To say that today is a big-letter day in the history of Apple would be quite the understatement. It marks nothing less than the official release of one of the Cupertino giant’s most eagerly-awaited products ever, the Apple Watch, although if you were expecting the monumental queues outside Apple Stores that have come to define the company’s past blockbuster device release days, you would have been disappointed.
- Thaiware
That’s because Apple has taken a distinctly different approach with its first-ever wearable, with only six boutique stores around the world even having the timepiece in stock today – in London, Paris, Milan, Tokyo, Los Angeles and Berlin.
Apple fans who fancy a Watch in London, for example, have the sole option of heading to Mayfair’s Dover Street Market, and will be required to call a special number to make an appointment, the store stating on its website: “We kindly ask you not to queue.”
But with only a few hundred Apple Watches said to be available in these stores, supply of the device on any of the world’s high streets remains extremely restricted. The Watch reportedly sold out within hours of becoming available for pre-order on April 10, with many less lucky customers being forced to wait much longer.
Although sales figures for the Watch have not been disclosed by Apple, market researcher Carl Howe – of Think Big Analytics – has predicted an initial run of more than three million units, including 1.8 million Sports, 1.3 million Watches and 40,000 Editions. It means that Apple may have already effectively generated more than $2 billion in revenue from the device.
It has even been suggested that gross margins of more than 60 per cent could make the Watch Apple’s most profitable ever product line.
As some of those who have already received their devices took to social media to show the ‘unboxing’ process, Apple reassured many of those still waiting that they wouldn’t have to do so for much longer, a spokeswoman telling BuzzFeed: “We’re happy to be updating many customers today with the news that their Apple Watch will arrive sooner than expected.”
With rave reviews for the wearable already coming in thick and fast across the globe from both professional reviewers and new owners, this is definitely one timepiece to keep an eye on over the coming weeks, months and years. Here at AppleMagazine, we will keep you updated with all of the latest Apple Watch developments.