Apple‘s late-90s design era refuses to stay in the past, and a new Apple Watch concept inspired by the iMac G3 shows why that era still has a grip on fans. Created by Saffy Creatives, the concept imagines what Apple’s smartwatch might look like if it borrowed directly from the translucent, candy-colored computers that defined the late 1990s and early 2000s.
This is a fan-made design, not an official product, but the level of detail makes it easy to see why it is getting attention. By blending the modern wearable with a bold slice of Apple’s past, the Apple Watch G3 concept shows how powerful nostalgia-driven design can be, especially for fans who still remember unboxing their first translucent Mac.
A detailed throwback, not just a color swap
Instead of metal or matte finishes, the watch body is encased in transparent plastic, resembling the original iMac G3. The case has a chunky, playful feel rather than the slim, minimalist look of current Apple Watches.
On the front, there is a classic rainbow Apple logo. The bezel is clean and rounded, keeping the focus on the see-through housing and the color beneath it. The concept is shown in multiple shades inspired by the original iMac G3 lineup, along with colors that remind us of early iBook laptops.
Each version pairs the translucent case with matching see-through straps, extending the plastic aesthetic beyond the watch body itself. Even though the overall shape still resembles a modern Apple Watch, the materials and finishes give it a very different personality, one that feels playful instead of sleek.
The appeal is purely visual, tapping into a growing appetite for retro-inspired tech at a time when many gadgets look increasingly similar. It also echoes moments when Apple flirted with playful design, from testing pink and yellow AirPods prototypes to leaning into nostalgia in unexpected ways like the $230 iPhone sock.
Even quirky accessories such as the grip-style MagSafe stand serve as reminders that some of Apple’s most iconic products stood out because of how they looked, not just what they could do.
