Classic Buckle Owner Feedback

[conshok26]

I've got some bands from eBay and Amazon and it's becoming clear that you get what you pay for. The bands themselves have been meh but the adapters suck and a loose in the watch. You can certainly see that they don't have a really snug fit and wiggle.

How good is the fit on the official Apple Classic Buckle? Are they nice and snug to give an almost seamless look? Any wiggle?

I'm willing to plop down the $150 but I want to make sure it's worth it.

 

[easheer]

Fit is fine. The biggest issue that I have w/ the classic buckle is that there is only one keeper loop on the strap, which causes the excess of the non-buckle part of the strap to not lay perfectly flush with the buckle part of the strap underneath it.

Being a high-end mechanical watch aficionado, many of my nice leather straps come with a keeper sewn in close to the buckle, and a free moving keeper to adjust. The lack of the keeper at the buckled end is a miss for me as it relates to the wearability of this strap. I can't wait to get this off my watch and my replacement bands can't come soon enough. There is no way I'd pay $150 for this strap.

Unfortunately I can't speak to the quality of the strap compared to a cheap strap off eBay, because I wouldn't waste my money on those. I'm sure it's much better, but that's just speculation on my part.

 

[conshok26]

Do you notice any movement where it connects to the watch?

 

[joshneedham]

I have the 42mm Apple Watch with classic buckle strap. The finish and quality on the leather is great, very flexible. The connectors are of course much better quality than anything third party that is currently available, there is the TINIEST amount of wiggle but not side to side, it's more like you can push or pull it deeper or out the slightest bit, like fraction of a millimeter. Not really something you can see, but something you can feel/hear it touch if you do it. I highly recommend the classic buckle strap, I feel it was worth the money, plus it is covered under your Apple Watches warranty if you have any issue due to a defect.

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Fit is fine. The biggest issue that I have w/ the classic buckle is that there is only one keeper loop on the strap, which causes the excess of the non-buckle part of the strap to not lay perfectly flush with the buckle part of the strap underneath it.

Being a high-end mechanical watch aficionado, many of my nice leather straps come with a keeper sewn in close to the buckle, and a free moving keeper to adjust. The lack of the keeper at the buckled end is a miss for me as it relates to the wearability of this strap. I can't wait to get this off my watch and my replacement bands can't come soon enough. There is no way I'd pay $150 for this strap.

Unfortunately I can't speak to the quality of the strap compared to a cheap strap off eBay, because I wouldn't waste my money on those. I'm sure it's much better, but that's just speculation on my part.

As someone with larger wrists, I love that there is only one 'keeper', it tends to stay where you put it, and does the job adequately. I too collect watches and I have a box full of the extra keeper that I always remove lol. Think of a g-shock, they have one keeper and a long strap and it works well

 

[trek360]

I like the classic strap a lot. It's the best combination of all things for me. The lack of the keeper has not been an issue. It is very versatile and I have worn it to work, work out, and play golf. It stays well placed.

I think all the apple bands are overpriced. I'm not sure it's worth $150 but that's the Apple tax. One good think about this band is the you can unscrew the band link if you want and insert another band with a perfect fit apple adapter. I've contemplated doing that because I want a SS band but for now I'm enjoying the classic band.

 

[stephen1108]

I totally recommend it. It's light and comfortable to be worn all day unlike metal bands.

I was very weary at first as majority of my watches have link bands, and I don't really use my leather watch bands, but the classic buckle is amazing.

 

[easheer]

As someone with larger wrists, I love that there is only one 'keeper', it tends to stay where you put it, and does the job adequately. I too collect watches and I have a box full of the extra keeper that I always remove lol. Think of a g-shock, they have one keeper and a long strap and it works well

This is a good point of clarification. I have small wrists, hence the wish for the extra keeper. For those with larger wrists that won't have so much excess strap after it's buckled, one keeper is adequate.

 

[webworks415]

I just picked one up at an Apple Store after kind of growing bored of the black sport band. I love it! I really like that the adapter completes the body of the watch, rather than just attaching into it. It looks real classy. It also comes in very nice packaging, I'm kind of glad I bought it separately. I see the point about the strap keeper but at the moment I have it slid up closer to the edge of the strap. This does cause the middle of it to not sit flush, but i don't see it as a major problem. I recommend it!

I also decided to go with this as my first party "expensive" band, because I didn't want to settle for any flimsy or fake leather if I ordered one on eBay. I have a third party link band on the way.

 

[Totalkharnage]

I totally recommend it. It's light and comfortable to be worn all day unlike metal bands.

I was very weary at first as majority of my watches have link bands, and I don't really use my leather watch bands, but the classic buckle is amazing.

I'm exactly the same. Had one since day one with my stainless steel and highly recommend it. It's comfortable and most of the time I can't tell I have a watch on. I've been waiting for my sport band for a couple of weeks now and I've actually used the band for exercise and running (which I really know I shouldn't!), And it's been absolutely perfect.

 

[JulesK]

Great Strap

I've had the Classic Loop for about three weeks. I have owned many watch straps over the years, as well as watch bracelets. As far as non-exotic straps go, it is one of the best I've owned. It is not intended to be a thick, tough, full-grain leather mini-belt (i.e., what you would see on a Panerai); it's finely made, soft and flexible, yet fairly casual in thickness, how the edges are finished and the buckle. That said, you can buy a suit for the price of the strap, and some of the price presumably is due to the adaptors/lugs, which hopefully are as tight in tolerance as possible (on top of being very well finished). The price therefore is high, but "value" is something that goes right out the window when it comes to luxury timepieces (including accessories such as straps), which the Watch strives to be. There are many, many websites selling cheap watch bands, and my experience is that you get what you pay for, even if it is all overpriced.

 

[echo4sierra]

Do you notice any movement where it connects to the watch?

No wiggle. Flush with watch body. Soft.

 

[Repelle]

Do you notice any movement where it connects to the watch?

This was the biggest deal breaker for me with this strap. The design of it is lovely, but I had two different straps on two different bodies that had this problem.

They pulled away from the watch body and even out the side slightly, creating a fit that was far from flush. They also clicked every time I flicked my wrist to check the time.

I've decided to settle on the sport band and to try either the leather loop or Milanese loop when I can get one.

 

[DDustiNN]

This was the biggest deal breaker for me with this strap. The design of it is lovely, but I had two different straps on two different bodies that had this problem.

They pulled away from the watch body and even out the side slightly, creating a fit that was far from flush. They also clicked every time I flicked my wrist to check the time.

I've decided to settle on the sport band and to try either the leather loop or Milanese loop when I can get one.

Mine also has quite a bit of wiggle room on the top connector. Much more than I would expect for a $700 watch. It worries me because the connector itself is so tiny, I would hate for it to accidentally slip loose one day. I'm actually considering going to the Apple Store for a replacement.

 

[Repelle]

Mine also has quite a bit of wiggle room on the top connector. Much more than I would expect for a $700 watch. It worries me because the connector itself is so tiny, I would hate for it to accidentally slip loose one day. I'm actually considering going to the Apple Store for a replacement.

Yeh mine is worse at the top connector too. Interesting. It's a pity because it's a nice strap.

 

[trek360]

Do you notice any movement where it connects to the watch?

Mine has been pretty solid. I am not concerned at all about the security of the fit. Week 16 production.

It does concern me though that the connectors can wear or lose shape on any AW. Especially those that are changing bands a couple times a day. Time will tell.