The power of a fashion statement piece ranges from outfit to outfit. Sometimes all it does is add an extra oomph. Other times, it’s a lifesaver: day looks can be transformed into night looks simply with the addition of a bold necklace or a brightly-colored blazer. However, the downside to a statement piece just so happens to be the same thing that makes it special: it draws attention. It’s eye-catching. Statement pieces are what make an ensemble memorable -- perhaps memorable to the point that you feel you can only wear your outfit once.

For this reason, a wristwatch is the statement piece to splurge on. Fashion changes with the season, but a good investment timepiece will never be outdated. Additionally, there’s a certain appeal that comes with a classic watch, a sense of sophistication and professionalism. A watch wearer doesn’t conform to the widespread use of technology. He or she tells the time without having to rely on an electronic device or an LCD screen, and there’s certainly something refreshing about that: a subtle break, a mark of independence from the technology-obsessed world.

The recently unveiled Apple Watch goes against the charms of an iconic timepiece. Fashionable college students would not choose it over the popular Marc Jacobs or Nixon face, and no style icon would substitute it for their Cartier or Rolex. Without the personality of a classic wristwatch, the Apple Watch fails as a fashion piece. 

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When Apple CEO Tim Cook introduced his latest products on Sept. 9 in Cupertino, California, the tech circle was abuzz. Since the beginning of the year, there have been speculations about Apple’s expansion into other markets. To see Cook attempt to merge the company into the fashion realm isn’t surprising. Designer brands like Diane von Furstenberg has recently teamed up with Google Glass, Hermés and Paul Smith have released a limited edition collection of Leica cameras and Fendi has just come out with their own headphones: it’s evident that fashion and technology are becoming increasingly intertwined. However, to try his hand at the timepiece, once an accessory of utility that has in recent years become a style staple, is a daring move on Cook’s part. 

“It’s an incredibly accurate timepiece. A device that helps you stay on schedule, in touch, and headed in the right direction,” the Apple website claims. The $349 watch, set for release in 2015, has features that make the iPhone 4S look like an ancient relic from times past. The watch connects to iPhone devices and allows users to call, text, and email from the square touchscreen. It is also able to monitor the user’s heartbeat, workouts and diet too. But does it pass the style test?

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Apple’s designs are well known for their minimalistic look, and the new watch does not stray from this aesthetic. Putting on the Apple Watch would feel like the donning of a spy gadget, rather than a timeless accessory. Even though the futuristic theme is uniquely beautiful in its functionality, it makes the product less appealing to those who view watches as a fashion piece, and everyone knows the fashion world is not well known for its consideration of practicality over appearance.

There’s no denying that Apple’s latest offering hopes to break into the fashion crew, and this is apparent in its customization options: according to the company’s website, “one Apple Watch can have literally millions of different appearances.” The product even comes in two different sizes and has over two million faces for its user to choose from. There’s also a full range of bands in a variety of materials, and the watches come in three distinctive collections. To top it off, Apple hired and collaborated with Yves Saint Laurent’s Paul Deneve and Burberry’s Angela Ahrendts to come up with designs that would appeal to the hip and trendy.

Despite the help Apple received from big players in the fashion industry though, the watch still screams ‘geek’ over ‘chic’, and there’s nothing the designers or the wearers can really do to alter this: nothing changes the fact that the watch is really just a square touchscreen. Change the straps and the face all you like, but there is no getting rid of the bulky device on your wrist.

After its release, the Apple Watch will quickly become an essential device in many people’s lives, especially because of all the features that aim to promote healthy living. While it may be popular among certain groups of people, it surely won’t make its way round to the fashion circle: the fashion world may wear its heart on its sleeve, but this fickle industry is fussy enough to keep this piece of Apple technology firmly stuck in its pockets, hidden out of sight.