Apple Declares Series 0 Apple Watches Obsolete: The Fall of the Luxury Gold Watch

You can purchase a luxury gold watch and anticipate it to work until a watch repair store is available. However, if you invest a large sum of money on a tech gadget like the solid gold Apple Watch, you should prepare yourself for the day when the product becomes obsolete and only valuable for the gold it contains.

The latest obsolete products list from Apple, dated Sept. 30, states that all the Series 0 Apple Watches are entering the “obsolete” phase. This indicates that repairs at Apple Stores or authorized service providers are no longer available. Additionally, parts for these products will no longer be produced.

These include the aluminum and stainless steel variants of the 38mm and 42mm Apple Watches. Along with the Series 0 models, the solid gold Apple Watch Edition is also joining the ranks of obsolete Apple products. Initially priced between $10,000 and $17,000, this luxurious timepiece was milled from a block of 18K yellow or rose gold.

The solid gold Apple Watch was introduced by Apple in 2015 as part of the company’s effort to establish itself as a luxury brand. The watch boasted an exquisite design, with every component made from gold. At that time, Apple wanted to appeal to the ultra-wealthy and even had celebrities like Beyoncé promoting their luxury brand.

However, Apple soon discontinued the solid gold watch, removing it from stores after a year and introducing the Series 1 and Series 2 models. Replacing the expensive gold model, the company offered a ceramic version at $1,299. In 2018, software support for the gold Apple Watch was dropped with the release of watchOS 5, which was only compatible with Series 1 and later models.

Apple generally provides support for its products for five to seven years before moving them to the “vintage” list, which means they are no longer sold but can still be serviced. After seven years, products are placed on the obsolete list, and no hardware servicing is available.

Apple’s approach to branding has evolved since then. The latest Apple Watch Series 9 features a push for sustainability, eliminating the leather watch band. The most expensive Apple Watch now available is the $800 Ultra variant, designed for outdoor and extreme sports users with a titanium frame for extra durability.

It’s important to recognize that tech devices ultimately become obsolete. Even though companies like Apple provide better support for their products compared to others, there is no profitable reason for them to continue supporting older products. While those who purchased the gold Apple Watch may not be concerned about its functionality years after its release, it serves as a reminder that consumers should not expect indefinite support for high-ticket tech items like Apple’s upcoming $3,500 Vision Pro headset.

Source: That $17,000 Solid Gold Apple Watch Is Completely Obsolete