SS Space Black Coating Peeling

[MeFromHere]

You could be right but we will never know unless someone from Apple really confirms the reason behind the trouble of the release of the Space Black watch.

I really am hopeful being the first batch of people to receive this particular watch that this only affects us or maybe they'll fix it with the next batch.

I just got back from the second Apple Store here in HK and this one too didn't have any Space Black units for demo. How weird is that. They sent them back to be recoated perhaps?

Very few Apple stores in the USA have this model available for try on. So I'm not surprised that they are also in short supply in HK.

Is the problem with your band limited to a single link? It looks like it from the pictures, but I can't tell for sure.

That link may have somehow missed a cleaning step or some other surface preparation prior to DLC coating. It could be as simple as someone touching the part with bare fingers after it was cleaned. That could keep the DLC from bonding to the metal as it should.

I expect Apple will give you a replacement band eventually. If they had plenty of them available, they'd probably just swap it immediately. But they don't have them.

It's very unlikely they'd try to recoat a defective band. They'd have to disassemble all the links, strip them down to bare stainless steel, and then repeat the whole DLC application process from start to finish. DLC isn't like paint, where a second coat can hide minor imperfections in the first coat.

 

[Newtons Apple]

An ultra-thin black coating on a silvery substrate wears through in a tiny spot... And you all are surprised, disappointed, shocked?

Black iPhone 5 anyone?

I have a friend who managed to dent the third link from the bottom on his two-day old link bracelet. Looks like hell, a circular dent smack in the middle of the link. But he's not blaming Apple for his negligence.

The DLC coating was "supposed" to be much more durable than the anodized iPhone.

 

[MeFromHere]

An ultra-thin black coating on a silvery substrate wears through in a tiny spot... And you all are surprised, disappointed, shocked?

Black iPhone 5 anyone?

I have a friend who managed to dent the third link from the bottom on his two-day old link bracelet. Looks like hell, a circular dent smack in the middle of the link. But he's not blaming Apple for his negligence.

There's no similarity between a black anodized aluminum iPhone and a black stainless steel DLC watch -- except the same name is used for the colors. Anodizing is a completely unrelated process, and experience related to an anodized aluminum product is pretty much irrelevant to discussions about a stainless steel watch.

The original poster's photos don't show wear. They show a coating that (for reasons unknown at this point) failed to bond properly when it was applied. As he pointed out, the problem area isn't a significant point of contact when he wears the watch.

Something went wrong with the coating in that particular area on a single link. That by itself isn't terribly surprising. Inspection failed and the bad link wasn't rejected, and it wound up in a customer's band. That isn't surprising either -- no inspection process is perfect. The interesting questions are how often these bad things happen, and how quickly Apple can improve the processes so that they have a steady supply of defect-free bands.

 

[fischersd]

View attachment 558551 After reading this thread, I inspected the underside of my SBSS link bracelet....is a real joy and a pleasure to have.

You should NOT be waiting a considerable amount of time for a replacement band. The very last thing that hardware manufacturer's do before shipping retail orders is to stock their warranty replacement channel. Apple will have bands and watch bodies set aside for warranty issues.

If you're sharing your case number with Mr.AnthonyRamos, you should also get his for correlation when you speak to Apple about your case.

Per the comment on "glacial" rollout someone made - we have no idea on Apple's sales number on these - who's to say this model isn't as popular as the SGS? We have no idea whatsoever how many thousands of these Apple has shipped.

 

[iConnected]

An ultra-thin black coating on a silvery substrate wears through in a tiny spot... And you all are surprised, disappointed, shocked?

Black iPhone 5 anyone?

I have a friend who managed to dent the third link from the bottom on his two-day old link bracelet. Looks like hell, a circular dent smack in the middle of the link. But he's not blaming Apple for his negligence.

I'm not sure what point you're trying to make here.

A DLC coating is not supposed to wear off like a coat of cheap paint. So yes - we're all very surprised, disappointed and shocked.

And how is "a friend who managed to dent the third link from the bottom on his two-day old link bracelet" and who is "not blaming Apple for his negligence" in any way related to the problem that's being discussed here?

Those who have reported the problem have also reported that they're not aware of having done anything to cause it - so why are you suggesting that they've been negligent?

 

[h9826790]

It seems some forum members have no idea why we are disappointed/ shocked. May I make an example for this?

For those who know what DLC is, we know that DLC is not painting. Just like we know that diamond is not glass.

If we break a glass, there is no big deal. However, will you be supirsed if we break a diamond?

They looks similar, doesn't mean that they that have similar characteristics. Both the glass and diamond are transparent, but one is easy to break, the other one is almost unbreakable.

This is what's happening. A proper DLC coating may looks very similar to a black painting. However, the painting is easy to peel off, DLC doesn't.

Will you be disappointed if you looking for a diamond, and end up getting a glass?

 

[fischersd]

It seems some forum members have no idea why we are disappointed/ shocked. May I make an example for this?...This is what's happening. A proper DLC coating may looks very similar to a black painting. However, the painting is easy to peel off, DLC doesn't.

+1 @h9826790

For those unfamiliar with how tough these should be, this scratch test video had a lot of us excited.

 

[Newtons Apple]

It IS disappointing to see these images but I have a Benchmade pocket knife with a DLC coated blade and it has been near indestructible. I think the idea of using the DLC process was a good choice by Apple. I think the company that coated these parts with the DLC was OVERWHELMED by the orders and may have cut some corners in the process.

Apple will make it good in the end so do not turn on DLC as it is still the best looking watch that Apple sells!

 

[Apples n' Stone]

For the amount of money you paid; and as said previously how much they went on about said coating, I would expect the store manager to neatly reapply to coating like those shoe-shinning boys you get at third-world train stations. Or demand some sort of rental band while they sort the problem of the band. Would not accept losing a watch so long awaited, in such a short period of time over something that is not the user's fault.

 

[mr.anthonyramos]

For the amount of money you paid; and as said previously how much they went on about said coating, I would expect the store manager to neatly reapply to coating like those shoe-shinning boys you get at third-world train stations. Or demand some sort of rental band while they sort the problem of the band. Would not accept losing a watch so long awaited, in such a short period of time over something that is not the user's fault.

Exactly. So the end goal of this thread honestly are the following:

1. For Apple to acknowledge that this is a manufacturing problem and NOT the user's fault like the product specialist was stating could be the reason for the "damage"

2. For Apple to actually do something about it. Maybe even recall the Space Black band for a replacement with better processed DLC coated links.

3. For Apple to have the chance to prove that they still takes care of their customers which was the very reason why I started and stuck with Apple since 2006.

I honestly don't care if they had an issue with the coating...but to be blamed at the end of the day for this issue would be a shocker.

I got on the phone with Apple this afternoon and they said the "evaluation process" would take a week. Hence I will only be hearing from them sometime next week.

 

[Apples n' Stone]

Exactly. So the end goal of this thread honestly are the following:

1. For Apple to acknowledge that this is a manufacturing problem and NOT the user's fault like the product specialist was stating could be the reason for the "damage"

2. For Apple to actually do something about it. Maybe even recall the Space Black band for a replacement with better processed DLC coated links.

3. For Apple to have the chance to prove that they still takes care of their customers which was the very reason why I started and stuck with Apple since 2006.

I honestly don't care if they had an issue with the coating...but to be blamed at the end of the day for this issue would be a shocker.

I got on the phone with Apple this afternoon and they said the "evaluation process" would take a week. Hence I will only be hearing from them sometime next week.

In agreement with everything you said, with some sort of 'courtesy watch' as we get with the iPhone repairs. I got lucky, they sorted my 6 Plus camera in store and escaped this.

 

[AttilaTheHun]

This isn't like anodized aluminum at all. DLC uses the PVD process to bond the coating with the base metal (in this case 316L stainless steel).

A couple good articles on PVD and DLC here:

http://www.messinajewelers.com/blog/black-coating-watches-pvd-or-dlc/
http://www.watchpro.com/14911-exploding-the-science-behind-black-watches/

If it peeling it's not done right no mother which process it was done.
botom line I would return it.

 

[burgman]

Wow, can't wait for the apple supporters to say that this is normal on $1k+ watches

Can't wait for someone to post this inane crud. Obviously a flaw like the first black iPhone 5 that peeled.

 

[d8b17ee5]

View attachment 558551 After reading this thread, I inspected the underside of my SBSS link bracelet. I'm disappointed to have noticed the same phenomenon with mine. I've been wearing it for two weeks; have not banged it up against anything. The only things the underside of the band has been exposed to has been skin, non-workout daily perspiration, and one quick rinse-off with water.

I took pictures and a video this afternoon and contacted Apple. I need to bring it into a retail store for a physical inspection and to have the defect documented by an employee. At least I now have the issue verbally documented and on file with Apple.

With the (glacial) pace this particular model has rolled out, and given that Apple is not yet up-to-speed with having pre-orders delivered, I'm not realistically expecting to have a replacement band in my possession until July, at the earliest. But, fortunately, I have Apple Care Plus with the watch, so I won't have to surrender the defective band until I have a replacement in my possession. But I do expect to get a replacement band. This -- however minor in appearance -- should not be happening with a $500 band. And it makes me apprehensive about what I might notice after two more weeks, two months, and then several months down the road with daily use.

Finally, I have to say that I'm otherwise very, very pleased with this watch. Absolutely no buyer's remorse and no regrets about being an early adopter on this. This particular watch is a real joy and a pleasure to have.

Update:
1. I called Apple Support yesterday, described the problem, got a case number.
2. I did a walk-in at my nearest retail store so an employee could take a picture and document the issue. They offered to do a possible replacement after some unnamed / unseen 3rd party inspected the band (which I would have to leave with them). If the Obsidian Order determined that it was indeed a manufacturing defect, as opposed to a cosmetic flaw of my own creation, they would have a replacement band delivered to the retail store sometime next week, which I would have to come and pick-up -- or I'd come back and pick up the defective band with a cosmetic flaw of my own creation. He explained that would be a standard return and replacement, and was not being done through Apple Care Plus, so I'd have to surrender the band. I decided to keep the band and see what Apple Care could offer. I got the clear impression that the retail stores have absolutely no idea what is going on with this issue, and consequently, had no idea how to properly respond.
3. Back to the phone with Apple Care, and while it is still clear that everyone at Apple is still scrambling behind the scenes how to handle this issue, I at least had an indication that they -- (whoever "they" are) -- have developed a protocol to deal with it. The rep had to put me on hold for a few minutes to check the procedure, but I wasn't on hold for long, and she came back with a clear idea of what needed to be done. They're going to replace the band, they going to get a replacement to me next week, and they're making sure the defective band gets shipped to engineering for inspection. I get the sense that it's an inspection, not to lay blame on the user, but to understand the problem and how to prevent it from happening again.
4. It looks like Apple is past the being-caught-off-guard-and-initial-reaction-and-confusion stage to being aware of the problem and dealing with it. They're making good on it.

 

[mr.anthonyramos]

Update:
1. I called Apple Support yesterday, described the problem, got a case number.
2. I did a walk-in at my nearest retail store so an employee could take a picture and document the issue. They offered to do a possible replacement after some unnamed / unseen 3rd party inspected the band (which I would have to leave with them). If the Obsidian Order determined that it was indeed a manufacturing defect, as opposed to a cosmetic flaw of my own creation, they would have a replacement band delivered to the retail store sometime next week, which I would have to come and pick-up -- or I'd come back and pick up the defective band with a cosmetic flaw of my own creation. He explained that would be a standard return and replacement, and was not being done through Apple Care Plus, so I'd have to surrender the band. I decided to keep the band and see what Apple Care could offer. I got the clear impression that the retail stores have absolutely no idea what is going on with this issue, and consequently, had no idea how to properly respond.
3. Back to the phone with Apple Care, and while it is still clear that everyone at Apple is still scrambling behind the scenes how to handle this issue, I at least had an indication that they -- (whoever "they" are) -- have developed a protocol to deal with it. The rep had to put me on hold for a few minutes to check the procedure, but I wasn't on hold for long, and she came back with a clear idea of what needed to be done. They're going to replace the band, they going to get a replacement to me next week, and they're making sure the defective band gets shipped to engineering for inspection. I get the sense that it's an inspection, not to lay blame on the user, but to understand the problem and how to prevent it from happening again.
4. It looks like Apple is past the being-caught-off-guard-and-initial-reaction-and-confusion stage to being aware of the problem and dealing with it. They're making good on it.

I've sent out emails to both the product specialist and the senior advisor about your case and shared your case number and mentioned how differently our cases were handled. All it took for you was one phone call and you were set for a replacement. From my conversations, they said they would get back to me next week. Given your case, if they still evaluate this as "wear and tear" caused by user, I'd still love my watch, but that would leave an extremely bad taste in my mouth...

Keep you all posted when I get replies.

 

[Shinigami301]

Here you go. All better

 

[fanta88]

Wow, that's horrible OP. And to think you even have a case on it, too! Major fail.

 

[Donstil-nl]

An ultra-thin black coating on a silvery substrate wears through in a tiny spot... And you all are surprised, disappointed, shocked?

Black iPhone 5 anyone?

I have a friend who managed to dent the third link from the bottom on his two-day old link bracelet. Looks like hell, a circular dent smack in the middle of the link. But he's not blaming Apple for his negligence.

Whow not even blaming Apple? Your friend should be the next president /SarcasmOff.

 

[mr.anthonyramos]

Just bumping this thread back up to see if others have any updates or if others are also experiencing the same issues as a few of us are with the coating.

I am still waiting for Apple to get back to me. I might give them a call tomorrow if I don't hear from them soon.

 

[mr.anthonyramos]

Great news!

I just got a call back from the product specialist, the engineering department will be facilitating a "capture" (love how Apple just creates these cool sounding names for something so simple) meaning they will be taking my link band in for inspection and will be sending me a replacement band. I honestly do not mind waiting a few days for the replacement as I have a spare Sportsband.

Looks like Apple is doing good on their promise and their reputation of being a great company which takes care of their customers. Two thumbs up!

 

[xRYD3Rx]

Your wasting your time by calling them. Just return it and repurchase it.
But then if this is an issue with all the space black link bracelets even if you get a replacement same problem will occur then your 14 day return window will be expired. Something to be aware of.

 

[sidebox]

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.

I'm pretty sure it's an isolated issue rather than an issue with the coating process. DLC is widely used on knives and watches (contrary to what Archer1440 said above), and this isn't the norm. If it was a widespread issue, we would have heard about it by now. I wear my 42mm Black Stainless every day in a production environment. I haven't had any major bangs, but plenty of scrapes and minor bangs. No peeling or wear issues yet (since 5/14).

I hope you get your replacement quickly.

 

[iConnected]

Your wasting your time by calling them. Just return it and repurchase it. But then if this is an issue with all the space black link bracelets even if you get a replacement same problem will occur then your 14 day return window will be expired. Something to be aware of.

Rather than being told that they're "wasting their time", both @mr.anthonyramos and @d8b17ee5 should be praised for their efforts in raising and escalating this potential quality control issue with Apple.

Their bands will now be examined in detail by engineering, who will hopefully then be able to address the underlying problem at source - for the benefit of all other Space Black owners.

 

[h9826790]

For those who have this DLC coating problem. Do you mind to share your watch's production place (1st 3 letters of the serial number) / week at here (the 5 letter in the serial number)? We may create little database to track if it only affects few specific batch of watchs, or purely random.

 

[xRYD3Rx]

I'm pretty sure it's an isolated issue rather than an issue with the coating process. DLC is widely used on knives and watches (contrary to what Archer1440 said above), and this isn't the norm. If it was a widespread issue, we would have heard about it by now. I wear my 42mm Black Stainless every day in a production environment. I haven't had any major bangs, but plenty of scrapes and minor bangs. No peeling or wear issues yet (since 5/14).

I hope you get your replacement quickly.

Good point!