Space Black Link Bracelet - Not Sold Separately

[ncstatered21]

I searched around to find something about this but didn't see much besides one small article.

I have ordered a 38mm sport space grey and was hoping to purchase a link bracelet down the road. I see now that the link bracelet that matches my space grey aluminum sport watch is sold separately and the only one available right now is the silver link bracelet.

Furthermore as I was typing this I was wondering what types of effects the aluminum casing, stainless steel bracelet, and water may have on each other in regards to corrosion. Some simple googling shows that yes galvanic corrosion can occur if stainless steel and aluminum come in contact with an electrolyte (water).

Bottom line:
1.Any word on if the space black link bracelet will every be sold separately?

2.Will the stainless steel bracelet, aluminum case, and water cause galvanic corrosion?

I'm sure there are other engineers/chemists out there that may know.

 

[JayLenochiniMac]

1. Not currently sold separately, but who knows about the future?

2. No official words from Apple on galvanic corrosion, but anodized aluminum and stainless steel together do pose a bi-metallic corrosion risk especially in marine environment. Even Apple doesn't have the magical ability to defeat naturally occurring chemical reactions, just as they can't trump physics. As long as you don't subject it to salt (wear it while working out), you should be fine.

 

[mchoffa]

Doubt it would ever be sold separately, since it's the only one they sell the space black watch with, and the only one it really goes with (might look ok with space grey, but you'd have to hold them side by side in store to know)

 

[ncstatered21]

1. Not currently sold separately, but who knows about the future?

2. No official words from Apple on galvanic corrosion, but anodized aluminum and stainless steel together do pose a bi-metallic corrosion risk especially in marine environment. Even Apple doesn't have the magical ability to defeat naturally occurring chemical reactions, just as they can't trump physics. As long as you don't subject it to salt (wear it while working out), you should be fine.

Yes thats true as well. I guess water is a weak electrolyte so it may not pose a risk. Saltwater on the other hand may be much more of an issue.

Doubt it would ever be sold separately, since it's the only one they sell the space black watch with, and the only one it really goes with (might look ok with space grey, but you'd have to hold them side by side in store to know)

Understood. I don't think it looks too bad with a silver one but I would like to see it in person to truly find out.

 

[JFazYankees]

Even if it was sold separately, I don't think it would really match the Space Gray watch at all. In person, the Space Black watch and link bracelet are not just really dark gray, they're almost pitch black.

 

[SixtyK]

Even if it was sold separately, I don't think it would really match the Space Gray watch at all. In person, the Space Black watch and link bracelet are not just really dark gray, they're almost pitch black.

To be fair, the Space Gray watch seems to look okay with the darker black Sport band...

 

[JayLenochiniMac]

To be fair, the Space Gray watch seems to look okay with the darker black Sport band...

Dark gray with black is quite different from two dark grays together with different tones.

I'd be curious to see a real life photo of it.

 

[cambookpro]

1. Not currently sold separately, but who knows about the future?

2. No official words from Apple on galvanic corrosion, but anodized aluminum and stainless steel together do pose a bi-metallic corrosion risk especially in marine environment. Even Apple doesn't have the magical ability to defeat naturally occurring chemical reactions, just as they can't trump physics. As long as you don't subject it to salt (wear it while working out), you should be fine.

Apple did mention to a reviewer that galvanic corrosion will not be an issue as both metals are coated.

I think Apple wouldn't make the SS straps fit the aluminium watch if this were a real issue.

 

[JayLenochiniMac]

Apple did mention to a reviewer that galvanic corrosion will not be an issue as both metals are coated.

And what happens if the anodized coating on the aluminum wears off from repeatedly swapping bands? We all know how susceptible it is to wearing off on the iPhone.

 

[mchoffa]

And what happens if the anodized coating on the aluminum wears off from repeatedly swapping bands? We all know how susceptible it is to wearing off on the iPhone.

This might actually be the real reason the sport only comes with the rubber bands, although the leather loop should be ok too

 

[cambookpro]

And what happens if the anodized coating on the aluminum wears off from repeatedly swapping bands? We all know how susceptible it is to wearing off on the iPhone.

Don't shoot the messenger!

Though in my opinion, it's not going to be an issue at all. A tiny scratch in the coating is not going to give enough surface area for galvanic corrosion to take place, and in any case, the points of contact between the metals should be minimised due to the small rubber pieces on the band connectors.

Apple will be wary of things like this after 'antennagate', 'scuffgate' and 'bendgate'. Even if there was only a very, very slim chance of the metals corroding, I doubt they'd make the non-Sport bands compatible with the aluminium watches.

 

[gsmornot]

As nice as the Apple link is, for the price I think it might be worth the wait to get an aftermarket replica. I'm sure they will be produced eventually and they might even make them to match the color.