Apple Watch arriving in stores as smartwatch launched in new markets

Though previously people could try them on in store, they still had to go on the internet to actually buy them

Apple CEO Tim Cook points at an Apple Watch at an Apple Store on April 10, 2015 in Palo Alto, California. The pre-orders of the highly-anticipated wearable from the tech giant begin today as the watches arrive at stores for customers to preview. (Getty Images)

Apple Watches are finally to be sold in stores, two months after it was released online.

Some Watches will go on sale in stores in two weeks, according to the company. It said it had been working to reduce the backlog of orders, which have seen many people waiting weeks to receive the wrist-worn computer.

“The response to Apple Watch has surpassed our expectations in every way, and we are thrilled to bring it to more customers around the world,” said Jeff Williams, Apple’s senior vice president of Operations. “We’re also making great progress with the backlog of Apple Watch orders, and we thank our customers for their patience.

"All orders placed through May, with the sole exception of Apple Watch 42 mm Space Black Stainless Steel with Space Black Link Bracelet, will ship to customers within two weeks. At that time, we’ll also begin selling some models in our Apple Retail Stores.”

The company also said that the Watch would go on sale in a range of new markets: Italy, Mexico, Singapore, South Korea, Spain, Switzerland and Taiwan. Customers there will be able to buy the Watches in store from the very beginning, as well as online.

That will begin on June 26, the same day that the Watches will go on sale in stores elsewhere.

Pre-orders of the Watch began on April 10, and they went officially on sale two weeks later. Until now, all of those orders have been online.

Customers have previously been able to go into stores to try Watches on, but had to make orders online and then get them delivered.