Second thoughts about Aluminum...

[kodos]

Having seen the horror of scratched glass, I made sure to get the Sapphire / Stainless Steel AW3 black stainless steel. Only been a couple of months, but it looks great still. I've seen Aluminum watches have all sorts of funky scratches. But their owners might just be careless (or not).

 

[hr10]

I am leaning toward aluminum from S0 Stainless
The reason behind is I read quite a few ppl got scratches on the screen on the SS model from series 2 and onward. I am not sure it's the coating or actual screen got scratched, but the screen seems not the same as S0.

 

[Scott-n-Houston]

I've had a SS S0 and a SBSS S2 Apple Watch. I ordered a Space Gray Aluminum this time.
I'm also starting to wonder if I made the right decision, but figure with Apple Care, if I get a scratch or bad abrasion on the watch, I can get it fixed/replaced for only $69... And still be way ahead of the cost of the current SS models.

 

[barjam]

I am leaning toward aluminum from S0 Stainless
The reason behind is I read quite a few ppl got scratches on the screen on the SS model from series 2 and onward. I am not sure it's the coating or actual screen got scratched, but the screen seems not the same as S0.

I have had the 0 and 3 SS. I have found no difference in the screen are both pristine. I tried the aluminum for a weekend and had multiple scratches on the screen.
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Saw my friends SS yesterday. It was all scratched up. He said he used to buff it out, but it got old to keep doing it and he’s not OCD enough to care that much anymore. He said he appreciates the watch for what it does. “It’s not a Rolex”.

I guess if you are real OCD this may be an issue, but if you are active with the watch, things are going to happen. The SS scratches up super easily and requires a lot more care and the aluminum takes some abuse better but doesn’t polish up AND it is much lighter. I’m an athletic person so I care more about functionality than some scratches.

I don’t think anyone is talking about cases in these threads in relationship to scratches. It is about the screen. The glass watche face might as well be made out of butter where the SS screen is very difficult to scratch. It doesn’t take OCD to dislike a big scratch on a watch face you look at daily.

The other pro for the SS is that if you do scratch the case you have the option to buff it out. If you scratch the aluminum case it is way more noticeable and sticks out.

Normal wear scratches on the SS is barely noticeable unless you get right on top of it.

 

[nrvna76]

My original Series 0 space gray is still pristine. Wear it everyday and definitely whacked it enough to expect a scratch or two.

I’m still intrigued by the stainless and if the resale/trade in was better than the aluminum at least it might be justifiable for me but it’s just so much money to depreciate after purchase.

 

[jhfenton]

I tried the aluminum for a weekend and had multiple scratches on the screen.

This is the kind of thing I don't understand. The glass used in the Sport models is very difficult to scratch. Short of banging it on concrete or intentionally taking sand paper to it, you shouldn't be able to scratch it. I can't imagine having "multiple scratches" during a weekend of "trying" an aluminum model.

What do you do with a scratched Watch after a weekend of "trying" it out? Can you return it to Apple with scratches?

 

[Sword86]

Boy, this thread is just messing me up.
If I were to get a scratch anywhere that I couldn’t get rid of I wouldn’t be happy. That’s just who I am. I look after things and generally keep things for ages (I still run a late 2008 MB, a 3 or 4 year old Ipad Air 2 and won’t even own a car because I’m just too anal about keeping one perfect) But....I just can’t get past the matt finish on aluminum AWs, but we’re talking almost $500 more for SS over a GPS aluminum. I’m retired now so I’ve gotten past beating it up pulling wrenches so for the first time I’m actually considering aluminum. I guess it all comes down to whether I can be happy ‘settling’ with AL and looking at every other AW I see if it’s SS or not, or springing for what I really want. Life is just to short....I think. Pitiful, isn’t it?
I guess I’ll just wait until I see them in the flesh.

S

 

[hr10]

It has been messing me up since i wanna upgrade last year
I think i will get quite upset when i see scratches on the SS more than the aluminum

 

[Scott-n-Houston]

It has been messing me up since i wanna upgrade last year
I think i will get quite upset when i see scratches on the SS more than the aluminum

Are you talking about the glass? Because you won't see a scratch on the SS glass.

 

[perezr10]

Wow. You work in IT, but your Watch looks like you've spent 3 years hitting with a hammer. I can't begin to imagine how one would do that to a Watch.

My original Space Grey aluminum looks almost like new after 1+ years on my wrist and 2 years on my now-15-year-old son's wrist. And my S2 Gold aluminum looks almost like new after 2 years on my wrist.

I thought I had scratched the screen on my S2 Watch a few weeks ago installing a new sink in our kitchen, but the mark rubbed right off the screen with a microfiber cloth. Otherwise, I've never had a close call.

It’s not that hard to scratch those plastic screens. Swinging your arm in a building with brick walls is DANGEROUS. See this aluminum watch that I had. The obsessive compulsives on MacRumors love to say how their plastic watch screens have no damage after 3 years but one look at eBay at used aluminum watches and you see that most get scratched up.

If you’ve never owned a Sapphire screened Apple Watch you may not be so upset when you get that first scratch. But if you’re a former Sapphire screen owner, you’re gonna flip out and think “What the heck is THAT?!”.

 

[hr10]

Are you talking about the glass? Because you won't see a scratch on the SS glass.

Yes the glass but I have said there are people with series 2 or newer got scratched on the sapphire display

How much to replace SS under Apple care?

 

[Scott-n-Houston]

Yes the glass but I have said there are people with series 2 or newer got scratched on the sapphire display

How much to replace SS under Apple care?

Only on this forum because you have 1000's of users here. In reality, the likelihood of scratching the sapphire crystal is VERY low. I've had 2 SS watches, and banged them HARD many times and they looked like new all the time. I have other watches with the sapphire crystal as well, and same experience.

 

[iBought]

I have had the 0 and 3 SS. I have found no difference in the screen are both pristine. I tried the aluminum for a weekend and had multiple scratches on the screen.
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I don’t think anyone is talking about cases in these threads in relationship to scratches. It is about the screen. The glass watche face might as well be made out of butter where the SS screen is very difficult to scratch. It doesn’t take OCD to dislike a big scratch on a watch face you look at daily.

The other pro for the SS is that if you do scratch the case you have the option to buff it out. If you scratch the aluminum case it is way more noticeable and sticks out.

Normal wear scratches on the SS is barely noticeable unless you get right on top of it.

No one I know with the aluminum watch has any issues with scratches on the screen. We are all very active too.

 

[jhfenton]

It’s not that hard to scratch those plastic screens. Swinging your arm in a building with brick walls is DANGEROUS. See this aluminum watch that I had. The obsessive compulsives on MacRumors love to say how their plastic watch screens have no damage after 3 years but one look at eBay at used aluminum watches and you see that most get scratched up.

If you’ve never owned a Sapphire screened Apple Watch you may not be so upset when you get that first scratch. But if you’re a former Sapphire screen owner, you’re gonna flip out and think “What the heck is THAT?!”.

No Apple Watch screens are plastic. The Sport models have Ion-X glass, and they are very hard. I've had two aluminum Watches (S0 and S2), and the screens are both free of any scratches. I bought the S2 launch day two years ago, and my now-15-year-old son has worn my S0 since then without scratching it.

But swinging your arm against a brick wall is indeed dangerous. You might not scratch a sapphire glass screen, but you can break them.

No one I know with the aluminum watch has any issues with scratches on the screen. We are all very active too.

+1 I run and bike. I lift weights with the Watch (Gymaholic). My son runs track and XC and plays basketball.

 

[Avenger]

No Apple Watch screens are plastic. The Sport models have Ion-X glass, and they are very hard. I've had two aluminum Watches (S0 and S2), and the screens are both free of any scratches. I bought the S2 launch day two years ago, and my now-15-year-old son has worn my S0 since then without scratching it.

But swinging your arm against a brick wall is indeed dangerous. You might not scratch a sapphire glass screen, but you can break them.



+1 I run and bike. I lift weights with the Watch (Gymaholic). My son runs track and XC and plays basketball.

No scratches on mine either.

 

[Lennyvalentin]

I've seen a friend's aluminum S0 up close and its a wreck. It actually seems to have corrosion around the speaker ports and lots of scratches.

My OG alu watch has corrosion all around the letters/numbers on the back and a little around the bottom edge of the side button. Looks like tiny little nibbles have been chewed out of the metal... Occasionally the side button has jammed up pretty good (maybe because of this corrosion - wonder how it looks deeper in, around the watertight seal... Ugh maybe I don't want to know!), but recently it's been all good and doesn't cause even a slight fuss. *shrug*

The obsessive compulsives on MacRumors love to say how their plastic watch screens have no damage after 3 years

PLASTIC? tsss... lol

But if you’re a former Sapphire screen owner, you’re gonna flip out and think “What the heck is THAT?!”.

I hope that's not your watch, or I would indeed say "what the heck is THAT?!" Looks like someone's been working part-time in outer space and the edge of the screen caught a swarm of micro meteorites... Frankly I'm at a loss to try and explain.

 

[squirrrl]

Gymahol *is* addictive

No Apple Watch screens are plastic. The Sport models have Ion-X glass, and they are very hard. I've had two aluminum Watches (S0 and S2), and the screens are both free of any scratches. I bought the S2 launch day two years ago, and my now-15-year-old son has worn my S0 since then without scratching it.

But swinging your arm against a brick wall is indeed dangerous. You might not scratch a sapphire glass screen, but you can break them.



+1 I run and bike. I lift weights with the Watch (Gymaholic). My son runs track and XC and plays basketball.

 

[hr10]

Only on this forum because you have 1000's of users here. In reality, the likelihood of scratching the sapphire crystal is VERY low. I've had 2 SS watches, and banged them HARD many times and they looked like new all the time. I have other watches with the sapphire crystal as well, and same experience.

I know sapphire is very unlikely to get scratches but when you see people talk about scratches on the SS AW, it raises a flag.

I own a couple of higher end watches and I never have to worry about them getting scratches nor I don’t recall people over at rolexforum saying their watch got scratches

 

[FCDP]

Beware the space black Milanese loop. A sapphire screen won't save you from its wrath.



This is from my SBSS S3 that I've had for about a year. At some point, the Milanese loop must have flopped up onto the face, probably taking it off for a flight, and this is the result. I've been incredibly careful with my S3, and S0 prior. This is the only damage, and it's only visible in direct lighting, but it sucks when you can see it. I now avoid wearing the space black Milanese loop at all for fear of ruining the watch.

It's kind of ridiculous that the band it came with is capable of destroying it. I'm thinking of going aluminium for S4. The SS was nice, but not really worth it.

 

[vintagekeys]

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I have to chime in here and will try and post some pictures later. I have a Series 0 Aluminum space gray watch. I got it on release day in 2015. A co-worker of mine told me to go with the SS strictly due to the sapphire glass but I simply couldn't justify the cost.

Fast forward to today - I don't know if I would ever buy another aluminum watch again. I can live with the casing getting scratched as 'wear and tear' however, the glass on my watch is pretty much destroyed with scratches. Inside, I notice it...but I can live with it. However, go outside, in the sun...good luck seeing anything on the screen.

For the simple fact that the SS models have sapphire glass alone - I'm going SS. I keep second guessing myself about swallowing the cost of the SS model but then I look down at my Ion-X glass and know I will have zero regrets.

Side note: I work in IT. My day-to-day is not very rugged or demanding (ex: construction). My first scratch happed while at an aquarium. From there, I began losing count.

[EDIT: Pic posted - And there are still others that i couldn't get to show up in one shot via one angle]

Damn, this is good to know thanks, since i never wear watches and i am also in IT, often under tables and in server rooms digging with my arms, i better get the SS version i guess. because i will ding it into people and stuff because i am not used to wearing a watch.

Thanks!

Edit: just looked at the pricing again 200 dollar extra, i cant justify that as i was planning to give this watch to my son next year and get the newest one, so within 3/4 years i have my wife and 2 kids their own apple watch so we all can use walky talky and gps for kids tracking.

 

[DSTOFEL]

Anyone pair their SB SS with a sport loop for working out? Does it look awful?

I did...and love it....my go to combo - almost never change it. Series 2 SB SS

 

[vintagekeys]

having delved into this now looking at many pictures, i think i am way too active compared to some members here with prestine alloy AW screens, i will go for the SS option instead, because i will scratch it up faster then lightning.

my iphone 6 plus has always been in my pocket and taken care off but its full of scratches and uses the same screen type as the allow apple watch.. since the screen of the apple watch is aways facing the outside and would interact with much more types of surfaces, it cant be that scratch resistant at all. i am going to churn out the extra 200 buck

 

[Nozuka]

My spacegray aluminium S3 got no scratches on the body after 1 year of use, even though i'm almost always wearing it and using it at the gym. Body seems pretty solid.

Sadly i got a light but long scratch on the screen. It's only visible when the light is reflecting the right way though.

But still ordered the SS version for the first time.

 

[44267547]

Beware the space black Milanese loop. A sapphire screen won't save you from its wrath.

View attachment 785435

This is from my SBSS S3 that I've had for about a year. At some point, the Milanese loop must have flopped up onto the face, probably taking it off for a flight, and this is the result. I've been incredibly careful with my S3, and S0 prior. This is the only damage, and it's only visible in direct lighting, but it sucks when you can see it. I now avoid wearing the space black Milanese loop at all for fear of ruining the watch.

It's kind of ridiculous that the band it came with is capable of destroying it. I'm thinking of going aluminium for S4. The SS was nice, but not really worth it.

The reason the Black Milanese loop scratched your sapphire display, is because the Milanese loop has a ‘DLC coating’ on it, which is equally as hard as the sapphire display that can scratch in which happened to you. So yes, you have to be very cautious with that specific band around the Sapphire display, because it can and will scratch it.

 

[mavis]

I am leaning toward aluminum from S0 Stainless
The reason behind is I read quite a few ppl got scratches on the screen on the SS model from series 2 and onward. I am not sure it's the coating or actual screen got scratched, but the screen seems not the same as S0.

Yeah, my S0 SS was absolutely perfect after 2.5 years of daily use, but my S3 SS has multiple scratches - tiny, but deep - after just 9 months. Seems kind of odd to me.