Apple Watch S0 Stainless Steel after years of heavy abuse

[bangak]

Thought I'd share some photos of my watch after years of heavy abuse for those deciding between aluminum and stainless.

This has been exposed to salt water sea kayaking, worn while working on my cars (covered in oils, scraped against metal parts etc), seen me through numerous building projects and the inherent abuse of construction (cutting metal, mixing and pouring concrete with many accidental spills on the watch, covered in all sorts of paints, stains and glues), and plenty of other things that should have caused it serious harm.

One of the dings is from a shovel falling from a hanger in a garage with the metal spade catching on the watch. I'm not sure about the others. Needless to say, the watch still works perfectly and the screen is amazingly flawless. Without a doubt, the most durable piece of tech I've ever owned.

It's taken on some character, for sure though.

 

[Rangers94]

Not bad!

Have you tried buffing out those micro scratches?

 

[keysofanxiety]

Sorry, this forum is only for posting negative feedback about Apple products. Expect a message from the mods shortly.

 

[bangak]

Not bad!

Have you tried buffing out those micro scratches?

Nope. Beyond an occasional rinse in water it’s never had any sort of cleaning or buffing.

 

[coolbreeze2]

Wow that looks great for the abuse! I wonder about the stainless steel that are gold and space gray. Do you think the color lasts too?

 

[bangak]

Wow that looks great for the abuse! I wonder about the stainless steel that are gold and space gray. Do you think the color lasts too?

I don’t know but I’m about to find out. Ordered a SSSB to replace this one. With how much abuse my watches take I’m a little concerned about the deep gouges it’s likely going to take on.

I understand the SB is more scratch resistant but I haven’t found many details on impact. The gouges aren’t really noticeable on the bare SS, but I don’t know if the SB stainless would show the bare steel underneath and obviously be much more jarring. Guess I’ll see.

 

[Falcon80]

Looks really good. I guess the physical aspect of it definitely can hold up. Only concern might be the internals.

 

[Rangers94]

Looks really good. I guess the physical aspect of it definitely can hold up. Only concern might be the internals.

Yea that’s my concern also. If I’m laying out as much as I will be for the SBSS I wanna be confident it will hold up externally and internally.

Anyone happen to know how Apple care works with Apple Watch if you crack the screen. What is the repair cost? Thx

 

[MareLuce]

WOW! Thanks so much for this post!

The most impressive thing - your screen looks perf.

Do you have a screen protector on it?
(What is that almost invisible line around the perimeter of the screen? A seam?)

 

[ann713]

A bit of cape cloth or Mag’s polish will get this baby looking like new!

 

[CPTmom2wp]

Thanks for the photos. I just ordered a SSGold today and have been having second thoughts about the extra expense for the SS. The Aluminum "gold" Series 3 was a funny colored gold....maybe a little too orange.....and never looked right with my gold jewelry/wedding rings. I was, however, happy to take the $225 offer for the used watch. The SSGold looks legit and will have to keep it a few years given the expense. It appears, as one would hope, that the SS metal will stand up to abuse.

 

[bangak]

WOW! Thanks so much for this post!

The most impressive thing - your screen looks perf.

Do you have a screen protector on it?
(What is that almost invisible line around the perimeter of the screen? A seam?)

No screen protectors ever used. Yep, that’s the seam where sapphire meets steel.
[doublepost=1537161507][/doublepost]

Looks really good. I guess the physical aspect of it definitely can hold up. Only concern might be the internals.

100% functional, just slow at this point.

 

[44267547]

A bit of cape cloth or Mag’s polish will get this baby looking like new!

Do not use Mag polish to remove the scratches, others have tried this and some of the paste can actually get lodged in between the crevices of the display and casing or parts of the Apple Watch. A Cape Cod cloth is a much safer method to remove the scratches.

 

[Lennyvalentin]

Thanks for posting! That's one amazingly beat-up watch. Personally I would suggest you don't polish it... Just let it be all scratched up, boldly and proud. It's not wear; it's patina!

I understand the SB is more scratch resistant but I haven’t found many details on impact. The gouges aren’t really noticeable on the bare SS, but I don’t know if the SB stainless would show the bare steel underneath and obviously be much more jarring. Guess I’ll see.

People say that the DLC coating, while very scratch resistant, it can chip from hard impacts (like your current watch has seen a fair deal of it seems). Certainly if there's deep gouged scratches the bare metal would show through. Still, maybe that could be a nice form of watch patina too for a handyman type person... *shrug*

Or you could just chicken out maybe and put a condom/case over it when you're in the workshop, if such things are still available.

 

[44267547]

Or you could just chicken out maybe and put a condom/case over it when you're in the workshop, if such things are still available.

I actually do _Not_ recommend using any type of plastic bumpers that surround the casing on the Apple Watch. These have been proven to be problematic in the sense that they can trap debris and contaminants that can gouge the metal on the 7000 Series aluminum or 316L stainless casing. Other members have attested to this by using those cheap plastic cases and have regretted it.

 

[rdy0329]

Same exact unit (SS BSB), same exact adoration. The watch really changed some aspects of my life for better or for worse.

 

[Cogsworth]

Yep ten minutes with a Cape Cod cloth would get that baby looking brand new again...one of the reasons I stick with stainless steel!!!

 

[betabeta]

Yeah, more needs be said just how strong these watches are, I was pulling on some weeds and it let go suddenly and I slammed it face first into a steel pole extremely hard, I freaked thought it would have cracked or shattered, but it held up. I wish they made the phone with the same glass.

My latest series 3 has no scratches at all, I can't say that about my phone, it has scratches.

 

[eneisch]

This is why I spent the extra money for Series 0 an Series 3. Very durable and you get great results when you polish the stainless with a Cape Cod cloth.

 

[OllyW]

Sorry, this forum is only for posting negative feedback about Apple products. Expect a message from the mods shortly.

I’ve got the same model in almost the same condition.


Is that the message you wanted?

 

[Brien]

Looks about the same as my S0, maybe a bit more beat up (but I don't take it kayaking or under cars either).

I can only imagine how these would hold up if Apple switched to 904L (one of my hopes), but not bad for 3.5 years of use.

 

[44267547]

Looks about the same as my S0, maybe a bit more beat up (but I don't take it kayaking or under cars either).

I can only imagine how these would hold up if Apple switched to 904L (one of my hopes), but not bad for 3.5 years of use.

904L stainless would only increase the cost even more for the Apple Watch, especially considering now it starts at $700 for the 40 mm and $750 for the 44 mm. I gather its a more ‘durable’ stainless, but You have to consider if Apple uses 904 stainless, does it really make sense When the black stainless offers DLC and PVD for the gold stainless? Likely not.

 

[bigchief]

What is the Cap Cod cloth everyone is talking about and where can you buy it.

 

[kanselmo]

I have a 2-year old series 2 space black stainless steel. I wear it every day and bang it into everything accidentally. No solvents or anything like that like the thread op, though. The color has not changed, shiny and metallic black. If I give it a quick rinse under water it looks pretty much like the day I got it. I do have a tiny-tiny amount of color worn away on the perimeter of the crown, but apart from that no scratches or chips from "everyday use."

Wow that looks great for the abuse! I wonder about the stainless steel that are gold and space gray. Do you think the color lasts too?

 

[bangak]

I have a 2-year old series 2 space black stainless steel. I wear it every day and bang it into everything accidentally. No solvents or anything like that like the thread op, though. The color has not changed, shiny and metallic black. If I give it a quick rinse under water it looks pretty much like the day I got it. I do have a tiny-tiny amount of color worn away on the perimeter of the crown, but apart from that no scratches or chips from "everyday use."

Good to hear. My main concern with SB is the potential for chipping / flaking. From a normal distance my watch still looks totally fine (in my opinion) because it's still a uniform color and the patina is pretty uniform. A chip in the SB finish, revealing a high contrast of bare steel underneath, would definitely be more noticeable I imagine.

Do you happen to have any small dents or dings in yours? Also, if you're able, I'd love to see what that color wear looks like on the crown if your able and willing. Assuming it's bright, bare steel showing through, right?