Best quality case

To be honest, I have never purchased Apple’s products since I have been very critical of them. I used to think that their MP3 players’ sound quality was low (it might be a preference but in a blind test at our office when I was a journalist, it gained only 10% approval), voice from calls sounded distant (when it comes to initial products), and their computers also lacked inter-operability. However, there still are some facts that I have to laud. First, the completion of the product. Among any product available, its outer case has always been the best. That’s why whenever I got in an argument with Apple lovers, I had to wrap up the conversation whenever they brought up case quality and display superiority.

The case quality of this watch can only be directly compared to the Montblanc Summit among the ones I have previously tested. As I shared in my column, the Montblanc Summit had an unapproachable level of completion to the point where other watch makers’ smart watches and case quality could not possibly be compared. However, the finish of Apple Watch is not any worse than that of the Montblanc Summit. In addition, given that production process of Apple Watches require a higher degree of sophistication due to their almost-entirely curved surfaces, Apple deserves credit. The watch hadno surface that wasn’t consistent. What is peculiarly amazing is the silk finish of the the television-style-dome glass. The back of the case, where its charging outlet is located, is stunningly elegant, and the experience of adjusting the side case pusher and the crown is excellent. One thing to note is that since I used the aluminum cased version, which is not commonly featured as a watch casing, it is hard for me to make an accurate assessment. I have never seen the case being used as a casing for analog watches. I have also seen my acquaintances’ stainless steel cases multiple times, and their quality was exceptional as well. 

Divided opinions on design

Here is one fun fact that you are unlikely to have heard of if you are not really interested in high-end Swiss watches. There is a brand called H. Moser & Cie, relatively well-known and large-scale among Switzerland’s independent watch makers, and their watches are recognized as high-end (better than Rolex). However, this company launched the Swiss ALP Watch line, one of their luxury mechanical watch collections. As you may have already assumed, the line copied the design of the Apple Watch. This approach is a sort of parody, and they have been continuing to unfold these collections for the past few years in a row, which make us believe that market response has not been bad. What is astounding is that the brand is showcasing super complicated watches combined with the minute repeater (a feature where sound is made to notify the time) and tourbillion (a feature that prevents sensitive parts causing time telling errors by gravity). This super complicated watch is the most desired and loved watch among mechanical watches, and is considered a dream watch due to its price that far surpasses the hundred millions Korean won. Compared to vehicles, these watches are super cars with 500 or more horsepower, but since the design is inspired by Apple Watches, there are actually a number of watch connoisseurs who dislike them.

Functionality

The Apple Watch has top notch functionality among all the watches I have encountered. Healthcare and other alarm features are delicate but not too talkative. A very stylish approach is applied. There are multiple features, but the most interesting one for me was that you can only receive phone calls. It was totally comfortable to talk on the phone while working when my mouth was as far as 70 cm away from the watch, thanks to the watch’s superior sound quality. During a call, there are muting and volume control buttons, which provide me no worse convenience compared to general phones. When calling behind the wheel, you will be able to feel like you became David Hasselhoff from Knight Rider. The watch boasts greater than 50m of waterproof capabilities and has GPS and a barometric altimeter, which allow for hiking and leisurely use. I think these are the features that enabled their collaboration work with Nike.

Weakness

There is one piece of hardware that is very disappointing. After clicking the sliding rug, if you shake the strap, it feels loose. Even when viewed with the naked eye, there is a gap of about 1mm. Even if it weren’t for this, I might have likened Apple’s case-making technology to 2-3 million won Swiss watches. However, this downside seems to be big enough for me to murmur that, ‘This is the limitation of an IT brand.’ I would rather have the conventional rug used for ordinary watches than having them all made like this.

Summary

The square display is the main reason why Apple Watches do not look like traditional watches, but it is actually incomparably more convenient to use as a smart watch than a circular display. When you turn the screen, there is no character cut on a circular display clock (Samsung has overcome this problem in a very sophisticated very manner, but every other smart watch has just left the letters cut off), and both response speed and touch are excellent. You can buy an exclusive Apple Watch strap, rated as one of the best leather straps available in Hermes, and there are many design options. Functionally, it has no flaws, and the battery capacity is sufficient. If you do not hate smart watches and you use an iPhone, there is no reason not to use this watch. It is a watch that can be called “ultimately the best” smart watch.