Apple Watch Gold-Plated Model to Get Its Own Safes in Stores: Report

As the Apple Watch launch in April nears, new reports suggest the Cupertino firm will install safes in Apple Stores for its more expensive 'Watch Edition' smartwatches, just like seen in a jewellery store. The firm will reportedly also introduce a new uniform for its employees at the Apple retail stores.

The custom-designed safes will come pre-installed with Apple Watch MagSafe chargers so that the units, both retail and demo ones, are charged overnight and are ready to go on display the next day. The firm has already started installing its safes in select Apple stores, says 9to5Mac's well-informed Mark Gurman.

Last month, another 9to5Mac report claimed the more expensive Apple Watch Edition devices will also have a special sales process as the 18-karat gold-plated watches are significantly more valuable than the aluminium Apple Watch and Apple Watch Sport Edition. Apple is said to have started planning the re-designing of its retail stores in order to make space for the smartwatches. It is also working on ways on how to demonstrate the units at the stores.

The Apple Watch Edition, which is being marketed more like a jewellery device than a tech-focused smartwatch, along with other editions, is expected to see an early-April release this year.

Meanwhile, starting Monday, the Apple Store employees will reportedly be seen in a new attire. The employees will be wearing a more elegant crew-neck or polo tees, both in dark blue colour and with a "smaller" Apple logo above the chest on the left-hand side.

According to the company email obtained by Apple Insider last month, the new policy is titled as "Back to Blue...But All New," and the new uniform is made of finer cotton with more comfortable fit and recycled with 10 materials. The new attire shouldn't come as a surprise as the department falls under the Apple Senior Vice President of Retail, Angela Ahrendts, who is also a former CEO of a popular fashion brand, Burberry.

The company had announced the April-release timeline earlier this month for the Apple Watch, finally putting rumours to rest on this front during its earning call.