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I'm wearing the black stainless steel Series 0 since launch, and it looks like it did when I took it out of the box. That thing is super durable.
 
I cheated. I originally bought Feb 28, 2019 - but had to send in as it was locking unexpectedly on my wrist.

Got my current Watch mid June 2019. My first watch had a single scratch on it (Cat scratched my screen). So as of now, my watch glass (and aluminum sides) are mint :cool:
 
My launch day SS S4 looks brand new, and when it doesn't I buff it with a Cape Cod cloth until it does :)
This. Although I've only had to do it twice, I think. Nothing major, just little scuffs. But I'm not really careful with it at all.
 
I'm about ready to buy my First Apple Watch. I'd probably get the cheapest around, except so far I haven't been able to find a way to get one without GPS + Cellular, but with Stainless Case. So I am now realizing I have to buy the cellular model for the case. My job requires me to have no connection to anything with it during normal work hours, so I will have to disconnect from WIFI and Cell to have on me at work... I am a mechanic, but don;t work on normal stuff... I work in a High electrical hazard position, working on Airport Trains. I am afraid I'd tear up an aluminum case ASAP, so I really need the durability of the Stainless. And not black, as I believe that is still a coating, isn't it? I don't know for sure, but most things that are stainless are generally shiny like chrome, and any "color" as an additional coating of one kind or another. So Silver Stainless is pretty much the only option I see.
I really appreciate the "banged up" discussion to help me decide where to go with my purchase. Definitely need a screen protector. Any suggestions on which is best without mucking up the appearance or functionality?
 
I have a Space Gray aluminium S4 bought on launch day. Still not a scratch. Looks brand new. I take care of it, but nothing excessive. I remove it when working on cars or anything else high risk for example, but otherwise I don’t think too much about it. I wipe it off at the end of the day with a microfiber cloth and it looks beautiful still.
 
I have a series 4 aluminium watch. I have a few micro scratches on the display but you can only see them under direct lighting at certain angles. The aluminium casing is still flawless.
 
I'm about ready to buy my First Apple Watch. I'd probably get the cheapest around, except so far I haven't been able to find a way to get one without GPS + Cellular, but with Stainless Case. So I am now realizing I have to buy the cellular model for the case. My job requires me to have no connection to anything with it during normal work hours, so I will have to disconnect from WIFI and Cell to have on me at work... I am a mechanic, but don;t work on normal stuff... I work in a High electrical hazard position, working on Airport Trains. I am afraid I'd tear up an aluminum case ASAP, so I really need the durability of the Stainless. And not black, as I believe that is still a coating, isn't it? I don't know for sure, but most things that are stainless are generally shiny like chrome, and any "color" as an additional coating of one kind or another. So Silver Stainless is pretty much the only option I see.
I really appreciate the "banged up" discussion to help me decide where to go with my purchase. Definitely need a screen protector. Any suggestions on which is best without mucking up the appearance or functionality?

from what i heard the black stainless steel ahs a durable diamond coating which makes it tougher to scratch!
 
Is your watch? I have an S4 aluminum and have some scratches on the aluminum part of the watch. I guess it's inevitable since I wear it daily, but it still bothers me. Anyone else have a watch that is showing daily use?

I won't feel so bad if I'm not the only one with a banged up S4...
I've had the SS AW4 for about two months and I have tried to be exceptionally careful with it and don't even wear it to work or more than a few hours a day and I noticed scratches on the body top and bottom pretty early on and recently noticed small random scratches on the screen at the right angle in light. I try to baby it but more and more are appearing and I don't know what's causing them. So I might just go back to Aluminum for AW5 if I decide to buy one. I have been extremely disappointed with the SS as my AW3 held up looking new for much longer than this one.
 
Went ahead with the Silver Stainless version. Got a band on the way, as I can't wear the whole band metal at the job... the watch case is pushing it with the safety guy. I work with High Voltage and metal is frowned upon as it is... so I got a Sport banded version, Leather on the way. I't a big deal for me to even wear a watch as I haven't had a watch in over 20 years due to the onset of Cell phone worldly devices. I've been cellular that long and always have had a phone on me or quick availability to a clock EVERYWHERE I am. This job I have takes me to places where there is no time indication at all for hours on end and we have time constraints we must meet or pay penalties. Company allows watches, but no electronic devices (games, Music players, phones, etc...) so I can have a Apple Watch as long as I turn off all connections while on work sites. "playing with or excessive attention to the wearable will cause me disciplinary actions. I'm easily going to fit in that, as I want the WATCH at work, but want to track the activities while I work, to be able to see things like my heart rate and steps taken - I also have Atrial Fibrillation and can now work WITH my cardiologist without being there if I can record some bad heart activity other than the A-Fib... which Ive been telling him for over a year is happening... but I'm always calm and under zero stress in his office and stress tests have been avoided to date... not sure why. anyway. I'm going to work on getting used to the new watch this week. If I cannot get it under control I will return it... Expensive experiment for sure.
 
My wife and I both have S2 aluminum. There is a corner of her parent's kitchen counter top with evil, vicious tile that put a tiny ding on the left upper corner of my watch the first time I wore it there, and a giant scratch down the center of hers the last time. I left mine alone, she's repaired hers.
 
So... I bought the Stainless GPS/CELL Series 4 last Saturday Night, just before the Apple store closed near me... Awesome Watch, took me a bit to get used to it on my wrist... well, really never got used to it. Dropped it on the floor at work, from about 10 inches and the Crystal display broke all over... I had it 3 days before this happened... had it in my hand reaching for my shoes and it just dropped... You could hear the cracking sound when it hit... Made me sick to my stomach... I did buy the Apple Care + so I got a new one coming already, but what a disappointing thing to happen to a $750 watch... Nearly cried. And I'm a 55 year old man... super depressing that it's that fragile... Won't be wearing it anymore until I get a protective cover/case/something to make it more able to take a bump...

So... my personal experience is that these watches can't take much before they break, but they definitely look Stellar until they do... And even pretty decent after broken.
 
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The aluminium is fine but the screen is pretty scratched. I was in Jordan during the winter and I think it got scuffed due to sand and the elastic cuff off my jacket. I had the series 2 and that barely had anything.
 
Same as above. The aluminium is in pretty good condition, but the screen is scratched on the top. This is my first aluminium, I think I'll be going back to the Stainless steel on my next one.
 
IMG_5929.JPG


Here’s my series 2 after 2 years of use. Apple replaced mine after about 8-9 months of use as it was peeling really bad. The 2nd looks more durable.
 
View attachment 853549

Here’s my series 2 after 2 years of use. Apple replaced mine after about 8-9 months of use as it was peeling really bad. The 2nd looks more durable.

The micro-chipping will worsen. (I get it, it’s a smart watch and takes abuse when worn daily.) It’s the one reason why I won’t purchase the aluminum, the 7000 Series aluminum is durable, but has the tendency to chip due to the anodization process used. It’s just from my standpoint, but the stainless eliminates those issues.
 
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Some scratches on the case but the screen is fine. I’ve been wearing it pretty much every day since April 2015..
 
The micro-chipping will worsen. (I get it, it’s a smart watch and takes abuse when worn daily.) It’s the one reason why I won’t purchase the aluminum, the 7000 Series aluminum is durable, but has the tendency to chip due to the anodization process used. It’s just from my standpoint, but the stainless eliminates those issues.
I did think about it, but I have a hard time justifying the stainless steel, much less the ceramic version. Both have cellular, which I don't need, and I am specifically eyeing the Nike version for the Nike sports band. Being in a tropical country, I sweat a lot, and I find a nike band allows for my sweat to dry the most easily and is thus the most comfortable. This saves me the need to buy a 2nd, separate band.

I have seen all 3 in person, and I personally think the ceramic version looks the best, but for a device which I see myself upgrading every 3-4 years on average, I am not sure I want to splurge extra for the more premium material.

We will see how this year goes.
 
My series 1 is getting pretty rough. It has chunks of glass missing from the screen but still hasn't cracked yet!

IMG-2076.jpg
 
Did some car work a couple weeks again whilst wearing my Apple Watch Sport.

It definitely has some nicks and scratches now. Oh well, they give the watch some character.
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My series 1 is getting pretty rough. It has chunks of glass missing from the screen but still hasn't cracked yet!

IMG-2076.jpg

Yikes, that's a bit of wear, even for someone who has had damage happen to stainless steel and Hardlex-crystal-faced Seiko watches, and banged up their own watch wrenching on vehicles as I just mentioned above.
 
Did some car work a couple weeks again whilst wearing my Apple Watch Sport.

It definitely has some nicks and scratches now. Oh well, they give the watch some character.
[doublepost=1566415720][/doublepost]

Yikes, that's a bit of wear, even for someone who has had damage happen to stainless steel and Hardlex-crystal-faced Seiko watches, and banged up their own watch wrenching on vehicles as I just mentioned above.


Surprisingly the aluminium is almost perfect. I'm really not sure what's causing all the screen damage but it's almost 4 years old now and I don't baby it at all.
 
My SG aluminum Nike is pretty much flawless except for a couple of scuffs I recently noticed on the face around the edges. I've had it since Jan and pretty much wear it working out and anything activity wise.
 
So... I bought the Stainless GPS/CELL Series 4 last Saturday Night, just before the Apple store closed near me... Awesome Watch, took me a bit to get used to it on my wrist... well, really never got used to it. Dropped it on the floor at work, from about 10 inches and the Crystal display broke all over... I had it 3 days before this happened... had it in my hand reaching for my shoes and it just dropped... You could hear the cracking sound when it hit... Made me sick to my stomach... I did buy the Apple Care + so I got a new one coming already, but what a disappointing thing to happen to a $750 watch... Nearly cried. And I'm a 55 year old man... super depressing that it's that fragile... Won't be wearing it anymore until I get a protective cover/case/something to make it more able to take a bump...

So... my personal experience is that these watches can't take much before they break, but they definitely look Stellar until they do... And even pretty decent after broken.

Yea, I cracked the sapphire screen on mine recently dropping out of a locker from about 20" onto tiles. the problem is there is nothing to protect the rounded edge of the screen, a bit of an achilles heel, I have bought a Spigen case for the replacement for when I'm doing sporty stuff in case it drops again so hopefully the raised edges of the case will protect it. It actually doesn't look too bad with it on, like a square retro 80s Casio G-Shock.
 
Yea, I cracked the sapphire screen on mine recently dropping out of a locker from about 20" onto tiles. the problem is there is nothing to protect the rounded edge of the screen, a bit of an achilles heel, I have bought a Spigen case for the replacement for when I'm doing sporty stuff in case it drops again so hopefully the raised edges of the case will protect it. It actually doesn't look too bad with it on, like a square retro 80s Casio G-Shock.
I've been looking for a good protective case, but work nights so no one is open when I'm awake (or have time), so this weekend I'm going to try and find something as well. I got the replacement Monday and it's as perfect as the original one. So I do want to protect this one from my mechanic king hands and stuff... Enjoying it while I'm not at work for now... hopefully something is found good this weekend. (Zagg builds a very nice looking protective cover, but it's glass as well. That seems pretty odd for such an application, as shock resistance is needed as well as cover protection.
 
Finally! I have received all my plastic bits for protection. I went ahead in the interim and got a Zagg lens protector and was OK with that for around the house and non-working times. I bought the rhino shield covers and a few trim rings different colored. And for now I think this will work for my work life as well. I do need to find a better band, as the factory apple band is white... being a mechanic it won't be white for long. I was concerned about the edge of the Zagg lifting, but the way the case fits it's no big deal. all works well together. Solid case... good lens protection... Ready to try again.
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