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Apple Watch - Link Bracelet Clasp Not Closing Correctly [MERGED]

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xRYD3Rx

macrumors 6502
Original poster
Jul 3, 2010
402
74
Hi guys I'm not sure if someone already posted this I did a google search couldn't find anything regarding my issue. I have the 42mm APPLE WATCH SPACE BLACK

My issue is with the link bracelet it seems like the bracelet clasp is not closing all the way. Hopefully I am explaining it correctly but I have photos I will post when I get home. Anyone have any issues like this?
 
--PHOTOS OF CLASP --
As you can see in the pictures I put an arrow next to the clasp area that when I push down to lock it/close it that 1 side does not push all the way down to secure.
 

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wow..... 500$ and it has QC issues.... not bad at all... However are you sure you didn't bend anything? Does it closes correctly on the other side? it may be that the rivets of the clasp mechanism are bent...
 
srsub3 said:
wow..... 500$ and it has QC issues.... not bad at all... However are you sure you didn't bend anything? Does it closes correctly on the other side? it may be that the rivets of the clasp mechanism are bent...
Click to expand...

Was like this straight out of the box. I'm sure I didn't bent it.
And yes closes perfectly on the other side! No issues what so ever.
 
Last edited:
I received on my Space Black Apple Watch on Monday. It's a beauty.

However, I'm concerned that the link bracelet is not snapping correctly. Half of the clasp, is rock solid when it locks down. However, 95 percent of the time, the other half of the clasp, has "give" if you push on it. I can lift my wrist here, push on that half of the clasp, and it pushes in and out, like it's not fully locked on that side.

A couple times, when not wearing the watch, I got it to fully seat with no give, but otherwise, it always has this "give" on one side of the clasp.

Is anyone else clasp this way, doesn't have to be the black watch, regular stainless link bracelet too?

Or does yours snap solid on both parts of the clasp with no give?

On my watch, it's always the side of the clasp closest to the bottom of the watch that does this, the side of the clasp closer to the top of the watch, is the solid one.

Thank you!
 
powerbook911 said:
I received on my Space Black Apple Watch on Monday. It's a beauty.

However, I'm concerned that the link bracelet is not snapping correctly. Half of the clasp, is rock solid when it locks down. However, 95 percent of the time, the other half of the clasp, has "give" if you push on it. I can lift my wrist here, push on that half of the clasp, and it pushes in and out, like it's not fully locked on that side.

A couple times, when not wearing the watch, I got it to fully seat with no give, but otherwise, it always has this "give" on one side of the clasp.

Is anyone else clasp this way, doesn't have to be the black watch, regular stainless link bracelet too?

Or does yours snap solid on both parts of the clasp with no give?

On my watch, it's always the side of the clasp closest to the bottom of the watch that does this, the side of the clasp closer to the top of the watch, is the solid one.

Thank you!
Click to expand...

Had the same problem with mine. One side would lock down pretty easy while the other took a little extra effort. I actually had to slip a finger between my wrist and clasp so I could put some extra pressure on it to get it to close. Once clicked close it never came loose. I changed out the SB for the SS with brown leather loop and like the band way more than the SB link. But the SB is sure nice looking.
 
Newtons Apple said:
Had the same problem with mine. One side would lock down pretty easy while the other took a little extra effort. I actually had to slip a finger between my wrist and clasp so I could put some extra pressure on it to get it to close. Once clicked close it never came loose. I changed out the SB for the SS with brown leather loop and like the band way more than the SB link. But the SB is sure nice looking.
Click to expand...

Thanks.

Interestingly enough, I actually found that if I take the watch off, it snaps FAIRLY easily maybe 1/2 times, but I actually break the snap loose on the bottom side, WITHOUT using the button. The good side doesn't budge.

What a pain as the watch was mint otherwise, and it can be a gamble with Apple in terms of scratches, etc. out of the box.

I wonder if they can do a mail warranty replacement of the band only? I don't want a different watch serial number. Again, I can return the entire watch and buy new one, but then you don't know if the watch itself is going to have a flaw.

I bet the SS with leather loop look great. I love the looks of leather loop (probably my favorite) but I don't buy leather products, so I'm stuck with rubber or metal.

I like the link bracelet ok if it wasn't for this flaw. How can a $500 bracelet have this flaw?

Honestly I think the link bracelets should have been at max $299.
 
powerbook911 said:
Thanks.

Interestingly enough, I actually found that if I take the watch off, it snaps FAIRLY easily maybe 1/2 times, but I actually break the snap loose on the bottom side, WITHOUT using the button. The good side doesn't budge.

What a pain as the watch was mint otherwise, and it can be a gamble with Apple in terms of scratches, etc. out of the box.

I wonder if they can do a mail warranty replacement of the band only? I don't want a different watch serial number. Again, I can return the entire watch and buy new one, but then you don't know if the watch itself is going to have a flaw.

I bet the SS with leather loop look great. I love the looks of leather loop (probably my favorite) but I don't buy leather products, so I'm stuck with rubber or metal.

I like the link bracelet ok if it wasn't for this flaw. How can a $500 bracelet have this flaw?

Honestly I think the link bracelets should have been at max $299.
Click to expand...


This is Apple so the price is high. I agree it should be Maxed in the $300 range.

You should not have to send your watch in just the bracelet. If you have AppleCare+ they will do it and wait on yours to return. If not I am not sure what they do. You got a year warranty so you could wait till the stores have them in stock. Mine was a little bit of a pain but all else worked. Give them a call and see what they say.
 
I'm reassured by this thread as I've had exactly the same problem. I suspect it's a design flaw, to be honest. I can't be bothered to return it. I've done enough returns recently. I just have a routine now where I make sure the thing is fully clicked and engaged. It usually doesn't require too much effort. If it gets worse, I'll complain.
 
I simply would never want to send in the entire watch even with an express replacement as you don't know what you're going to get.

I'd be ok swapping out the bands, but does Apple do that? I guess I can chat and find out at the service page.

profmatt sorry to hear it is the same for you. And yours is the traditional SS? Therefore, it's not just the black suffering?
 
powerbook911 said:
I simply would never want to send in the entire watch even with an express replacement as you don't know what you're going to get.

I'd be ok swapping out the bands, but does Apple do that? I guess I can chat and find out at the service page.

profmatt sorry to hear it is the same for you. And yours is the traditional SS? Therefore, it's not just the black suffering?
Click to expand...

Yes, mine is an SS. The link strap was a separate order. My watch came with the BSB.
 
I feel it's getting worse on my watch.

I cannot believe Apple ships a $500 band to multiple customers in this condition. It's disappointing in the watch and Apple. I sure didn't want to return this as I think the Space Black looks fantastic and mine was cosmetically perfect (rare with Apple), but I suppose there is no choice.
 
xRYD3Rx said:
Hi guys I'm not sure if someone already posted this I did a google search couldn't find anything regarding my issue. I have the 42mm APPLE WATCH SPACE BLACK

My issue is with the link bracelet it seems like the bracelet clasp is not closing all the way. Hopefully I am explaining it correctly but I have photos I will post when I get home. Anyone have any issues like this?
Click to expand...


Yep, this is 100 percent my issue. So disappointing for Apple and they have lost my $1100 due to this too. I hate to send it, but I feel there is no choice. Who is going to spend $1100 on a watch if the clasp won't fully close? Sometimes I can get it to close, but it will just reopen again.
 
This is a known issue. If you're unlucky like me, the clasp will also clamp down on loose skin on your wrist and draw blood. I believe it's a design issue since the entire bracelet is CNC milled. There needs to be some flex with human designs which is why most watch makers round out their edges on butterfly clasps and also has softer finished edges on the link bracelets.
 
Mine closes fine and stays closed. I would definitely try and get a replacement. You shouldn't have to send in the watch only the band. There aren't delays on the normal link as they had them both in stock in the store I went to. The SB has a delay now but that's about to go away probably. Shipping estimates have been decreasing and they went from shipping batches of 2 min to shipping weeks at a time in other countries. They are catching up on these. I know it sucks but it would be worth it to have a functioning band.
 
I'd get it replaced. If you have AC+, you can get an express replacement. They should have the bands in stock, as they should have stocked the warranty replacements first. They may ask you to take it into the store to have it inspected first.
 
My SS link bracelet is only a week old, but it closes perfectly and stays closed (and I have opened and closed it many, many times in only one week). Yours sounds defective. Call Apple support.

[Yes, as another poster mentioned, it's going to pinch your skin if you're not paying attention to what you're doing and where your skin is being caught in the fold, but with a little observation and practice, I can now close the band perfectly each time without catching any skin.]
 
powerbook911 said:
Yep, this is 100 percent my issue. So disappointing for Apple and they have lost my $1100 due to this too. I hate to send it, but I feel there is no choice. Who is going to spend $1100 on a watch if the clasp won't fully close? Sometimes I can get it to close, but it will just reopen again.
Click to expand...

Return it and repurchase don't get a replacement might have more issues. I returned mines 2-3 weeks ago I got another one on order to try the apple watch out again!
 
Or....you could get Apple to send you a new link braclet if there is nothing wrong with the watch itself. You'll get it in a couple of days and dont have to wait several weeks to re-purchase.

Also, that post above makes no sense. "don't get a replacement might have more issues"....re-purchasing is exactly the same as getting a replacment. Its an entirely new item of the exact same product. Both might have issues. Chances are though, that neither the replacment, or the re-purchase will have the same issue.

However there is a chance that the re-purchase might not have a band issue, but it MIGHT have a watch issue. If you did a replacment you would keep your watch and Apple would just replace the band only under warranty. You know the watch is good, so once you get a good band you're sorted.

If anything, there is more risk of getting another faulty one by re-purchasing rather than just replacing the defective band. Your choice though, and I do hope you get a good one this time round.
 
CharlesShaw said:
My SS link bracelet is only a week old, but it closes perfectly and stays closed (and I have opened and closed it many, many times in only one week). Yours sounds defective. Call Apple support.
Click to expand...

Ugh. I really don't want to. I'm going to put up with it for a while. I'm blaming my own inability to close it properly. I mean, it does lock closed. But not every time. It's best if I squeeze it between my thumb and finger, rather than just pushing it against my wrist.
 
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