The price gap between an aluminium and stainless steel Apple Watch is £270. This is from a 45mm Series 9 Cellular aluminium model compared to a 45mm Series 9 Cellular stainless steel model with the same sport band.
You do get a sapphire crystal on the stainless steel models, but at the numbers Apple produces these watches that £270 feel extreme and even more unreasonable that the internal memory prices Apple loads on iPhones, iPads and Macs.
If you bought an aluminium model you could buy the following with the money left over-
A Seiko SRPE57K1 for £260 which comes with a mechanical movement and a stainless steel case and bracelet. You are getting an entire watch and would still have £10 to spend.
A 44mm Apple Watch SE. Yes, a whole other Apple Watch for your partner or child that will perform almost identically to the stainless steel Series 9.
A Tissot PR 100 which will leave you £5 to spend. It is quartz, but does come in a stainless steel case and with a sapphire crystal. Again, a whole watch with steel and sapphire included for less than what Apple wants to mere materials.
Come on Apple. I realise that you can charge this because we will still buy the more expensive options in large enough numbers, but the value proposition is woeful…