Is Apple Watch the smartwatch the industry has been waiting for?

OPINION_Last night Apple unveiled it first smartwatch to the world, along with a new iPhone 6, 6 plus and a new mobile payment system, Apple Pay. Tim Cook, chief executive officer at the Californian tech-company believes the new product will “redefine what people expect from a watch.”

With its new smartwatch Apple has entered the wearable technology realm, but will the tech company be able to succeed in blending the boundaries between design, function and fashion together and convince consumers that they need a new gadget in their daily lives?

“We thought of not only the function, but what it looks like,” explained Cook, as he showed off the the Apple Watch during the company's keynote presentation on Tuesday night. In order to successfully break into the wearable market and surpass its competitors like Samsung, LG and Motorola, who have already launched smart watches, Apple needed to create a product that was not only aesthetically pleasing to its wearer, but also enhanced and added new technologically functions to its wearers life. Unlike an iPhone or an iPad, the smartwatch needed to be a small personal accessory, which is intended to be worn on the body. Therefore it needed to be versatile enough to suit different tastes and individual styles, as well as satisfy its users technological preferences. So how does Apple's smartwatch brings these aspects together?

Apple firstly responded to the challenge by developing two different sizes for its smartwatch, 38 mm and 42 mm and then dividing its styles into three different lines.“We’ve curated Apple Watch into three collections that consider personal style and taste.” Each collection offers a distinct body for the smartwatch, as well as selected wristbands in different materials, design choices that appeal to the style conscious consumer. The first collection is the Apple Watch Sport, available in anodized aluminum cases in silver or space gray with colorful, yet durable rubber bands. Then there is is Apple Watch collection, which features stainless-steel cases and a range of wristbands, such as the classic leather, link bracelet and milanese loop. And finally there is Apple Watch Edition, the most exclusive of all, which is available in a 18-karat gold cases in yellow or rose, in six different band styles.