Apple invented a new kind of gold for Apple Watch [feedly]

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Apple invented a new kind of gold for Apple Watch
// Cult of Mac

38mm rose gold Apple Watch Edition. Photo: Apple

Jony Ive's interview with the Financial Times this morning is packed with nerdy details on the Apple Watch and Jony's life. Slipped in among the juicy design bits, Sir Jonathan also hinted that Apple may have invented an entirely new form of gold just for the new timepiece.

In the interview Ive explains how "the molecules in Apple gold are closer together, making it twice as hard as standard gold."

Wait. Gold is a metal . Does Jony Ive's design studio exists in another dimension?

As pointed out by Ars Technica, Jony's statement actually ins't crazy at all.

Jony Ive and the design team are obsessed with the materials that go into Apple products, and the gold composite they've created for the Apple Watch Edition could be its most innovative feature. Apple was granted a patent in December 2014 for creating a "method and apparatus for forming a gold metal matrix composite." Ars notes that metal matrix composites allow manufacturers to create complex components, similar to 3D printing. Apple could be using this approach to make it's special gold.

Apple hinted at the watch being made of gold hardened in a novel process of compression during its keynote, but we didn't know it would be twice as hard as normal 18 ct gold. The patent says that the process could yield gold that's up to four times harder.

Whether the public will see the extra value in Apple's gold is yet to be seen. Pricing details for the Apple Watch Edition will be announced on March 9th. Rumors suggest prices could start anywhere from $4,500 to $10,000.

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