Does anyone how the metal is joined to the Apple Watch strap?

[honglong1976]

how is it joined? Is it glued? Or another method. Just curious and curious to know if anyone has ever broke one?

thanks 🙂

 

[schlupps]

id assume, the steel part was pressed to the leather, but that is just a guess...

 

[MacDevil7334]

Interestingly, it’s actually not glued on. It’s attached with a spring bar that is hidden inside the buckle. This makes the 1st-3rd gen Classic Buckle bands one of the few OEM Apple bands that can be taken apart by the owner. I recently swapped out the lugs and clasp on a saddle brown band and replaced them with space black hardware. You can see pictures of the hidden spring bar and the final result at the links below.

Every Apple Watch band Apple released. Ever.

So, interesting discovery today in my quest to get a classic buckle band with space black hardware: the smaller oval buckle Apple used in the 1st-3rd gen versions of the band is not glued in as originally thought. Rather, it is attached with a traditional spring bar that is hidden inside the...

forums.macrumors.com

Every Apple Watch band Apple released. Ever.

Chargie was able to hook me up with a 3rd gen Saddle Brown classic buckle and I finished swapping the silver hardware for space black last night. Finally able to wear it this morning after letting the Loctite dry overnight. Love this band so much! Really don’t understand why Apple didn’t at...

forums.macrumors.com

If you ever want to remove the buckle on your band, I describe how to do it here.

Every Apple Watch band Apple released. Ever.

Yeah classic buckles are among my favorite styles because they are, well, classic! The buckle swap is only possible on the 1st-3rd gen bands with the smaller clasp, but it is pretty easy with a little practice. All that is needed is a spring bar tool (I used the Bergeon 6767-F but there are...

forums.macrumors.com

 

[honglong1976]

Interestingly, it’s actually not glued on. It’s attached with a spring bar that is hidden inside the buckle. This makes the 1st-3rd gen Classic Buckle bands one of the few OEM Apple bands that can be taken apart by the owner. I recently swapped out the lugs and clasp on a saddle brown band and replaced them with space black hardware. You can see pictures of the hidden spring bar and the final result at the links below.

Every Apple Watch band Apple released. Ever.

So, interesting discovery today in my quest to get a classic buckle band with space black hardware: the smaller oval buckle Apple used in the 1st-3rd gen versions of the band is not glued in as originally thought. Rather, it is attached with a traditional spring bar that is hidden inside the...

forums.macrumors.com

Every Apple Watch band Apple released. Ever.

Chargie was able to hook me up with a 3rd gen Saddle Brown classic buckle and I finished swapping the silver hardware for space black last night. Finally able to wear it this morning after letting the Loctite dry overnight. Love this band so much! Really don’t understand why Apple didn’t at...

forums.macrumors.com

If you ever want to remove the buckle on your band, I describe how to do it here.

Every Apple Watch band Apple released. Ever.

Yeah classic buckles are among my favorite styles because they are, well, classic! The buckle swap is only possible on the 1st-3rd gen bands with the smaller clasp, but it is pretty easy with a little practice. All that is needed is a spring bar tool (I used the Bergeon 6767-F but there are...

forums.macrumors.com

That's great, it uses a spring bar! No need to worry about it falling off. I was curious because I had a nylon strap before and I always thought it was glued, but I wonder if that had a spring bar as well.

Very good engineering by Apple.

 

[honglong1976]

That's great, it uses a spring bar! No need to worry about it falling off. I was curious because I had a nylon strap before and I always thought it was glued, but I wonder if that had a spring bar as well.

Very good engineering by Apple.

Thanks for the links, I had a read and they are all quite interesting. I would imagine the spring bar is a pain to remove. I don't have any need to, but I can see the benefit (space grey watch).

 

[MacDevil7334]

That's great, it uses a spring bar! No need to worry about it falling off. I was curious because I had a nylon strap before and I always thought it was glued, but I wonder if that had a spring bar as well.

Very good engineering by Apple.

Yeah the buckles on the woven nylon bands definitely do not use a spring bar. I tried removing a black buckle from one of my nylons to swap over to my leather band. I was able to get a little bit of the nylon out of the buckle. There is no spring bar. The band appears to be held in by metal teeth that grip into the nylon (might be woven in?) from the top and bottom of the clasp and hold it in place. It’s possible it might be glued too. I didn’t keep going once I realized there was no spring bar because I figured the clasp wouldn’t work with the leather and I didn’t want to ruin the woven nylon band for no reason.

Apple’s method of attaching the buckle to the leather band with a simple spring bar is much more elegant.

 

[honglong1976]

Yeah the buckles on the woven nylon bands definitely do not use a spring bar. I tried removing a black buckle from one of my nylons to swap over to my leather band. I was able to get a little bit of the nylon out of the buckle. There is no spring bar. The band appears to be held in by metal teeth that grip into the nylon (might be woven in?) from the top and bottom of the clasp and hold it in place. It’s possible it might be glued too. I didn’t keep going once I realized there was no spring bar because I figured the clasp wouldn’t work with the leather and I didn’t want to ruin the woven nylon band for no reason.

Apple’s method of attaching the buckle to the leather band with a simple spring bar is much more elegant.

At least you tried! Must be glue. I would imagine the glue bonds to nylon better.

Acrylates. The Apple Watch case, the Woven Nylon, the Milanese Loop, the Modern Buckle and the Leather Loop contain trace amounts of acrylates and methacrylates from adhesives.

Wearing your Apple Watch – Apple Support (UK)

Get a good fit and find out about Apple Watch materials.

support.apple.com