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SS Space Black Coating Peeling

mr.anthonyramos

mr.anthonyramos

macrumors 6502a
Original poster
Apr 25, 2015
524
380
Hong Kong
Hi all,

I have had my watch for about two weeks now and have noticed something interesting on the inside of the Black Link Band. I really doubt that this is normal and do you think Apple will issue me a replacement if I showed them the peeling?

It's strange that it only peels at a specific area of the link band. on both sides of the watch. I am imagining that these are stress points?

Thoughts anyone?

IMG_5952.jpg
IMG_5953.jpg
 
Last edited:
mr.anthonyramos said:
For something that is so highly spoken of, DLC Coating, I would have expected better. I'm heading to Apple in a little bit to have a conversation with a Genius.
Click to expand...

I wouldnt bother tbh mate as they cant do anything in store as everything in sent off currently. Best to ring Applecare instead (i learnt this directly)
 
Is this the first sign that all of our worst fears about the DLC coating are about to come true?
 
leeingham said:
I wouldnt bother tbh mate as they cant do anything in store as everything in sent off currently. Best to ring Applecare instead (i learnt this directly)
Click to expand...

Actually, sounds like a better plan. The Genius Bars are fully booked until the weekend here in Hong Kong and no way am I lining up for an hour.

iConnected said:
Is this the first sign that all of our worst fears about the DLC coating are about to come true?
Click to expand...

I am a little fearful about this as well. Was really hoping for better from Apple. But who knows, mine might be an isolated issue. Hopefully more Space Black owners will take a look at their watch to see if they have similar issues.

Also, if you take a look at the picture below, you will see how my wrist actually doesn't even touch the areas that are peeling.

IMG_5955.jpg
 
I am still waiting for my 42mm Black (exp deliver in Jun), will keep following this post and let everyone know if that happen to my AW as well.

Anyway, I am also in Hong Kong. Please keep us up to date, just in case I have to follow you path. Thanks for the sharing.
 
mr.anthonyramos said:
Actually, sounds like a better plan. The Genius Bars are fully booked until the weekend here in Hong Kong and no way am I lining up for an hour.
Click to expand...

Mine was chipped out the box and I rang Applecare and they said would be 2-3 weeks to ship mine but they wanted mine straight away - No way am I waiting 2-3 weeks for something ive been waiting 2 months for. THey need to ship mine first!
 
leeingham said:
Mine was chipped out the box and I rang Applecare and they said would be 2-3 weeks to ship mine but they wanted mine straight away - No way am I waiting 2-3 weeks for something ive been waiting 2 months for. THey need to ship mine first!
Click to expand...
That 2-3 week delay would mean they'd be pulling you from the production line. They have warranty replacement stock (but it'll be watch bodies, not a complete retail package). If I were you, I'd push for a warranty replacement of the watch body itself...should only be a few days.

In the case of the OP, they should either ship him a retail kit or a replacement band (they should have those in the warranty channel as well). They should have seeded the warranty stock first, before any sales were shipped.

Here's hoping this is a very rare occurrence indeed!!
 
I love the way black watches and bands look, new, not so much how they look with some wear, I switched back to plain stainless because of it years ago.
 
Wow, can't wait for the apple supporters to say that this is normal on $1k+ watches
 
On my way to an Apple Store to have a quick conversation. Apple Representative on the phone said that if the damage isn't caused by dropping (in which obvious case mine isn't) then they would consider replacing the band.

Let you all know how it goes.
 
I just left the Apple Store, they've created a record for me. I need to call Apple Care tomorrow morning and they will process a replacement of the link band.

Sucks but they said it might be an issue with the coating. Honestly I don't see how replacing the band will fix the problem if the coating process is the issue.
 
mr.anthonyramos said:
I just left the Apple Store, they've created a record for me. I need to call Apple Care tomorrow morning and they will process a replacement of the link band.

Sucks but they said it might be an issue with the coating. Honestly I don't see how replacing the band will fix the problem if the coating process is the issue.
Click to expand...

It could very well have been that there were impurities on those links before they went in to be DLC coated and those impurities are what caused the coating to not adhere to the steel. That shouldn't happen, but that is one possibility. One would hope that Apple has contracted a premium PVD processing facility to do this work.
 
mr.anthonyramos said:
I just left the Apple Store, they've created a record for me. I need to call Apple Care tomorrow morning and they will process a replacement of the link band.

Sucks but they said it might be an issue with the coating. Honestly I don't see how replacing the band will fix the problem if the coating process is the issue.
Click to expand...

YOu got to send your band off or will they send you a replacement first?
 
leeingham said:
YOu got to send your band off or will they send you a replacement first?
Click to expand...

I didn't give them anything yet. I might have to give in my link tomorrow after speaking with AppleCare but I have a sportsband which I could use if I do so. I'm hoping they will send in the replacement at the store and then they will call me to collect when ready.
 
JayLenochiniMac said:
There's bound to be a manufacturing defect with everything. Given that we haven't seen this anywhere else, it's likely an isolated case and not a widespread issue with the coating.
Click to expand...

Well that's honestly hoping for the best. I'm pretty sure it's a coating process issue rather than an isolated case. Let's see if we hear from others as well.
 
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