Apple Watch will rely on a dedicated iPhone app; incorporates a number of design cues from traditional timepieces

Over the weekend, Ariel Adams of aBlogtoWatch posted an incredibly detailed and informative hands-on review of the Apple Watch. While there's still a lot of mystery surrounding the Apple Watch in terms of pricing, availability, and even functionality, Adams' post provides an illuminating look at what may very well be, to borrow a phrase from Samsung, Apple's next big thing. Adams' full post is impressively thorough and well worth reading in its entirety.

Below are a few of the highlights.

Where the Apple Watch might be sold

An interesting aspect to the Apple Watch centers on where the device might be sold. The Apple Watch represents Apple's first foray into the world of traditional luxury goods and it stands to reason that the device might fit in just as comfortably in a luxury watch boutique as an iPhone does in Best Buy. To this end, Adams isn't the first to speculate that the Apple Watch might be available for purchase in high-end retail stores.

What is more interesting is where Apple Watches will be sold. All of a sudden, Apple has created a product that might not be ideal for sale only at the Best Buy stores of the world, but rather, high-end boutiques and department stores. Apple didn't confirm anything, but they did offer an enthusiastic hint of "that is an interesting idea" when I brought up the topic of selling the Apple Watch in non-traditional outlets such as jewelers, watch stores, and department stores. Literally nothing is out of the question at this point in regard to where people might be able to purchase an Apple Watch, outside of buying directly from Apple.

This certainly make a lot of marketing sense, especially if some Apple Watch models end up selling at prices that reach into the thousand dollar range.

The iPhone will feature a dedicated Watch app

On account of its small display, the Apple Watch will naturally rely on the iPhone to carry most of the heavy lifting, including the loading of apps.

Apple actually made clever use of the Apple Watch's relationship with the iPhone. Apple Watch users will install an Apple Watch app on their iPhone, which will be used to download apps onto the watch as well as likely manage Apple Watch settings.

Paying homage to traditional timepieces

Though the Apple Watch may very well be one of the advanced and technically complex products to ever come out of Cupertino, Apple took pains to ensure that the design, both in aesthetic and function, didn't stray terribly far of course. Jony Ive, for instance, said in a recent interview that he immersed himself in horological history and that Apple even invited over watch historians to speak at Apple's campus.

According to Adams, the work paid off:

Those familiar with the world of high-end timepieces will notice an endless series of "watch-related" design cues, noises, materials, finishes, and features that Apple adopted from the traditional world of watches. Some things they improved upon, and some things were merely used in the overall performance of the Apple Watch. A good example of the latter is the alert noise. Apple could have chosen an endless array of sounds to use when the Apple Watch needs to alert its wearer of something. Instead, they used a chiming sound that is clearly inspired by the mechanical chimes present in complicated watches with musical minute repeater or sonnerie complications.

Forgive me for not going into every single detail of how Apple was inspired by the world of traditional watches for the Apple Watch – there are frankly too many to list.

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Perhaps the most important element which indicates that the Apple Watch is truly a "watch" is how it fits and is used on the wrist. The experience of wearing the Apple Watch is as good or better than most high-end timepieces, and operating the Apple Watch is very similar to how people might use their traditional timepieces.

There are so many more details and insightful opinions in Adams' full piece that I can't recommend it enough. Not only did Adams get some hands-on time with the device, but he writes about it from the perspective of someone with an appreciation for and knowledge of fine timepieces. Consequently, Adams' piece provides a lot of color to a product that, again, still has quite a bit of mystery to it.