If you purchase any apple products between November 10 to December 25, you can return it by January 8 as it is the holiday return policy and noted on their return policy page. Since you seem not comfortable enough for getting SB due to the OCD, I suggest you keep what you have, the regular SS. At least you have peace in your mind.
Got a tip for us?
Let us know
Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.
Anyone managed to scratch a Space Black AW?
- Thread starter ajm222
- Start date
- Sort by reaction score
I prefer the appearance of the regular stainless for sure. But the Space Black still definitely looks good. But the scratch resistance is a huge selling point for me. I'm wondering if over time i would come to love the appearance of the space black just as much, plus get the scratch resistance. everyone seems to love the SB once they have it.
[doublepost=1482175950][/doublepost]true, and thanks
I have both. The regular stainless is more appealing with the high shine. But the black stainless has the sleek look and its sharp. Let us know what you decide.
will do. thanks again. chatting with apple online and they did mention that changing the order would push the delivery date out again, but that return period is through 1/8 (as mentioned above). so perhaps i will spend a couple of weeks with it and then make a decision. even if i apply the skin to the regular stainless, i think the armorsuit comes with two sets of skins and i could initiate a return with apple for the space black if i have second thoughts and not have to order another skin. will play with them some more at the Apple Store as well in the meantime.
From what I understand you can't buff out the swirls on the black on like you can on the silver one, but that's only what I've read and I haven't tried it myself.
Agreed. I don't believe you can buff the scratches out. Also I would be hesitant to try to buff the scratches out in the stainless black with the diamond like coating, being the uncertainty of what it might damage.
I have had the black SS S2 on since it was released. I owned a shiny SS S0 before since launch, which developed a patina that was relatively easy to buff out. The black SS S2 is amazing - I literally can't see any issues with the finish after months of wearing it. It's still like new! I like the sleek look of it too. I think the classic SS has more bling, looks a little more classic but it's a toss up looks wise for many.
But the DLC is VERY durable.
But the DLC is VERY durable.
Thanks, good to know. Going to spend a week or two after mine arrives making up my mind.
I don't know if there is a difference in how the DLC is applied but on my Garmin Fenix 3 HR the DLC showed wear and marks a few weeks after getting it.
I don't think I'd try and polish or buff the DLC but this could be different on the Apple version, I know I would not attempt it with the Garmin DLC..
I don't think I'd try and polish or buff the DLC but this could be different on the Apple version, I know I would not attempt it with the Garmin DLC..
I read a pretty in-depth article recently written by an expert who said that, like with anything else, there are several quality levels of DLC treatment available to industry. He is guessing from what he's seen that Apple appears to have used a premium treatment on the Apple Watch, and it likely uses Tungsten in the process, making it exceptionally resistant to damage. The Garmin probably uses a lesser DLC method. Still strong, but not nearly as good as the AW. Sounds like this is the case based on your experience.
I agree. I saw on garmin's site that it is a PVD-stainless housing. One would assume if they bothered to mention the colour was applied using PVD process, that if it were a DLC coating, they would mention it too. Think of it as PVD being the paint job (roller, brush, sprayed on) and DLC being the type of paint (acrylic, oil-based, etc). They advertise how the colour was applied but not the type of coating. So it may not be a DLC coating.
I accidentally smashed mine right into a fridge freezer handle made of steel. It made a sound like someone smacking a hammer on an anvil.
I thought oh jesus.. for sure I have shattered my watch's sapphire cover or broken the grown or something. I inspected it and guess what? Not one mark on it. No blemishes, no scratches .. nothing at all. Even the crown, perfect.
I thought for sure there would be some marks but absolutely nothing. I dunno what they did to create these but I wish the Jet Black iPhone used the same steel finish that's for damn sure.
I thought oh jesus.. for sure I have shattered my watch's sapphire cover or broken the grown or something. I inspected it and guess what? Not one mark on it. No blemishes, no scratches .. nothing at all. Even the crown, perfect.
I thought for sure there would be some marks but absolutely nothing. I dunno what they did to create these but I wish the Jet Black iPhone used the same steel finish that's for damn sure.
Wow. These are the posts that really make me question my decision
Though I'm starting to think perhaps that, while the regular SS will pick up minor scuffs and swirlies, I don't see many dings and dents being reported. I used to get dings and dents regularly in my regular stainless steel watches. I'm wondering if the cold forging process they use for the steel in the AW really does strengthen it to the point that that sort of damage is much less likely. I think I can live with minor scratches that don't really go deep into the metal, and can thus be easily buffed out. It's the dings and dents that always really bothered me. Sounds like the space black is especially impervious to both, but might not lend itself to being buffed as readily (which sounds largely unnecessary anyway in its case).
Thanks
The inky black screen does blend nicely with the black stainless.
Yep, it's the main reason I wanted a SBSS. You can't tell the difference between glass and body. It's just a perfectly smooth little black 'pod'. It could almost be "alien" technology
One thing I learned is that the space black DLC coating on the Milanese loop will actually scratch the sapphire glass of the watch. I discovered this the hard way after carrying the watch in my luggage with the loop completely wrapped around the watch body. Afterwards I noticed a series of tiny, evenly-spaced scratches on the sapphire glass. Quite puzzling, as I don't own any diamonds! Then I noticed the 'weave' of the Milanese matched the spacing of the scratches exactly. I tried lightly rubbing the band against the watch and, yep, I added more tiny scratches. Google and Reddit confirmed I wasn't alone - with pictures, no less!
DLC stands for Diamond Like Carbon and, yep, that coating is very hard indeed.
Lesson learned, not going to use the Milanese band on my watch any more. switching to leather loop. Apple just replaced my watch due to a warranty issue (turning off on its own) and the new baby shall stay away from Milanese band!
The Milanese band scratched up your Watch fairly bad? Which Generation Watch out of curiosity?
Most have said the stainless black Apple Watch is very difficult to scratch with the DLC coating. And mine is no exception. Exactly how did it scratch your Watch that badly out of curiosity?
It's been mentioned a few times that the DLC coated milanese loop can scratch both the space black watch and the ceramic back.
Oh wow. I just checked the ceramic back of my SBSS and, sure enough, it has lots of fine parallel scratches from the SB Milanese.
I often just leave the watch sitting on my desk and the magnets under the ceramic back pull the Milanese into contact with it. Guess I'll need to be more careful to keep them apart.