Apple Watch: How Much Gold Is In The 18K Watch Edition?

“How much will the Apple Watch cost?” is a question that has been asked over and over again since the unveiling last fall. At the low-end Apple Inc. says the entry level model will start at $349. But for the gold "Edition" watch, the company has remained quiet on the subject. Will Apple's most luxurious watch get a luxury price?

Most educated guesses have the 18-karat gold Apple Watch costing over $5,000, of which a good chunk will likely go towards the cost of the precious metal. But just how much gold will be used in the Apple Watch?

In lieu of any official word, Greg Koenig, co-founder of Luma Labs, decided to take his own educated guess. Based off measurements made from a 3D model he created of the Apple Watch, Koenig estimates that the watch will have 29.16g of 18-karat gold. That’s worth about $850 at current gold prices. With the rest of its components, including battery, chip, sapphire display cover, Milanese wrist strap and well as markup, Koenig believes the retail cost of the Apple Watch could easily hit the $5,000 mark.

Many analysts expect the high end Apple Watch to be the most expensive product in the company’s line up. And some see prices going as high as $10,000. But we won’t know for sure until the Apple Watch launches this April, or Apple releases more information about the wearable before its release.

In the meantime, Apple has been preparing its retail stores for the Apple Watch by training its staff, installing safes and designing glass cases to display the Watch. The company is also reportedly rolling out scales to retail stores so the watch can be weighed to ensure that no gold is removed if the Apple Watch is returned to a store.