Apple reveals how it makes its $10,000 gold watch

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At its March 10 media event, Apple showed off two videos that revealed the unique processes used to create the aluminum Apple Watch Sport and steel Apple Watch. But, for some reason, Apple didn't have such a video for its Apple Watch Edition, made of 18-karat solid gold.

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If you visit Apple's website now, though, you'll see a new video Apple quietly posted that explains how it makes its gold Apple Watch, which starts at $10,000 and ranges up to $17,000.

Apple's senior VP of design Jony Ive breaks down each step of the process:

apple watch gold

Apple

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"We wanted to appeal to a wide range of personal styles, so with Apple Watch edition, we're working with a uniquely luxurious metal: 18-karat solid gold."

apple watch gold

Apple

"We're using both yellow and rose gold. Each is a custom alloy designed to be not only beautiful, but up to twice as hard as standard gold."

apple watch gold

Apple

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"It begins at the molecular level, where precise adjustments to the amount of silver, copper, and palladium in the alloy result in specific hues of yellow and rose gold."

apple watch gold

Apple

"Next, we use a new hardening process developed by our metallurgists to strengthen a metal that is naturally very soft."

apple watch gold

Apple

"The molten gold is cast, not into the shape of the watch, but into solid ingots. These ingots are then precisely milled to remove any imperfections."

apple watch gold

Apple

"They're then compressed to a fraction of their original size to create dense, pore-free billets."

apple watch gold

Apple

"Ultra-sonic scanners are used to detect even the most minute defects in the metal."

apple watch gold

Apple

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"From these solid billets, we machine the watch housing, as well as individual components like the digital crown and the clasp for our straps."

apple watch gold

Apple

"Finally, each case is hand-polished to an immaculate sheen by high-skilled jewelry artisans."

apple watch gold

Apple

"The result is gold that is elegant, yet uncompromisingly durable."

apple watch gold

Apple

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