3D Printable Models of Apple Watch Available for Pre-2015 Fitting

If you’ve ever wanted to be able to speak into a wrist watch like the Secret Service agents do in the movies but have been unable to go through the rigorous training and background check to get the job, then you might find the Apple Watch to be released in 2015 a pretty exciting second best. Unfortunately, you are going to have to wait all the way until 2015 in order to determine which of the watches is the best fit for your personal wrist.

Or so you thought.

Turbosquid contributor Martin Utrecht is offering 3D print model versions of both the 38mm small and the 42mm large available for download as OBJ, STL, and 3DSMAX files. The model was created from high-resolution images of the watch published on Apple’s website. The model shown on the Turbosquid website was printed using an Ultimaker 1.0 printer and Utrecht is quick to point out that you shouldn’t expect the leather wristband shown in the photo to somehow magically be 3D printed with the piece. The file is only for the watch itself.

With the ability to create increasingly accurate and precise 3D models from a ‘scan’ done with photography, this type of pre-release mock up is becoming more common. In fact, this isn’t the first time that a 3D print mock up of the Apple Watch has been made available. Before the certainty of an upcoming Apple Watch release could even be confirmed, a wrist case for an iPod Nano was designed to soothe those who felt themselves getting antsy in the absence of yet more iOptions.

The release of the watch in early 2015 will be the culmination of more than three years of preparatory work, according to head of design, Jony Ive.  When it is available, it will retail starting at $349 and have a number of watch straps that are interchangeable for the timepiece itself which is available in a housing of stainless steel, silver aluminum, 18-karat yellow gold, space black stainless steel, space gray aluminum, and 18-karat rose gold.

The watch itself is described in loving detail in a very dramatic video on the official website. It will be interesting to see how Apple’s latest addition to the market of technology wearables holds up but if you find yourself getting itchy waiting for that future release date, maybe the 3D print version will keep you calm until then.  Discuss this story in the 3D Printed Apple Watch forum thread at 3DPB.com.