I really like this http://www.apple.com/shop/product/MMAY2/38mm-marigold-modern-buckle-small and want one. However, I was floored when I saw $250. For a watch band? Anyone else think that is insane?
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Band question
- Thread starter patseguin
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I do.... That's ridiculous
Yes, I think all of Apple's band prices nutty. I bought a few OE Apple bands, but after buying a bunch of knock-offs, I cannot imagine a universe where I would buy another Apple OE band. Most of their bands are a total waste of money compared to very high quality knock-offs at 1/10 to 1/5 the cost.
There are enough really nice bands available on Amazon and other places now that it's a no brainer.
I have apple bands and 3rd party bands. Obviously the Apple bands are going to be better than some of the 3rd party ones. I would only go 3rd party for leather bands with custom lugs. If you want link bracelet or leather loop you are not going to get close to apple quality going 3rd party. Not sure about the nylon bands yet, I'll have to try them out.
Regarding Apple's $50 sport bands, I know many posters here have 'saved money' and bought the 3rd party sport band knockoffs and are satisfied enough with them. My experience with 3rd party sport bands is similar to what others who don't care for them have said however. I have several Apple sport bands and bought a hot pink third-party solely for the color. The 3rd party doesn't come in 2 sizes (with 3 straps like Apple's) so I'm wearing my Apple watch on a shorter band with a tighter fit than I'd like. I had forgotten I got two lengths with my Apple sport band when I ordered it. The material is silicone and while soft is very flimsy and feels cheap. In fact it's translucent enough to see my finger behind it unlike my Apple sport that is solid opaque. It's also an electrostatic magnet unlike my OEM. I have no idea what kind of metal they use for the pin, which does sit against my skin, and I just hope the adapter buttons don't pop off before I get enough wear from it to make it worth the $10 or so I paid for it.
The hot pink is something I will only wear on a rare occasion, but honestly if Apple made one in this color I have would be tossing it in the garbage and buying a $50 Apple one. The pink one convinced me that I'm done with these silicone knockoffs and would rather wait to pick up the fluoroelastomer when I can.
The new $50 Woven nylon bands look nice and I like the unique design of the weave. I bought a third party spring bar adapter ($15) and a black nylon zulu band ($10) to put on it a while back. The nylon bands are very light weight on the wrist. Big plus. But have to say for an extra $25 though I might have rather waited had I known and picked up the black woven band instead.
Now I have bought 3rd party adapters and bought several well-made watch bands for them and feel much better going that route. However it does bother me the adapters aren't totally polished so I'm still left with that "less than Apple perfect look". Wish I could say for the money it doesn't bother me but it does. I have learned that I don't wear the majority of my bands that often, so ultimately instead of a bunch of sub-par bands/adapters sitting in my watch band box I might have been happier in the long run just waiting and buying the real thing.
The hot pink is something I will only wear on a rare occasion, but honestly if Apple made one in this color I have would be tossing it in the garbage and buying a $50 Apple one. The pink one convinced me that I'm done with these silicone knockoffs and would rather wait to pick up the fluoroelastomer when I can.
The new $50 Woven nylon bands look nice and I like the unique design of the weave. I bought a third party spring bar adapter ($15) and a black nylon zulu band ($10) to put on it a while back. The nylon bands are very light weight on the wrist. Big plus. But have to say for an extra $25 though I might have rather waited had I known and picked up the black woven band instead.
Now I have bought 3rd party adapters and bought several well-made watch bands for them and feel much better going that route. However it does bother me the adapters aren't totally polished so I'm still left with that "less than Apple perfect look". Wish I could say for the money it doesn't bother me but it does. I have learned that I don't wear the majority of my bands that often, so ultimately instead of a bunch of sub-par bands/adapters sitting in my watch band box I might have been happier in the long run just waiting and buying the real thing.
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I paid the $50 for the nylon woven band, and I really like it. Is it overpriced, probably. Where I have a problem is the silicone sport bands. $50 each to me is absurd, they should be $35 max.
The other bands I don't have too much of an issue with price as I think they are for the most part worth it.
The other bands I don't have too much of an issue with price as I think they are for the most part worth it.
I haven't seen the woven band in person yet, but getting one tonight. I think the weave pattern of them is pretty unique and very different from the nylon 3rd party I have for my AW. Better judge of it later tonight when I get it home. Been curious to see the band in person.
Well they're not silicone. And the original Ikepod bands of the same design go for over 600 used, so consider it a bargain.
Wow, I wasn't even aware of the Ikepod bands, I honestly don't know a lot about watches in general. I will say that I did order a silicone band from Amazon and IMO it's definitely nowhere near as good as the Apple Sport band.
The Apple sport band feels more substantial and doesn't collect lint like these cheaper Amazon versions.
Yup, silicone collects lint like it's being discontinued! Anyone who's used an Apple phone case can attest to that. The OEM sports bands are build sort of like a gobstopper with different layers of different material so that it can be flexible and firm in many different temperatures.
I've bought a few of the cheapie bands from Amazon and at first I thought people were making entirely too big a deal out of the "collecting lint" thing, but my mind has officially been changed. The bands I bought from Moko were mainly because they were colors that Apple didn't offer (one was a beautiful super-pale pink, my favorite color), but I can hardly stand to wear them anymore because, well, I have cats. Torties, so their fur is dark, and it shows like CRAZY on the paler colors. Wiping it off with a dryer sheet takes the fur right off, but it comes back the next time I pet one of them. Drives me batty.
Ah cats. I have 4 currently in my house (2 mine and watching 2 for a friend while they're out of town for a month) and I get the lovely chore of picking the fur out of my milanese loop. Still not as bad as it would be with a silicone band though!!!
#thestruggleisreal
I have 3, 2 torties and a Bombay (looks like a little miniature panther), all of whom love to "help" me work all day by sitting in front of my computer, so those bands were like lint rollers. lol
i was discouraged by the Ives driven love of 'fine timepieces' trying to make AW compete in that market with super high prices. I'm not a watch collector or wearer generally but AW is not that. Hate Apple doing $10k gold, $500 bands etc.. Just do good tech and quality materials, don't need to wear no Status thang made of gold, absolutely no appeal to me and turned me off that Apple was trying to be high overpriced fashion ho $ grab, I like my AW otherwise.