The Apple Watch will be available for in-store purchase on April 24. Customers who have made their pre-orders online can expect their smartwatch to be delivered starting in May. While rumors say that the Watch may be in limited supply because of the huge demand, it seemed like the number of stores selling the wearable would also be limited.
In reality, the Apple Watch will be available in the company's own Apple retail stores in June. This means that starting on the official release date April 24, the Appel Watch will be sold at select high-end fashion stores found in Paris, Milan, Berlin, Los Angeles, London and Tokyo.
These stores are Colette in Paris, 10 Corso Como in Milan, the Corner in Berlin, Maxfield in Los Angeles, and Dover Street Market in London and in Tokyo. The venues are said to have their own stock of the Apple Watch and will have it for sale when it officially launches toward the end of the week.
Customers who would be marching to these stores should be aware that limited stocks of the Apple Watch won't leave enough for everyone. Adrian Joffe, CEO of Dover Street Market, said that the company's Ginza store will have around 350 Apple Watches on sale while its London location will have 570. Those who are interested in the gold Edition variant (which sells at a starting price of $10,000) may not be able to make the purchase as the model is currently on back order.
When asked about the stock, Joffe responded, "Judging by the calls, I don't think it will last long."
Last week, Apple's head of retail, Angela Ahrendts, released a memo indicating that Apple Watch orders can only be made online for the weeks following the wearable's April 24 launch — which further hinted at the shortage of supplies.
Customers who don't want to be affected by the shortage should be able to get hold of the Apple Watch when it lands in selected stores. People who have pre-ordered for their device were likewise contacted and informed that their purchase would arrive sooner than initially expected — though absolutely not before April 24. Some owners-to-be are expecting to have their orders shipped between May and June.
"Our team is working to fill orders as quickly as possible," said Amy Bessette, a spokeswoman for Apple. "We know many customers are still facing long lead times and we appreciate their patience."
