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Aluminum vs Steel -- Will the weight difference be noticeable?

C

carrerascott

macrumors regular
Original poster
Mar 18, 2009
241
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Aluminum watch is 25/30g (38/42mm) -- Ion-X Glass face
Steel watch is 40/50g (38/42mm) -- Sapphire Crystal face

The steel watch is almost twice the weight. But both watches are lighter than their bands...

The Steel watch comes with the Sapphire Crystal face. How much stronger is the Sapphire vs the Ion-X? Is it worth the added weight?

Or is 15/20g even a noticeable weight difference?
 
It is going to be very subjective for each individual. Some people are more sensitive to weigh and bands on the wrist than others. I use a Garmin 620 and it weighs 44g. While running I never notice the weight.
 
Apparently this guy can handle 50g + up to 75g (for the adjustable link bracelet) for exercising.

The-Gorgeous-Space-Black-Stainless-Steel-Apple-Watch-Likely-to-Be-the-Top-Choice-Among-Men.jpg
 
yeah, will be interesting to try them on, I hope they have some other retailers available to do try ons
 
carrerascott said:
Aluminum watch is 25/30g (38/42mm) -- Ion-X Glass face
Steel watch is 40/50g (38/42mm) -- Sapphire Crystal face

The steel watch is almost twice the weight. But both watches are lighter than their bands...

The Steel watch comes with the Sapphire Crystal face. How much stronger is the Sapphire vs the Ion-X? Is it worth the added weight?

Or is 15/20g even a noticeable weight difference?
Click to expand...

Where did you find the info for the weight? I've been looking for that.
 
Apple states that the stainless is 80% stronger. I'm afraid the aluminium is simply not durable enough, and I've never damaged any of my watches or smartphones. But that's why it's called an "accident".

I would steer clear of the Sport Model even if it's cleverly named. :)
 
Initially, you will notice the difference, especially if you don't wear watches. But wear it long enough, you won't notice it anymore, your muscle memory adjusts to the change.

Unless you're asking as an athletic runner, who wants to minimize as much weight as possible.
 
carrerascott said:
Aluminum watch is 25/30g (38/42mm) -- Ion-X Glass face
Steel watch is 40/50g (38/42mm) -- Sapphire Crystal face

The steel watch is almost twice the weight. But both watches are lighter than their bands...

The Steel watch comes with the Sapphire Crystal face. How much stronger is the Sapphire vs the Ion-X? Is it worth the added weight?

Or is 15/20g even a noticeable weight difference?
Click to expand...

I weighed a few of my existing watches to get some real comparisons:

- Sport with rubber band is about 2x as heavy as original Pebble watch.

- Watch with stainless link band is about 4x as heavy as the Pebble.
- Watch with stainless link band weighs in between a cheap seiko 5 (105g) with metal band and a bigger kinetic auto relay (135g). So the stainless Apple Watch at 125g is going to be a pretty hefty watch.
 
carrerascott said:
Aluminum watch is 25/30g (38/42mm) -- Ion-X Glass face
Steel watch is 40/50g (38/42mm) -- Sapphire Crystal face

The steel watch is almost twice the weight. But both watches are lighter than their bands...

The Steel watch comes with the Sapphire Crystal face. How much stronger is the Sapphire vs the Ion-X? Is it worth the added weight?

Or is 15/20g even a noticeable weight difference?
Click to expand...

To put things in perspective.

Omega Planet Ocean weighs 176g.

1-watch1.jpg



Pebble Steel weighs 56g

pebble-steel-15.jpg


Original Pebble (Plastic) 38G

9713809_sa.jpg;canvasHeight=500;canvasWidth=500
 
I think the difference would be very obvious. 50g vs 30g is proportionally a lot. However, I think it will be much harder to tell when you're actually wearing it. I doubt the SS would feel heavy to anybody.

carrerascott said:
But both watches are lighter than their bands...
Click to expand...

Where did you find the weight of the bands?
 
Julien said:
It is going to be very subjective for each individual. Some people are more sensitive to weigh and bands on the wrist than others. I use a Garmin 620 and it weighs 44g. While running I never notice the weight.
Click to expand...

Because 44g is NOTHING compared to most quality watches.
 
kmj2318 said:
Where did you find the weight of the bands?
Click to expand...

Apple website. Either "See all models" on landing page or Gallery > Select model > Scroll to bottom.

A summary can be found here:

Sport:
38mm = 47g
42mm = 51g

Classic Buckle:
38mm = 16g
42mm = 19g

Milanese Loop:
38mm = 33g
42mm = 41g

Leather Loop:
Medium = 30g
Large = 33g

Modern Buckle:
Small = 23g
Medium = 23g
Large = 24g

Link Bracelet:
38mm = 65g
42mm = 75g
(but remember you can remove individual pieces on this one)
 
JayLenochiniMac said:
Apple website. Either "See all models" on landing page or Gallery > Select model > Scroll to bottom.

A summary can be found here:

Sport:
38mm = 47g
42mm = 51g

Classic Buckle:
38mm = 16g
42mm = 19g

Milanese Loop:
38mm = 33g
42mm = 41g

Leather Loop:
Medium = 30g
Large = 33g

Modern Buckle:
Small = 23g
Medium = 23g
Large = 24g

Link Bracelet:
38mm = 65g
42mm = 75g
(but remember you can remove individual pieces on this one)
Click to expand...
But were was this info obtained from? I don't see it on the Apple Store. Also I find it externally hard to believe that the fluoroelastomer Sport strap weighs more that the Sport watch or the Milanese Loop. That is some HEAVY rubber.:eek:

EDIT: OK I see it now.
 
Yeah those Sport bands sound really heavy, which I think is good. Apple's website says "... just enough weight to drape smoothly across your wrist." If the the case is noticeably heavier than the band, it'll flop around a lot more. Especially with the extra weight of the SS version.
 
A US quarter weighs 5.7g on average. So the weight difference will be roughly 4 quarters. It's not a big deal at all.
 
For anyone worried about the weight, just make sure to wear it on the wrist that already gets more exercise than the other one.
 
Just looking on the Apple site at the fluoroelastomer's description and the first think it says is Industrial-strength color. Maybe that is a typo and supposed to be Industrial-weight color.:eek:

Reading down though it says "...just enough weight to drape smoothly...". I'm starting to think the weight shown is a typo. 51g for a rubber band just doesn't sound plausible and Apple seems to say it not heavy.
 
All of the Apple watches and straps are relatively light compared to most Quartz men's watches out there. I collect and work on watches and wear models that run anywhere from 75g to 180g. It's all in what you like and get used to. Also, the aluminum sport model should be quite robust. The aluminum is tempered similar to aircraft aluminum and that stuff is very tough. I have several Swatch Irony Aluminum watches with aluminum bracelets and they take more abuse without a single mark on them than most of my steel watches. I prefer simple stainless steel though, since I can refinish the scratched up surface easily with a set of fine grit sandpapers, and you can't do that with tempered aluminum. (Or steel that has been treated similarly, see Sinn watches). (Or treated titanium either, see Tissot T-touch polished titanium watches). Steve
 
Julien said:
Just looking on the Apple site at the fluoroelastomer's description and the first think it says is Industrial-strength color. Maybe that is a typo and supposed to be Industrial-weight color.:eek:

Reading down though it says "...just enough weight to drape smoothly...". I'm starting to think the weight shown is a typo. 51g for a rubber band just doesn't sound plausible and Apple seems to say it not heavy.
Click to expand...

That does sound off. Also, if the figures currently on apple.com are to be believed, different color Sport Bands have different weights:

White: 47g/51g
Blue: 44g/48g
Green: 43g/48g
Pink: 42g/46g
Black: 37g/40g
 
dljeffery said:
That does sound off. Also, if the figures currently on apple.com are to be believed, different color Sport Bands have different weights:

White: 47g/51g
Blue: 44g/48g
Green: 43g/48g
Pink: 42g/46g
Black: 37g/40g
Click to expand...

Somethings not right. There is no way the white is almost 25% heaver than the back. That makes no sense.
 
JayLenochiniMac said:
Apparently this guy can handle 50g + up to 75g (for the adjustable link bracelet) for exercising.

Image
Click to expand...

I would certainly expect that, but the final watch appears to have been dropped in there. You don't know the weight of the one he originally wore :p.
 
technosix said:
Apple states that the stainless is 80% stronger. I'm afraid the aluminium is simply not durable enough, and I've never damaged any of my watches or smartphones. But that's why it's called an "accident".

I would steer clear of the Sport Model even if it's cleverly named. :)
Click to expand...


Do you think that they'd really make a "sport"/fitness version that's not durable enough?
 
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