Best leather loop knockoffs

[mjr1000]

Cant stomach $150 for the Apple one. Anyone find a decent alternative?

 

[sean000]

Cant stomach $150 for the Apple one. Anyone find a decent alternative?

I had to go with a knockoff since I have worn a 38mm for three years and Apple only makes the leather loop in 42/44mm. I bought a knockoff from a seller on Amazon for about $20 in 2015 and it shipped from China. It looked and felt nice, but after about a year the “leather” (some kind of vinyl) started to peel away from the adapter lugs. I tried gluing it back, but it peeled again a few weeks later. I guess $25 isn’t a lot to pay for a year of use, but it probably wouldn’t have lasted that long if I hadn’t rotated it with my brown leather band.

I suspect any knockoff will be at least as good as what I bought, and hopefully better. Casetify and M. Goodee seem to be popular and easily available. The casetify is more expensive so maybe better? I don’t know... just read a review that makes it sound more plasticky than what I previously had. Or maybe Casetify is the only brand honest enough to not call it genuine leather? I want to give something a try since I really miss my leather loop. It was my favorite band while it lasted.

I would just check the return policy and skip the ones that cost as much to return as they do to buy. I was lucky that my knockoff arrived in the correct color with no defects, because the return shipping to China was more than it was worth.

I would appreciate recommendations as well. I’m okay with paying more for a better knockoff.

 

[nmeed]

I purchased this...
http://a.co/d/7StDKXO

I have to say it's pretty much a clone of the real thing. I mean, I doubt that it's real leather like the Apple one, but it does feel good. I got it for $17 (even if I paid $50 compared to the $150 I'd be just as happy) and I have to say it's really hard to beat for that price. It's fit is pretty much perfect. On the bottom left the "leather" does stick out about 0.5mm (if that) but I noticed even at the Apple Store the watches on display with the leather loop have the same issue. I would even say this knock-off version sticks out less than the real thing. I really have nothing bad to say. It's very hefty, the magnet is really strong, and the metal clasp looks really good. Heck, when I took it out of the plastic bag it comes in, I was like this must be the real thing...lol.

 

[sean000]

I purchased this...
http://a.co/d/7StDKXO

I have to say it's pretty much a clone of the real thing. I mean, I doubt that it's real leather like the Apple one, but it does feel good. I got it for $17 (even if I paid $50 compared to the $150 I'd be just as happy) and I have to say it's really hard to beat for that price. It's fit is pretty much perfect. On the bottom left the "leather" does stick out about 0.5mm (if that) but I noticed even at the Apple Store the watches on display with the leather loop have the same issue. I would even say this knock-off version sticks out less than the real thing. I really have nothing bad to say. It's very hefty, the magnet is really strong, and the metal clasp looks really good. Heck, when I took it out of the plastic bag it comes in, I was like this must be the real thing...lol.

One thing about this band (and some of the other recent knockoffs) I have noticed is that they don't cover the lug adapters with the leather-like material. That's probably a good thing, because that's the part where the "leather" peeled and separated from the metal on my knockoff. The genuine Apple product covers the lugs in leather, so the leather goes all the way to the watch case and no metal is exposed. Having the bare lugs exposed creates a different look, but it's a matter of opinion whether that look is better or worse than the original. I can see how leaving them exposed would improve the longevity. In fact, I'm now wondering if I can just use an exacto knife to cut away the material that has separated on my lugs, and then I can clean the glue off the metal. I might give that a try, but since a replacement can be had for less than $20 I'm not sure it's worth my time. It might not work either, because my knockoff tapers like the original... where the band is a bit wider at the case and a bit narrower at the bottom of the wrist.

 

[nmeed]

One thing about this band (and some of the other recent knockoffs) I have noticed is that they don't cover the lug adapters with the leather-like material. That's probably a good thing, because that's the part where the "leather" peeled and separated from the metal on my knockoff. The genuine Apple product covers the lugs in leather, so the leather goes all the way to the watch case and no metal is exposed. Having the bare lugs exposed creates a different look, but it's a matter of opinion whether that look is better or worse than the original. I can see how leaving them exposed would improve the longevity. In fact, I'm now wondering if I can just use an exacto knife to cut away the material that has separated on my lugs, and then I can clean the glue off the metal. I might give that a try, but since a replacement can be had for less than $20 I'm not sure it's worth my time. It might not work either, because my knockoff tapers like the original... where the band is a bit wider at the case and a bit narrower at the bottom of the wrist.

I’m not sure I quite understand but if this is what you’re talking about I feel like they are the same. The blue one is a genuine band and the black one is the knockoff I purchased.

 

[sean000]

I'm tempted to give the StrapsCo knockoff a try, because the site implies that returns can be shipped to New York and they offer a 30 day guarantee. They say it's actual leather, but my knockoff claimed the same thing and I know it's not true 🙄. On the other hand i do own other $30 watch bands that are definitely real leather, so I suppose it's possible.

I will probably end up paying more for a strap that is made in the same factory as the many sub-$20 Amazon knockoffs. I remember when I got my first knockoff I participated in a thread where we showed photos of the packaging. A number of us ordered from different Amazon, eBay, or Alibaba sellers (at prices ranging from $12 to $25) and we all received exactly the same product in the same packaging. Some of us got exactly what we ordered and we were happy with the band for the price point. A few received the wrong color or the wrong size, but they were stuck with them.
[doublepost=1538155823][/doublepost]

I’m not sure I quite understand but if this is what you’re talking about I feel like they are the same. The blue one is a genuine band and the black one is the knockoff I purchased.

Yours looks like the original Apple Watch, and like my knockoff. The current LazyOdd knockoff looks like this. The adapter metal is exposed instead of covered. Not necessarily worse... just different (and probably more durable).

 

[nmeed]

I'm tempted to give the StrapsCo knockoff a try, because the site implies that returns can be shipped to New York and they offer a 30 day guarantee. They say it's actual leather, but my knockoff claimed the same thing and I know it's not true 🙄. On the other hand i do own other $30 watch bands that are definitely real leather, so I suppose it's possible.

I will probably end up paying more for a strap that is made in the same factory as the many sub-$20 Amazon knockoffs. I remember when I got my first knockoff I participated in a thread where we showed photos of the packaging. A number of us ordered from different Amazon, eBay, or Alibaba sellers (at prices ranging from $12 to $25) and we all received exactly the same product in the same packaging. Some of us got exactly what we ordered and we were happy with the band for the price point. A few received the wrong color or the wrong size, but they were stuck with them.
[doublepost=1538155823][/doublepost]

Yours looks like the original Apple Watch, and like my knockoff. The current LazyOdd knockoff looks like this. The adapter metal is exposed instead of covered. Not necessarily worse... just different (and probably more durable).
View attachment 790083

Funny, I actually was going to give them a try before I found the other one on Amazon! If you do purchase it please report back, I am curious if it’s real leather. If it is I’d probably end up purchasing it.