Are they permanently discontinued or are they coming back later? This is a surprising move by Apple. They have to be some of the more popular choices
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Did Apple discontinue all Classic Buckles?
- Thread starter NovemberWhiskey
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They are discontinued it appears indefinitely, no idea if they will ever be re-introduced later. Even shopping the bands from the ‘Previous seasons’ on Apple‘s website, there’s no indication of any Classic buckle.
(sarcastic theory): The Classic Buckle was originally one of the most popular bands, but ever since the buckle was redesigned in March 2017 and received criticism for its new look, sales dropped and as such, we're at the point where they were low enough for Apple to justify killing off the line altogether
You can still find them for sale if you look around the internet. Apple took them out of the store during the iPhone XS and Apple Watch S4 event.
I tried on the Modern Buckle, nope, hideous. The Classic Buckle was gender neutral, this thing though....nah. It's method of fastening the strap to your wrist, compared to the simplistic Classic Buckle, is just strange and cumbersome. That and I just really don't like the way the texture of the leather looks.
I'll happily pass on this (and wallet will thank me too) in fact none of the new watch bands interest me. The Spring and Summer ones are always the fun ones (but this is just taste).
EDIT - also just adding that I find it stupid that the Leather Loop (which also made a return from oblivion), which I would've been more keen to give a try, is exclusive to 44mm and Modern Buckle is exclusive to 40mm. This idea of size exclusivity was never, ever a good idea from the start and sad that Apple still upholds it.
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I'll happily pass on this (and wallet will thank me too) in fact none of the new watch bands interest me. The Spring and Summer ones are always the fun ones (but this is just taste).
EDIT - also just adding that I find it stupid that the Leather Loop (which also made a return from oblivion), which I would've been more keen to give a try, is exclusive to 44mm and Modern Buckle is exclusive to 40mm. This idea of size exclusivity was never, ever a good idea from the start and sad that Apple still upholds it.
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Hopefully but given that Space Black users historically called for a black-lugged Classic Buckle yet Apple continuously ignored them, I wouldn't get too keen. That sad thing no one likes called Bureaucracy
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I'm still holding out hope that Apple will release the Leather Loop in 40mm one day
Hated the new buckle, and managed to snag a few of the Gen 3 ones on eBay for a stupid price. Got the Storm Grey, Black and Marine Blue. Gen 3 is the one with the indent and stitching around the edge, and the single hole buckle.
I liked the 3rd gen the best as well. In fact, I am still trying to locate a white one
https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/apple-sea-blue-classic-buckle-with-black-adapters.2032570/
Not exactly the same I know but there are options.