Apple Did Two Very Clever Things With The Series 2 Watch

Here's the thing that I always said about the Apple  Watch - the company needed to keep the same model for as long as possible in order not to massively devalue the device. And while Apple did announce a new Watch, the Series 2, it did one incredibly important thing: it kept the design the same.

That might sound like a really small point, but actually, I think it's more significant than you might think. When Apple first announced the Apple Watch I said that I hoped it wouldn't be put on a traditional 12-month product cycle. I felt that in order to keep buyers happy, it would be a mistake to sell a new design each year like a smartphone. A watch, in traditional terms, is something you buy and keep for a long time.

WATCH: undefinedApple Watch Long-term Review:

The rules are somewhat different for the luxury watch brands like Rolex and Omega. They do evolve their designs, although those changes are very subtle. My Seamaster Pro is much the same style as the ones that have followed it, but there are tweaks that make the watches both collectible, but permanently in fashion.

Apple's big challenge is making the Watch desirable as a timepiece, and to get people like me to switch from an Omega. Except of course that watch ownership is no more like that than any other piece of fashion. I don't wear my Nike trainers to a black tie event, and I can put on my Omega if I feel like it. During the day though, when I like to have notifications and activity tracking the Apple Watch is ideal.

And Apple seems to have nailed this because it announced at the launch of the new Series 2 that the first generation was the second best selling watch in the world, only bettered by Rolex . And I can believe it too, based on what I see with my own eyes. I see a lot of Apple Watch in the wild. I see virtually zero Android Wear devices and, of course, there are plenty of Swiss-built timepieces adorning the wrists of those I walk past in the street.

But there's another important thing that Apple included in the Series 2. Waterproofing to 50 meters. There're a couple of things here that I think are significant. Firstly, because it's water resistant down to 50 meters it becomes more like a "real" watch. Apple has gone beyond the standard IP rating for the Watch Series 2 and opted for the sort of waterproofing you'd get on an everyday timepiece.

What does that mean in real terms? Well, it means I can shower and swim with it and know it won't break. I don't shower with the water resistant original Watch because I prefer to stay safe, although I'm sure it's fine, there's no real reason to risk it. But consider this. The Apple Watch can be worn in the pool, and the iPhone 7 is water resistant enough to be left nearby without fear of it getting moisture damage. It sets the scene for a pair of devices which are useful to people leading active lives. Plus, the Watch can still hold music in its own memory, which means with the right headphones I can swim and listen to music. While battery life might be an issue, you could technically do a triathlon with a Series 2 Watch - I don't intend to test this theory.

These little things are small. They're baby steps that prove Apple has the long game in mind. In not changing the design, they don't alienate the first generation. Watch OS3 adds speed and new features that mean the original watch is functionally similar to the new one. No one feels cross and swears off Apple Watch in the future. It's a smart move if you ask me, and time will tell if I'm right.