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

Warning: link bracelet and MacBook very bad combination

P

pflau

macrumors 6502
Original poster
Sep 17, 2007
410
46
This is a public service warning, before the Inevitable Scratchgate appears. We know how anal Apple customers are.

So here is the straight dope. If you work on a MacBook regularly and you wear a watch with a steel bracelet with a steel clasp. the bracelet and the clasp WILL scratch. There is NO WAY around it. I know. I wear a stainless steel Rolex for years and I work on MacBook Pro all the time. The clasp is all scratched up by the edge of the MacBook. I never had that problem when I was using a Dell in the past where the palm rest was made of plastic. But I've come to accept it. With a Rolex though, you take the watch back to Rolex every five to seven years for maintenance and they polish and refinish the case, the bracelets, and the clasp so they look like new, to the tune of over $500. This is not going to happen with the Apple Watch.

So fair warning. If you own a MacBook and the aluminum case scratches your beautiful link bracelet don't be complaining how Apple should compensate you for it.
 
pflau said:
This is a public service warning, before the Inevitable Scratchgate appears. We know how anal Apple customers are.

So here is the straight dope. If you work on a MacBook regularly and you wear a watch with a steel bracelet with a steel clasp. the bracelet and the clasp WILL scratch. There is NO WAY around it. I know. I wear a stainless steel Rolex for years and I work on MacBook Pro all the time. The clasp is all scratched up by the edge of the MacBook. I never had that problem when I was using a Dell in the past where the palm rest was made of plastic. But I've come to accept it. With a Rolex though, you take the watch back to Rolex every five to seven years for maintenance and they polish and refinish the case, the bracelets, and the clasp so they look like new, to the tune of over $500. This is not going to happen with the Apple Watch.

So fair warning. If you own a MacBook and the aluminum case scratches your beautiful link bracelet don't be complaining how Apple should compensate you for it.
Click to expand...

That is true with any StainSteel Watch I have seen it first hand with a StainSteel Watch I have. This is good information on the Issue.
 
Any stainless steel watch is going to develop scratches against metal-to-metal contact. Most scratches are going to so minor as they are non issue, but this is nothing to blame apple for IMO
 
Yeah those are really good points. The SS link is going to scratch like mad through every day use and knocks.
That's why I am only going to wear my link strap when I go out in the evenings.
I have ordered a sports strap for when I am playing sport and I have ordered the Milanese strap for every day use when at work
 
Yeah it's pretty annoying.
I have to take off all my watches except when I'm wearing a Casio plastic strap.
 
I usually take off my watch when I start typing a lot on my desktop or laptop, it's just more comfortable for me that way.

But yeah, I didn't get the SS Model because I can't really afford to pay 1100$ every year or so, especially because I bet the Watch 2 or 3 will be much better than this one. Just compare the first gen iPad vs the 3rd generation iPad. (Retina display, front and back camera, added speed)

I like to be an early adopter but I'll only spend 400$ instead of almost 3 times that amount.

I don't really believe that gorilla glass is much weaker than sapphire anyway (I've owned plenty of watches with sapphire glass and they DO get scratched) and the price difference was just too big from the cheapest apple watch vs the one I would have loved to have (around 700$)
 
It just means people use poor ergonomics when typing. Proper typing techniques require that you don't touch your wrists and keep them straight. You can't scratch it if you hover your wrists above the MacBook.

Don't pretend that Apple has just invented the wristwatch.
 
For those who think, well just a few scratches, no big deal. Look at this. I've had this Rolex Stainless Steel watch for a total of five months. Look at the lower portion of the clasp and part of the first link right below it, they look like they've been gone over with a Brillo pad. And the second picture shows the way I type on my MacBook. Totally reasonable.

So there you have it. I don't wanna hear nothing about Scratchgate or any non-sense like that. If I ever see anyone complained about how the link bracelet is susceptible to scratches from the MacBook, I'd be happy to provide a link to this thread.

RolexClasp.jpg

RolexMacBook.jpg
 
Funny, I've worn a SS Fossil watch for nearly fifteen years and have never had this problem. I just push it up my wrist a little bit when I'm about to type on my MBP and never the two have met.

Now, my steel band scratches when it rubs up against my desk at work when I'm typing on a keyboard, but that's a different story and is to be expected. Ultimately, the moral of this story is that you can't protect your Watch/band from wear and tear and you're better off just accepting that. My Fossil is pretty scratched up all over, but I frankly think it gives it character.
 
pflau said:
For those who think, well just a few scratches, no big deal. Look at this. I've had this Rolex Stainless Steel watch for a total of five months. Look at the lower portion of the clasp and part of the first link right below it, they look like they've been gone over with a Brillo pad. And the second picture shows the way I type on my MacBook. Totally reasonable.

So there you have it. I don't wanna hear nothing about Scratchgate or any non-sense like that. If I ever see anyone complained about how the link bracelet is susceptible to scratches from the MacBook, I'd be happy to provide a link to this thread.

Image
Image
Click to expand...

You appear to be resting your palm on the MacBook. If you follow proper typing techniques you wouldn't have the scratching issue.
 
JayLenochiniMac said:
You appear to be resting your palm on the MacBook. If you follow proper typing techniques you wouldn't have the scratching issue.
Click to expand...

I have been typing for 36 years. I have no issue.

----------
edlex said:
A little jeweler's rouge and a polishing cloth should do the trick
Click to expand...

No it won't. You see, the surface is brushed. If the surface is shiny, it would work. But if the surface is brushed, you need to refinish it using the same equipment that produced the original finish. That is why I need to take it back to Rolex.

Also, the link bracelet, unlike the Rolex bracelet, is on the thin side and might not take too many refinishing. Besides, the cost of having it professionally done is probably not worth it. The Rolex SS band alone costs more than the entire Apple Watch, except for the Edition.
 
pflau said:
I have been typing for 36 years. I have no issue.

----------



No it won't. You see, the surface is brushed. If the surface is shiny, it would work. But if the surface is brushed, you need to refinish it using the same equipment that produced the original finish. That is why I need to take it back to Rolex.
Click to expand...

Sorry I was thinking of the SS watch not the band.
 
pflau said:
I have been typing for 36 years. I have no issue.
Click to expand...

36 years of improper typing technique doesn't make it proper. I was taught how to type properly way back in grade school. Fortunately for those of you who didn't have this opportunity, the link bracelet is brushed so it shouldn't be an eyesore like a polished bracelet should you induce some scratches on it.
 
pflau said:
For those who think, well just a few scratches, no big deal. Look at this. I've had this Rolex Stainless Steel watch for a total of five months. Look at the lower portion of the clasp and part of the first link right below it, they look like they've been gone over with a Brillo pad. And the second picture shows the way I type on my MacBook. Totally reasonable.

So there you have it. I don't wanna hear nothing about Scratchgate or any non-sense like that. If I ever see anyone complained about how the link bracelet is susceptible to scratches from the MacBook, I'd be happy to provide a link to this thread.

Image
Image
Click to expand...

You're going to get marks like that on your Rolex from general wear and tear. I have a Sea Dweller and the clasp gets scuffed up pretty quickly. I've had it serviced and polished a couple of times, comes back looking like new, but soon, especially the clasp, shows signs of scuffing. Even a dusty desk surface can do this. I'm right handed so can't comment about the effect of a laptop!
 
I wear a SS Movado and use MBP. That combination over the last year has caused some scratches, but they are very minimal and not very noticeable unless specifically looking for it.
 
pflau said:
This is a public service warning, before the Inevitable Scratchgate appears. We know how anal Apple customers are.

So here is the straight dope. If you work on a MacBook regularly and you wear a watch with a steel bracelet with a steel clasp. the bracelet and the clasp WILL scratch. There is NO WAY around it. I know. I wear a stainless steel Rolex for years and I work on MacBook Pro all the time. The clasp is all scratched up by the edge of the MacBook. I never had that problem when I was using a Dell in the past where the palm rest was made of plastic. But I've come to accept it. With a Rolex though, you take the watch back to Rolex every five to seven years for maintenance and they polish and refinish the case, the bracelets, and the clasp so they look like new, to the tune of over $500. This is not going to happen with the Apple Watch.

So fair warning. If you own a MacBook and the aluminum case scratches your beautiful link bracelet don't be complaining how Apple should compensate you for it.
Click to expand...
All the more reason to get the macbook to avoid the urge to rest your wrists on it. Technically that is bad form for typing anyway.
 
This thread comes across as an 'look at me I have a Rolex' brag thread to me.... here I can prove it I have pictures. Couldn't care less.
 
Had both an MacBook pro and a watch with a SS link bracelet for 10 years, never had a problem. Guess that's the same reason I don't have carpal tunnel.
 
This is a silly warning by a member who do not follow proper typing ergonomics and as a result, scratches the hell out of his Rolex (as he rests his palm on his MacBook). Perhaps this warning is useful for individuals who like the OP never learned proper typing techniques (and those same people might not want to consider the link bracelet), but it's really a non-issue for the rest of us.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Register on MacRumors! This sidebar will go away, and you'll see fewer ads.
Top Bottom
Back