Although the Apple Watch was officially introduced on Sept. 9, 2014, the company had been toying with the idea of watch for years. Ten years earlier, for example, Apple debuted a watch in the form of the iPod nano, which included several watch faces and allowed you to attach it to a strap if you wished. Going back even further, in 1988, Apple launched a product as peculiar as it was surprising.
An Apple Watch in 1988 Which Aimed to Tell Time Differently
In a viral social media post, X users discovered an Apple product that was previously unknown to most. Sam Iglesias has been working at Apple Park as a designer and software engineer for over nine years. His passion for Apple is what you would expect from an Apple employee. Recently, a friend surprised him with an Apple product that’s almost a museum piece: an Apple Watch that was presented in 1998 as part of a marketing campaign.
One of Apple's First Marketing Campaigns After the Return of Steve Jobs
As you may know, Steve Jobs co-founded Apple, but the board of directors later fired him. After facing economic and innovation challenges, Jobs returned to Apple in 1997. One of his first campaigns was “Think Different,” which still resonates with many Apple fans. As part of this marketing campaign, Apple aimed to create a minimalist and elegant watch that made people feel special and unique. This led to the launch of the first Apple Watch in 1988.
The watch came in a cardboard box and featured a black strap and dial. Two standout features were the Apple logo in the center and the fact that the hands moved counterclockwise. This meant that where there should be a nine, there was a three, and where there should be a one, there was an eleven.
This watch was powered by a battery and didn’t have any smart features. On the back, there were various engravings including the Apple logo, the manufacturing material (aluminum), and device's water resistance. The product was never available for sale because it was part of a marketing campaign and was gifted to various people. It’s unknown how many units were manufactured, and acquiring one today is difficult but not impossible.
A 1988 Apple Watch was once auctioned for more than $1,000, and there are similar models available on eBay for around $500. In addition to the Apple Watch with the white Apple logo, there’s a version with the rainbow apple, which was the official Apple logo for more than 20 years.
1988 Apple Watch auction.
The world of vintage Apple products is fascinating, and there’s always room for an unknown product. For instance, there’s the Knowledge Navigator, which was decades ahead of what we have today with Apple Intelligence. Now, we can add a nearly 40-year-old Apple Watch to the list.
This article was written by Guille Lomener and originally published in Spanish on Applesfera.
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