I would like to get the stainless steel in space black but there are very few matching bands for it. It seems that most of the band designs and colors were made to go along with the regular stainless steel not the space black. I'm wondering why. Does anyone have any insight?
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Why is Watch w/ Space Black Case Only Available w/ the Link Bracelet?
- Thread starter tresmith
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Never really throught about it because the watch and strap combo on the store is what I wanted and I'll just get a rubber strap at the same time. I didn't like the price hike tho.
I really feel apple should have offered the faces separate from the straps
It's the most expensive one, there's going to be many less sold than the regular one. Apple would have to to make a whole new selection of bands that will barely sell.
Even though there's fewer band options, to me, they're the best ones. The Black SS looks great on a sport band, leather loop, or the link.
I think the black metal band looks the best. I do worry about it getting scratched rather quickly and that will make it ugly.
Of all the metal bands the milanese loop will likely show the least wear.
Of all the metal bands the milanese loop will likely show the least wear.
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Isn't it only available with the link band, though? That's my problem, that band makes it cost $1099.
No, they could have made the Space Black available with the black sport band as an out of the box option and it'd be just $100 more expensive than the base SS model. Here, they're upselling the Space Black by offering it only with the link bracelet.
Once the novelty wears off, they'll most likely make available other, compatible bands with Space Black accents as out of the box options down the line.
I think that's for a different reason. I think the DLC is worth more than just an extra $100. To make it worthwhile for Apple to make they chose to bundle it with the highest margin band. It's priced to look like the DLC is $100, and the band is $400, but this is an illusion. The profit on the link subsidizes the cost of the finish, and in return, all the black models have a much higher average selling price than the regular one. It's classic bundling. It's actually a good deal if you want exactly what's offered, but a la carte is completely unfeasible for the buyer, and pricing piecemeal would ruin the seller's model.
Bundling never seems optimal from the perspective of the individual, and it's frustrating. Bundling is a big company phenomenon, it's about averaging.
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I don't know how practical it would be to make a black, DLC-coated milanese loop.
This mesh is made by running wire though a coiling machine, and then weaving the resulting spiral shape through the loops of the previous wire. The wire is cut off and the wire ends are bent back so they don't stick out. On the best bands, the wire ends are welded for a smoother finish.
If you DLC coat the raw wire, the coating has to survive going through the coiling and weaving process. I don't know if DLC is ductile enough. In any case, the cut ends of the wire wouldn't be coated.
On the other hand, if you try to DLC coat the mesh after it is woven, it will be difficult or impossible to get a uniform coating on the whole surface of each wire.
I find the machines fascinating. For example, here's a machine making a larger, looser mesh:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EEQOAxtLiDg
The machines that make watch bands are similar, just a lot smaller.
Compare this Apple video, starting around 1:57:
http://images.apple.com/media/us/watch/2015/a718f271_b19c_47d8_928d_d108fc5d702a/tour/stainless-steel/watch-stainless-steel-cc-us-20150309_r848-9dwc.mov
Yes, at least it's the only band paired with space black on the website. I assume you can put on any band you want but other than the link, black leather loop and black sport strap, you don't have much choice.
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Who says the Milanese loop necessarily needs to be DLC-coated? There are black Milanese bracelets out there, including one designed by Marc Newson. He's now with Apple so it's not inconceivable that it may happen in the future.
Ikepod with black Milanese bracelet next to Apple Watch with standard SS Milanese Loop
Yes, my thoughts exactly.
Is Apple really selling the space black watch with only the link band as the sole option?
I hope not. I was under the impression that you can pair up your watch with any band. I assumed that what they showed on the site was for illustration purposes only.
I really hope I'm right cause I don't like the look of the link. I was going to pair the space black with either a sport band or the leather loop. If not I'm going to have to settle for the space grey sport watch with black strap.
Sorry, you have to buy the space black link band and watch face together. You can't buy either separately.
Yes, there may be good alternatives besides DLC. Or DLC may be feasible after all. I hope so. I'd much rather have black mesh than silver, if I could afford an Apple Watch at all.
I have a cheap watch with a black mesh band. It's not DLC. The color wore off the clasp fairly quickly, and parts of the mesh are starting to look pretty pale.
Not likely of Apple to do this. It doesn't make sense from a business perspective to miss out on added revenue from bundling with the bands and have you ever heard of a wristwatch sold without the band?
The third party market will solve this problem early and often. There will be no shortage of bands/straps in all shapes, sizes, and colors.
Think iPhone case market.
Think iPhone case market.
At the same time, I don't think Apple will force someone to buy the same band twice. They'll at the very least open up the Space Black to purchase with a sport band, or have some plan in place for upgrades.
Sorry but Apple (or any other business for that matter) doesn't think like that. I'm predicting that they'll eventually make available other bands with Space Black accents (including possibly a black Milanese Loop) as out of the box options, but that has nothing to do with Apple taking into consideration people buying the same band twice. There are already rumors that they may introduce three new bands in the fall.
Only sold with link bracelet. If you wanted another strap, you'd need to buy it separately.
It is a joke, undoubtedly.
Fortunately for me, the black SS and link bracelet is the only one I like. Initially never even considered it due to the price, but I'm rationalising on the basis that, hopefully, I'll be able to reuse the bracelet with future incarnations.
Perhaps naive, it means the straps must retain compatibility and I can buy the black SS Watch only next time, minus the strap. The former is likely, the latter? Who knows.
Fortunately for me, the black SS and link bracelet is the only one I like. Initially never even considered it due to the price, but I'm rationalising on the basis that, hopefully, I'll be able to reuse the bracelet with future incarnations.
Perhaps naive, it means the straps must retain compatibility and I can buy the black SS Watch only next time, minus the strap. The former is likely, the latter? Who knows.
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