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Report: Apple Stores getting jewelry store-like security treatment to house 18k gold Apple Watch
Apple Inc.’s Apple Store retail outlets are likely to start resembling high-end jewelry stores leading up to the April launch of the Apple Watch. In preparation for the handling and sale of the 18-karat gold Apple Watch Edition, stores are being outfitted with a range of features similar to those found in jewelry stores, like safes, display cases and even special weight scales.
A report from 9to5 Mac cites anonymous sources and details of in-store preparations being made for the expensive gold “Edition” variants of the Apple Watch.
Part of Apple’s approach to selling the smartwatch will be in-store demos where prospective buyers can try out the watch and swop out band styles to find one they like. A product containing any significant amount of precious materials comes with certain inherent security concerns.
To secure the more valuable gold variants of the watch, retail stores will be fitted with safes in which to store for sale inventory as well as demo units overnight. Given the limited battery life of Apple Watch, the safes are custom designed to include MagSafe chargers to recharge demo units overnight, ready for use the next day. According to 9to5 Mac’s sources installation of these safes has already kicked off.
Special display tables will be installed to showcase the Apple Watch and to facilitate the unique sales process Apple is employing.
Most intriguing are plans to install specialized weight scales that will be used to weigh a gold Apple Watch should it be brought back to the store either for replacement or to be returned outright. This is ostensibly to verify that the amount of gold remains unchanged as unscrupulous customers may be tempted to remove some of the gold material from the watch for sale on the black market, prior to returning it.
With prices for the Apple Watch and Apple Watch Sport set to start at $349, Apple has not revealed what customers can expect to pay for the Apple Watch Edition, but if the gold variant contains enough of the precious metal for Apple to take these measures, prices in the range of thousands of dollars are not unlikely.
Image via Apple Inc.
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