High-end version of the iWatch could cost thousands of dollars

Does Apple plan to launch a diamond-encrusted iWatch to compliment its gold iPhone 5s? Probably not, but well-connected Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo of KGI Securities says that Apple is planning to launch several different iWatch models in 2014, including a high-end version that will cost thousands of dollars. In a research note sent to clients on Thursday morning that was picked up byMacRumors, Kuo wrote that Apple plans to launch not one but two main iWatch models in 2014.

In a 2014 product roadmap that outlines all of Apple’s plans for the year, KGI Securities analyst Ming Chi Kuo revealed his predictions for Apple’s much-rumored iWatch, which may ship as soon as the third quarter of 2014. According to Kuo, the iWatch will come in two separate sizes to accommodate different sized wrists: 1.3 inches and 1.5 inches. Multiple sizes for the device were first predicted in late 2013, though the original rumor pointed towards displays of 1.3 and 1.7 inches. Both watches will include flexible AMOLED displays with sapphire covers to protect the device from scratches. Along with a multitude of biometric sensors, coupled in a system-in-a-package design, Kuo predicts the iWatch will include integration with the iPhone, iPad, and Mac, along with a “fashionable appearance,” an NFC chip, and a slim and light design.