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Apple Watch series 4 Aluminium vs SS
- Thread starter AVBeatMan
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No SB cannot be polished, but it's much harder to scratch in the first place.
It comes with a DLC (diamond like coating) on it. You can wipe it down with a soft cloth, but you will want to avoid using any polishing products on it as it would remove the DLC. I typically just put some lukewarm water and a microfiber towel (or whatever is in my bathroom and available) to clean it if I just used it and sweated profusely.
Unfortunately, it looks differently at resale. The SS/BSS versions "lose" a lot more value on a % basis than aluminum. I think how long you keep it makes a big difference to how that sorts out for you (or at least it would to me). Unless you just plain like the look and/or feel better, in which case, heck, go for it!
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No, it's DLC (diamond-like coating) coated. You can't polish it at all. Buy a Sharpie...
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Also true.
Funny you say that, I just purchased a used S3 SS finished in space black, was described as mint but arrived in pretty bad shape, the whole casing was scratched and even more alarming was the screen had a load fine scratches all over it. Kinda surprised really as I also believed it would make for a much harder wearing watch.
I would be irate, and whoever and wherever you purchased your Apple Watch from, I would be filing a claim immediately if that was my situation.
The watch has been returned. I just understand how it was in such a bad state considering it's meant to be more durable being the stainless steel and the screen more so! I've had cheaper watches with sapphire glass and they are pretty much spotless after wearing them as a daily beater watch.
I think a used SBSS would have a higher risk of having scratches on the screen than the standard SS. If the old owner used the Milanese loop with it and was careless he could of been scratching the screen and not realizing why it was happening.
And I believe that's exactly whats happened, it was used with a milanese loop - the whole casing was covered in marks as was the screen!
So I have several nice quality “traditional” watches - Rolex, Omega and really want an Apple Watch. Of course you never “upgrade” a traditional watch unless to get a new model. So of course appreciating nice watches I wanted Stainless steel. However I know I will want to upgrade this watch to the newer model - just like I do with my ipad and phone every year. However the Stainless Steel models depreciate much faster - like they are only worth $25 more on trade in - so....
This has me leaning towards the Aluminium. But I really want the Stainless Steel.
This has me leaning towards the Aluminium. But I really want the Stainless Steel.
I got the stainless steel (space black) and plan on keeping it for 2 years. I don’t think the Apple Watch updates much every year so plan on keeping for 2. The series 4 is a significant upgrade, the biggest yet.
I’ve had the same Rolex for 30 years. Warning...I don’t know what will happen with you, but mine has been in a drawer ever since getting my AW in the fall. I’m an exercise freak, so taking the AW off would mean losing progress in one of the rings and we can’t have that! I got stainless, and won’t upgrade again for a few years, but then, I also went from an iphone 5 to an X, and have had my iPad Pro since they came out. We also just sold a car we’d had for 33 years.... Do you see a trend here...
Unfortunately Apple creates a real dilemma for its customers on this: $420 for aluminum with glass, $520 for the same watch with cellular, then a jump to $750 to add SS and sapphire. The SS and sapphire are not the same as your traditional watches. Or even more pedestrian traditional watches.
The SS is a thin band around the perimeter of the case. It's not a single block of SS, stamped or machined into a case, as on a traditional watch. No idea how thick or substantial it is, but given that they need to fit a lot components inside a small case, and just about the entire back is ceramic\sapphire, I wouldn't be surprised if both the aluminum and SS is a more of a thin decorative shell.
The glass and sapphire are bonded to the display, and I would imagine are the same thickness to allow for the touch operation of the watch. Like the case material, I suspect both the glass and sapphire are thin shells rather than the thick crystals found in traditional watches. I believe both the glass and sapphire have the same exterior oleophobic coating to reduce glare.
Net-net, the $230 incremental cost for the SS ($320 from the non-cellular aluminum) appears to be a deliberate, disingenuous "in your face" marketing tactic by Apple. If SS and sapphire are just thin egg shells, a $100 - $130 up charge would be more appropriate, with the same option for cellular and non-cellular versions. Apple is over the line IMHO: it's OK too nudge, but you don't want the customer to feel like they've been screwed.
I started with the aluminum 4 GPS, very skeptical on the whole thing. Figured I'd try it out and return just to satisfy my curiosity. But I've been hooked, and have found some tangible benefits. This is perhaps the first true wrist device that is not just primarily a single purpose, specialty device, like a Garmin or Fitbit. I love my mechanicals, and never thought I'd find the AW as anything more than a novelty.
So decided to stay the course, returned the aluminum for SS and sapphire. If I'm going to give this a try, so might was well be "all in". In less than 2 weeks, the aluminum's glass had marks. And I'm careful, never put a mark on any watch crystal in nearly 20 years, dozens of watches. I like the SS feel better. And even a think sapphire should hold up better on a watch that requires constant touching of the screen to operate.
One concern is the oleophobic coating. Many reports of that scratching, or wearing off and leaving the screen looking horrible. Even on new 4's. I have a few more days to return the SS, and that alone may tip the scale.
Another concern is the "force-touch" feature. Sapphire is not flexible, and some of the scratches people report appear to be cracks from pressing on the sapphire.
Good luck with your decision.