Apple Watch Sport Space Grey Issue

[Bazooka-joe]

I had a ceramic but swopped it out for an SS 2 because I couldn't get used to the color. I love the SS and had a series 0 from day 1. I intend to use the SS 2 at weekends only as i like to swop my watches around. I have used some of the money saved from the ceramic to order a space gray 2 and i will wear that for work only. I know it will mark but that doesn't bother me as it will be a work tool only and not a fashion accessory that i want to keep pristine andi i will keep it until it falls apart The SS i will swop out when the third gen comes along.
I think that the sport watches are great but they are every day work horses where the SS is classy and blingy. If the OP wants a watch that is going to look good all the time then he should pony up more cash and get the SS...its well worth it

 

[kfscoll]

I've had my Space Gray Sport for not quite a year and a half, have bumped it into innumerable things, and yeah, if I examine it closely with a high-intensity flashlight, there are a few microscopic marks in the finish around the glass - and from a foot away in normal use, they're basically invisible. This is completely normal (and that edge is more likely to get marked up because it comes up to a very thin edge around the screen - so the metal and its finish are at risk from multiple angles - and it's a little closer to the real world, so more likely to get bumped)...

As others have said, uncoated stainless steel and aluminum (such as the "silver" aluminum Apple Watch) will naturally make surface wear much less evident, since there's no dissimilar finish to abrade, just the base metal, which can be polished or sanded to smooth out any damage.

There's no way you'd be able to physically chip the tiny edge around the display without damaging anything else. If that's the only location where you have chips or dings, there's another factor at play...poor anodization or something else causing the finish to flake off. In other words, it's not something that the user did to cause the finish to chip.

Just like all of Apple's silver computers, the "silver" aluminum watch is anodized also. It'd eventually corrode otherwise (just because aluminum doesn't rust doesn't mean it doesn't corrode - ask anyone who's been around aircraft maintenance). Go right ahead and try to sand or polish out damage to a silver Apple Watch and when you remove that anodization you'll figure out pretty quickly it had a finish.

 

[charlOOsi]

Yep, I had the same issue. I only had my watch for probably a couple of days (38mm space grey aluminum) and on the second day of wearing it, I noticed two blemishes on the top perimeter of the glass/aluminum. I am pretty careful with my watches and the fact that it appeared on the second day made me return this item today. People saying it's not a big deal need to understand that the blemishes are a huge contrast to the space gray and it blinks in the light making it distracting.

 

[Defender2010]

That's starting to happen in mine too. I'm thinking of upgrading to the Stainless steel Space Black. Wondering if the same happens to that.

No it doesn't as then lettering etc are engraved and then covered in the DLC layer.

 

[kfscoll]

Yep, I had the same issue. I only had my watch for probably a couple of days (38mm space grey aluminum) and on the second day of wearing it, I noticed two blemishes on the top perimeter of the glass/aluminum. I am pretty careful with my watches and the fact that it appeared on the second day made me return this item today. People saying it's not a big deal need to understand that the blemishes are a huge contrast to the space gray and it blinks in the light making it distracting.

After having two watches already that've had this problem I've determined (between my experiences and others' anecdotal evidence) that that's just the way these watches are. I don't like it, but I'm not going to go through a litany of exchanges to try to get a perfect one because even if it's perfect out the box (as my second one was) it's likely not going to stay that way. I run 35+miles a week using my watch so it's probably safe to assume that if these are prone to this type of wear and tear any space gray aluminum one I get will eventually start to chip.

I'll just swap it in a year or so using AppleCare+ if it starts looking really ragged. Besides, I have a SS original Apple Watch that works just fine for pretty much anything other than running.

 

[Nisaja]

For the people who think it's impossible for aluminum at the edge of the glass to chip without damaging anything else, here's my watch. It JUST HAPPENED. This watch has been babied since the day I got it. I've only worn it 20 times. Not a single scratch on the glass or the surface. But the paint just chips at that edge. Bad anodizing done by apple.

 

[Nisaja]

No it doesn't as then lettering etc are engraved and then covered in the DLC layer.

So the DLC layer doesn't chip like the Space grey aluminum Apple Watch? Would be really ****** if it's doing the same. After spending so much

 

[Defender2010]

So the DLC layer doesn't chip like the Space grey aluminum Apple Watch? Would be really ****** if it's doing the same. After spending so much

It's not chipping and it doesn't. My space black watch looks pristine.

 

[kfscoll]

For the people who think it's impossible for aluminum at the edge of the glass to chip without damaging anything else, here's my watch. It JUST HAPPENED. This watch has been babied since the day I got it. I've only worn it 20 times. Not a single scratch on the glass or the surface. But the paint just chips at that edge. Bad anodizing done by apple.

I think you're referring to my comment and actually I agree with you - I just phrased my comment poorly. What I mean is that the chips that are confined to the small lip around the glass are impossible to cause by smacking the watch against something. It'd be impossible to smack your watch and only damage that tiny lip. In other words, something else is causing the poor finish around the edge of the glass to come off - poor anodization or whatever else it could be.

Honestly, if the finish on that lip is going to come off, I wish it would all come off. At least it would look even.

I'm surprised there aren't more comments about this. I guess most people don't notice or figured they caused the damage.

 

[Nisaja]

Exactly! That line is so hard to get. However, I have successfully touched it up with some gunmetal paint I got for my car's wheels lol. Here are some before and after pics. It looks alright.

 

[ifarlow]

I'm surprised there aren't more comments about this. I guess most people don't notice or figured they caused the damage.

There is a third option: it doesn't happen to most people, myself included.

 

[arman94]

In my case, my original Apple Watch did not have any paint issue, however, all replacements which I had have the same paint problems. The last time Apple replaced my Watch to retail one (Serial number does not start with letter "N") I did not have any issues.

 

[Nisaja]

I can't believe this is happening. My watch looks like a cheapo Chinese knockoff.

 

[Badrottie]

If you guys don't like dent or anything like that then use case protector you can find many at Amazon

 

[Nisaja]

Those cases are so ugly man!

 

[arman94]

My original Apple Watch did not have any paint issues, however, after getting replacements one I have notices these white spots. I have exchanged ~9 Watches, 90% of them had these issues out of the box. Finally, I got another replacement which was not refurbished (Model number starts with "M"). Since that no issues.

 

[Nisaja]

My original Apple Watch did not have any paint issues, however, after getting replacements one I have notices these white spots. I have exchanged ~9 Watches, 90% of them had these issues out of the box. Finally, I got another replacement which was not refurbished (Model number starts with "M"). Since that no issues.

My Apple Watch has a model number that starts with "M" too. Paint is chipping like crazy

 

[ifarlow]

Paint between glass and aluminium is vanishing.

...but the paint doesn't just blow off in the wind.

...have painting issues...

...the paint just chips at that edge.

...did not have any paint issue...

...did not have any paint issues...

Paint is chipping like crazy...

Holy cow... it's not paint.

 

[Nisaja]

Lol. My bad my bad.

 

[Vampire14]

My original Apple Watch did not have any paint issues, however, after getting replacements one I have notices these white spots. I have exchanged ~9 Watches, 90% of them had these issues out of the box. Finally, I got another replacement which was not refurbished (Model number starts with "M"). Since that no issues.

Hi guys
Same issue here. My Apple Watch is a white box replacement, serial number:
NPO52LL/A
On my aluminium edge there are pin-head sized silver specs that glisten under halogen lighting. Tried to take a pic, but hard to see.
I am going to get some of the gunmetal paint, however as I'm in Oz, not sure what brand/colour code would be best.
Sad that this is happening, as my original Apple Watch had a heart rate sensor issue and a possibly related charging issue. One sensor on the back was visibly mis-aligned.

 

[kfscoll]

Hi guys
Same issue here. My Apple Watch is a white box replacement, serial number:
NPO52LL/A
On my aluminium edge there are pin-head sized silver specs that glisten under halogen lighting. Tried to take a pic, but hard to see.
I am going to get some of the gunmetal paint, however as I'm in Oz, not sure what brand/colour code would be best.
Sad that this is happening, as my original Apple Watch had a heart rate sensor issue and a possibly related charging issue. One sensor on the back was visibly mis-aligned.

I recommend you leave well enough alone. Globs of touch-up paint will be way more obvious than the tiny nicks.

 

[44267547]

View attachment 708782

Hi guys
Same issue here. My Apple Watch is a white box replacement, serial number:
NPO52LL/A
On my aluminium edge there are pin-head sized silver specs that glisten under halogen lighting. Tried to take a pic, but hard to see.
I am going to get some of the gunmetal paint, however as I'm in Oz, not sure what brand/colour code would be best.
Sad that this is happening, as my original Apple Watch had a heart rate sensor issue and a possibly related charging issue. One sensor on the back was visibly mis-aligned.

That's the unfortunate part with the 7000 series aluminum on the sport model. Is that it tends to have minuscule chips around the display, likely from impact. And the space gray model will show more damage because of the color and the paint chipping off.

On your cognizance, If you really wanted to try to touch up the areas that are chipping, I would not suggest paint. But you could find a paint marker that has a fine tip that matches as close as the paint scheme to the space gray.

Always, if you feel it's a defect, you could contact Apple and see what they say. It wouldn't hurt trying or making an appointment with Apple to let them take a look at it.

 

[Vampire14]

That's the unfortunate part with the 7000 series aluminum on the sport model. Is that it tends to have minuscule chips around the display, likely from impact. And the space gray model will show more damage because of the color and the paint chipping off.

On your cognizance, If you really wanted to try to touch up the areas that are chipping, I would not suggest paint. But you could find a paint marker that has a fine tip that matches as close as the paint scheme to the space gray.

Always, if you feel it's a defect, you could contact Apple and see what they say. It wouldn't hurt trying or making an appointment with Apple to let them take a look at it.

Hi Relentless Power
Yes I have been giving it some thought and on reconsidering the paint option, have my concerns. Funny that you mention the marker, as I have thought it a best option. Do you mean permanent or actual paint-based marker?

Cheers

 

[satchmo]

This has me spooked about getting anything but silver aluminium or SS.

But personally, I'd step away from any markers or paint.

Yes, one chip really stands out on the Space Grey aluminium.
Perhaps over time, with more scratches, it may take on a more natural well-worn look?

 

[macdragonfl]

The best way if you are going to touch up is use a Sharpie marker. You can then get a deep grey not black and you will have a fine tip. You want to mask with painters tape the screen and the edge exposing only the chips. Take the marker and just dot until the chip is covered. Sharpie markers are not paint so you will get only a tiny bit of the color. The less of the product the better as you will not see globs like from a paint marker. Also it minimizes the contrast if the color is not exact. If the color is not deep enough wait 5 minutes and apply another dot. It may wear of over time. But it’s a simple process to touch back up. The ink of the Sharpie marker is very thin. So it will hide the chip with out being obvious. Sharpies also work well for furniture touch ups when you get the proper color and use the same procedure as above. If you go to dark or make a mistake, a dot of rubbing alcohol with a cue tip works like an eraser.