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Black Stainless Steel or Ceramic

L

lionmanpt

macrumors regular
Original poster
Jan 1, 2011
115
1
Hi !

I still cannot decide between these two options for the AW 2:

  1. Space Black Stainless Steel Case with Space Black Link Bracelet
  2. Watch Edition (Ceramic)
My future use of the AW:

  • Day to day use
  • Gym training and outside running and swimming
  • Going to the beach in the summer

What do I value:

  • Longevity
  • Scratch resistance
  • Beauty
I think that the option 1 is the most beautiful , but I am uncertain about scratch resistance (mainly in the gym) and I can afford the price difference.

Can you help me choose ?

Thanks !!
 
Tough choice. The white is way too much for me, but that's personal taste. I wish they made different ceramic colors. Although I'm rocking a black SS and it's still mint, and I bang it around a lot.
 
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Julien said:
Then don't but ANY smart watch. In 3 years it is old/outdated and in less then 5 years the battery will not charge and the OS will not be supported.
Click to expand...

What I mean by longevity is the fact that I wouldn't like to spend 1.280 Euros or 1.500 Euros and find the watch with lots of scratches after one-two years of use.
 
lionmanpt said:
Hi !

I still cannot decide between these two options for the AW 2:

  1. Space Black Stainless Steel Case with Space Black Link Bracelet
  2. Watch Edition (Ceramic)
My future use of the AW:

  • Day to day use
  • Gym training and outside running and swimming
  • Going to the beach in the summer

What do I value:

  • Longevity
  • Scratch resistance
  • Beauty
I think that the option 1 is the most beautiful , but I am uncertain about scratch resistance (mainly in the gym) and I can afford the price difference.

Can you help me choose ?

Thanks !!
Click to expand...

How about this.
Black stainless with a sports band
space gray sport (for the gym)
3rd party black link
 
I love the look of the ceramic watch with the white armband but that's it. I've seen photos of the ceramic with other armbands and to me it doesn't look good. Black stainless steel looks good with any armband.
 
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Olivia23 said:
I love the look of the ceramic watch with the white armband but that's it. I've seen photos of the ceramic with other armbands and to me it doesn't look good. Black stainless steel looks good with any armband.
Click to expand...

Having a ceramic I can honestly say pictures do not serve this watch at all.
I match my band to my shirt and the watch looks great even with orange, purple and lime green bands.
The nike watches look great as well.
 
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Julien said:
Then don't but ANY smart watch. In 3 years it is old/outdated and in less then 5 years the battery will not charge and the OS will not be supported.
Click to expand...

That's not really the attitude to have. If everyone viewed your reasoning the way you stated this, then why purchase anything technology related and say "It will be outdated in X amount of years." You can't look at it like that, being there is no such thing as future proofing technology with how fast it's evolves with research and development.

This goes without stating with anything technology related, with how swift manufacturers are releasing new hardware/software. Gen 3 Apple Watch is already likely in implementation phase congruent to a March 2018 release.

Back on topic: OP, I own the Space Black model with the black stainless bracelet and it's highly scratch resistant with the DLC coating and it looks sleek.
 
Last edited:
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Until they bring out a black ceramic it's SB SS all the way for me too! I was in the same boat regarding the two and went to the Apple Store to try them both on before slapping down the cash. I wear suits to work and I just thought the black looked sharper and more professional, but that's just me.
 
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Thanks for your comments and advises. Still undecided (but its good to be undecided between these two options):)
 
lionmanpt said:
Hi !

I still cannot decide between these two options for the AW 2:

  1. Space Black Stainless Steel Case with Space Black Link Bracelet
  2. Watch Edition (Ceramic)
My future use of the AW:

  • Day to day use
  • Gym training and outside running and swimming
  • Going to the beach in the summer

What do I value:

  • Longevity
  • Scratch resistance
  • Beauty
I think that the option 1 is the most beautiful , but I am uncertain about scratch resistance (mainly in the gym) and I can afford the price difference.

Can you help me choose ?

Thanks !!
Click to expand...

OK, let count the points.

Day to day use - both are good, but the lighter the better. Not just less weight on your hand, but for the same haptic engine, the lighter watch gives you better vibration. So less chance to miss any notification. (1 point for Edition)

Gym... - again, the lighter the better (1 point for Edition)

Go to beach - a watch with DLC coating should be the better choice (1 point for SBSS)

Longevity - more or less the same, but again, I assume DLC coating can do better (1 point for SBSS)

Scratch resistance - DLC coating should win (1 point for SSBS)

Beauty - that's very personal, I like the white looking of the Edition, but personally I still choose the SBSS because it suit me more on almost any situation. e.g. A very simple analog watch face on the SBSS (with the stock link band), fit almost any formal dressing. On the other hand, a white smart watch may be harder to fit in. (1 point for SBSS).

So......

Edition 2 points
SBSS 4 points

SBSS win!
 
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h9826790 said:
OK, let count the points.

Day to day use - both are good, but the lighter the better. Not just less weight on your hand, but for the same haptic engine, the lighter watch gives you better vibration. So less chance to miss any notification. (1 point for Edition)

Gym... - again, the lighter the better (1 point for Edition)

Go to beach - a watch with DLC coating should be the better choice (1 point for SBSS)

Longevity - more or less the same, but again, I assume DLC coating can do better (1 point for SBSS)

Scratch resistance - DLC coating should win (1 point for SSBS)

Beauty - that's very personal, I like the white looking of the Edition, but personally I still choose the SBSS because it suit me more on almost any situation. e.g. A very simple analog watch face on the SBSS (with the stock link band), fit almost any formal dressing. On the other hand, a white smart watch may be harder to fit in. (1 point for SBSS).

So......

Edition 2 points
SBSS 4 points

SBSS win!
Click to expand...

I'd really think the ceramic is better for scratch resistance and longevity, along with the beach. I have a SB SS, but the ceramic is better in these regards. The DLC coating is better than no coating, but no match for ceramic. The only scenario ceramic could fail is if you gave it a really hard knock, or dropped it.
 
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Both!

I have the black SS and a regular SS. Love them both, but the black SS is much more resistant to scratches than the regular SS (I wear both equally)

Ceramic is extremely hard indeed - so to answer your question about which is more durable, I'd say they're equal in normal everyday use.

I'd have all three if I could. :)
 
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abdulkar.im said:
I'd really think the ceramic is better for scratch resistance and longevity, along with the beach. I have a SB SS, but the ceramic is better in these regards. The DLC coating is better than no coating, but no match for ceramic. The only scenario ceramic could fail is if you gave it a really hard knock, or dropped it.
Click to expand...

I just did some research, you are right. Unless facing a force that strong enough to shatter / crack the ceramic, it's actually more scratch resistance than DLC.

So, since the watch should be "secured" on the wrist, and not so easy to drop like the phone. That "large impact" should not be that easy to happen on the watch (same argument as the sapphire glass).

Thus now, the Ceramic watch is harder and lighter, so, why not the better one?
 
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h9826790 said:
I just did some research, you are right. Unless facing a force that strong enough to shatter / crack the ceramic, it's actually more scratch resistance than DLC.

So, since the watch should be "secured" on the wrist, and not so easy to drop like the phone. That "large impact" should not be that easy to happen on the watch (same argument as the sapphire glass).

Thus now, the Ceramic watch is harder and lighter, so, why not the better one?
Click to expand...

This is why I'm holding out for a black ceramic....
 
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I had the white Ceramic but exchanged it as it looked great but not as classy as the SS and I have a standard and SB SS now.
The SS SB is very durable. Three weeks of every day use and no scratches. It's mint
 
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abdulkar.im said:
Until they bring out a black ceramic it's SB SS all the way for me too! I was in the same boat regarding the two and went to the Apple Store to try them both on before slapping down the cash. I wear suits to work and I just thought the black looked sharper and more professional, but that's just me.
Click to expand...
Totally agree with above comment.
[doublepost=1481820428][/doublepost]
Bazooka-joe said:
I had the white Ceramic but exchanged it as it looked great but not as classy as the SS and I have a standard and SB SS now.
The SS SB is very durable. Three weeks of every day use and no scratches. It's mint
Click to expand...
Totally agree. If there was a black ceramic version, that will be a different story.
[doublepost=1481820672][/doublepost]
lionmanpt said:
Thanks for your comments and advises. Still undecided (but its good to be undecided between these two options):)
Click to expand...
I faced the same dilemma also, in addition to space gray Nike + . I picked SB SS with reasons other mentioned on this forum.
 
Last edited:
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lionmanpt said:
Hi !

I still cannot decide between these two options for the AW 2:

  1. Space Black Stainless Steel Case with Space Black Link Bracelet
  2. Watch Edition (Ceramic)
My future use of the AW:

  • Day to day use
  • Gym training and outside running and swimming
  • Going to the beach in the summer

What do I value:

  • Longevity
  • Scratch resistance
  • Beauty
I think that the option 1 is the most beautiful , but I am uncertain about scratch resistance (mainly in the gym) and I can afford the price difference.

Can you help me choose ?

Thanks !!
Click to expand...

Black stainless is my favorite.

White watches are not for me!o_O
 
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A white Watch? o_O Not for me.
In my opinion Apple keeps messing up the "Edition" version of these Watches. That's my opinion though, and there's something for everyone out there.
 
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Dodgeman said:
A white Watch? o_O Not for me.
In my opinion Apple keeps messing up the "Edition" version of these Watches. That's my opinion though, and there's something for everyone out there.
Click to expand...

The only other Edition was pulled likely due to sales and price point affordability. The Ceramic Edition is far more affordable and practical with the ceramic. 18 Karat gold isn't exactly ideal for fitness, being its a soft metal.
 
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