assignment expecting to get to try it on , but not have a lot of my questions answered . I also anticipated a big push toactually buythe Edition from the Apple Store fellow . I had this whole interior conversation , rehearse what I would say if they pressed me for more info about my line of work , how much I make , if I want to slap my credit batting order ( hem , debit card ) down for a deposit .
Caitlin : I mull over renting a fur coating .
Leah : That ’s a whole separate clause : “ How to garb for your Edition appointment . ” Fur , Chanel , perfectly manicured nails , the works .
Caitlin : I ball up this chance by wear out a backpack to my designation . So not racy .
Leah : I hoped they did n’t notice that the slide fastener was broken on my Marc Jacobs bag . Kind of fancy ? Halfway fancy ? suspiration .
We both love the rose gold Edition with the rose gray Modern Buckle . Drool .
The reality
Caitlin : As it turn out , it does n’t matter what you fag out to a Watch Edition appointment because Apple employee do n’t look you to grease one’s palms one . You do n’t even have to pretend you ’re going to grease one’s palms one . No proof of income required for these demo .
Leah : utterly . There was no sagacity at all , and the associate I worked with definitely realized right away that I was n’t a serious buyer — just a gal who wanted to slap on some rose gold and chat about elan .
Caitlin : That rise gold is so arresting in person . I tried on the 38 mm Edition in both gold and rose atomic number 79 with a variety of band ( red ink and rose gray Modern Buckle and a white Sport Band ) to really milk the appointment . Both version were heavy and less pretentious than I thought they would be , though that ruby-red band just yell “ search AT ME I AM AN APPLE WATCH . ” Possibly the intellect whyDrake and Katy Perryhave been sporting that rendering .
Leah : I mean , if you ’re shelling out $ 17,000 and do n’t have to take public transportation every twenty-four hours ( looking at you , Drake and KP ! ) , you might as well yell it from the rooftops . Red and gold is perfect for that .
BAM ! Gold Edition , crimson Modern Buckle .
Caitlin : truthful . The Watch Editions were definitely worth trying on , but my appointment was n’t as astonishing as I expected it to be . I went to the Fifth Avenue flagship Apple Store in Manhattan ( that giant glass third power you could recognise a mile aside ) and thought the location would tally a certain something . While an employee whisks you off to a private room and a security guard convey you Watches in lovely suede leather boxes to try on ( two at a time ) , there are no other Alexander Melville Bell and whistles . try on on a Watch , ask some doubtfulness , that ’s it . I thought a $ 17,000 experience would feel more expensive .
Leah : My experience at Apple ’s San Francisco flagship store on Stockton Street was a bit different , but also miss the luxury concierge feel you were hoping for . I was also whisk away to a individual back way , flanked by an Apple Store companion and a surety sentry duty ( who waited on the other side of the threshold , in case I grabbed the Watch and ran for sweet , mellifluous freedom ) . When I baby-sit down , there were mini bottle of water system on the tabular array , and I was offered a MacBook or iPad to encounter with while I await for my Watch to be brought up from the vault ( which I reckon is likeGringotts , late underground and protect by dragons ) .
Caitlin : I might have go into cryptic , perpetual credit rating card debt for a coup d’oeil of Gringotts .
Leah:100 percentage deserving it . A glimpse of Gringotts is deserving more than the Edition in my heart .
How the demos stack up
Caitlin : Based on my two appointments , it ’s clear that your Watch attempt - on will depend entirely on your comrade and how knowing he or she is . After I try on the Watch Sport and untainted sword Watch last Friday , I was so pumped about the 38 millimetre aluminum Watch Sport with white dance band heading my means . The associate I worked with explained all of the feature article in item , even though he did n’t have a scout of his own to sample out . The Edition familiar are theorise to be experts , but I felt like I guided my own Edition demo .
Leah : I also had a regular appointment to try on the Watch Sport and unsullied blade Watch on Friday , about 2 hours before my Edition appointment . However , I was there with our photographic camera gang in tow , so that appointment was more about getting the estimable video footage . The associate I work with was great , and I did get to ask him some question , but we did n’t have much time to chat and I feel a little rushed .
My Edition assignment was the precise opposite : It was just me and a unlike associate , and he was really enthusiastic about the Watch . He ask me right off the cricket bat if I had a chance to look at any of the style and size or if I want him to go through the best combination ( to which I quickly replied : “ 38 mm , rose atomic number 79 , rose gray Modern Buckle , let ’s do this . ” ) .
While we waited , he guided me through the display watch ( which is just like the ones found at the Watch / Watch Sport demo Stations of the Cross — a mounted Watch connected to an iPad that displays more info as you voyage through the Watch ’s functions ) and suffice every head I thrust at him : He told me all about the gold - do process , the system of weights dispute between the Watch , Sport , and Editon , what each of the buttons do , more about its Taptic Engine , and what some of his favorite Watch features were . He knew what was up , and really tailor-make the assignment to my interest . He also necessitate me what have I was most excited about and what I wanted to use the Watch for , so he could specifically pass me through those features . It was awesome .
Caitlin : That sounds on the button like my Watch Sport / sword Watch demonstration ! Apple should standardise appointment procedures so everyone beget exactly the variety of customer service you detail , no matter which Apple Watch they design to purchase . The only reason Editions necessitate separate appointments is because of the high grade of surety those gorgeous gilded things require .
Seeing the Watch Edition in person lets you really appreciate its all right detail , like the Digital Crown that pit your original set selection .
Final thoughts
Leah : To me , the only appeal of the Edition naming was have to try it on , but I left finger really impressed with the tier of customer service I receive — though everyone should leave their appointment feel slaked , no matter which form of appointment you make . Caitlin , you nail it : I like there was a standardized assignment procedure . Because each of the Watch models work incisively the same , the amount of helpful info you get during your engagement should be the same , too .
Caitlin : After two disjoined try - on appointment at two unlike shop and the chance to lather a miscellany of ticker models and bands to my wrist , my biggest takeaway is every Watch is the same . The materials are different , and the terms obviously varies wildly , but the Watch itself is the exact same mathematical product no matter how much you spend . I may have crush out fraction of what Edition buyers did , but it does n’t count . The Watch features are the same , the oxygen is the same , and the drug user experience is the precise same , no matter what your credit menu affirmation look like at the end of the mean solar day .
Leah : I emphatically recommend do an appointment of some kind , though — especially if you ’re on the fencing about the whole thing or if you want to make indisputable you ordered the correct size and version . Trying it on forward of time will prepare you for your own Watch when it arrive . I feel like Igetit now .
Caitlin : Now that I ’m certain I made the correct call when I preordered , the big doubt is : Will my sentry get in on April 24 , May 8 , or somewhere in between ? The countdown is on .
