First indication that galvanic corrosion is a potential problem

[technosix]

After further consideration, I think that unless the aluminum watches become extremely well accepted, resale value after 18 months or so may be a big problem. People that know watches, and I'm not referring to collectors but simply those with an average amount of knowledge of various materials generally regard an aluminum watch as cheap and inferior.

It most certainly will be awhile before the jury returns on this but if I was buying a first gen Apple Watch I'd avoid aluminum and buy stainless knowing it's worth down the line will be much better. SS is very well respected as a great material for a nice watch.

 

[8CoreWhore]

How does "not optimal" equal "corrosion"?

The sport bands have aluminum connectors? If so, won't that be a problem for SS Watches? If the SS bands are bad for the Alum Watch, the the alum band's connectors should be bad for the SS Watch, no?

Or do the plastic bands have plastic connectors?

 

[JayLenochiniMac]

How does "not optimal" equal "corrosion"?

The sport bands have aluminum connectors? If so, won't that be a problem for SS Watches? If the SS bands are bad for the Alum Watch, the the alum band's connectors should be bad for the SS Watch, no?

Or do the plastic bands have plastic connectors?

Again, I've made it clear that my OP is speculative.

The Sport bands do not have metal connectors.

 

[jcsuzeta]

Is there a reason we think Apple hasn't already thought of this and took steps to mitigate these risks?

 

[JayLenochiniMac]

Is there a reason we think Apple hasn't already thought of this and took steps to mitigate these risks?

Sure, by making virtually all the SS bands aesthetically incompatible with the aluminum Sport case

 

[cmChimera]

"Bands work with all collections but may not match the finish or be optimal for use with that specific collection."

Fixed. Apple wouldn't state this if it wasn't true.

 

[The Doctor11]

Only an insane person would buy a Sport and a SS band that costs more than the watch. Therefore, most people won't experience this problem.

Actually the sport is my favorite of the 3 collections but I do like some of the SS bands.

 

[JayLenochiniMac]

Fixed. Apple wouldn't state this if it wasn't true.

Galvanic corrosion won't pose a problem in the absence of sweat so it still falls under "bands work with all collections" with the disclaimer it may not be optimal for use with that specific collection if you do use it for working out.

 

[Chundles]

I think you are reading too much into it. They most likely mean "cosmetically".

That's what I got from the statement. They're saying that a stainless steel band might not look too flash with a space grey Apple watch.

 

[JayLenochiniMac]

That's what I got from the statement. They're saying that a stainless steel band might not look too flash with a space grey Apple watch.

Then why not stop at "may not match the finish (of that specific collection)"? Why also add "or may not be optimal for use (with that specific collection)"?

 

[TommyA6]

You do know that the anodized coating is prone to wearing off, as we've seen numerous times especially with the black and slate iPhone 5. It's going to get even worse inside the aluminum connectors from repeatedly sliding the hinges in and out when swapping bands.

Scuffing on the iPhone 5 wasn't occuring on the anodized parts though. Chamfered edges (they weren't anodized) were prone to scuffing/scratching.
Also, I've dropped my 6 Plus and chipped away a solid amount of material on the corner of the phone and the space grey anodized finish was still there.

 

[Night Spring]

Then why not stop at "may not match the finish (of that specific collection)"? Why also add "or may not be optimal for use (with that specific collection)"?

One of the things I was wondering about was the weight balance between the Sports watch and the steel link bracelet or the Milanese loop. Would it feel "off" around your wrist when the warch part of it is less dense than the steel bands? "Not optimal" could include that kind of thing.

 

[Esoom]

Honestly, if this was a huge issue, we'd have been hearing about iPhones with corrosion issues due to the screws on the bottom of previous generations.

The only time I've really heard about galvanic corrosion issues was with car engines that mixed non anodized aluminum and steel where the cooling system touched both parts, and it was years of exposure that caused the corrosion.

http://www.qualitymarineservices.net/galvanic_corrosion.html

Dissimilar metals and a lot of water, salt water.

 

[JayLenochiniMac]

One of the things I was wondering about was the weight balance between the Sports watch and the steel link bracelet or the Milanese loop. Would it feel "off" around your wrist when the warch part of it is less dense than the steel bands? "Not optimal" could include that kind of thing.

The sport bands being heavier than all the SS bands except the link bracelets disputes this.

 

[Night Spring]

The sport bands being heavier than all the SS bands except the link bracelets disputes this.

But the rubber bands will have a lot more friction than metal, so sliding isn't an issue with the Sports band.

Oh, who knows what Apple meant by "not optimal." We should all walk into Apple Stores on Aprl 10th and ask about it. Bet everyone will come back with a different answer!

 

[bnekic]

Good thing I'll be using the sport band and leather loop for my sport watch

 

[JayLenochiniMac]

Oh, who knows what Apple meant by "not optimal." We should all walk into Apple Stores on Aprl 10th and ask about it. Bet everyone will come back with a different answer!

That's why I wrote the OP asking if it might be galvanic corrosion because I can't think of a good reason other than aesthetically and they clearly mean something other than mismatched finish.

 

[Night Spring]

That's why I wrote the OP asking if it might be galvanic corrosion because I can't think of a good reason other than aesthetically and they clearly mean something other than mismatched finish.

Well, the combination I'm interested in Sports watch + classic buckle because that's the lightest combination. I'll walk into an Apple Store on April 10th and see what happens when I ask for that combo. I shall report back!

 

[Ries]

http://aluminumsurface.blogspot.dk/2009/04/corrosion-between-anodized-aluminum-and.html

Guess that is why "swimming"/"water proof" is off the table (or why the aluminium doesn't have metal connectors when it gets water proof)

"Normally the galvanic coupling with stainless steel works very well but when there are even the slightest trace of chloride in the environment a galvanic corrosion will take place."

 

[cambookpro]

After further consideration, I think that unless the aluminum watches become extremely well accepted, resale value after 18 months or so may be a big problem. People that know watches, and I'm not referring to collectors but simply those with an average amount of knowledge of various materials generally regard an aluminum watch as cheap and inferior.

It most certainly will be awhile before the jury returns on this but if I was buying a first gen Apple Watch I'd avoid aluminum and buy stainless knowing it's worth down the line will be much better. SS is very well respected as a great material for a nice watch.

We'll have to see if the market responds to it more like a watch or more like an Apple product.

If it's the latter, as with all other Apple products, I think the base model will hold its value best.

 

[cmChimera]

Galvanic corrosion won't pose a problem in the absence of sweat so it still falls under "bands work with all collections" with the disclaimer it may not be optimal for use with that specific collection if you do use it for working out.

Apple isn't stupid. If mixing bands could lead to actual damage, they wouldn't even imply that it was ok.

 

[kdarling]

An easily understandable article of interest:

Corrosion between anodized aluminum and steel

Basically, aluminum and some stainless steels are pretty safe, but avoid sea water

 

[profmjh]

I mean this so kindly, but I'm beginning to wonder if the forum members on MacRumors are a bit nuts.

To read the threads about sapphire and ceramic, and now galvanic corrosion, you'd think that Apple has designed a watch so delicate that it can only be handled by men in white cotton gloves.

But then we live in a world in which Apple designs beautiful, beautiful phones are people cover them up, not least with "screen protectors".

If you're dating a 21 year old supermodel, you don't make her wear a bag on her head and worry about what she'll look like when she's 60.

 

[JayLenochiniMac]

An easily understandable article of interest:

Corrosion between anodized aluminum and steel

Basically, aluminum and some stainless steels are pretty safe, but avoid sea water

Not just sea water. Swimming pools and your skin (sweat) also contain chlorides.

Those of you saying the stainless steel screws do just fine on aluminum iPhones, that's different as they're not constantly exposed to salt in your skin and people are unlikely to leave them out in marine environment.

 

[kdarling]

I mean this so kindly, but I'm beginning to wonder if the forum members on MacRumors are a bit nuts.

To read the threads about sapphire and ceramic, and now galvanic corrosion, you'd think that Apple has designed a watch so delicate that it can only be handled by men in white cotton gloves.

I think people are trying to make sense of why Apple seems to only want certain pairings, and why they say that some may not "be optimal for use with that specific collection."

With regular wrist watches, the manufacturers do take care to avoid metals that can interact, so it's not just the Apple Watch.

However, the Apple device is unique in that the case and band metals are actually slid into pretty large contact with each other.

Although, that's actually helpful, because any possible galvanic action would be spread out instead of being concentrated in smaller spots.