Apple Watch targets Chinese aspirations

But drive against graft could discourage conspicuous consumption, dampen luxury watch sales in huge market

Published Wed, Mar 11, 2015 · 09:50 PM

Beijing

APPLE Inc jumped to the top of the Chinese market by adapting the iPhone to local tastes. It's using the same recipe with the Apple Watch.

The new timepiece is available in gold - appealing to China's appetite for luxury. Apple also is showcasing the WeChat messaging service from China's Tencent Holdings Ltd, an app used by half a billion people.

The smartwatch starts at 2,588 yuan (S$581) in China, putting Apple in position to boost sales beyond the US$182 billion in revenue from iPhones, iPads and Macs last year.

Apple's China sales rose 70 per cent in the past quarter, helped by the introduction of the iPhone 6 and 6 Plus. By…