Stainless Steel Silver or Graphite?

[tom1996]

What do you think, which one looks better, Silver or Graphite?
I currently have the Series 7 45mm Stainless Steel Gold, but I'm thinking about returning it. In certain light conditions it looks weird IMO.

 

[Ctg44]

I’m debating between the two also. I like how the silver is a little more flashy and I think it looks better with leather brown bands, which are my favorite to wear. I think the graphite with Milanese looks incredible. I’m also not worried about scratches as most are.

I just need to see them myself in store I guess.

 

[spinedoc77]

Graphite looks amazing, but without a DLC coating it's a negative for me. I got the silver SS as at least I can buff out scratches and imperfections. I'm using mine with the new starlight band color and the bling is great.

 

[Pug72]

Graphite is DLC.

Don't believe otherwise.

 

[molala]

I thought about returning 41mm gold S7 myself, it's a very pale gold that is unusual. But I really like how it looks in the daylight or bright lights. It has grown on me after one day, so give it a day.

 

[bluegt]

100% silver. DLC scratches are permanent, silver scratches are temporary.

That said, get what you like better and matches your style - that’s more important than worrying about scratches.

 

[MrGimper]

Graphite looks amazing, but without a DLC coating it's a negative for me. I got the silver SS as at least I can buff out scratches and imperfections. I'm using mine with the new starlight band color and the bling is great.

I went from Silver SS to Graphite this year. I can’t imagine the Graphite doesn’t have DLC, wouldn’t be very good to advertise this as the most durable Apple Watch ever, and make it less durable.

 

[jz0309]

Graphite is DLC.

Don't believe otherwise.

Not according to Apple …

I really wanted SB again, but learned that the Ti is matte so looked into SS and talked to Apple re DLC and was told that the graphite is PVD…

I am going to visit the store to see color options in Personen along with my favorite bands

 

[jz0309]

There

I went from Silver SS to Graphite this year. I can’t imagine the Graphite doesn’t have DLC, wouldn’t be very good to advertise this as the most durable Apple Watch ever, and make it less durable.

is conflicting information on several threads here and people seem to get different answers from Apple, so I am not taking for granted that it is DLC until Apple updates their tech spec as to what it really is…

 

[sarc]

I am changing my mind each day as to what one I want to get. I have the Graphite for pick up on the weekend and will use it for the 14 days and see how it holds up. If too many scratches I might go with the silver so I can polish them out.

Up to this point I've had aluminium space grey and that has not shown any scratches apart from the one time I hit it into a door and it has a small scratch on the frame.

I think the Silver might be too flashy for me from some of the photos people have been posting. I've not seen the Ti models in person but from the product photos they look similar to the aluminium.

 

[Pug72]

I would try and find evidence of graphite Apple watches scratching apart from done by an equally hard Milanese strap or drop from a decent height.

My S6 is still mint after a year, I try to be careful but have definitely knocked, scuffed and banged it a fair few times.

Don't worry about it.

 

[sarc]

I would try and find evidence of graphite Apple watches scratching apart from done by an equally hard Milanese strap or drop from a decent height.

My S6 is still mint after a year, I try to be careful but have definitely knocked, scuffed and banged it a fair few times.

Don't worry about it.

Yeah I think most of the posts I have seen have had the Milanese strap and that is what is causing the issue.
I don't baby my watch but I am careful with it. I think i'll just stick with the graphite for the S7.

 

[The Cockney Rebel]

Graphite looks amazing, but without a DLC coating it's a negative for me. I got the silver SS as at least I can buff out scratches and imperfections. I'm using mine with the new starlight band color and the bling is great.

How do you buff out any scratches on the silver SS watch?

Is it something you can do yourself, or do you have to take it to a jeweller?

 

[mavis]

I got Graphite this year, after six years of silver. I don't like it. 🙄 I'll keep it until the 8 comes out, or maybe two years ... but I can't wait to get back to silver.

 

[The Cockney Rebel]

I got Graphite this year, after six years of silver. I don't like it. 🙄 I'll keep it until the 8 comes out, or maybe two years ... but I can't wait to get back to silver.

Did your silver scratch much?

 

[ukms]

Did your silver scratch much?

Lots of threads about SS, scratching and buffing you can do it yourself …. IMHO it’s a bit obsessive but each to their own ….. likewise the obsession about whether Apple publishes about DLC or not on graphite …. What really counts is real life use and you will see very few posts about graphite scratching significantly.

 

[The Cockney Rebel]

Lots of threads about SS, scratching and buffing you can do it yourself …. IMHO it’s a bit obsessive but each to their own ….. likewise the obsession about whether Apple publishes about DLC or not on graphite …. What really counts is real life use and you will see very few posts about graphite scratching significantly.

I’m reading more and more about SS vs aluminium, and it seems like although aluminium is the softer material, with the less scratch resistant glass, it shows scratches less because of the finish.

I was thinking it‘s not very much more to get the SS over the aluminium GPS + cellular, but now I am reconsidering.

I’ve bought both options, for collection tomorrow, so I have the choice.

Also, the SS is meant to be noticeably more heavier than the aluminium?

I do actually really like the starlight colour, so I wouldn’t be making any compromises when it comes to that.

You’ve been very helpful with all of my questions, so thank you for that.

 

[MrGimper]

I got Graphite this year, after six years of silver. I don't like it. ? I'll keep it until the 8 comes out, or maybe two years ... but I can't wait to get back to silver.

Haha, I went Graphite after having Silver since my launch day original AW. Enjoying the change TBH

As I said before, I'd find it hard to believe the Graphite doesn't have DLC or equivalent considering these are apparently the most durable Apple Watches

 

[mavis]

Did your silver scratch much?

Not at all. I went over it with a Cape Cod cloth for about 5-10 minutes the other day, prepping it for sale. This is what it looks like now:

 

[mavis]

Haha, I went Graphite after having Silver since my launch day original AW. Enjoying the change TBH

As I said before, I'd find it hard to believe the Graphite doesn't have DLC or equivalent considering these are apparently the most durable Apple Watches

Yeah I'm not too worried about the durability - like you said, I'm pretty sure the finish is DLC rather than PVD. For me, it's the color. I bought the stainless steel link band about six years ago, and I take pretty good care of it so it looks brand new, even now. And it really clashes with the graphite case, in my opinion. I haven't even tried the Milanese loop I have (the first band I ever got! I got it with my 1st gen Apple Watch back in April of 2015) but I'm pretty sure it won't look very good (and besides, I can't stand that band) ... The graphite case looks fine with my Nike sport bands and my leather links, but I was disappointed to see what it looked like with my stainless steel link.

That said, I'm glad you like yours!

 

[MrGimper]

Yeah I'm not too worried about the durability - like you said, I'm pretty sure the finish is DLC rather than PVD. For me, it's the color. I bought the stainless steel link band about six years ago, and I take pretty good care of it so it looks brand new, even now. And it really clashes with the graphite case, in my opinion. I haven't even tried the Milanese loop I have (the first band I ever got! I got it with my 1st gen Apple Watch back in April of 2015) but I'm pretty sure it won't look very good (and besides, I can't stand that band) ... The graphite case looks fine with my Nike sport bands and my leather links, but I was disappointed to see what it looked like with my stainless steel link.

That said, I'm glad you like yours!

I got mine with the Graphite Milanese loop... I do have the Silver Milanese loop that I used occasionally with the Silver SS but it wasn't a favourite. My big concern was how the silver lugs on my official Classic Buckles would look, but tbh now I've tried it they are both shiny enough to not be hugely noticeable, but they do offer a little contrast that I find looks kinda cool

 

[mavis]

So if anyone is wondering, the graphite stainless steel Apple Watch 7 is not DLC - it's PVD, this year. I've seen transcripts of chats with Apple Support which confirm this (and the major red flag is of course that they don't market it as being DLC anywhere on their website, this year) ... Between that, and the awful clash with my silver stainless steel link band, I think I'm just going to return this AW7 and wait it out for the series 8, next year. In silver stainless steel! lol

Here's what I mean (hopefully this picture is useful to someone):

 

[Pug72]

Apple support just read the same spec sheet they show on their site.

It's DLC.

 

[spinedoc77]

How do you buff out any scratches on the silver SS watch?

Is it something you can do yourself, or do you have to take it to a jeweller?

Just use a stainless steel buffing pad, it looks like a kitchen scrubber sponge (for all I know maybe it's the same). I usually pick one up from Amazon, they are only a few bucks. Alternatively you should be able to have a jeweler do it, I've taken my Rolex for buffing up to a jeweler and they usually only charge maybe $50 to buff it up and clean it. You can also use a tiny bit of metal polish and a microfiber cloth for more light scratches.

 

[spinedoc77]

Apple support just read the same spec sheet they show on their site.

It's DLC.

Can you link that? The last official spec sheet from Apple I read didn't say DLC for the graphite, but the current one I see doesn't even mention the finishes. https://support.apple.com/kb/SP860?viewlocale=en_GB&locale=en_GB