Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.

MarkieMark92

macrumors regular
Original poster
Dec 17, 2013
149
8
London, UK
I can't decide whether to get the Space Black Stainless Steel or Space Grey Aluminium Apple Watch. I own a Space Grey iPhone 6, Space Grey iPad Mini 2 and maybe soon a Space Grey iPod Touch. Any opinions on which you think look best?
 
My opinion and personal taste. Decide for yourself.

Space Gray:

Although the tone looks nice I do not want to buy the aluminum version.
The material is basically identical to the current iPhone, which might be too soft and scratches look bad on anodised aluminum.

Black Stainless Steel:
While Apple might tell you all about the durability of the coating, I highly doubt it is really that high quality. The black might look even uglier if it chips and we have no information about the actual composition. Since it is sprayed onto the surface without heating it afterwards I cannot imagine its special.

They have to produce this device with high yields and at a tight cost. Apple is known for high margin products.

Finally both Space Gray and Black SS limit the band choices.
You can put nearly all bands available on a simple polished SS model.

But, as everything in life, this is just my point of view.

PS: I'm also sceptical about the Milanese Loop band, something that's too overhyped and probably doesn't look too good with that relatively large watch body.
 
Black Stainless Steel:
While Apple might tell you all about the durability of the coating, I highly doubt it is really that high quality. The black might look even uglier if it chips and we have no information about the actual composition. Since it is sprayed onto the surface without heating it afterwards I cannot imagine its special.

DLC Is not sprayed on and will not chip of flake
 
DLC Is not sprayed on and will not chip of flake

It will chip if it gets knocked and as it is on a wrist and will constantly be rubbing against skin I feel it will wear.
Wearing a watch will always be exposed to every day knocks and bangs and unless you keep it in a glass case be prepared that it will suffer wear and tear
 
Last edited:
Please provide some evidence that DLC can be chiped off as it is my understanding that it becomes a part of the component that it is applied to

There's no need to. It might be unacceptable to you, but the Apple Watch is a mass-produced consumer device with a lifetime of probably two years. There's no need for Apple to apply super-durable expensive DLC.

I know that people like to refer to the build quality if it's an overpriced gadget, but please consider that this is not the case at all.

Don't get me wrong, I will buy one, too. But I'm not falling for marketing BS regarding the materials and manufacturing BS that is used in the promotion videos and keynotes.
 
Please provide some evidence that DLC can be chiped off as it is my understanding that it becomes a part of the component that it is applied to
It's a surface coat. It will chip if struck hard enough, it's inevitable. It's supposedly quite tough as far as surface coats go though, so it should stand up to regular use as long as you don't bang the watch into metal objects. Skin contact wouldn't do much to DLC, as skin is very soft, and coated with oils as well. Fabrics wouldn't faze this much either (in less than 100 years anyway), unless you were to say, rub it with silicate fiber weave or some other abrasive material like that. But that'd be silly; if you wanted to ruin your expensive watch on purpose you could just key that DLC to death...
 
Black SS w/ Link is the sharpest looking AW IMHO but more than I care to spend. I'll be getting the black sport version instead.
 
It will chip if it gets knocked and as it is on a wrist and will constantly be rubbing against skin I feel it will wear.
Wearing a watch will always be exposed to every day knocks and bangs and unless you keep it in a glass case be prepared that it will suffer wear and tear

I am with you and will have to see this DLC finish be near as durable as some think. We will not have to wait long as we will know about the first chip or scratch here!
 
I can't decide whether to get the Space Black Stainless Steel or Space Grey Aluminium Apple Watch. I own a Space Grey iPhone 6, Space Grey iPad Mini 2 and maybe soon a Space Grey iPod Touch. Any opinions on which you think look best?

Pro tip: Go look at it when it's in store. The colours will speak for themselves rather than us all doing guess work then.
 
Looking online, I really prefer the Matt black sport watch to the shiny black SS.

Just wish I could have that with a black metal band!
 
I have wanted the space black since they introduced the models initially but have been a little put off by the pricing. For a while the price made me think space grey was for me but the more I look at real pictures the more I want the space black model but the price premium is disappointing. I still have no idea what I will do on the 10th.
 
I have wanted the space black since they introduced the models initially but have been a little put off by the pricing. For a while the price made me think space grey was for me but the more I look at real pictures the more I want the space black model but the price premium is disappointing. I still have no idea what I will do on the 10th.

Same. I am torn now with the 2 SS models. 100 dollars more and you get the sexiest models of the lot, but the band choices drop exponentially. Silver SS on the other hand goes with virtually any band, but its mirror finish shows smudges easier and it appears to be too bright/light of a shade of silver for my tastes. I think most if not all of us will have their minds made up once we see these damn things (finally) in person. Hell, I might even think the silver sport looks good enough to not spend 1,000 bucks.
 
Space Black or Space Grey - Big Decision

Same. I am torn now with the 2 SS models. 100 dollars more and you get the sexiest models of the lot, but the band choices drop exponentially. Silver SS on the other hand goes with virtually any band, but its mirror finish shows smudges easier and it appears to be too bright/light of a shade of silver for my tastes. I think most if not all of us will have their minds made up once we see these damn things (finally) in person. Hell, I might even think the silver sport looks good enough to not spend 1,000 bucks.


I too am concerned about the smudged mirror finish on the silver SS, some of the photos from the demos showed a lot of smudging. One thing that bothers me too is that the SS silver link is a brushed type finish and the watch itself is polished. For those reasons I think the black is worth $100 more.

The SS black does severely limit your band choices, which is disappointing considering you are spending the most $$ of the model line. I think the black SS would look good the black sport band, leather loop, and of course the black link. You could probably get away with other color sport bands as well though.

What makes spending the $1100 so difficult is not knowing how resale value will hold. I would expect it will hold well but who knows.
 
Last edited:
That's a huge jump is price. Buy what you can afford, the SS is naturally much better looking in my opinion
 
For those doubting the DLC coating, watch this:

YouTube: video

I've seen similar videos showing an iphone will not scratch :)

I also would not compare the DLC process used on a 10k watch to a $500 watch. Soon enough we should have videos of people attempting to scratch a apple watch
 
I prefer the Space Black over the Space Grey. I know the overall thought from most people is that we can only order the Space Black with the black linked band. However, when you read the "what's in the box" description, it does indicate the choice of stainless steel or space black stainless steel. Hopefully that is the case when we place the pre-order.
 

Attachments

  • image.jpg
    image.jpg
    238.7 KB · Views: 243
I prefer the Space Black over the Space Grey. I know the overall thought from most people is that we can only order the Space Black with the black linked band. However, when you read the "what's in the box" description, it does indicate the choice of stainless steel or space black stainless steel. Hopefully that is the case when we place the pre-order.

That's not the "What's in the box" section, but the "Apple Watch Features" section, which is describing features of the Apple Watch model. One of the features of the Apple Watch model is a Stainless steel or space black stainless steel case, whereas the Apple Watch Sport has a Silver or space gray anodized aluminum case. It's not indicating a choice, the choices are already listed in the Apple Store along with their prices, complete with the "Add to Cart" button.
 
I've seen similar videos showing an iphone will not scratch :)

I also would not compare the DLC process used on a 10k watch to a $500 watch. Soon enough we should have videos of people attempting to scratch a apple watch

There are mass produced regular watches about the same price as the stainless steel sport black that use DLC. They hold up well with reasonable use.
 
That's not the "What's in the box" section, but the "Apple Watch Features" section, which is describing features of the Apple Watch model. One of the features of the Apple Watch model is a Stainless steel or space black stainless steel case, whereas the Apple Watch Sport has a Silver or space gray anodized aluminum case. It's not indicating a choice, the choices are already listed in the Apple Store along with their prices, complete with the "Add to Cart" button.

Although the link title says "what's in the box", I get what you are saying. It just seems practical to offer case choices. Oh well, I guess I can dream. :)
 
Last edited:
Register on MacRumors! This sidebar will go away, and you'll see fewer ads.