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Metal Link Bracelet Options

mightyjabba

mightyjabba

macrumors 68000
Original poster
Sep 25, 2014
1,586
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Tatooine
I thought I'd make a thread for discussing metal bracelet options for the Apple Watch. As of this moment, I only know of two.

apple_stainless_link.jpeg


The Apple stainless link bracelet is the obvious first choice, but at $449 for the 42mm version, it is fairly expensive compared to other metal link smartwatch bracelets. Yes I know about the ingenious resizing mechanism and that it's not that expensive compared to luxury timepiece bands, but it's still more than a low-end iPad which is hard for me to get my head around. I'm still tempted by it.

monowear_silver_link1.jpg


The other is the Monowear "silver metal" band. At $99, it's a lot cheaper than the Apple version, but it appears to be identical to this band you can get for $less than $20 at Aliexpress, so it seems that what Monowear is doing is attaching Apple Watch compatible connectors to a cheap metal band. This doesn't really appeal to me that much. If I wanted to use an existing band, I could just get an adapter like the Click myself.

Speaking of which... Are there any metal bands out there that would work well with the Click? Or any other metal bands that other manufacturers have announced? [EDIT: I see that Click is offering what appears to be the same band as Monowear for $14.99, plus the cost of the adapter.]
 
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A

antnee

macrumors regular
Jan 7, 2014
247
100
Good thread to start on. I got the Milanese but I cant stomach personally spending 450.00 JUST for a band. Hopefully there is some traction on 3rd party options.
 
batristain

batristain

macrumors 6502a
Sep 15, 2014
799
748
Richmond,VA
My issue is the cost....hard for me to justify that price. I have the Milanese which is fine but I really prefer a link band. My wrist is small (140m). I've confirmed with mono wear their band is too big. I think I'm going to pick up the adapters being sold on Etsy...should arrive early June and then spend 50 bucks on a nice link band from our local Jewlery store so they can adjust it for me. I can handle 80 bucks but I can't justify 400.00.

Cheers,
B
 
mightyjabba

mightyjabba

macrumors 68000
Original poster
Sep 25, 2014
1,586
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Tatooine
supertomtom

supertomtom

macrumors 6502a
Sep 21, 2007
636
670
Gold Coast, Australia
I thought about buying the Hoco metal link, but at the end I think I prefer the adaptor used in the monowear for the metal link. It's chunkier and IMO fits the look of the metal link better.
 
mightyjabba

mightyjabba

macrumors 68000
Original poster
Sep 25, 2014
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Tatooine
As I mentioned in another thread, I ordered the Hoco band and will post when I get it, although it's possible it might not arrive before I leave for an extended trip at the end of the month.
 
W

wileycoyote

macrumors regular
Jun 24, 2010
139
202
I would just be sure they can be sized and how big they are. Very rarely will a link band fit perfect, it's especially important with the Apple Watch as you want to avoid a lot of play in how the watch sits.
 
Mac 128

Mac 128

macrumors 603
Apr 16, 2015
5,360
2,930
mightyjabba said:
Here's another from Hoco via eBay from a post in the Third Party bands thread. Looks pretty nice to me in these pictures. Similar to the Monowear one, but the links seem more rounded? I'm tempted by this one.
Click to expand...

It's nice looking. Probably a high Nickel content so those with allergies should be cautious.

I don't really like how any of the link bands attach to the watch though. They should be integral to the case design, not attached to a bar. But for $400 difference in price, I'm sure many people can get used to it.
 
wanderfowl

wanderfowl

macrumors member
May 6, 2015
83
11
Michigan, US
One thing about the Hoco band is that it doesn't appear to have any fine-adjustment holes, which means that the smallest adjustment you can make is adding or removing a large-ish link. The original Pebble Steel band was this way, and it was a massive pain, as I was between links. I could get either too loose, or too tight, so I had to replace the clasp with a new one which had fine holes.

In the Monowear, based on the picture, you've got a few holes to move the bar to, in order to adjust with more detail than single links.

It's a tiny detail, but it's huge pain when it's missing and you need it. I'd be careful of bands without some mechanism for that.
 
batristain

batristain

macrumors 6502a
Sep 15, 2014
799
748
Richmond,VA
wanderfowl said:
One thing about the Hoco band is that it doesn't appear to have any fine-adjustment holes, which means that the smallest adjustment you can make is adding or removing a large-ish link. The original Pebble Steel band was this way, and it was a massive pain, as I was between links. I could get either too loose, or too tight, so I had to replace the clasp with a new one which had fine holes.

In the Monowear, based on the picture, you've got a few holes to move the bar to, in order to adjust with more detail than single links.

It's a tiny detail, but it's huge pain when it's missing and you need it. I'd be careful of bands without some mechanism for that.
Click to expand...
I emailed one of the sellers for the Hoco Bracelet and I was told it comes with a tool to adjust it to any size you need......for the price I'm going to bite and try it - hopefully a decent adapter will be out soon and I can get a nicer bracelet still cheaper than Apple's version soon if the Hoco doesn't pan out. Monowear bracelet is too big for my wrist (140mm) - I've already confirmed with them so it doesn't seem as adjustable as Apple's or the Hoco.

Cheers,
B
 
R

rhsmd1

macrumors member
Apr 27, 2015
94
2
Central Florida
mightyjabba said:
I thought I'd make a thread for discussing metal bracelet options for the Apple Watch. As of this moment, I only know of two.

Image

The Apple stainless link bracelet is the obvious first choice, but at $449 for the 42mm version, it is fairly expensive compared to other metal link smartwatch bracelets. Yes I know about the ingenious resizing mechanism and that it's not that expensive compared to luxury timepiece bands, but it's still more than a low-end iPad which is hard for me to get my head around. I'm still tempted by it.

Image

The other is the Monowear "silver metal" band. At $99, it's a lot cheaper than the Apple version, but it appears to be identical to this band you can get for $8.91 at Aliexpress, so it seems that what Monowear is doing is attaching Apple Watch compatible connectors to a cheap metal band. This doesn't really appeal to me that much. If I wanted to use an existing band, I could just get an adapter like the Click myself.

Speaking of which... Are there any metal bands out there that would work well with the Click? Or any other metal bands that other manufacturers have announced? [EDIT: I see that Click is offering what appears to be the same band as Monowear for $14.99, plus the cost of the adapter.]
Click to expand...

Any 22mm bracelet or band will work with the click.

----------

The picture of the Hoco clasp tells me it is a cheap-o. I have many years of high end watch bracelet experience.
if you want to look at better quality bands and bracelets which will fit the click( needs to be a 22 mm), look at strapped for time.

http://www.strappedfortime.com
 
wanderfowl

wanderfowl

macrumors member
May 6, 2015
83
11
Michigan, US
rhsmd1 said:
Any 22mm bracelet or band will work with the click.

----------

The picture of the Hoco clasp tells me it is a cheap-o. I have many years of high end watch bracelet experience.
if you want to look at better quality bands and bracelets which will fit the click( needs to be a 22 mm), look at strapped for time.

http://www.strappedfortime.com
Click to expand...

Since you've got some expertise, what should we be looking for? What makes a good link bracelet? What do you think of the Apple model?
 
T

tommyd75

macrumors newbie
Oct 27, 2013
13
0
Has anyone ordered the Hoco stainless steel "5 bead" version. It has a nicer lug that clicks into the watch. It doesn't have the large curved tubes coming out of it like some others or the leather band types. It is better looking in my opinion. I've seen them on Amazon for 39.99.
b6875466113eca9dddb0c5ae66c3d647.jpg

57aee473afd7ee9c0ebdc67ea131e063.jpg




a21c40dfabeb97d9f18055665d2f0ae5.jpg
e072e7dd1ea7e33201346f5c204bd72e.jpg
 
Bazooka-joe

Bazooka-joe

macrumors 603
Mar 12, 2012
5,224
3,618
Swindon, England
That's the band that I have just ordered from eBay.
It should be with me on Friday

tommyd75 said:
Has anyone ordered the Hoco stainless steel "5 bead" version. It has a nicer lug that clicks into the watch. It doesn't have the large curved tubes coming out of it like some others or the leather band types. It is better looking in my opinion. I've seen them on Amazon for 39.99. Image
Image



ImageImage
Click to expand...
 
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