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Reconsidering the Modern Buckle, anyone?

bunnicula

bunnicula

macrumors 68040
Original poster
Jul 23, 2008
3,816
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First off, I love my SS Apple Watch. I love the way it works and I have no desire to return it.

I love the look of the Modern Buckle band.

That said, I do not love the "feel" of the Modern Buckle band.

The band feels too thin for the large buckle. It's rather odd. I think that it would make more sense if the leather band was about twice as thick as it is now. When wearing it, you have two large lumps... the watch and the buckle...with these thin strips of leather holding them together.

It's an odd dynamic while wearing.

I love the Midnight Blue. I even love the Black (I still have 2 and need to return one... or both, I'm just not sure yet).

I have found myself going back to my sport bands. I also, to my surprise, like my son's classic buckle. It's the extra thickness of the leather that I like. And these bands aren't even particularly thick anyway.

I wish they made the classic in Midnight blue for the SS and not just for the Edition. That would be perfection.

For now, with the modern buckle costing 250 dollars, I'm just not sure it's worth it yet.

I may return my watch and replace it with a classic buckle version, since I already have some sport bands and I have a Milanese that I don't really like wearing very often, but is in use because my daughter loves it and seems to have claimed it for her own.

I feel that the sport would be my daily band and the classic could be for dressier occasions. Or, I could borrow the ML.

Any thoughts from those of you that either have the Modern Buckle or have decided to buy it? Or who returned it? Or just anyone who has seen it?

LOL.

Thanks, MR people. I value your opinions. :)
 
Interesting you should say you think it feels too thin, The Modern Buckle was really the one I wanted int he beginning because it was thin and I was so close to spending $800 plus when they first were available for order. I had my CC number in and ready to hit purchase and stopped. My gut just told me not to spend the money. So I waited and now was able to purchase in the store but ended up buying the Sports Watch with the white band but I still want to get the Black Modern Buckle because I thought it felt so comfortable but just could not justify the price.
 
laffnvegas said:
Interesting you should say you think it feels too thin, The Modern Buckle was really the one I wanted int he beginning because it was thin and I was so close to spending $800 plus when they first were available for order. I had my CC number in and ready to hit purchase and stopped. My gut just told me not to spend the money. So I waited and now was able to purchase in the store but ended up buying the Sports Watch with the white band but I still want to get the Black Modern Buckle because I thought it felt so comfortable but just could not justify the price.
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That's the other thing, though. It IS comfortable. It just feels weird, the contrast between the large watch case, the hefty buckle, and the really thin band. It feels like the band should be a bit thinner. It's weird because this band would be perfect on a thinner and/or lighter, more delicate watch. Not sure if that makes sense.

It's something I noticed wearing it for a week. I never would've noticed it in store.
 
I completely agree with your observations based on my own brief try-on. That being said, I won't feel like I've gotten the full Apple Watch experience I originally sought until I have one of my own. The modern buckle was part of what grabbed my attention when the Apple Watch was introduced during the IPhone 6/6Plus debut. Granted, it was the red modern buckle band on the gold edition I fell in love with. But I don't have to pursue my original infatuation to that exacting a degree! :eek:
 
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GrumpyMom said:
I completely agree with your observations based on my own brief try-on. That being said, I won't feel like I've gotten the full Apple Watch experience I originally sought until I have one of my own. The modern buckle was part of what grabbed my attention when the Apple Watch was introduced during the IPhone 6/6Plus debut. Granted, it was the red modern buckle band on the gold edition I fell in love with. But I don't have to pursue my original infatuation to that exacting a degree! :eek:
Click to expand...

Own one for awhile. It'll get you over it. :D
 
Lol!

The thing I did not like about the modern buckle band was how flimsy it felt when opened. The buckle pieces felt so thin and insubstantial. And it did feel like a mere ribbon was being used to hold up two bulky weights.

When I went for my try-on the aluminum sport watch was instantly comfortable with any band. I found the SS heavy and uncomfortable. I found the SS with the black classic buckle to be immediately the most comfortable.

However, I did get used to my sport band. I've been focusing on collecting the available colors. My husband has the black classic buckle band and prefers the black sport band for comfort and durability. He seemed disappointed that the band felt stiff and rather more like a heavy parchment than the kind of leather he has been used to. He also felt it was less breathable than his other leather bands.
 
GrumpyMom said:
Lol!

The thing I did not like about the modern buckle band was how flimsy it felt when opened. The buckle pieces felt so thin and insubstantial. And it did feel like a mere ribbon was being used to hold up two bulky weights.

When I went for my try-on the aluminum sport watch was instantly comfortable with any band. I found the SS heavy and uncomfortable. I found the SS with the black classic buckle to be immediately the most comfortable.

However, I did get used to my sport band. I've been focusing on collecting the available colors. My husband has the black classic buckle band and prefers the black sport band for comfort and durability. He seemed disappointed that the band felt stiff and rather more like a heavy parchment than the kind of leather he has been used to. He also felt it was less breathable than his other leather bands.
Click to expand...

I like the classic buckle. My son has it for his watch and I wore the band for a few days with my other SS watch (the one my daughter talked me into letting her keep instead of returning it) before my modern buckle arrived.

Now that I've had a chance to wear the classic and the modern, I prefer the classic. I think that overall, I prefer the sport bands most of all, though. I'm wearing my white one right now. LOL.

I should probably just go return my modern buckled, buy a classic model, and get myself a green sport band for fun.

Then, wait for Apple to release more bands.

Or, just go get myself a SS WSB or SS BSB and wear my son's classic because he never wears it and buy myself a green sport band and save even MORE money. Hehehe. Seriously, that might be my best move. I need to ask my son if he realistically thinks he'll ever wear his classic because he always wears his WSB.
 
I still love my pink modern buckle band and am not concerned about the thinness. It feels very comfortable on my wrist. I have a small wrist and it sits well on my wrist. I use my WSB when exercising and sometimes just leave it on, but I don't like the look as well and it sometimes feels tight and sticks to my wrist although it is on the correct setting and in reality not too tight. The pink band is staying clean so far, but the buckle is getting scratched probably from contact with my MacBook Pro. I still want a black modern buckle band when available for a different look. Good luck with your band decisions.
 
bevsb2 said:
I still love my pink modern buckle band and am not concerned about the thinness. It feels very comfortable on my wrist. I have a small wrist and it sits well on my wrist. I use my WSB when exercising and sometimes just leave it on, but I don't like the look as well and it sometimes feels tight and sticks to my wrist although it is on the correct setting and in reality not too tight. The pink band is staying clean so far, but the buckle is getting scratched probably from contact with my MacBook Pro. I still want a black modern buckle band when available for a different look. Good luck with your band decisions.
Click to expand...

Thanks! Yeah... I don't have large wrists, either. Mine are pretty narrow. I've never been a watch person in general, and I think that I tend to appreciate symmetry, so maybe the look of two different-sized, yet large metal shapes on either end of a thin band is throwing me off.

I actually love the way the WSB looks with the watch. It is thicker, though. I really thought I'd enjoy the Modern Buckle after trying it on several times at the Apple Store and after wearing my son's classic to confirm that I liked a leather band, but in use, it just seemed like I prefer the slightly-thicker feel of the classic bands more. I love the Midnight Blue, and I really wish they were selling the Midnight Blue classic buckle for the SS. I'd buy that one.
 
bunnicula said:
Thanks! Yeah... I don't have large wrists, either. Mine are pretty narrow. I've never been a watch person in general, and I think that I tend to appreciate symmetry, so maybe the look of two different-sized, yet large metal shapes on either end of a thin band is throwing me off.

I actually love the way the WSB looks with the watch. It is thicker, though. I really thought I'd enjoy the Modern Buckle after trying it on several times at the Apple Store and after wearing my son's classic to confirm that I liked a leather band, but in use, it just seemed like I prefer the slightly-thicker feel of the classic bands more. I love the Midnight Blue, and I really wish they were selling the Midnight Blue classic buckle for the SS. I'd buy that one.
Click to expand...

Sent you a message.....
 
I too feel like the modern buckle leather is too thin. I also think the clasp is too big and looks really poor when not cinched (though that's really picky - it should only matter what it looks like when it's on, but it was the look of it when not on that irritated me). I went with the classic buckle and am very happy. The only things about the classic that bother me is that sometimes the strapholder slips off the strap and sometimes the watch rotates a bit on my wrist (which doesn't happen with the sport band), but again I'm being picky.
 
One thing I love about the Apple watch is that the watch does not slip around to the side of my wrist like every other watch I have worn has. It stays where it belongs when using either the modern buckle or sport bands.
 
bevsb2 said:
One thing I love about the Apple watch is that the watch does not slip around to the side of my wrist like every other watch I have worn has. It stays where it belongs when using either the modern buckle or sport bands.
Click to expand...

It really doesn't at all. No matter the band. I think it's the sensor underneath it.
 
flur said:
I too feel like the modern buckle leather is too thin. I also think the clasp is too big and looks really poor when not cinched (though that's really picky - it should only matter what it looks like when it's on, but it was the look of it when not on that irritated me). I went with the classic buckle and am very happy. The only things about the classic that bother me is that sometimes the strapholder slips off the strap and sometimes the watch rotates a bit on my wrist (which doesn't happen with the sport band), but again I'm being picky.
Click to expand...

It cannot be loose at all, or it will try to rotate. It's because of the shape of the case, I think. If it's not loose (doesn't have to be tight) it won't rotate.
 
bunnicula said:
If it's not loose (doesn't have to be tight) it won't rotate.
Click to expand...

Oh, how I wish that were true. :(

I'm not sure why it happens with the classic leather and not with the sport band, but the watch likes to sit next to my wrist knuckle. This happens even when the band is quite snug, i.e. I can only fit one finger underneath the band and it's visibly squeezing the skin on my wrists at the sides. I can wear the sport band noticeably looser without the watch migrating over.
 
laffnvegas said:
Please come back and tell us what you think of the Amazon one, I really want one but fearing it will not be as nice as Apple's. Plus I have the Sport watch.
Click to expand...

I also have the sport. From what I keep reading, you either love or hate the modern buckle. I keep seeing how people are finding it "flimsy," so I can't imagine a knock-off being worse. But yes, I'll share once I've got it!
 
flur said:
Oh, how I wish that were true. :(

I'm not sure why it happens with the classic leather and not with the sport band, but the watch likes to sit next to my wrist knuckle. This happens even when the band is quite snug, i.e. I can only fit one finger underneath the band and it's visibly squeezing the skin on my wrists at the sides. I can wear the sport band noticeably looser without the watch migrating over.
Click to expand...

That's so odd. I wonder why it does that. What happens if you wear it loose?
 
I returned my modern buckle (black)... flimsy is right, almost felt like cardboard. I was also surprised at how cheap the buckle itself felt - so light and insubstantial, almost like thin plastic. Wasn't sure what I was paying the premium for. Now I'm trying the SS link bracelet - and it's actually quite a bit nicer than I was expecting (and I was expecting it to be nice). I also tried the classic, which was (to my surprise) quite a bit nicer than the modern overall, I just didn't like the pebbled look. I'm also finding that the more wide/substantial the attachment piece is - like the sport bands and the link bracelet, where it goes wider towards the watch - the better it looks. Attachments like the modern and classic seem to accentuate the thinness of the band and the thickness/wideness of the watch itself. Granted this is all from a 38mm perspective, might be different on the 42s.
 
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Atiumite said:
I returned my modern buckle (black)... flimsy is right, almost felt like cardboard. I was also surprised at how cheap the buckle itself felt - so light and insubstantial, almost like thin plastic. Wasn't sure what I was paying the premium for. Now I'm trying the SS link bracelet - and it's actually quite a bit nicer than I was expecting (and I was expecting it to be nice). I also tried the classic, which was (to my surprise) quite a bit nicer than the modern overall, I just didn't like the pebbled look. I'm also finding that the more wide/substantial the attachment piece is - like the sport bands and the link bracelet, where it goes wider towards the watch - the better it looks. Attachments like the modern and classic seem to accentuate the thinness of the band and the thickness/wideness of the watch itself. Granted this is all from a 38mm perspective, might be different on the 42s.
Click to expand...


Yes. I think the reason why I prefer the classic to the modern is the thickness of the band itself. The classic does accentuate the width and thickness of the case somewhat, but not as dramatically as the modern.

My favorite bands for the 38mm are the sport, link, and (appearancewise) the milanese.

I wish they made the leather loop in 38mm. It's comfortable.
 
I tried on the Milanese the other week but the modern buckle still seems to suit my wrist.. At least that's the theory. I picked up my SS in person from Selfridges and went for the BSB. I've really enjoyed how comfy it is, and whilst it would be nice to have the pink modern buckle for the odd night out, or maybe work, I'm fine not spending the £200.. Agree I would like to see a leather loop in 38mm size though..

Should add, no sign of being able to order the band on the UK store has rather put me off as well..
 
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I tried on both the classic buckle and the modern and just loved the modern buckle. I plan to buy a brown one whenever they become available.

I think I will hold out for the Apple one because I love the feel of real leather - the third party one on Amazon appears to be a synthetic.
 
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