Concerns About the Link Bracelet - My Take

[schulzmc]

On launch night I ordered a SS watch with the Milanese Loop band. I also ordered the link bracelet, but was unsure if I would cancel that order. At try on I liked the bracelet enough that I decided to keep my order and make a final decision when I got it. There were a few concerns that I had heard from others that I did not really get a chance to check with my brief time with it in the store. Now that I have worn it for a day here are my thoughts about those concerns...

Concern #1: "It's too light, 'Casio like', not high end enough to justify the price."

I totally disagree with this. I was surprised at the weight of the band. These links are not hollow. It feels every bit as high end as the bracelet on the Tag that I normally wear... maybe more. And the clasp is amazing.

Concern #2: "It will pinch and catch your arm hair because of how close the tolerances are on the links."

That has not been my experience. It is totally comfortable and I have had no pinching or grabbing of hair. Maybe that is because...

Concern #3: "You'll have to get a perfect fit to keep it snug enough to not have to keep entering your pin to unlock it."

I liked wearing my Tag a bit loose, and had been experimenting with my Milanese Loop on how loose I could wear it without this happening. I was surprised on how much play I could have in the band and still get a good heart rate as well as not have to use my pin. That seems even better with the bracelet, as the weight of it keeps the watch in place well even though I keep the band fairly loose. Not so loose the watch is flopping all around on my wrist but about the same as I used to wear the Tag.

Concern #4: "The brushed finish on the band will make it look like it wasn't made for the SS watch."

Not an issue. In fact, this band looks like it was the only choice for the watch. I always felt the ML band looked a little like an afterthought on the watch, or a band made for a different watch. Not this band. This should be the iconic combo for the Apple watch.

All in all - this band is awesome and more than worth the money, IMHO. My original plan was to use the ML for dressy occaisions, but this band may never leave my watch. If you are hesitant to get this band or worried that it is not worth the cash, I'd recommend it highly.

 

[xraydoc]

Thanks. Patiently (or impatiently, actually) waiting for mine.

 

[lewisd25]

I just received my link bracelet this morning, and I love it. Taking out links was a bit harder than I thought due to my larger fingers, but I was able to get it sized perfectly.

My watch has definitely received more attention from others today due to the beauty of the link bracelet compared to my classic buckle that I have worn since April 24th.

 

[samiznaetekto]

It's all good until you consider that this $0.5K item is not compatible with any other watch. You could (via lug adapters) put any 22mm band on Apple watch, but you can't do the opposite. So when your i⌚️ becomes obsolete or, say, dies during the 222nd shower, you have a $0.5K band you can't use anyhow. If your Tag dies, you can reuse its band on another watch. And Gen 2 i⌚️ will most likely have redesigned connector incompatible with Gen 1.

It's like buying a $500 gold-plated 30-pin connector for your iPhone 1, what do you do with it now?

 

[JayLenochiniMac]

It's all good until you consider that this $0.5K item is not compatible with any other watch. You could (via lug adapters) put any 22mm band on Apple watch, but you can't do the opposite. So when your i⌚️ becomes obsolete or, say, dies during the 222nd shower, you have a $0.5K band you can't use anyhow. If your Tag dies, you can reuse its band on another watch. And Gen 2 i⌚️ will most likely have redesigned connector incompatible with Gen 1.

It's like buying a $500 gold-plated 30-pin connector for your iPhone 1, what do you do with it now?

That's silly. If gen 2 and 3 retain the same connectors (highly likely), you'll be able to use it on those and get just the base SS model. In fact, you'll recoup most of your initial cost if you sell the year-old model with the new Sport band from v2 and so on, rather than buy a new link bracelet watch yearly.

And nobody will care about wanting any other watches, just as we won't consider any other phones.

 

[schulzmc]

It's all good until you consider that this $0.5K item is not compatible with any other watch. You could (via lug adapters) put any 22mm band on Apple watch, but you can't do the opposite. So when your i⌚️ becomes obsolete or, say, dies during the 222nd shower, you have a $0.5K band you can't use anyhow. If your Tag dies, you can reuse its band on another watch. And Gen 2 i⌚️ will most likely have redesigned connector incompatible with Gen 1.

It's like buying a $500 gold-plated 30-pin connector for your iPhone 1, what do you do with it now?

This gives me a cool idea. Some watchmaker should make a high end mechanical watch that would work with the Apple band. Then when I upgrade to the next gen Apple watch I could put my band on that watch or sell the band to someone who wants one. Great idea!

 

[samiznaetekto]

This gives me a cool idea. Some watchmaker should make a high end mechanical watch that would work with the Apple band. Then when I upgrade to the next gen Apple watch I could put my band on that watch or sell the band to someone who wants one. Great idea!

Or simply make a movement that fits inside the apple watch. So when it becomes obsolete and there are millions of dead weights, they can take the guts out and make an analog watch out of it. A million dollar idea!

 

[PedCrossing]

Link bracelet is my favorite. I've been wearing stainless steel bracelets for more than ten years, when Apple announced the watch last fall, I thought I'm definitely going to get the link bracelet. But eventually I ended up with the classic buckle because the price is much lower and it was shipping fast. The leather band is nice, it's light, it's comfortable and most importantly, it won't hurt my wrist when I'm typing. But I just miss the brushed surface, the heaviness and even the sound steel bracelet makes. Your post just made me want it even more.

 

[fischersd]

This gives me a cool idea. Some watchmaker should make a high end mechanical watch that would work with the Apple band. Then when I upgrade to the next gen Apple watch I could put my band on that watch or sell the band to someone who wants one. Great idea!

Heh. Form your company in China (I think they still haven't signed copyright?) If you make an adapter to use Apple bands on a 3rd party watch, you KNOW they're going to sue like mad!!

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On launch night .... I'd recommend it highly.

Thanks for that review, really appreciate it! I'm one of the few waiting until July to get their watch with link bracelet. So glad I ordered (now wish I had done so sooner, so I'd be getting it in the first wave).

Looking forward to it!!

 

[seatton]

This thread really convinces me to get a link band. I guess I will have to wait till my SS watch arrive in June and I might get that band in July when I go down to Portland OR. Gotta make sure I can save some tax I have had the sport since day one, but I do not think I look good on it.

 

[xraydoc]

Or simply make a movement that fits inside the apple watch. So when it becomes obsolete and there are millions of dead weights, they can take the guts out and make an analog watch out of it. A million dollar idea!

Wow, you're a real Debbie Downer, aren't you?

 

[roland.g]

I too wear my link watches loose bracelet style. Not to loose but resting on my wrist. I tried on the link again at the store and this time they sized it for me. Got to feel the taptic which is adjustable even with it a little loose. Didn't think about whether it would still get HR or ask for passcode issue but agreed the weight makes it sit on wrist.