While Apple Watch could be more than a month away from a public release, it has won a 2015 iF Gold Award from the International Forum (iF) Design in its annual industrial design competition. The jury called the Apple Watch design "an icon".

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The idea of combining classic materials such as leather and metal with state-of-the-art technology to create a very individual fashion accessory has resulted in a delightful product offering a holistic user experience. The Apple Watch scores highly for each design detail and is an altogether extraordinary piece of design. For us, it is already an icon.

Apple Watch was one of only two telecommunication products out of 64 recipients to earn the "Gold" designation. Out of the 1,624 products recognized, only 75 of them received a Gold Award.

The iF has been hosting its renowned design awards since 1953, and its jury evaluates products on a set of criteria that includes workmanship, choice of materials, environmental friendliness, design quality, safety, brand value, ergonomics, workmanship, degree of innovation and functionality.

Apple has won a number of iF Design Awards, for major products like iPhone 6, iPad Air and iMac to accessories like EarPods and Apple Keyboard. In total, Apple has won 118 iF Design Awards, but only 44 have earned a "Gold" designation, with Apple Watch being the most recent.

The design of Apple Watch is one aspect of the device that Apple has been marketing thus far, with design chief Jony Ive talking about the challenge of designing the smart watch and it appearing on fashion magazines in both interior multi-page spreads and cover features.

Apple will provide more information about the Apple Watch at its March 9 media event.

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Top Rated Comments

filmantopia Avatar
108 months ago
absolutely ridiculous.
Interesting. What's your design background?
Score: 43 Votes (Like | Disagree)
filmantopia Avatar
108 months ago
They used steel and leather to make a watch. WOAH. You crazy Apple, you are so far ahead of the curve with your crazy ideas.

I'm glad that the judges' attention to detail is clearly more evolved than yours.
Score: 30 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Rogifan Avatar
108 months ago
Maybe he means don't judge a book by it's cover.

It's plain stupid to judge this thing based off looks. And it does not look great to begin with.

That's pretty subjective.
Score: 25 Votes (Like | Disagree)
BlueParadox Avatar
108 months ago
absolutely ridiculous.

And why is that? Or have you simply signed-up to cause a stir?
Score: 22 Votes (Like | Disagree)
filmantopia Avatar
108 months ago
So do they have one already? I'm guessing no. Which makes the iF Gold Awards seem a bit shallow..(?)
Apple had to submit, so they clearly had access to all of the information required to make an informed decision. The judges are accomplished well respected in their design-related fields.

http://www.ifdesign.de/awards_jury_e
Score: 21 Votes (Like | Disagree)
shlee9803 Avatar
108 months ago
absolutely ridiculous.
Score: 17 Votes (Like | Disagree)