Apple Watch Pre-Order Shipping Estimates Slip To June And Beyond

Despite reviews that ranged from "mostly magical" to "steep learning curve" to "fancy, but not necessary" and a swath of middling "Will Buy" polling percentages, the Apple Watch is ringing the registers online and appears to be an out-of-the-box hit, as less than an hour after the opening of pre-orders at 12:01AM PST the U.S. shipping estimates for many versions of Apple's new device slipped from "4/24 to 5/8" to "4 to 6 weeks" to "June" (and in the case of the Apple Watch Edition Rose Gold, "July").

Lending a little cold water perspective, some stainless steel versions of the Apple Watch models listed delivery estimates past the April 24 official launch date at the start ("4 to 6 weeks" for those with Modern Buckle and Leather Loop bands, and "June" for those with Link Bracelets), while all versions of the Gold Apple Watch Edition came out promised for "May".

Here is a list of U.S. shipping times for Apple Watch, as of 01:00AM PST:

• Apple Watch Sport White 38mm: June 
• Apple Watch Sport White 42mm: June
• Apple Watch Sport Blue 38mm: June
• Apple Watch Sport Blue 42mm: June
• Apple Watch Sport Green 38mm: June
• Apple Watch Sport Green 42mm: June
• Apple Watch Sport Pink 38mm: June
• Apple Watch Sport Pink 42mm: June
• Apple Watch Sport Space Gray 38mm: June
• Apple Watch Sport Space Gray 42mm: June
• Apple Watch with Sport Band: 4-6 weeks
• Apple Watch with Classic Buckle 38mm: Delivers 4/24 to 5/8
• Apple Watch with Classic Buckle 42mm: 4-6 weeks
• Apple Watch with Milanese Loop: 4-6 weeks
• Apple Watch with Leather Loop: 4-6 weeks
• Apple Watch with Modern Buckle (Brown): 4-6 weeks
• Apple Watch with Modern Buckle (Black): 4-6 weeks
• Apple Watch with Modern Buckle (Soft Pink): June
• Apple Watch with Modern Buckle (Blue): June
• Apple Watch with Link Bracelet Stainless Steel: 4-6 weeks
• Apple Watch with Link Bracelet Space Gray: June
• Apple Watch Edition Rose Gold: July
• Apple Watch Edition Yellow Gold: June 

Apple has been upfront regarding the potential for long wait times for the Apple Watch, saying for some time that supplies would be limited at the start and recently announcing that for the foreseeable future all Apple Watch orders must be placed online. And in anticipation of low supply and hoped-for high demand (apparently achieved), Apple last week announced that walk-up customers would not be able to purchase the bauble on the April 24 launch date or anytime soon thereafter.

All of that said, the news could be worse, which it is for China-based customers who are hot to get a 38mm 18-Karat Yellow Gold Case with Bright Red Modern Buckle Apple Watch Edition wrapped around their wrist as the oh-so-pricey doodad ($17,000!) is currently "Mu qian wu huo" ("At present out of stock").

Of course, for the enflamed and truly desperate fanboy/fangirl drawing extremely short breaths at the idea of wielding an Apple Watch a nano-second after any other like-afflicted person, there is always eBay...