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Why do you keep saying it's getting off topic? You're basically describing a band made of soft lead. People want to know if it's a manufacturing defect or if you sleepwalk into a belt sander at night. There's a lot of us with that bracelet, and more who are thinking about getting one, and we want to know what's up with yours. That's as on topic as it gets.
 
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Why do you keep saying it's getting off topic? You're basically describing a band made of soft lead. People want to know if it's a manufacturing defect or if you you sleepwalk into a belt sander at night. There's a lot of us with that bracelet, and more who are thinking about getting one, and we want to know what's up with yours. That's as on topic as it gets.
Ok, I get your point. When I first started the thread all it said was "is this normal" and I think the admin added the brushes silver is wearing off.

I was asking if it was normal that Apple wouldn't want a $450 band back and let me keep it.

You made me laugh on sleepwalk into a belt sander. I just don't know what or how it happened. I did replace three links that showed heavy wear with three I had extra and after one use they were worn. My desk at home has a keyboard tray with wrist padding. The desk is made of wood and I am sure at some point my wrists were on the wood. I can't think of anything else. All workouts are with the sport band, all yard work is with the sport band.

I'll have to try the new band and see what happens.
 
Ok, I get your point. When I first started the thread all it said was "is this normal" and I think the admin added the brushes silver is wearing off.

I was asking if it was normal that Apple wouldn't want a $450 band back and let me keep it.

You made me laugh on sleepwalk into a belt sander. I just don't know what or how it happened. I did replace three links that showed heavy wear with three I had extra and after one use they were worn. My desk at home has a keyboard tray with wrist padding. The desk is made of wood and I am sure at some point my wrists were on the wood. I can't think of anything else. All workouts are with the sport band, all yard work is with the sport band.

I'll have to try the new band and see what happens.

Could you possibly post a video of you rubbing the metal with your finger?
 
This is really interesting! I have never heard of a brushed SS band wearing that quickly - it would be great if you could post a video or photos. Usually a manufacturing defect of this type would apply to a whole batch so there could be others with the same problem.
 
:) definitely not hiding anything and I can rub more off with my fingernail - whether that is actually rubbing something off, I don't know. Believe me, this wasn't me forgetting what I did or hiding anything. It appears as if it is simply defective. Hope no one else has this issue.

Probably a dead issue at this point and I will most likely use the new band and keep the old one.

I am sorry but I can not get past you being able to rub off more stainless steel with your fingernail. I would love to see some images of this happening or even of what you are rubbing off. Your original images show very high and abrasive wear and yet you say you have only worn this band a few times.

Sorry but the images tell a different story and there is something else happening here.
 
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This is really interesting! I have never heard of a brushed SS band wearing that quickly - it would be great if you could post a video or photos. Usually a manufacturing defect of this type would apply to a whole batch so there could be others with the same problem.

Looks like Apple's hardening/ tempering of the steel leaves a little to be desired? Even $100 stainless band don't scratch that easily..
 
A moderator actually modified the title to read "brushed silver" instead of "stainless steel"?
All I remember having was Is This Normal - not what else was added. But who knows at this point anymore. I think some of the posts think I am either telling a lie or totally unaware of what I was doing. I have no reason to try and fool anyone here and although I was just talking about Apple letting me keep the band, it would be nice to get to the bottom of this for anyone else owning or thinking of owning this band. It is a beautiful band and well made and easy to size adjust.

Based on the responses, I truly understand that this looks like abuse or unwittingly doing some damage or something else. I know this scratches really easy and I expected to see a lot of micro scratches but it is the darker color that makes me say rubbing off. I really don't care if it was me that caused the problem, but I truly wore this about 4-5 times and never in an environment that had anything more than a wood desk, padded wrist rest. I sleep with my watch for the silent alarm but it is with the sport band so when I wake up and workout, the right band is on. If I dress up with a long sleeve shirt, I use the link band and it is mostly under the sleeve.

I am attaching another picture zoomed in... I am sure it is me somehow, but I will let you all weigh in on this.
 

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All I remember having was Is This Normal - not what else was added. But who knows at this point anymore. I think some of the posts think I am either telling a lie or totally unaware of what I was doing. I have no reason to try and fool anyone here and although I was just talking about Apple letting me keep the band, it would be nice to get to the bottom of this for anyone else owning or thinking of owning this band. It is a beautiful band and well made and easy to size adjust.

Based on the responses, I truly understand that this looks like abuse or unwittingly doing some damage or something else. I know this scratches really easy and I expected to see a lot of micro scratches but it is the darker color that makes me say rubbing off. I really don't care if it was me that caused the problem, but I truly wore this about 4-5 times and never in an environment that had anything more than a wood desk, padded wrist rest. I sleep with my watch for the silent alarm but it is with the sport band so when I wake up and workout, the right band is on. If I dress up with a long sleeve shirt, I use the link band and it is mostly under the sleeve.

I am attaching another picture zoomed in... I am sure it is me somehow, but I will let you all weigh in on this.

And you are saying your band looked like this after wearing it for only 4 or 5 times?

This band is/has come into contact with more than your are admitting. Sorry but a wood desk will not do this even after months orphans contact.
 
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And you are saying your band looked like this after wearing it for only 4 or 5 times?

This band is/has come into contact with more than your are admitting. Sorry but a wood desk will not do this even after months orphans contact.

No need to be sorry, it has to be me. Yep - four or five times and I am agreeing with everyone that I must have unwittingly did something that I don't remember because there are a ton of micro scratches. Even my work desk is a finished oak. I cannot figure out what happened or what I could have done.

What about the dark areas? Is this band suppose to do that? Why did Apple take one look and send me a new one and tell me not to send the old one back? Did they know of this problem? I don't know. I have to assume from the responses that I did it and even made the darker areas somehow. If you can believe one thing, just know that I am not holding back on what I did or would for some reason try and lie to all of you. I am old, I already have the new band and just don't want to lie period.

So, if I were to try and buff out the scratches, would it also take out the dark areas?
 
It almost looks like you were accidentally shipped a plated pot metal prototype.
 
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All I remember having was Is This Normal - not what else was added. But who knows at this point anymore. I think some of the posts think I am either telling a lie or totally unaware of what I was doing. I have no reason to try and fool anyone here and although I was just talking about Apple letting me keep the band, it would be nice to get to the bottom of this for anyone else owning or thinking of owning this band. It is a beautiful band and well made and easy to size adjust.

Based on the responses, I truly understand that this looks like abuse or unwittingly doing some damage or something else. I know this scratches really easy and I expected to see a lot of micro scratches but it is the darker color that makes me say rubbing off. I really don't care if it was me that caused the problem, but I truly wore this about 4-5 times and never in an environment that had anything more than a wood desk, padded wrist rest. I sleep with my watch for the silent alarm but it is with the sport band so when I wake up and workout, the right band is on. If I dress up with a long sleeve shirt, I use the link band and it is mostly under the sleeve.

I am attaching another picture zoomed in... I am sure it is me somehow, but I will let you all weigh in on this.

Unless you unknowingly did something to it like bang the hell out of it while sleepwalking, I'll give you the benefit of the doubt and chalk it up to manufacturing defect because that's clearly not normal.
 
No need to be sorry, it has to be me. Yep - four or five times and I am agreeing with everyone that I must have unwittingly did something that I don't remember because there are a ton of micro scratches. Even my work desk is a finished oak. I cannot figure out what happened or what I could have done.

What about the dark areas? Is this band suppose to do that? Why did Apple take one look and send me a new one and tell me not to send the old one back? Did they know of this problem? I don't know. I have to assume from the responses that I did it and even made the darker areas somehow. If you can believe one thing, just know that I am not holding back on what I did or would for some reason try and lie to all of you. I am old, I already have the new band and just don't want to lie period.

So, if I were to try and buff out the scratches, would it also take out the dark areas?

My question is what are the dark spots. The stainless steel should be the same color through the entire thickness or the links. The brushed finish is just on the surface but the big question is what the dark stuff is?

As far as Apple not wanting the band back, I suspect they might already know and find no reason to add more expense to the deal by them paying for return shipping. I suspect they have seen plenty. I have worn a solid 18k gold Rolex watch of which the watch case and entire band/links are made of solid 18k gold. Gold is very soft compared to stainless steel but even after a year the band clasp got the most wear but nothing near what I am seeing in your images. I have the dealer clean/polish the case and band each year and it looks like new.

I hope your new band does better, please keep us posted.
 
I don't think the standard SS link bracelet has a clear coat. A scratch in the brushed SS bracelet can be buffed out (in the direction of the grain) using a red scotch-brite pad and it'll look normal again.
yeah i know it doesnt but from the pictures it looks like it. like when a car has paint peeling. i did not know that, ill have to buy a red scotch-brite pad and try it out
 
Some of the comments on this thread have me cracking up. "Are you sure you didn't sleep walk into a belt sander?" "Looks like they sent you a pot metal prototype."

For what it's worth, I have the same stainless steel link bracelet, and have been wearing it for over a week, with only one or two of the smallest, barely visible micro scratches.

My question for you is when they sent you the new one, did it look exactly the same out of the box as your original one? It has a very shiny finish. Did your original one have that same finish?

Do you have kids, and is there any chance one of them got a hold of it and dragged it across a concrete sidewalk?
 
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I wish I could tell you something that would make sense.
There should be nothing rubbing off of your stainless steel band. If there is, it could be some leftover residue from the manufacturing process that simply shouldn't be there. I doubt Apple puts a coat of clear lacquer on all of their link armbands, because it would just wear off like you're describing and start looking cruddy...

Try rubbing the band off with acetone, or possibly paint thinner if you have any on hand. You should be left with nothing but stainless steel. Naturally, remove the band from your watch first, as solvents can damage the waterproofing seals of the Watch (screen, back, mic/speaker etc.)
 
It almost looks like you were accidentally shipped a plated pot metal prototype.
Who knows anymore and I just have to assume I did all of this for some reason I don't recall.
Some of the comments on this thread have me cracking up. "Are you sure you didn't sleep walk into a belt sander?" "Looks like they sent you a pot metal prototype."

For what it's worth, I have the same stainless steel link bracelet, and have been wearing it for over a week, with only one or two of the smallest, barely visible micro scratches.

My question for you is when they sent you the new one, did it look exactly the same out of the box as your original one? It has a very shiny finish. Did your original one have that same finish?

Do you have kids, and is there any chance one of them got a hold of it and dragged it across a concrete sidewalk?

Yep - looks identical. Kids wouldn't know where I put it. It had to be me somehow but the darker areas just look like worn off and not just scratches. My assumption is I did something that I simple don't recall and I good buffing might do the trick but I don't know about the other dark areas. They could just be one big scratch.

I gave up figuring it out.
 
No, this is the silver link bracelet for the SS Watch :) My guess is that I could sell the old one on EBay and still get at least $200 - don't you think? Def worth keeping for parts I suppose?

Good condition links are selling for $50-60 each on ebay, I know, I just purchased five of them (but paid less for buying five from one seller). But I would not have purchased damaged links.
 
Good condition links are selling for $50-60 each on ebay, I know, I just purchased five of them (but paid less for buying five from one seller). But I would not have purchased damaged links.
Wow, that seems like the thing I should do since I have plenty that are in perfect condition and I also don't need 4 and I haven't even opened the new one yet.
 
Good condition links are selling for $50-60 each on ebay, I know, I just purchased five of them (but paid less for buying five from one seller). But I would not have purchased damaged links.

Could you point me to any links for those auctions? I took a quick peek and could not find them. Only the actual complete link bracelets. I have small wrists, so I have seven extra ones.

Edit: Nevermind. Keyword seems to be "extra" link, and then they pop up.
 
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Wow, that seems like the thing I should do since I have plenty that are in perfect condition and I also don't need 4 and I haven't even opened the new one yet.
Is it possible to get some pictures from different angles? I believe that my link bracelet is in the beginning fase of this problem... :s
 
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