Over the weekend we went to the Apple Store on 14th Street and tried on the Apple Watch.
Normally you need to schedule an appointment ahead of time to try on the watches, but we just dropped by and the store had some empty slots.
The store has huge custom tables made just for the watches: Wood sides, with a dropped display section in the middle where all the watches sit under glass. Those watches are just for display; the watches for trying on are in special locked drawers underneath that same table. They put down a small leather pad on top of the table so that if you drop the watch while trying it on, it doesn’t break.
The models for try on don’t have full functionality—they just cycle through a display mode. To try out how the watches actually work, Apple has created custom mini docks with a watch and an iPad Mini next to each other. These watches are fully functional so you can test the
We tried on two models: The Watch Sport, 38mm aluminum case with black band ($350), and the Watch, 42mm stainless steel case with black classic buckle ($700).
The black plastic band on the Sport is much more attractive in person than the photos on Apple’s website make it look. It’s a nice rich color with a nice heft and no ugly seams. And the black aluminum case looks good with the black band.
The stainless steel model with the classic leather band is definitely a step up in terms of finish and elegance—the leather strap gives the watch a more traditional upscale look.
Display is super crisp. It will take some time to get used to when to spin the crown wheel, when to press the crown as a button, and when to press or swipe the screen.
We’re looking forward to getting our watches and seeing how they integrate with our phones and with our lives!