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What is the deal with the Modern Buckle, anyway?

JayLenochiniMac said:
The Modern Buckle is a ladies strap and may not be available in the alternate size, especially given your own comment that Apple felt it would appeal to women. A member commented that the quite large Modern Buckle clasp (which makes it feminine) will look funny if made even larger for 42mm, whereas it's nicely proportional in 38mm.

If they wanted to make it gender neutral and available in both sizes, they would not have made the design of the clasp so large and feminine rounded.
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I don't share that opinion. And neither does one of the biggest pop stars on the planet wearing their red modern buckle Editions. You go tell Drake he's wearing a "ladies" watch.

Just because a unisex design may have more appeal to one sex or the other doesn't negate its appropriateness for either. If the Gap were having supply problems, they may likely initially offer a pink T-Shirt in a unisex small, but not x-large thinking it would appeal more toward women than men. However that wouldn't mean a small-stature man couldn't wear it. Nor that a larger woman wouldn't also want to wear it. Eventually once the supply problems were solved, the gap would likely offer a pink t-shirt in all sizes for anyone who chose to wear that color.
 
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Mac 128 said:
I don't share that opinion. And neither does one of the biggest pop stars on the planet wearing their red modern buckle Editions. You go tell Drake he's wearing a "ladies" watch.
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A low-class, crotch-holding individual with money most likely only cares about been seeing with a $17,000 watch regardless of who it's intended for, and even went the trouble of coordinating his entire outfit to go with it.

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Mac 128 said:
Just because a unisex design may have more appeal to one sex or the other doesn't negate its appropriateness for either. If the Gap were having supply problems, they may likely initially offer a pink T-Shirt in a unisex small, but not x-large thinking it would appeal more toward women than men. However that wouldn't mean a small-stature man couldn't wear it. Nor that a larger woman wouldn't also want to wear it. Eventually once the supply problems were solved, the gap would likely offer a pink t-shirt in all sizes for anyone who chose to wear that color.
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That's not going to be possible anyway because ladles buttoned-up shirts have the buttons on the opposite side. If you wear a shirt with the buttons on the left side, people will wonder why you're wearing a ladies shirt too. Moreover, even with t-shirts, ladies shirts often has a completely different fit.
 
Mac 128 said:
I don't share that opinion. And neither does one of the biggest pop stars on the planet wearing their red modern buckle Editions. You go tell Drake he's wearing a "ladies" watch.
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I wouldn't by any stretch of the imagination call drake one of the biggest pop stars on the planet :p

And I hate to say it but I've gotta agree with the feminine thing, while any of the band designs can definitely be unisex (everyone's got their opinions), it's kinda clear that the buckle being 38 and the loop being 42 they were going for a "his" and "hers" kinda thing.
 
Nobody is going to care about a band buckle being too big or too small. I've been wearing the 38MM which some people here claim its a "womens" watch. Nobody cares and the only comments I've gotten is it looks nice and I was crazy to spend $700 on a watch. I've been wearing the whte sport band and only one person has said white doesn't suit me, I like it so I don't care what he says. It all comes down to if your a man and you like the modern buckle wear it.
 
gcooldude86 said:
I've been wearing the 38MM which some people here claim its a "womens" watch. Nobody cares and the only comments I've gotten is it looks nice and I was crazy to spend $700 on a watch. I've been wearing the whte sport band and only one person has said white doesn't suit me, I like it so I don't care what he says. It all comes down to if your a man and you like the modern buckle wear it.
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Nobody here is arguing the 38mm is a ladies size (just as pink isn't necessarily a ladies color; I have three pink buttoned-up shirts and a pink shorts myself), but that the Modern Buckle is a feminine design. Sure, I can see flamboyant guys pulling it off (unless you're a crotch-holding, low-class individual with money who likely only cares about been seeing with the most expensive Watch), but it's a fact that most guys won't wear what's decidedly feminine.
 
JayLenochiniMac said:
Nobody here is arguing the 38mm is a ladies size (just as pink isn't necessarily a ladies color; I have three pink buttoned-up shirts and a pink shorts myself), but that the Modern Buckle is a feminine design. Sure, I can see flamboyant guys pulling it off (unless you're a crotch-holding, low-class individual with money who likely only cares about been seeing with the most expensive Watch), but it's a fact that most guys won't wear what's decidedly feminine.
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Your entitled to your opinion and own style, but other men have their own too and find the modern buckle unisex. Your opinion doesn't make it a fact. I've read threads here with other men buying the black modern buckle. At the end of the day nobody cares what band you wear so if a man likes the modern buckle wear it.
 
gcooldude86 said:
Your entitled to your opinion and own style, but other men have their own too and find the modern buckle unisex. Your opinion doesn't make it a fact. I've read threads here with other men buying the black modern buckle. At the end of the day nobody cares what band you wear so if a man likes the modern buckle wear it.
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They're in the minority though. Most poll responders here are of the opinion that the Modern Buckle is a feminine strap.
 
JayLenochiniMac said:
They're in the minority though. Most poll responders here are of the opinion that the Modern Buckle is a feminine strap.
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Doesn't matter, that's their own opinion, not everyone's. Also that poll counts for nothing compared to the billions of people worldwide. Again, its your own opinion and not a fact. Everyone has their own personal style and if they like this band wear it.
 
bunnicula said:
Did that little, French tannery get swept away by a tornado?
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I think it got swept away by the ridiculous number of orders. A tannery that old can't be producing tons and tons of bands; they're limited by the number of cows they have and their two hundred year old manufacturing process.

I expect that Apple was caught off-guard by the demand for the high-end bands. I mean, the link bracelet costs more than a sport watch. Who would have thought that they'd sell lots and lots of them?

I'd get a pink modern buckle for my wife, if one was available. Shipping for the watches is July, and I'd think that means that all the bands have been allocated to watches - forever.
 
gcooldude86 said:
Doesn't matter, that's their own opinion, not everyone's. Also that poll counts for nothing compared to the billions of people worldwide. Again, its your own opinion and not a fact. Everyone has their own personal style and if they like this band wear it.
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Bet you if you poll the general public outside this forum, the outcome will remain the same. Sorry you can't see why it's obvious why the Modern Buckle appears feminine to many people.
 
So, I just talked to Apple support to try and do a band exchange of my classic for a medium pink Modern. The modern I'm waiting on (delivered by May 13-27) is a large, and I realized at my try-on that it was too big, even on the smallest setting. I could have done a band exchange for white or black sport, another classic buckle, or the SS silver link. Modern buckle was not even an option for band exchange. This tells me that even when I do get my Large, I'm probably SOL getting a medium. At this point, I'm not going to cancel that order and give up my place in line. Maybe I'll even CL it, but I am getting a white sport band before June 1. So frustrating. WHAT IS THE DEAL WITH THE MODERN BUCKLE ANYWAY?
 
cwieberdink said:
So, I just talked to Apple support to try and do a band exchange of my classic for a medium pink Modern. The modern I'm waiting on (delivered by May 13-27) is a large, and I realized at my try-on that it was too big, even on the smallest setting. I could have done a band exchange for white or black sport, another classic buckle, or the SS silver link. Modern buckle was not even an option for band exchange. This tells me that even when I do get my Large, I'm probably SOL getting a medium. At this point, I'm not going to cancel that order and give up my place in line. Maybe I'll even CL it, but I am getting a white sport band before June 1. So frustrating. WHAT IS THE DEAL WITH THE MODERN BUCKLE ANYWAY?
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It's out of stock and not even available for purchase separately. That's why.
 
Guys, just ignore Jay. He literally goes into every thread that's about the modern buckle to blather on about how it's for girls and only girly men would wear it.

Dude if you think it's too feminine, just don't get one. Why are you so obsessed with this issue? What do you care what other people choose to wear?
 
GrumpyMom said:
Yes, I remember your order for your fiancée! Oh that is cutting it close like it was for me ordering the pink sport for my sister-in-law's birthday.

Sis arrived at my house an hour early on the day of her birthday and on the exact day the watch was to be delivered. I opened the door thinking it was the UPS guy so when I saw it was Sis, I got such a weird look on my face. She saw that look on my face and burst out laughing and said "Um, yeah I know I'm early but Dad made me leave early". (Her dad is the epitome of the term "old fart". He's lovable,but if he can find a way to be a pain in the tail and ruin plans and gum up the works, he will be a pain in the tail).

Fortunately I was able to intercept the UPS guy outdoors. Sis thought I was just signing for something unrelated to her anyway. My husband sneaked away to wrap it. Surprise was accomplished!

I hope you come back and find a place somewhere on this forum to tell us how your fiancée reacts to her gift. I think it's a gorgeous choice. That buckle is a unique piece of engineering itself.

Edit to add: I just saw the most recent posts in this thread. Goodness! That's indeed not a defect they want getting out to the consumer. That would add up to a lot of lost and damaged watches!
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Lol!! That's a great story for sure. Thank you for sharing. I'll be honest,it makes me feel a lot better hearing that. Hopefully my order comes before the big day,but I'll settle for a story like yours too :D

Love the "old fart" reference.... Lol we all know one of those in our lives. Lol

By the way,let me say. That's s very nice gift you gave your sister-in-law. You don't sound like a "GrumpyMom" at all. :)

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cwieberdink said:
So, I just talked to Apple support to try and do a band exchange of my classic for a medium pink Modern. The modern I'm waiting on (delivered by May 13-27) is a large, and I realized at my try-on that it was too big, even on the smallest setting. I could have done a band exchange for white or black sport, another classic buckle, or the SS silver link. Modern buckle was not even an option for band exchange. This tells me that even when I do get my Large, I'm probably SOL getting a medium. At this point, I'm not going to cancel that order and give up my place in line. Maybe I'll even CL it, but I am getting a white sport band before June 1. So frustrating. WHAT IS THE DEAL WITH THE MODERN BUCKLE ANYWAY?
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Don't give up! You can do it!! Stand strong! Lol. I'm going to stick it out. :)
 
digbybare said:
Guys, just ignore Jay. He literally goes into every thread that's about the modern buckle to blather on about how it's for girls and only girly men would wear it.

Dude if you think it's too feminine, just don't get one. Why are you so obsessed with this issue? What do you care what other people choose to wear?
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If someone suggests that it may eventually be available in both sizes, I'm free to express my opinion why this may not happen. Not sure why you're obsessed with my posts but it says more about you than me.

I'm in fact getting the modern buckle for my wife so I have nothing against it but it is what it is.
 
Back on topic.....

Regardless of who the bands is for, where the heck are they??

I don't buy this tannery is so old and tiny that the can't produce enough leather. I can't believe Apple would have went with such a supplier. I'd guess it's more about the buckle.

I really like the leather of the iPhone cases. I would have been fine with them using that for bands.
 
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Sodner said:
Back on topic.....

Regardless of who the bands is for, where the heck are they??

I don't buy this tannery is so old and tiny that the can't produce enough leather. I can't believe Apple would have went with such a supplier. I'd guess it's more about the buckle.
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Agreed. These are big producers that make bands for other companies. ECCO is making the Classic Band. My guess is that they had some issues with the buckle disconnecting too easily (see the earlier post). It is a patented design, apparently. Being overwhelmed with orders wouldn't explain why none have shipped and they aren't even taking pre-orders for the band, the way they are for every other band. They must be allocating all initial production to fulfilling watch orders. For the other bands, they must believe that once they sort out the Watch production issues, they'll be able to fulfill both watch and band orders.
 
do you think the buckle issue will cause any further delay in delivery times than what was originally communicated?

That's what worries me most, that they have not worked out the "issue".
 
Sodner said:
Back on topic.....

Regardless of who the bands is for, where the heck are they??

I don't buy this tannery is so old and tiny that the can't produce enough leather. I can't believe Apple would have went with such a supplier. I'd guess it's more about the buckle.
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That's my prediction as well. Despite the simple design, the implementation might not be so simple, as evidenced by only one side releasing the clasp. I'd imagine they'd want to resolve this before shipping a mass quantity of it.
 
Locoboof said:
Did you notice a difference from one clasp to another?
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The 18kt was easier to work, in my opinion.

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KPOM said:
Agreed. These are big producers that make bands for other companies. ECCO is making the Classic Band. My guess is that they had some issues with the buckle disconnecting too easily (see the earlier post). It is a patented design, apparently. Being overwhelmed with orders wouldn't explain why none have shipped and they aren't even taking pre-orders for the band, the way they are for every other band. They must be allocating all initial production to fulfilling watch orders. For the other bands, they must believe that once they sort out the Watch production issues, they'll be able to fulfill both watch and band orders.
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This is my best guess, too.

Once we see movement on the Modern Buckle watch orders, those bands will show up as available to order in the Apple Store online.

They might take a while to ship, but they'll show up when the initial run for the watches is well underway.
 
I'm hoping we get movement on this soon.

XX:04 small black modern buckle.

It's pretty insane.

My theory is that they didn't make any and they waited for all orders before they started making them. But I like your theory better of the clasp being a problem.
 
My wife and I tried on a variety of models two days into the launch. We both liked SS. We both fit 38mm. I recommended the black Modern Buckle for her. She recommended the Link Bracelet for me. Both showed 5/14-5/28 when I ordered them (and still do). Both are among the last watches to ship, with production hangups, apparently. Both still "processing". It's kind of a contest now, to see which will ship first. I seem to have the edge at the moment, as accessory Link Bracelets seem to have started shipping. But ... who knows? If they don't come on the same day, one of us will be pissed.
 
Sabertoothstu said:
it's kinda clear that the buckle being 38 and the loop being 42 they were going for a "his" and "hers" kinda thing.
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Which I already stated -- Apple is clearly having trouble making a reliable buckle (similar to the white iPhone problem), and decided to reduce the pressure to offer the band in all sizes initially, assuming that women might be more interested in the buckle than men anyway, and went with the more feminine sizing. The loop likewise likely has similar manufacturing issues as well, so they assumed men might be more interested in it, and yes ended up with a "his"/"hers" kinda thing. It doesn't mean that Apple won't eventually offer both bands for all sizes.

If Apple were truly stereotyping the bands this way, then the pink sport band would only come in 38mm, no?
 
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