Apple Gives Custom Apple Watch With Gold Link Bracelet to Designer Karl Lagerfeld

Several celebrities like Katy Perry, Drake, and Pharrell Williams have been spotted with the gold Apple Watch Edition ahead of the device's launch, but Apple gifted designer Karl Lagerfeld with something even more special -- a custom gold Apple Watch with a gold Link Bracelet.

In an image shared on Instagram by Lagerfeld's assistant and bodyguard Sebastian Jondeau, Lagerfeld wears a yellow gold Apple Watch with the one-of-a-kind yellow gold Link Bracelet, which Jondeau says was "specially made" by Apple.

karllagerfeldcustomwatch
Karl Lagerfeld is a well-known fashion designer who's the head of both Chanel and Fendi, in addition to his own fashion house. Lagerfeld was present at the Apple Watch's first public appearance at French Parisian boutique Colette and as a style icon, he could be an important asset for Apple's Apple Watch marketing efforts.

Though there's a Link Bracelet for the Silver and Space Black stainless steel Apple Watches, Apple did not make a similar band available for the gold Apple watch Edition, presumably due to price and the sheer amount of gold that would be necessary for such a band. The existence of a custom gold Link Bracelet does, however, suggest that such a band could be made available to the public in the future.

Just the gold used in the Modern Buckle band raises the price of the Apple Watch Edition from $10,000 (with Sport band) to $17,000, so the price of a pure gold Link Bracelet would likely be upwards of $25,000. The Link Bracelet for the standard Apple Watch is priced at $449 and is Apple's most expensive band.

As we creep closer to the April 24 launch of the Apple Watch, we may see more custom designs like this on the wrists of celebrities and other fashion designers as Apple hopes to use these influencers to convince people to drive Apple Watch sales.

(Thanks, John!)

Related Roundup: Apple Watch 11
Buyer's Guide: Apple Watch (Neutral)

Popular Stories

Apple Logo Zoomed

Tim Cook Teases Plans for Apple's Upcoming 50th Anniversary

Thursday February 5, 2026 12:54 pm PST by
Apple turns 50 this year, and its CEO Tim Cook has promised to celebrate the milestone. The big day falls on April 1, 2026. "I've been unusually reflective lately about Apple because we have been working on what do we do to mark this moment," Cook told employees today, according to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman. "When you really stop and pause and think about the last 50 years, it makes your heart ...
Finder Siri Feature

Why Apple's iOS 26.4 Siri Upgrade Will Be Bigger Than Originally Promised

Friday February 6, 2026 3:06 pm PST by
In the iOS 26.4 update that's coming this spring, Apple will introduce a new version of Siri that's going to overhaul how we interact with the personal assistant and what it's able to do. The iOS 26.4 version of Siri won't work like ChatGPT or Claude, but it will rely on large language models (LLMs) and has been updated from the ground up. Upgraded Architecture The next-generation...
wwdc sans text feature

Apple Rumored to Announce New Product on February 19

Thursday February 5, 2026 12:22 pm PST by
Apple plans to announce the iPhone 17e on Thursday, February 19, according to Macwelt, the German equivalent of Macworld. The report, citing industry sources, is available in English on Macworld. Apple announced the iPhone 16e on Wednesday, February 19 last year, so the iPhone 17e would be unveiled exactly one year later if this rumor is accurate. It is quite uncommon for Apple to unveil...
iOS 26

iOS 26.3 and iOS 26.4 Will Add These New Features to Your iPhone

Tuesday February 3, 2026 7:47 am PST by
While the iOS 26.3 Release Candidate is now available ahead of a public release, the first iOS 26.4 beta is likely still at least a week away. Following beta testing, iOS 26.4 will likely be released to the general public in March or April. Below, we have recapped known or rumored iOS 26.3 and iOS 26.4 features so far. iOS 26.3 iPhone to Android Transfer Tool iOS 26.3 makes it easier...
iphone 17 pro dark blue 1

iPhone 18 Pro Max Rumored to Deliver Next-Level Battery Life

Friday February 6, 2026 5:14 am PST by
The iPhone 18 Pro Max will feature a bigger battery for continued best-in-class battery life, according to a known Weibo leaker. Citing supply chain information, the Weibo user known as "Digital Chat Station" said that the iPhone 18 Pro Max will have a battery capacity of 5,100 to 5,200 mAh. Combined with the efficiency improvements of the A20 Pro chip, made with TSMC's 2nm process, the...

Top Rated Comments

roland.g Avatar
141 months ago
And that glove he has on. Designer maybe. But what some people call fashion, the rest of us just know is gaud awful tacky.
Score: 113 Votes (Like | Disagree)
webbuzz Avatar
141 months ago
Nilay Patel is going to be jealous of that glove. :D
Score: 69 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Albright Avatar
141 months ago
Pretty cool that all these wealthy celebrities are being given expensive watches only they would be able to afford in the first place, I guess.
Score: 64 Votes (Like | Disagree)
sualpine Avatar
141 months ago
Apple Corporate is officially the rich coddling the rich.
Score: 52 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Reds622 Avatar
141 months ago
Ugh.

New product whose utility function is still up for significant debate.

The next new product Apple comes out with must be of the impact of the iPhone. After this announcement, and the release of a product that so many view as somewhat unnecessary, the pressure is on to deliver something that will appeal to the masses. Otherwise, Apple should be viewed as a company that is trying to manipulate loyal customers for the purpose of more profit.

The next one has to be a home run, because I have a feeling this one is not the next "thing." They will sell, at least in the beginning, because all Apple products do.. But sales will still be disappointing.

Anyone else find it odd, by the way, that a company whose motto seemed to be to "think different," which included an advertisement containing the likes of Albert Einstein and Bob Dylan is now releasing a product in a way that is entirely symmetrical with mainstream commercialism so prevelant these days? Overpriced designer fashion houses? Vogue magazine? Gold watches, iPhones, MacBooks? All symbols of the "elite."

I don't get any of it, except the continued chase of the almighty dollar.. Maybe.
Score: 33 Votes (Like | Disagree)
NovemberWhiskey Avatar
141 months ago
I want to see a rose gold Milanese Loop
Score: 31 Votes (Like | Disagree)