T3’s Matt Hill goes “wrist on” with Apple’s first wearable

The product formerly known as iWatch tries hard to bridge the gulf between quirky phone sidekick and the kind of luxurious timepiece that people aspire to own.

The canny hires from YSL and Tag Heuer, plus Ikepod watch designer Marc Newson, have paid off, though: this is a very attractive product indeed. The 18-karat-gold Watch Edition, which if whispers can be believed will cost thousands, is particularly impressive. Of course, people spend that kind of dosh on a watch to last, not one to upgrade each year, and in turn Apple reckons its timepieces will last for a decade with firmware updates. Hmm.

The interface is super slick, the “digital crown” a clever workaround for tiny-screen syndrome, not just zooming into maps but also flicking through colour schemes and traversing the menu of circular apps. The subtle alerts, shunning loud beeps for a light throb, are welcome, too.

Smartwatches still have to prove themselves as a tech essential, but there’s enough allure here to think they might.