Apple went into detail about the all-new Apple Watch Series 10 in an exclusive interview with GQ UK by Apple’s design team, including Molly Anderson and Alan Dye. Several key design aspects and new features were discussed, including improved display, enhanced durability and technological innovation.
Robert Leedham asked members of Apple’s design team a few questions at Apple Park as part of a conversation about the Apple Watch.
Ten years after the Watch’s birth, the new design of the Series 10 has not shaken up the codes introduced ten years ago. Its rectangular shape, soft angles and diamond section are still in place, while the San Francisco typeface, originally designed for the Watch, is now used in all Apple products and in most of the company’s marketing campaigns.
Molly Anderson explains what motivates the team:
We’re really obsessed with reflecting our love of materiality and traditional watchmaking. What’s romantic is the idea that it’s a single piece of metal. Even some of the craziest early concepts for the watch—like the 18-karat gold model worn by Beyoncé—continue to influence its composition with a refreshed link bracelet and a new titanium color.
Bigger screens
One of the differences that the Series 10, which debuted on the Ultra, has enabled is the ability to change priorities with larger displays. Dye notes, “We learned how to design for a very small display, which required real efficiency for every pixel.” Now, watchOS displays much more information, like additional complications or even a virtual keyboard. The latter has been around since the Apple Watch 7, but is even more comfortable.
The Apple Watch 10 is now sold in 42 mm and 46 mm (case size), with a larger screen than on the Apple Watch Ultra thanks to an OLED panel that extends over the entire surface. However, the managers did not address the viewing angle, which is much larger on the new watch. It is possible to read the time by looking at the watch completely from the side.
New dials
Dye also detailed the design of the new “Reflets” dial, inspired by hand-turned guilloché dials, such as those found on iconic watches from Breguet or Audemars Piguet. This dial uses the watch’s built-in gyroscope and sensors to create interactive reflections based on ambient light.
Apple also took the opportunity to talk about the second new dial, “Fluctuation” which uses custom checkerboard numbers that alternate every minute to etch bright neon hues into each corner of the watch’s screen.
The durability of the black Apple Watch Ultra
In terms of durability, the black titanium Apple Watch Ultra 2 benefits from a layer of diamond-like carbon, which considerably strengthens the surface, making it more resistant than natural titanium. As Molly Anderson explains, this finish protects the Ultra 2 from scratches, unless it comes into contact with a diamond. We’ll have to wait for the resistance tests to be sure.
Today, it’s hard to imagine the Ultra without its ability to compete in its own way with diving watch legends such as the Rolex Submariner and Omega’s Seamaster.
Apple engineers have analog watches
At the same time, other interesting points were raised. Perhaps the most interesting is that Apple’s design team also mostly owns traditional analog watches, which influences their creative approach.
Alan Dye also pointed out that even though Apple is not originally a diving company, the inclusion of diving-related features on the Ultra and Series 10 models represents a real challenge that designers have successfully met.
With these new improvements, the Apple Watch Series 10 continues to evolve its design without losing the strengths of its origins, while pushing the limits of what a smartwatch can offer.
