Stainless Steel: Prone to scratches?

[legaleye3000]

I went to the Apple store today to look at the stainless steel models and compared to aluminum the SS models seemed scratched up and had smudges(finger prints). I know these floor models get handled by a million people a day, but just wondering if SS owners (both SILVER and BLACK SS) have this issue?

Thanks.

 

[borgranta]

I went to the Apple store today to look at the stainless steel models and compared to aluminum the SS models seemed scratched up and had smudges(finger prints). I know these floor models get handled by a million people a day, but just wondering if SS owners (both SILVER and BLACK SS) have this issue?

Thanks.

Assuming the aluminum is cheaper as well as appearing to be more durable then it is a win-win.

 

[tarsins]

I've had the silver stainless steel models since release but not had any scratches, I even accidentally scraped one along a wall without any visible marks. The glass is much more scratch resistant than the aluminium models and you can buff out scratches from the stainless steel body. Don't know about the black ones.

 

[DangerousOnline]

I bought an Aluminum in March and within the first 2 months it was showing visible damage and wear on the case and screen. Took it back, Apple allowed an upgrade to a Stainless Steel and over the last 2 months not showing a single scratch on case or screen.

I accidentally clipped it on the corner of a wall yesterday and I thought for sure it was going to leave a mark... I was amazed it was perfectly fine.

 

[44267547]

I went to the Apple store today to look at the stainless steel models and compared to aluminum the SS models seemed scratched up and had smudges(finger prints). I know these floor models get handled by a million people a day, but just wondering if SS owners (both SILVER and BLACK SS) have this issue?

Thanks.

There are two versions of the stainless:

1.) Regular 316L Stainless: Which can easily accrue hairline scratches because of the stainless properties, but those scratches can be removed with a polishing cloth.

2.) Black Stainless (Diamond like Carbon Coating or DLC): Same properties as the regular 316 L stainless, but has a diamond like carbon coating that is extremely durable and is very difficult to scratch, however; you cannot use any type of polishing cloth to remove scratches due to the DLC coating.

My Suggestion would be if you’re concerned about the scratches, opt for the black stainless Apple Watch, as generally any regular 316 L stainless will scratch and show the scratches, but that’s part of wearing a watch.

 

[MrGimper]

Had a S0 SS from launch, and now S2 SS from launch.... sold the S0 to fund S2 and when I sold it the crystal was unmarked and any light scratches on the case buffed out with a Cape Cod cloth. Same with S2, gets buffed every 1-2 months and comes up like new. Plus with the SS, every band matches. No mismatched lugs on like on other colours.

 

[Shanghaichica]

The case will get scratched but they can be buffed out. The screen is resistant to scratches.

The case on the aluminium model is quite resistant to scratches but if it gets scratched your stuck with scratches. The screen on the aluminium is much more prone to scratching

 

[Lennyvalentin]

I know these floor models get handled by a million people a day, but just wondering if SS owners (both SILVER and BLACK SS) have this issue?

The SS model is highly polished, so any wear is going to show up much more easily than the matte anodized finish on the alu watches. (Curiously, SS can discolor or rust if matte; hence polish.) The SS material itself is of course much harder than the aluminium version watch; in the original generation SS watch the steel was cold forged into a billet, and then milled into shape using CNC machines. This led to superior hardness and strength, but even cold-forged steel will still micro-scratch. It's natural and harmless.

Not sure if Apple still uses cold-forged steel in their SS watches.

Oh, and the space black SS model uses a diamond-like carbon coating which is muchly scratch resistant from what I've read - although still not impossible to scratch of course, nothing is. Also, hard impacts can chip it, but apparently it still stands up to quite a bit of abuse with no visible damage. YMMV, of course...

Also, fingerprints will show on any glossy surface - and even more so on a black glossy surface like the space black SS watch. Just live with it, or discreetly wipe off any smudges with your sleeves now and then.

 

[iamasmith]

There are two versions of the stainless:
My Suggestion would be if you’re concerned about the scratches, opt for the black stainless Apple Watch, as generally any regular 316 L stainless will scratch and show the scratches, but that’s part of wearing a watch.

Note that if you ding the DLC coated stainless (it's still soft) the DLC can crack and that's not easily fixable.

 

[44267547]

Note that if you ding the DLC coated stainless (it's still soft) the DLC can crack and that's not easily fixable.

Other than minor scratches, *Any* damage to stainless in general really isn’t repairable. Especially if it verges on denting or gouging the casing.

 

[iamasmith]

Other than minor scratches, *Any* damage to stainless in general really isn’t repairable. Especially if it verges on denting or gouging the casing.

Extra info now from a recent post

Here's what I'm on about https://forums.macrumors.com/thread...teel-fell-on-the-floor.2127451/#post-26244249

Once the DLC crust cracks there's nothing simple to be done about it. You might live with a small dimple after a ding on a regular stainless but that might crack the crust on a DLC coated version.

 

[scmill]

I wore a stainless Rolex Oyster 24x7 for over 20 years (really, only took it off for a few medical procedures). The only reason I stopped wearing it was that some of the links on the bracelet begin to wear, and I never did send it off to get it fixed.

I love my aluminum Series 3 but am not concerned if the case gets scratched. I just consider the scratches as patina.