Apple’s 2015 Watch models, including the Hermes and US$17,000 gold versions, are now obsolete. This means they can’t get hardware service or parts from Apple anymore. This raises the issue of “planned obsolescence.” Apple only has to provide parts for five years after it stops selling a product (seven years in France for iPhones and Mac laptops). This policy has faced criticism and legal challenges before, forcing Apple to improve its device reparability and adopt USB-C ports instead of Lightning.
The Watch Edition is a curious case. Unlike regular watches that can last for decades and increase in value, the Watch Edition was always doomed to become outdated. And here's the reminder that it has.