The Apple Watch is now available to preorder in the eight initial countries Apple listed, and although the device may be all new, and wearables still can’t be considered mainstream, there was still the usual manic rush by Apple fans to secure one. While the Apple Watch’s official release date is April 24, few watches will be reaching eager fans on that day, with online delivery times slipping into May and beyond after less than an hour of it being on sale.
In the U.S. and the U.K., the cheapest Apple Watch Sport models seemed to start out with an approximate April 24 to May 8 delivery date, but at the time of writing, the watches now ship between May 13 and May 27, or into June. The Apple Watch is even less precise, with preorder pages showing deliveries will take place in the next four to six weeks.
Depending on your choice of Apple Watch Edition, the most expensive version of the smartwatch, you’ll be waiting several months. The 42mm Rose Gold with a white Sport Band will arrive sometime in July, while the Yellow Gold with a black Classic Buckle strap won’t come until August. People with lots of money will also need lots of patience, it seems.
As with past Apple product launches, using the Apple Store app proved to be more successful for many, and it was also possible to schedule an appointment at a nearby store to try on the Watch ahead of its release. Like the order process, the Concierge website was a little haphazard, and not everyone will have had success. In the U.K., appointments were available until Sunday April 12, but schedules weren’t open for the days ahead. Apple Stores have the Watch in display, and it’s possible to try the device in some locations.
If you missed out on ordering an Apple Watch with a sensible delivery date, take solace in knowing there are some people who’re already wearing the watch. Singer Kay Perry posted a picture of her wearing a Yellow Gold model with a red Modern Buckle strap, worth $17,000, on her Instagram just as preorders went live. Rapper Drake beat Perry to the scoop, and posted his own Instagram image of him wearing the same spec device several hours earlier.
