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Dropped my AW SS for the first time and ...

dr34mc4st3r

dr34mc4st3r

macrumors regular
Original poster
Aug 18, 2009
246
130
Singapore
...my watch screen shattered (see attached screenshot). Devastating. I knew this was going to happen with the sapphire screen but still was disappointed. Thank goodness for AC+, currently waiting for a replacement after paying the deductible. However now my confidence has dented a little, and I might consider some sort of protection case after getting my replacement. Hope Apple can fix this in future AW so that the screen is both shatter-proof and scratch-proof. :(
 

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This is half the reason I want a bracelet for mine since a bracelet is never fully disconnected. I'm doing pretty good with my sport band, but I still dropped it once.
 
dr34mc4st3r said:
...my watch screen shattered (see attached screenshot). Devastating. I knew this was going to happen with the sapphire screen but still was disappointed. Thank goodness for AC+, currently waiting for a replacement after paying the deductible. However now my confidence has dented a little, and I might consider some sort of protection case after getting my replacement. Hope Apple can fix this in future AW so that the screen is both shatter-proof and scratch-proof. :(
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So with AppleCare you don't get the replacement right away? Why is that? I thought that was the advantage of paying for AppleCare was that you get the replacement right away.
 
damonbus said:
So with AppleCare you don't get the replacement right away? Why is that? I thought that was the advantage of paying for AppleCare was that you get the replacement right away.
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The problem is Apple has chosen not to stock white box replacements for the AW (unlike other iDevices to date), and as a result, most haven't been able to obtain a same-day replacement whether they have AC+ or the standard warranty. What AW owners with AC+ do have is the option of express replacement via mail without stepping a foot in an Apple Store, but it's not the same as same-day replacement.
 
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I like your band. What is it?

I have a SS as well and I get a little clumsy putting on the sports band but I also only do it over carpet or a bed.

I hope the next works out better for ya.
 
wlossw said:
i guess this is why so many luxury watches have a raised bezel...
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Yup, and it's why I'm more worried about this Rado of mine than my other watches. The crystal goes all the way to the edge of the case, covering what would be the bezel:
ImageUploadedByTapatalk1442106315.117751.jpg
 
dr34mc4st3r said:
...my watch screen shattered (see attached screenshot). Devastating. I knew this was going to happen with the sapphire screen but still was disappointed. Thank goodness for AC+, currently waiting for a replacement after paying the deductible. However now my confidence has dented a little, and I might consider some sort of protection case after getting my replacement. Hope Apple can fix this in future AW so that the screen is both shatter-proof and scratch-proof. :(
Click to expand...

Those protective cases destroy the aesthetics of the watch. What were you doing when you dropped it? I suspect you're leaving some detail out. lol.
 
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I have the SS Watch as well and contemplated picking up some sort of case cover for it to add when I thought it might be at more risk. Didn't want to destroy the elegant look of the watch so decided the best choice would be a clear TPU case cover. I posted about it under the Ladies Only thread in the Apple Watch Accessories section along with a photo ( https://forums.macrumors.com/thread...sories-and-more.1897768/page-19#post-21787386 ). Like others who reviewed TPU covers, I felt even this soft flexible cover put small scratches on the case. Also despite being "clear" it took away from the look of the Watch. Decided to get rid of it and will stay au natural. I also have Apple Care+. I suppose you can buff out the small scratches on the SS but it seems counter-productive to add a cover to protect while adding scratches wearing it.

If you are interested in case covers the Ladies thread mentioned above has lots of great photos and reviews of the different case covers out there. Don't let the "Ladies Only" thread title dissuade you if you are a guy looking for a cover. The ladies are into some rugged covers as well. Try looking a few pages back and afterwards from where I posted for a large grouping of these. Case covers seem to be a much discussed item on that thread although they cover a wide array of accessories.
 
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I haven't dropped my SS yet. I have bashed it a few times on door frames but the screen isn't ill prestine and I still can't see any scratches on the case. I am quite surprised at the durability.
 
Mac2me said:
I have the SS Watch as well and contemplated picking up some sort of case cover for it to add when I thought it might be at more risk. Didn't want to destroy the elegant look of the watch so decided the best choice would be a clear TPU case cover. I posted about it under the Ladies Only thread in the Apple Watch Accessories section along with a photo ( https://forums.macrumors.com/thread...sories-and-more.1897768/page-19#post-21787386 ). Like others who reviewed TPU covers, I felt even this soft flexible cover put small scratches on the case. Also despite being "clear" it took away from the look of the Watch. Decided t...
Click to expand...

Yes!!! I fully support the bare back / au natural crew.

Same for people that spend 1k on an iPhone, it has a beautiful screen, tough glass, then they put a crappy screen protector on it. lol.

Glad you are wearing the watch as it's supposed to be. At the end of the day it's just a watch, the whole new/overly sensitive about scratches etc fades over time.
 
I'm also curious how it happened. I dropped the watch onto a hardwood floor and it didn't scratch or break. I was standing and messing with the strap so I imagine it was a 4 foot fall or so. Fell face first too.

Has anyone on YouTube done any drop tests?

Edit: found this drop test..
... So while I'm sure that there's a chance it will crack if dropped the odds are probably that it won't. Really luck of the draw. But that's still better than it being so brittle that a drop almost always equals crack.
 
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Donoban said:
Oh lord, help me please I smashed my watch.

Mate, you left the story out of how this happened. (looks like you're at an airport)
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OK, I got fitted in my local Apple Store for a leather Loop band, but in reality it didn't latch correctly because I have a large wrist. The band came undone a few times, most of the time I caught the watch before it fell, this time I didn't (yes at the airport).
AppleCare replacement on watch, Apple refunded my Leather Loop and gave me a complimentary/free Milanese Loop (which doesn't come apart), then refunded my AppleCare replacement fee.
 
Cnasty said:
I like your band. What is it?

I have a SS as well and I get a little clumsy putting on the sports band but I also only do it over carpet or a bed.

I hope the next works out better for ya.
Click to expand...

It's the Hoco leather strap :) cheap but looks wonderful.
 
Donoban said:
Those protective cases destroy the aesthetics of the watch. What were you doing when you dropped it? I suspect you're leaving some detail out. lol.
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No fancy stuff, trying to put my strap through the buckle and whoops, the watch left my hand, and meets my tile floor with a sickening thud sound. still waiting for my replacement... :(
 
Not all cases ruin the asthetics of the watch. Most people I show my watch to wouldn't even notice the protective case unless I pointed it out. It's clear plastic and clips over the screen and around the body, is just over 1mm think and almost invisible.
 
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I dropped mine the other day. Ceramic in both bathrooms, where I NEVER put on my AW. Carpet, pergo or linoleum everywhere else. I make it a point to put on my AW in carpeted areas, either my bedroom or the carpeted area of locker room at my gym. Mine simply bounced and I didn't bother to even look at it for damage because it was like falling on a firm pillow. As for you guys putting on and taking off your AW while walking through the terazzo floor part of the airport or while rock climbing at Yosemite, or the concrete part of the parking lot, perhaps you should wait until you get to a softer area. ;)

And although I'm having a little fun at your expense, I do agree that at the prices Apple is charging, it would be nice if these things could go through a few drops on hard surfaces without shattering.
 
Ouch, so sorry OP, That's the pros/cons with the SS vs. Sport. Sapphire is scratch resistant but can shatter, ion glass is a bit more resistant to shattering but is not scratch resistant.

Glad that you have AC+ - well worth the money.
 
The sapphire display doesn't seem to be quite a strong as Apple would like. I've managed to put two hairlines scratches in mine, that you can feel with your nail. I thought sapphire was meant to be unscratchable? I must have hit it against something pretty hard...
 
SG94 said:
Not all cases ruin the asthetics of the watch. Most people I show my watch to wouldn't even notice the protective case unless I pointed it out. It's clear plastic and clips over the screen and around the body, is just over 1mm think and almost invisible.
Click to expand...

If you put the screen face down on a table, does the screen touch the table at all? Also concrete tends not to be super even, so a 1mm gap might not save it from being hit especially if it goes down with some force.

It would probably protect the sides from getting scuffed up too badly though, but I feel like I would be annoyed more at having the protector than the value it provides.

r0k said:
I dropped mine the other day. Ceramic in both bathrooms, where I NEVER put on my AW. Carpet, pergo or linoleum everywhere else. I make it a point to put on my AW in carpeted areas, either my bedroom or the carpeted area of locker room at my gym. Mine simply bounced and I didn't bother to even look at it for damage because it was like falling on a firm pillow. As for you guys putting on and taking off your AW while walking through the terazzo floor part of the airport or while rock climbing at Yosemite, or the concrete part of the parking lot, perhaps you should wait until you get to a softer area. ;)

And although I'm having a little fun at your expense, I do agree that at the prices Apple is charging, it would be nice if these things could go through a few drops on hard surfaces without shattering.
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So did yours shatter also?

I can't imagine the dropping being such a big deal once your watch is on your hand. If you're outside you should have very little reason to take your watch off completely. That's unlike the phone where you're always taking it in and out of your pockets and using it without any strap.

When you're at home you could easily do it over the desk/table where your charger is, on carpeting, or even if you have hardwood floors it probably won't shatter. If you're a very clumsy person just sit down at a table to put it on.

I get that accidents will happen and that Apple should make this as durable as possible but I feel safer about my watch than I do my iPhone. If you screw it up once the odds of doing it again are probably slim unless you're really mega clumsy and not careful.
 
maflynn said:
Ouch, so sorry OP, That's the pros/cons with the SS vs. Sport. Sapphire is scratch resistant but can shatter, ion glass is a bit more resistant to shattering but is not scratch resistant.

Glad that you have AC+ - well worth the money.
Click to expand...

Meh. I've still managed to achieve to hairlines scratches in on my screen, regardless of it being sapphire. They feel deep though so I must have hit something really hard.
 
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