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ssledoux

macrumors 601
Original poster
Sep 16, 2006
4,416
4,245
Down south
I’ve wanted to go with a SS watch, but had trouble with it making my arm feel like it was burning, even when just wearing a short time in the store. I bought one Thursday, and brought it home to try for a longer time. I made it a couple hours, but then it started bothering me, and yesterday I wore it a while and it bothered me again. This morning I decided to just put it on and wear it all day. I had made up my mind I was going to return it, but figured I’d give it another shot. I put it on with my knockoff braided loop I’ve been wearing (instead of the one I got with it, which needs to stretch a little to be really comfortable), and wore it pretty much all day with no issues. I changed out the band a bit ago to the braided loop that I got with it, and it’s bothering me a little, so I’m just gonna put the looser band on again, and see if it eases up.

Hoping to make it work this time because I really love the look of the SS, and it matches all my white gold jewelry so nicely! I’ll admit I’m nervous about getting past my return window then having issues, so I’m trying to wear it as much as possible for a few days. I’m assuming if I’m gonna have issues, they won’t just come later.
 
Aren’t they both the same glass and ceramic on the back? Or am I wrong? I know the new SE is nylon on the back (and glass of course) but I thought the others were all the same.
 
Aren’t they both the same glass and ceramic on the back? Or am I wrong? I know the new SE is nylon on the back (and glass of course) but I thought the others were all the same.
I certainly was under the impression that the back was the same for Alu and SS and Ti, at least til AW7…
 
So...it's better to look good than feel good?

Health and comfort should come first.
She said she switched bands and it worked for that day. So now she's trying on different bands to see if some bands work and not others, while being worried about running out of time to return it. I can sympathize with that, wanting something to work but not sure if it will.
 
In all seriousness, why would you try and make something work that is already giving you some sort of reaction? How is the “hoping to make it work” going to change anything?

Well, because there’s really no logical reason I should be having an issue. I have no allergies to any metals, and I’ve worn Apple watches since series 0. So I’m hoping maybe the issue has just been it being too tight or not working with certain bands.
 
So...it's better to look good than feel good?

Health and comfort should come first.

I’m absolutely health conscious at all times. I will not keep it if it continues to bother me over the next few days, but there’s not a logical reason it should be bothering me. If I can make it work with certain bands, I’ll just use those bands. I’m thinking maybe it’s been too tight or something with the bands I’ve tried it with.
 
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Aren’t they both the same glass and ceramic on the back? Or am I wrong? I know the new SE is nylon on the back (and glass of course) but I thought the others were all the same.
I certainly was under the impression that the back was the same for Alu and SS and Ti, at least til AW7…

It’s not the area under the watch that bothers me - it was causing a shooting/burning pain up my arm. I’m thinking it may have really been because it was fitting too tightly with the bands I tried it with. I haven’t had any issues today with my slightly looser band.
 
I’m absolutely health conscious at all times. I will not keep it if it continues to bother me over the next few days, but there’s not a logical reason it should be bothering me. If I can make it work with certain bands, I’ll just use those bands. I’m thinking maybe it’s been too tight or something with the bands I’ve tried it with.

It could still be the watch material and not the band because with a looser band, the watch doesn't push as hard on your skin. If a looser band makes it feel better, that is not what you would call a "stable" situation, since clothing like a coat may push the watch against your skin.
 
It could still be the watch material and not the band because with a looser band, the watch doesn't push as hard on your skin. If a looser band makes it feel better, that is not what you would call a "stable" situation, since clothing like a coat may push the watch against your skin.

Well I have had a similar issue on occasion from my aluminum ones when they are tight. I think they might just hit me in a weird spot - it’s almost like it’s right on a nerve, and that causes the burning. I rarely wear bands that keep it really tight. I just tighten it more if needed for a specific thing, like EKG or O2 or something if it won’t read it well.

There’s really no reason at all I should have a sensitivity to any of the metals or anything on the watch - I wear stainless earrings, and have never had a sensitivity to a metal. I tend to think it’s more where they hit me, and that maybe the weight of the SS just makes it affect me more than the aluminum when it’s tight.
 
Well I have had a similar issue on occasion from my aluminum ones when they are tight. I think they might just hit me in a weird spot - it’s almost like it’s right on a nerve, and that causes the burning. I rarely wear bands that keep it really tight. I just tighten it more if needed for a specific thing, like EKG or O2 or something if it won’t read it well.

There’s really no reason at all I should have a sensitivity to any of the metals or anything on the watch - I wear stainless earrings, and have never had a sensitivity to a metal. I tend to think it’s more where they hit me, and that maybe the weight of the SS just makes it affect me more than the aluminum when it’s tight.
Did you ever talk to your doctor about this?
I’m not a medical expert but this sure sounds odd
 
Did you ever talk to your doctor about this?
I’m not a medical expert but this sure sounds odd

I haven’t, but I honestly don’t think something pressing on a nerve and causing burning/shooting pains is odd. I get burning/shooting pains in my legs when I have a pinched nerve in my hip - happens to a lot of people. I guess that’s what has always made me wonder if the watch just happens to hit me in just the right (or wrong) spot. Before the AW, I always wore watches that fit loosely like bracelets, so it was never an issue.
 
What band came with the watch? The solo loop gave me skin rashes and I eventually switched to the braided solo loop, and then to the Hermes leather and sport loops, none of which gave me any issues.
 
What band came with the watch? The solo loop gave me skin rashes and I eventually switched to the braided solo loop, and then to the Hermes leather and sport loops, none of which gave me any issues.

It’s the braided solo loop, but my issue isn’t rashes or redness or anything - it’s burning/shooting pains and I think it’s because with bands that are too tight, the watch hits my nerve wrong. The braided loops in a 4 are snug, but 5s are big. The 4 needs some stretching.
 
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