If you were one of the few people who spent $10,000 to $17,000 on the 18-karat gold Apple Watch, I have some bad news for you: that pricey wearable is no longer eligible for repairs.
As reported by MacRumors, Apple internally listed that all first-gen Apple Watch models are now "obsolete," meaning they can no longer be taken to Apple Stores or Apple Authorized Service Provider locations to receive repairs or additional services. Apple is no longer providing parts, repairs, or any services for its first smartwatch outing.
Apple entered the smartwatch market in 2015 with the first generation (also known as Apple Watch Series 0). Apple Watch Series 0 would be discontinued a year later. Still, the tech giant continued to support Series 0 in some capacity, with the last software update (watchOS 4.3.2) released in 2018 and offering parts, repairs, and replacement services until this year.
The gold Apple Watch Series 0 remained something of an icon in the wearable's history. Aside from its hefty price tag, the watch was on the wrists of several celebrities, including Beyoncé and Drake.
The Series 0 gold model was also reported to be a passion project for Jony Ive, the former lead designer at Apple. A report published by The Wall Street Journal in 2019 said Ive wanted the Apple Watch to be a fashion accessory and not make it something that was an extension of the iPhone. Of course, if you are familiar with the Apple Watch, it became a mix of both: an accessory heavily embedded in the Apple ecosystem and one of the more higher-end, luxury-esque options, like the gold Series 0 and Apple Watch Hermès.
Taylor is a Reporter at IGN. You can follow her on Twitter @TayNixster.
