Band/Link Band Replacement

[loon3y]

It would be useful to know if OP separated the Link Bracelet sections before swapping bands.

the thing is, its a $500 dollar band. There were no Clear warning. I got this as a gift pretty much because they didnt like the link band and the original person that bought this rather just wear their rolex.


Obviously they couldn't have a BIG warning message saying that take the link bracelet off as two pieces because of obvious marketing reasons.


but yeah its a pretty flimsy

 

[loon3y]

That's what I don't like about Apple's bracelet. I like all of its features, from the push button links (don't have to trust some underpaid jewelry kiosk knucklehead to bang at it with a hammer and pin punch) to the hidden clasp, and even the visual style itself.

But I don't like how fragile it seems to be. Watches on bracelets used to be sporty models intended to serve in conditions that aren't good for leather straps, like diving, harsh climates, and plain old sweat. They were expected to take a beating, and weren't necessarily about bling, either.

Yes, this is the most expensive Apple Watch variant, but "expensive" does not mean "dressy"; the dressiest Apple strap is the Classic Buckle, IMO. I've got a used rental tux, and just because it was cheap, it sure ain't "casual". I'd want the bracelet to tolerate abuse, being stronger than the sport band and safer to wash than the leather straps.

I'd be fine with a redesigned clasp which could handle disconnecting from the Watch without having to split the band. I also wish that the pushbutton link idea could be executed without making links that feel like they could be snapped in half.

The bracelets on my Seiko and Rado (which I admit isn't exactly "sporty") don't give me any reason to worry:
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Thank you, exactly.


Its a $500 band thats not worth $500. its still nice, but I'm pretty sure it costs less then $100 dollars to make this metal band.

 

[JayLenochiniMac]

the thing is, its a $500 dollar band. There were no Clear warning. I got this as a gift pretty much because they didnt like the link band and the original person that bought this rather just wear their rolex.


Obviously they couldn't have a BIG warning message saying that take the link bracelet off as two pieces because of obvious marketing reasons.


but yeah its a pretty flimsy

No clear warning? The official method of removing the link bracelet is clearly illustrated in the booklet that came with your Watch.

Its a $500 band thats not worth $500. its still nice, but I'm pretty sure it costs less then $100 dollars to make this metal band.

So you want them to sell the link bracelet at cost ($100) and make no profit? Remember they sell the Sport bands for $49, but they cost them only $2 a pop to make.

A single link in some of the link bracelets from luxury manufacturers costs more than Apple's Link Bracelet. Calling Apple's bracelet expensive is like calling a mid-priced car expensive.

 

[BarracksSi]

A single link in some of the link bracelets from luxury manufacturers costs more than Apple's Link Bracelet. Calling Apple's bracelet expensive is like calling a mid-priced car expensive.

I've become convinced that luxury brands' straps and bracelets (and all the associated parts) are priced so high because they're using a percentage of the total watch's price. They're not charging for exotic materials (outside of maybe Richard Mille, anyway) or advanced techniques (see a contentious thread at WatchUSeek about Omega links coming from China instead of Switzerland). I'm figuring that a bracelet gets priced at about 10-20% of the total watch price.

Plus, there's the theory that they all came from the same production line anyway (cough..Swatch Group..cough..) ;-)

 

[loon3y]

No clear warning? The official method of removing the link bracelet is clearly illustrated in the booklet that came with your Watch.



So you want them to sell the link bracelet at cost ($100) and make no profit? Remember they sell the Sport bands for $49, but they cost them only $2 a pop to make.

A single link in some of the link bracelets from luxury manufacturers costs more than Apple's Link Bracelet. Calling Apple's bracelet expensive is like calling a mid-priced car expensive.

If it was this much of a problem, there should be a clear warning.


Again i didnt get EVERY thing that came with it.


It doesn't matter if a "single" link of rolex band costs more.

thats not the point. this bracelet is no where near worth $500 dollars for any watch band thats out there.

If you're comparing the apple watch to real watches now.


the finish isn't great and the quality isn't as great and the edges are pretty aren't rounded or smoothed out.


lol make no profit? they make plenty of profit, Apple makes more profit on a single iPhone then almost every android model combined.


They make plenty of profit, they have been for while. They can definitely still sell the band at a more affordable price.


did i say $100? who knows how much that band costs it can be $10 dollars or it can $80.


lol at comparing luxury bands with apple metal link band. I'm assuming you don't own a link band because you wouldn't say that statement if you did.

 

[loon3y]

on a side note, they only took the band i was wearing, not the extra links that was apart of it.

I have small wrists so i got extra links for days!

 

[BarracksSi]

Thank you, exactly.


Its a $500 band thats not worth $500. its still nice, but I'm pretty sure it costs less then $100 dollars to make this metal band.

I can't say how much Apple's bracelet costs to make. While I'll wager that it's more expensive than the Seiko's bracelet I posted, and likely even more than the Rado's, I think its design has tolerances that are too tight.

I think bracelets and clasps need some amount of "give" before they bend too much to operate correctly. Apple's link tabs don't wiggle much at all, and the clasp doesn't have much room, either.

My Rado actually has a double clasp which uses a spring-loaded ball snap to hold the second part in place. I'll have to look at Apple's again sometime.

Again, in a lot of ways, I love Apple's, and I think it's the most user-friendly bracelet out there. I want it to be successful.

Pics from when I got to size one and try it for myself:

 

[maliu]

If you're going to passive-aggressive, it might be best to actually use correct grammar.



This isn't a dud. I've had this band since May and I've worn it daily. The band broke due to an engineering issue. Apple told me that they're waiting for the engineering department to respond so they can study the problem with my link bracelet. (they need to evaluate the problems with new products)

It's not a $500 dollar link, it's called great marketing. I don't mind the price, but I just very surprised it just broke like this after 2-3 months.


Yes, regular watch bands can withstand wear and tear. Ihave a tag watch that is as old as me and that whole watch costs less then then the band itself.


But thanks for contributing nothing to this thread. Has anyone gotten through this replacement process?

If you plan on complaining about other posters' (yes that is a plural possessive) grammar, you might want to be sure yours is correct. I've taken the liberty to edit your post to make it a bit more grammatically correct. I had nothing else to contribute. Please learn when to use its (possessive) and it's (contraction of it and is).

 

[Aluminum213]

Beautiful band but insane price, as much as I want it I can't justify the price being more then an apple watch sport