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Comment by lostgame | Hacker News Reader

I never understood, with the limited lifespan each Apple Watch realistically has - why on earth folks would opt for these far more expensive steel or ceramic units; anyways.

The biggest atrocity would be the poor folks who spent $10k+ on the original 24k gold Apple Watch Edition Series 0.

They are now stuck with an incredibly slow unit that’s locked to WatchOS 4.

I get that it’s a fashion thing; I mostly own a Watch as a fashion statement - but even with the extra income to afford it - I just could never imagine choosing to.

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> The biggest atrocity would be the poor folks who spent $10k+ on the original 24k gold Apple Watch Edition Series 0.

If you are spending $10k on a 24k gold watch, I would contend two things are true:

1: You are not poor and can afford to upgrade

2: You are more interested in the display of wealth than the functionality that it has

or they like and appreciate it more than the wealth part

the great thing about expensive watches is that nobody notices or recognizes them, in favor of fawning or expressing disdain over the medium tier brand that they heard in a rap song

I’ve found this is generally true: in any category of goods there are the brands that signal “I have money” (Johnnie Walker Blue) and then there are the brands that people who know what they’re doing buy.

I find the glass on the Titanium scratches less than the others. Believe it’s different glass but the Stainless may also have it?

AppleCare+ Warranty for Watch Edition is also 3 years (albeit more expensive to buy) and for when it does get damaged, being able to get a new one for reasonable “in warranty” costs is something I value. I believe AppleCare+ for the others is 2 years, but their new monthly plans might support going >24 months before you’re entirely out of warranty?

I didn’t do Edition in the Series 0 timeframe because $10k is ludicrous but the Aluminum vs. Titanium costs are much closer with Series 7.

The glass is intentionally different. The sports one is supposed to be more shatterproof but scratches easier. The stainless model is much more scratch resistant but shatters easier.

My wifes Series 2 lasted a few years with minimal scratching, she got a Series 5 and the face is basically ruined after a year and a bit. It is SO bad.

Sapphire on the higher end ones, "Ion-X" (gorilla glass) on the cheaper ones.

Sapphire is more expensive than chemically strengthened glass.

So "Sapphire & Steel"

Incidentally the initial working title for the UK science fiction series bearing that name was "The Time Menders" :-)

For people that are into style, the aluminum case is a non-starter. Completely clashes with the rest of the outfit in a very bad way, ie. the eye is drawn to the watch to understand why a contrasting accessory has been chosen for this outfit. The steel case with the premium bands don't completely solve this problem; but, they mitigate it a lot. ie you can get away with wearing a stainless steel case + Milanese loop band with a suit and it isn't going to look so strange. Additionally, in the world of watches, the titanium Apple watch isn't even expensive.

There are people who buy a $10,000 jacket or handbag, wear it (maybe) once, then throw it in their closet.

These are the people that are wrong with the world. :(

> I get that it’s a fashion thing

From what you’re saying, it doesn’t look like it. Fashion trends are not meant to be sensible. Plenty of people throw money at stuff they can’t afford. Look at poor people wearing Supreme and Prada.

If I buy a 10k watch it’s because it’s in my budget and will probably buy another one later or replace it with a Rolex.

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