Some days I wake up thinking the world has gone crazy. One example of this is that there is now a box for the Apple Watch that costs $899.
While I don't have UK or Australian prices handy, I think you can translate that dollar price into something equally steep in other currencies. The case comes in two equally expensive variants: the Crown Sport and the Crown Classic. The Sport comes with a rubber strap and the Classic has a metal bracelet. And there are silver and rose gold options.
These pricey cases are the brainchild of Golden Concept (the kind of name you'd expect graphics cards from the early 2000s to have) and are designed to combine modern technology with classic watchmaking.
Yeah, so for me it's a no.
An unholy mixture
The case appears to be inspired by the Patek Philippe Nautilus, with a wing-like shape on the left side, and the Rolex Daytona, with its chronograph-style pushers on the right side. For those who don't know, these are two so-called “fashion watches” that are hard to come by and have skyrocketed in price. The strap appears to have a folding clasp, but it's hard to tell from the photos.
Look, I applaud the courage to try to add something to the Apple Watch, which I think is a brilliant but utterly soulless smartwatch that's everywhere on the wrists of travelers I pass. But I think trying to add a mechanical watch feel to the Apple Watch, or any smartwatch, is a failed attempt.
One of the reasons Apple Watch models consistently top our list of the best smartwatches is that they have a design that's hard to beat: they're compact, but have a usable display and buttons and are comfortable to hold. Plus, there are plenty of band options, and with a choice between aluminum and titanium materials, you can get an aesthetically pleasing Apple Watch without needing to resort to a third-party case.
I've worn several smartwatches and I know how useful they can be with all the data they suck in and spit out. But I've recently developed a taste for mechanical watches and I just don't think a smartwatch, no matter how fancy the case, can replicate the feeling of wearing an automatic or hand-wound watch.
The feeling you get with a “real” watch is more tactile, functional and elegant than with a computer worn on your wrist. With such a watch, a kind of relationship develops between man and machine, especially since you operate it, either through your movement or by winding it up.
So I think both traditional and smartwatches have a place in today's world, but I don't think they should cross streams. And I certainly don't think paying more than the price of an Apple Watch 10 to get a case that makes it look like two watches that could be considered almost ugly because of the hype surrounding them is a smart strategy.
For around $900 you can get an Apple Watch and have some extra money for a great automatic watch – my recommendation would be something from Seiko or the excellent Baltic HMS 003.
Likewise, if you already have an Apple Watch and want something else to wear on your wrist, I suggest getting something like the Christopher Ward 63 Dune. I got one to test out in bronze and it's excellent, offering a lot for around a thousand dollars in British bullion.
And for those on a tighter budget, Christopher Ward has the C63 Sealander, a watch that costs £685 in the UK and has the design, specs, waterproofing and strap options to take you from the boardroom to the beach.
In fact, for roughly the combined price of an Apple Watch and the Golden Concept Crown Sport, you could get a brand new Apple Watch and a C63 Sealander.
Maybe it's just me who's stuck in my ways and there's an audience that prefers these kinds of flashy Apple Watch cases. But my advice, both professional and personal, is to opt for a smartwatch and a mechanical watch, rather than trying to combine the two.
