According to industry sources familiar with the matter, Apple’s first manufacturing order for the forthcoming Apple Watch is between five and six million units. It is also likely to be the most expensive item on Apple’s current product list, with the gold watch “likely surpassing the $4,000 Mac Pro computer” but not being the most expensive Apple product ever, as it is unlikely to beat out the 20th Anniversary Macintosh at $10,000.
The Wall Street Journal’s unnamed sources are calling the first order of the Apple Watch “similar to early sales of Apple’s last major all-new product.” China’s Quanta is the sole operation handling the manufacture of the device, which began in mass quantities in January.
Half of the production is being used for the $349 “Sport” model of the watch. The mid-range watch is one third of output. Prices have not yet been announced for any model other than the Sport edition.
