The Apple Watch is Good Business for Goldgenie
There are a lot of people out there who would love to have one of the Apple Edition 18K gold smartwatches but don’t have the $10,000+ on hand to pick one up. Others have the cash but crave something even more decadent than the classic models being sold at Apple.com. That’s where Goldgenie comes in.
This company sells a range of gold and platinum Apple Watches with python straps and diamond crowns starting at $3,100 and going all the way up to more than $170,000 for a lavishly bejeweled custom version. And yes, someone has placed an order for that model along with a 50% deposit. International Business Times UK paid a visit to Goldgenie founder Laban Roomes and found that business is booming, even though it’s not that easy to get the basic watches from Apple.
“The gold plated ones with the python straps are the ones moving really quickly,” Roomes said. “And ones with crocodile straps are really good sellers. Also the Milanese one, which is not even on our website yet, but that’s probably the number one seller. Literally, people phone up every day and ask ‘can you do this?’ Can you do this?’”
Although Apple has not yet offered an Apple Edition model with gold Milanese strap, the company did create one for Beyonce, who was seen sporting the enviable smartwatch at Coachella last month.
So where does Goldgenie find the majority of its well-heeled customers? “China is probably on par with the Middle East now,” Roomes said. “China are amazing consumers of our products; they love gold and they love Apple. Lots of the Apple Watches have been sold to China, and even though they can afford to buy the 13 grand one, people opt to buy the gold plated version from us because it’s just so much more affordable.”
Rooms added, “It just looks exactly the same.” Goldgenie will also gild your iPhone, bicycle or most anything else—for a price.
