My Space Grey Aluminium case Series 5 Apple Watch which I bought on December last year have so many discolouration around the aluminium frame at every sides. I have been wearing it with a case on ever since I bought it. It really makes me frustrated that I cannot even wear it without having the case on because it looks so awful and worn out now. I have never dropped it or hit it against the wall or something, and even with a case on the aluminium still discoloured terribly. I've seen quite a few people who have encountered with this issue as well not only on the watch but also on Macbooks.
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Apple Watch Series 5 Aluminium case discolouration
- Thread starter LemonKing
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Maybe SG aluminium is just not the right material for you and Silver aluminium, SS or natural titanium would suit you better.
#1, Post pictures, it would be helpful to see what you’re referring to.
#2, , if I understand correctly, you were using a ‘protective bumper‘ case on the aluminum to protect the casing. If that’s accurate, it’s the bumper case that causes a discoloration on the aluminum case likely due to A.) a chemical reaction from temperature changes, B.) The fact that you probably never cleaned it or remove the case off the watch and/or 3.) Moisture was trapped under the bumper case, and caused a chemical reaction.
Here’s the thing, as much as bumper cases are advantage to protect against damage, they are also a horrible culprit in causing other problems. If you plan on using a bumper case, accept the consequences if you don’t remove it regularly to inspect the watch and clean it.
These pictures are self explanatory. The result of using a case on a Space gray Aluminium Series 5 in a high humidity country i guess. And those are not chipped, there are no bumps or whatever. The colour just faded off and turned silver, most probably the original colour of the aluminium before coated with the space gray colour. And i’ve never dropped it or knocked it against something and have been with a case since day 1. And it’s still less than a year old. Really sad when something so expensive can become like this when all I’m tryna do was to protect it with a case.
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You’re not gonna like what I have to say, but it’s your fault. You put a cheap protector around the casing, which had a chemical reaction with the aluminum because of the humid conditions that you live in and it altered the discoloration of the casing. That has nothing to do with Apple, they can’t control third-party products and the after effects. Now, if Apple sold a specific case that they manufactured and it caused a discoloration, then you could emphasize the blame on them. But in your situation, you may have had the intentions of trying ‘to protect the case‘, There’s nothing sad about what happened, even though you didn’t know the protective case would damage the coating, but it certainly isn’t Apples either.
I din’t blame it on anyone, did i? I was just trying to say that by using a case, it made my watch like it is right now. And i did not buy a cheap case like you somehow assumed. I bought a branded case from an Authorised Apple Premium Reseller Store which cost me around 20 dollars. Well no hard feelings here, just trying to point out that by using a case, it made my watch worst than actually protecting it. Thanks for your feedback anyway.
my watch has done the same down one side, totally discoloured. More bronze now was space grey. Never used a bumper. Never cleaned it with harsh chemicals (if I had it wouldn’t be on one side only). Apple have said it’s cosmetic and no apple care or warranty would cover it. I am expected to pay £250 to replace (with a reconditioned one) when it is clearly a fault. This is my 5th and last apple watch. I’m so disillusioned that the people at the Genius Bar could see the problem but could do nothing about it. My advice avoid coloured watches.