Why doesn't Apple Watch say where it was manufactured?

[Rogifan]

On the back of my iPhone it says Designed by Apple in California. Assembled in China. There is no such insignia on the Watch. Is that due to a lack of space or is it possible that the the higher end watch isn't being manufactured in China?

 

[djedga]

Because it isn't manufactured anywhere yet...

 

[0007776]

Could be lack of space. It may also be that prototypes which are the only thing out there don't have it because they are all assembled by hand in Apple's headquarters to prevent leaks. I'd be surprised if they are assembled anywhere but China, but I guess with the Mac Pro being moved to the US Apple may decide to make the watch here as well. If that's the case then they may be holding off putting where it is assembled on any demo units so they can have that as something they announce in their event right before it ships.

 

[JayLenochiniMac]

What do other smartwatches have on the back of the case? That's a stronger indication on whether or not the production models will have something.

 

[MarcoCapa]

The leak from quanta indicates China....

 

[Rogifan]

The leak from quanta indicates China....

Even for the 18-karat gold ones?

 

[kmj2318]

I could see the gold, and maybe even the SS version being made in the US. And the sport in China.

 

[MarcoCapa]

Even for the 18-karat gold ones?

I have no idea... The leaks from quanta are only schematics...
I think that manufacturing gold requires more capabilities ( and maybe minor thefts probability) than aluminium....
Maybe Switzerland?!

 

[mtmac]

It's got to be made in China at that price point. At most the edition models will be assembled here, which would just entail placing the Chinese-made internals inside the gold housing. Even the MacPros are just assembled here. The Chinese made internals are fitted together and boxed up.

 

[gochi]

wait so they have watches made in gold? lol

 

[flyinmac]

It'll be made in China. That's our industrial area. Everything is made in China. well except for the stuff we have made in China and assemble here. We still know how to bolt stuff together at least. And if not, there's always super glue and duct tape.

 

[SHNXX]

Unless it's made in the US or Swiss, I don't think Apple will be touting the place it is made.

 

[cube]

Unless it's made in the US or Swiss, I don't think Apple will be touting the place it is made.

US does not even work for Americans in watches.

Japan does work a bit, but I don't think Apple has engineered their "watch" there.

 

[SHNXX]

US does not even work for Americans in watches.

Japan does work a bit, but I don't think Apple has engineered their "watch" there.

yeah you're probably right.

most premium watches are made in switzerland and some in germany and japan.
I seriously doubt Apple made their watches there.
China is most likely the choice of manufacture

 

[Rogifan]

I was re-listening to a John Gruber podcast about Watch (with Ben Thompson as his guest). They speculated where the watch will be assembled and Gruber's argument is it would be very difficult to sell a really expensive watch that was "made in China" so perhaps some of the components would come from China but assembly would be elsewhere (possibly the U.S.).

I think he might be on to something and the Edition watch at least will not be assembled in China. I'm still on the fence with the stainless steel watch because I'm not sure how Apple will price it. Gruber expects it to be priced around $999. I'm not so sure as I think Apple is positioning it as the mainstream Watch that they want to sell the most of. So I think they will price it in a way where they can upsell those initially looking at the aluminum version. So it's possible both the aluminum and stainless steel versions are assembled in China. I think it will depend how Apple positions/prices the stainless steel version.

 

[Zxxv]

Why doesn't Apple Watch say where it was manufactured?

cause 'Made in China' would make it sound cheap.

 

[Rogifan]

cause 'Made in China' would make it sound cheap.

I doubt Apple puts Assembled in China on the back of the iPhone because they want to. According to the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States, Chapter 91:

(c)

Watch cases shall be marked on the inside or outside of the back to show:​

(i) the name of the country of manufacture; and
(ii) the name of the manufacturer or purchaser.​

So somewhere on the device Apple will have to indicate the country where the watch was manufactured/assembled. Having a very expensive gold watch that has Assembled in China engraved on it won't fly, IMO. The high price and low volume of the Edition watch would make it a perfect candidate for being assembled outside of China ala the Mac Pro. With the stainless steel version I think it will depend on how Apple chooses to position it. Personally I would love it if both the stainless steel and gold versions had as many components as possible manufactured outside of China.

 

[Piggie]

I was re-listening to a John Gruber podcast about Watch (with Ben Thompson as his guest). They speculated where the watch will be assembled and Gruber's argument is it would be very difficult to sell a really expensive watch that was "made in China" so perhaps some of the components would come from China but assembly would be elsewhere (possibly the U.S.).

I think he might be on to something and the Edition watch at least will not be assembled in China. I'm still on the fence with the stainless steel watch because I'm not sure how Apple will price it. Gruber expects it to be priced around $999. I'm not so sure as I think Apple is positioning it as the mainstream Watch that they want to sell the most of. So I think they will price it in a way where they can upsell those initially looking at the aluminum version. So it's possible both the aluminum and stainless steel versions are assembled in China. I think it will depend how Apple positions/prices the stainless steel version.

It's funny you say that, as it's always been a thing about most electronic watch and clocks.

You see in Antique shows. They value to classic quality mechanical movement, but as soon as someone removes that, and sticks in a quartz movement replacement, it's deemed as cheap mass produced junk.

That's not to say, it is junk. It's just the mass produced electronics have never carried that feeling of really physical long lasting quality as a physical real, quality mechanical movement when it comes to time pieces.

Like going to a store full of amazing large classic grandfather clocks, with gorgeous mechanical brass movements, springs, chimes, weights etc etc.

Tear all that out, and replace it with a digital movement, and you have ruined it.

For something like the watch, it's hard to see any difference.
It IS the modern gadget, be it made in China or Washington DC.

It's just the same CNC machine milling out the metal, then the circuit board, made on the same production line in the far east I'd guess.

In what country the machine is bolted to the floor, and what language the person speaks who pops the few parts together, I really can't see makes any difference.

Unless simply printing "Assembled in the USA" is enough to fool some people?

 

[Rogifan]

Unless simply printing "Assembled in the USA" is enough to fool some people?

Yes, to some people that's definitely a big deal. I can see where Apple might want this to have the feeling of being hand crafted (at least the Edition one) even if the internals are the same as the cheaper version. I'm sure some people would pay more if they knew the device was assembled in the US or Europe. We already know that the materials for some of the bands come from Europe and that the Milanese Loop is woven on special Italian machines. I don't remember Apple in the past going into details on where their materials came from. Are people going to care that the Milanese Loop is woven on special Italian machines if those machines are sitting in some factory in China? I still wonder if Apple might shock everybody and we find out a lot of these components are not manufactured in China.

 

[Piggie]

Yes, to some people that's definitely a big deal. I can see where Apple might want this to have the feeling of being hand crafted (at least the Edition one) even if the internals are the same as the cheaper version. I'm sure some people would pay more if they knew the device was assembled in the US or Europe. We already know that the materials for some of the bands come from Europe and that the Milanese Loop is woven on special Italian machines. I don't remember Apple in the past going into details on where their materials came from. Are people going to care that the Milanese Loop is woven on special Italian machines if those machines are sitting in some factory in China? I still wonder if Apple might shock everybody and we find out a lot of these components are not manufactured in China.

For Apple, really, where it's made is a non issue price wise when it comes to the lower spec parts of the product. If we rule out the actual electronics, which we know all comes from over seas factories, wages have little effect.

Even my boss said to me some time ago. You have a machine that's turning out hundreds or even thousands of pounds of product every hour.

If you pay the guy running it, 1 dollar or 30 dollars, it's nothing compared to what is being produced.

You are right, for some the wording will make a big difference, and we know Apple is very, and I mean VERY clever with the way they use the English Language.

"Yeah, I'm sorry, battery life sucks, so you are going to have to charge it every single day"

Transforms itself into:

"You are going to enjoy using this product so much, that you will be wanting to charge it each day"

 

[DesignG]

I was re-listening to a John Gruber podcast about Watch (with Ben Thompson as his guest). They speculated where the watch will be assembled and Gruber's argument is it would be very difficult to sell a really expensive watch that was "made in China" so perhaps some of the components would come from China but assembly would be elsewhere (possibly the U.S.).

I think he might be on to something and the Edition watch at least will not be assembled in China. I'm still on the fence with the stainless steel watch because I'm not sure how Apple will price it. Gruber expects it to be priced around $999. I'm not so sure as I think Apple is positioning it as the mainstream Watch that they want to sell the most of. So I think they will price it in a way where they can upsell those initially looking at the aluminum version. So it's possible both the aluminum and stainless steel versions are assembled in China. I think it will depend how Apple positions/prices the stainless steel version.

Since you don't want to receive privat messages I will post my question to you here.

Hello,
you mentioned the " Gruber podcast about Watch (with Ben Thompson as his guest)"
Could you give me a link? I couldn't find something like this. Does John Gruber have a regular airing podcast at all?

Thank you really much!

 

[Julien]

Since you don't want to receive privat messages I will post my question to you here.

Hello,
you mentioned the " Gruber podcast about Watch (with Ben Thompson as his guest)"
Could you give me a link? I couldn't find something like this. Does John Gruber have a regular airing podcast at all?

Thank you really much!

Here you go.
http://daringfireball.net/thetalkshow/2014/09/28/ep-096

 

[Tycho24]

I think it's because, while they adopted some of the conventions of standard wristwatches (like imprinting the bezel size and materials on the back), nothing on a watch would seem more devaluing & classless quite as much as the words: "MADE IN CHINA".
I believe it to be an appearance thing.

 

[Rogifan]

I think it's because, while they adopted some of the conventions of standard wristwatches (like imprinting the bezel size and materials on the back), nothing on a watch would seem more devaluing & classless quite as much as the words: "MADE IN CHINA".
I believe it to be an appearance thing.

But as I said above, if it actually is made or assembled in China Apple has to note that somewhere. I'm guessing wherever it's assembled it has to be noted. The Mac Pro says Assembled in USA on it. I suppose that marking could be on the inside of the watch case if they don't have room for it anywhere else. But even still, if it's known that the more expensive watches are assembled in China I think it will be a turnoff for those willing to spend that kind of money. And with the very expensive watch I don't think the volume will be there that Foxconn or Pegatron or whoever would be required to assemble it.

 

[Julien]

But as I said above, if it actually is made or assembled in China Apple has to note that somewhere. I'm guessing wherever it's assembled it has to be noted. The Mac Pro says Assembled in USA on it. I suppose that marking could be on the inside of the watch case if they don't have room for it anywhere else. But even still, if it's known that the more expensive watches are assembled in China I think it will be a turnoff for those willing to spend that kind of money. And with the very expensive watch I don't think the volume will be there that Foxconn or Pegatron or whoever would be required to assemble it.

The Moto 360 doesn't have a CoO label visible. Also no one has actually looked at a production Watch (since there is no such thing as of now), so we can't be totally sure what is GOING to be on (or not on) the case. It is assumed that all Watches will be made in China but we can't be 100% sure of that either. Quanta Computer is the company that is responsible for final assembly and they have factories all over the world.

Don't forget that in the early 70's (and before) 'Made in Japan' was considered 'Cheap'. China is making the same pivot too to higher quality products. No one would say the iPhone is a 'cheaply' made device.