My cousin bought an Apple watch SS of craigslist with the milanese loop... Problem is he only got the box for the watch. The seller claims the watch was purchased with the official Apple Milanese loop.... Is there any way to confirm that?
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Is there any way to find out if Milanese loop is OEM?
- Thread starter bigjnyc
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Can you have a picture posted on here for us to see the Milanese loop, both front and back? If he is unsure, does he have access to an Apple store, where he can bring it for a comparison?
The problem is, there are _many_ counterfeits that look exactly like Apples Milanese loop, and there really isn’t that much of a differentiator between OEM and third-party. (Other bands from Apple, are easily distinguishable.)
I will try to see if I get a picture from him. I happen to have a 3rd party one from Amazon, and I did notice that his is a lot smoother to slide in and out of the phone. Other than that it really looks identical.
The Milanese loop is a difficult one to tell apart. And there are lots of counterfeits that look exactly like Apples. With Apples, the mesh like material that Apple uses, is almost very soft and supple, third parties will be a little bit more rough and even will show discoloration.
One thing you can do for sure is to check the ends of the lugs. They are laser engraved with words (I think the one side says “designed by Apple”) and the other side has the 42/44mm markings.
So he just checked and one side says "44MM" and the other side says "stainless steel" and then "assembled in china" on the bottom part that slides in.
This is what mine said straight from Apple.
OP I don’t recall it saying “stainless steel” anywhere, but it’s possible I missed it.
Yes, the Link Bracelet says something like "316L Stainless" on the butterfly fold out part, but I don't see that on the Milanese.
![Matteo[V]](/data/avatars/m/1015/1015031.jpg?1571928542){kind=avatar}
I have oem milanese loop but first version, there aren’t word on the band but if you have a replica (I don’t know if the new replica are better then old), you can make a comparison why the oem are more tidy:
The side of the mesh are blunt
The mesh is more thick
The magnet of band is shielded and doesn’t attack to the body car
The magnet have a little rubber ring where the magnet attack to the mesh my old replica didn’t have
The side of the mesh are blunt
The mesh is more thick
The magnet of band is shielded and doesn’t attack to the body car
The magnet have a little rubber ring where the magnet attack to the mesh my old replica didn’t have
The first gen Milanese has words on the band. The non-magnet end lug has the the size (ex. 38MM) on the side facing towards the wrist. The magnet end lug has “Assembled in China” on the edge facing the watch body. Also, the first gen magnet end can’t be pulled out of the lug. That changed on the second gen.
So good news, my cousin made a genius appointment to complain about the magnet on the band becoming loose (which it is) The genius barely even looked at it and ordered a replacement, so he is getting a brand new milanese loop from Apple. Not sure if the genius can tell right away or if he just didn't care lol. But my cousin said he just glanced at it and didn't even touch it or look at the markings. It could also be that their records show if the watch was purchased with the band, so he didn't need to really check it.
PS - The reason he wanted to confirm if it was OEM was so he wouldn't look foolish at the Genius bar asking for a replacement on a third party band... That and the fraud implications of course.
PS - The reason he wanted to confirm if it was OEM was so he wouldn't look foolish at the Genius bar asking for a replacement on a third party band... That and the fraud implications of course.
(Some versions of) the authentic Milanese loop (along with some Sport Bands & some Loops) has a hidden serial number:
https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/authentic-apple-band-serial-numbers-mindblown.2178213/
https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/authentic-apple-band-serial-numbers-mindblown.2178213/
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Though to be accurate, it seems some original Apple Milanese Loop straps do, but some don’t. It must be something that changed at some time on the various production runs.
Yes, I can vouch that mine has it but other people on here have said that theirs does not. Some of my Sport Bands and Sport Loops also have it, some do not.
Did he have to provide any proof of purchase when he went to the Apple store with it?
I hate when It when people refer to apple employee’s “genius” or the “genius bar”. These employees 8/10 times know less then a novice apple user.
Considering that’s what Apple calls them it probably makes sense to use the name they are given. If you suddenly started calling them Associates and the Associate Bar it’s quite likely people won’t know what you’re talking about...