Apple's bands are really, really well made. I was impressed by the quality when I went to try on the Watch back in May. The sport band is still my everyday use band, but I was thinking getting a black stainless steel link bracelet to go with social events.
agreed. I got the classic leather band, and it's great -- soft, supple leather that looks handsome on my wrist, especially when I dress up for events. no regrets, tho I would personally prefer a smaller clasp assembly. Great band tho, and helps me bridge the gap between techno-guy features and handsome evening wear.
Spoken like somebody who's never had a nice watch. You honestly think that a "soft cloth" is going to get dead skin and oils out of a milanese loop? And no you can't use a toothbrush because it will scratch the finish.
Spoken like somebody who's never had a nice watch. You honestly think that a "soft cloth" is going to get dead skin and oils out of a milanese loop? And no you can't use a toothbrush because it will scratch the finish.
Get over the nit picking, will ya? The ADVANTAGE of Apple's Milanese loop design band is that the band can be easily removed from the watch and cleaned in an ultrasonic cleaner at a jewelry store.
It's interesting how "The Rest of Us" used to apply mainly to people who wanted a better personal computing experience than what could be had in the tortured Windoze world.
Now, with Apple's personal computing devices having become so "personal" as to reside on people's wrists, and with the Apple "ecosystem" broadening easily to embrace such, I think the concept is morphing to those who prefer "pure Apple" whenever possible.
I personally couldn't imagine adulterating my Apple Watch with an inferior band.
agreed. I got the classic leather band, and it's great -- soft, supple leather that looks handsome on my wrist, especially when I dress up for events. no regrets, tho I would personally prefer a smaller clasp assembly. Great band tho, and helps me bridge the gap between techno-guy features and handsome evening wear.
I got the black stainless steel band and it's fabulous. It has a wonderful fit, a unique clasp, and unlike a leather band, I don't worry about getting it wet when it's raining. And it looks very classy.
Obviously none of the 3rd party bands are going to be better quality then the apple bands. Most of them are just copies of them and are manufactured using terrible quality. The ones on Etsy happen to be great quality considering alot of them are using Italian Leather. Im an active guy and my watch gets banged up a bit so I ended up buying a velcro band from this website bandrbands.com . The quality was great so I ended up picking up a few more of them. I love the velcro and the snug fit. Tell me what you guys think:
Where a band is sold under multiple brands would you be able to provide some names to help us identify? I personally bought a Hoco stainless steel band (S$50) and a Baseus Milanese loop clasp (S$20) which both look identical to two bands featured in this article so I wonder if they are one and the same.
In case anyone is wondering I am most impressed with the Hoco band which whilst requiring manual adjustment to remove links, feels like it's worth a lot more than the price I paid. The cheap Milanese buckle one however looks better in photos than it feels to touch in real life.
You're kidding right? You know they all come out of the same one or two factories in China. You too can buy them to for resale and they'll be happy to put any name that you want on them and the packaging.
Wow, some of those do look great, and appear to be good alternatives to Apple's offerings rather than just cheaper takes on the same thing.
They really are "just cheap takes". Even if they look different, they are still pretty cheaply made. I costs a lot to make a really good band.
I'm concerned that the bands won't fit the slots properly, and with some time, they will distort, and wear them. The slide in locking portion needs to be polished, and from the ones I've seen so far from third parties, they're not.
I should say that while the Etsy bands are very good bands for cheap bands, it's the others I'm worried about. Those are essentially no name bands, with no real warrantee for the bands, and a greater likelihood of damaging the watch because of poor tolerances, materials, and design of the attachments.
Spoken like somebody who's never had a nice watch. You honestly think that a "soft cloth" is going to get dead skin and oils out of a milanese loop? And no you can't use a toothbrush because it will scratch the finish.
A toothbrush won't damage the finish of a SS bracket, unless you use some toothpaste to clean it with. You can use liquid soap, and work it between the metal by moving the band back and forth.
But the best way to clean it is to buy a $29 ultrasonic jewelry cleaner on amazon, and just use some of that softsoap with it.
The great thing about Apple's attachment design is that it's so much easier to remove the bands than with the old pin and spring design, that it's very practical to remove the bands for cleaning.
How much of what's listed there is actually true? Zero? Except obviously it being non functional... That's obviously true...
They do have verified purchase reviews. Read a couple of them. Looks like software is the major issue. Like Mel I'm impressed they can do the hardware for a price that low. Have the chipsets/innards really dropped in price that much? Shocked to be honest.
It's true. Apple pays attention to the whole experience, which means ordering online, getting it at home, and putting it on. The end-user experience for a Rolex is getting it custom fitted in a store. The first requires more complicated, potentially less secure moving parts, the second means a traditional, solid design. The disadvantage to Apple's design is obvious from some of my older metal bands where dirty black gunk has accumulated around each tiny slot and corner and some of the links have become stretched and rattly.
I don't follow this. I've mainly had link bracelets with all of my watches, and all of them I'd prefer to have been able to adjust the bracelet myself than take it to a jeweler, as I gained and lost weight. or to tighten it up as the link pins became loose. Apples design is no worse than any traditional watch band, and in some cases it's better.
But as far as I can tell Apple's bands are assembled with pins just like my other link bracelets, and they will have to be replaced over time. It seems to me that it's no different than taking it to a jeweler. Just take it to the Apple Store, and they'll repair it. The one thing I'm not sure about is how they will handle the gunk that inevitably accumulates between the links of any watch bracelet. My jeweler would throw it into an ultrasonic bath, a device I eventually bought for myself to save me the inconvenience of going to the jewelry store. It will be interesting to see if Apple adopts similar strategies once the watch has been about there enough to to warrant such a need.
In any event, whether Apple designed the adjustable link to address a mass market solution or not, it doesn't really matter since you are comparing a $1,000 watch with a $20,000 Rolex. Apple's solution is far better than having to run by he jewelry store every time you need a minor adjustment.
It's interesting how "The Rest of Us" used to apply mainly to people who wanted a better personal computing experience than what could be had in the tortured Windoze world.
Now, with Apple's personal computing devices having become so "personal" as to reside on people's wrists, and with the Apple "ecosystem" broadening easily to embrace such, I think the concept is morphing to those who prefer "pure Apple" whenever possible.
I personally couldn't imagine adulterating my Apple Watch with an inferior band.
I agree. A person who only sees the watch as a "computer" would do this. Watches have traditionally been seen as jewelry, for men in particular since they wear very little else, and a statement of wealth and power. Putting a cheap band on a nice watch almost always blatantly makes the statement that the wearer is cheap, or tasteless. Apple has made it quite clear that the ?Watch is a fashion statement as well, and the wide variety of quality well designed bands demonstrate that. Putting a cheap band on it does a disservice to Apple's design and intent with this product, as well as others impressions of the watch. What happens when someone sees the ?Watch for the first time on your wrist, and they think your poor decision to pair it with a cheap third party band, is what Apple sold you with it?
I agree. A person who only sees the watch as a "computer" would do this. Watches have traditionally been seen as jewelry, for men in particular since they wear very little else, and a statement of wealth and power. Putting a cheap band on a nice watch almost always blatantly makes the statement that the wearer is cheap, or tasteless. Apple has made it quite clear that the ?Watch is a fashion statement as well, and the wide variety of quality well designed bands demonstrate that. Putting a cheap band on it does a disservice to Apple's design and intent with this product, as well as others impressions of the watch. What happens when someone sees the ?Watch for the first time on your wrist, and they think your poor decision to pair it with a cheap third party band, is what Apple sold you with it?
Which is probably why we haven't seen watch faces yet. I've seen some of the watch faces available for Android Wear and they're not good. I will be very interested to see what Apple does here.
Comments
agreed. I got the classic leather band, and it's great -- soft, supple leather that looks handsome on my wrist, especially when I dress up for events. no regrets, tho I would personally prefer a smaller clasp assembly. Great band tho, and helps me bridge the gap between techno-guy features and handsome evening wear.
Your inability or unwillingness to keep the Watch and its bands clean (ew!) does not constitute a problem on Apple's part.
But, just in case, here's some help: https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT204522
Spoken like somebody who's never had a nice watch. You honestly think that a "soft cloth" is going to get dead skin and oils out of a milanese loop? And no you can't use a toothbrush because it will scratch the finish.
Spoken like somebody who's never had a nice watch. You honestly think that a "soft cloth" is going to get dead skin and oils out of a milanese loop? And no you can't use a toothbrush because it will scratch the finish.
Get over the nit picking, will ya? The ADVANTAGE of Apple's Milanese loop design band is that the band can be easily removed from the watch and cleaned in an ultrasonic cleaner at a jewelry store.
It's interesting how "The Rest of Us" used to apply mainly to people who wanted a better personal computing experience than what could be had in the tortured Windoze world.
Now, with Apple's personal computing devices having become so "personal" as to reside on people's wrists, and with the Apple "ecosystem" broadening easily to embrace such, I think the concept is morphing to those who prefer "pure Apple" whenever possible.
I personally couldn't imagine adulterating my Apple Watch with an inferior band.
agreed. I got the classic leather band, and it's great -- soft, supple leather that looks handsome on my wrist, especially when I dress up for events. no regrets, tho I would personally prefer a smaller clasp assembly. Great band tho, and helps me bridge the gap between techno-guy features and handsome evening wear.
I got the black stainless steel band and it's fabulous. It has a wonderful fit, a unique clasp, and unlike a leather band, I don't worry about getting it wet when it's raining. And it looks very classy.
Obviously none of the 3rd party bands are going to be better quality then the apple bands. Most of them are just copies of them and are manufactured using terrible quality. The ones on Etsy happen to be great quality considering alot of them are using Italian Leather. Im an active guy and my watch gets banged up a bit so I ended up buying a velcro band from this website bandrbands.com . The quality was great so I ended up picking up a few more of them. I love the velcro and the snug fit. Tell me what you guys think:
Android will make it possible to make $12 "smart" watches.
Well, almost $12, here's one for $18:
http://www.amazon.com/Bluetooth-WristWatch-Android-Smartphone-Samsung/dp/B00KW70WAY
Here's the description:
Priceless LOLs
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How much of what's listed there is actually true? Zero? Except obviously it being non functional... That's obviously true...
Where a band is sold under multiple brands would you be able to provide some names to help us identify? I personally bought a Hoco stainless steel band (S$50) and a Baseus Milanese loop clasp (S$20) which both look identical to two bands featured in this article so I wonder if they are one and the same.
In case anyone is wondering I am most impressed with the Hoco band which whilst requiring manual adjustment to remove links, feels like it's worth a lot more than the price I paid. The cheap Milanese buckle one however looks better in photos than it feels to touch in real life.
You're kidding right? You know they all come out of the same one or two factories in China. You too can buy them to for resale and they'll be happy to put any name that you want on them and the packaging.
They really are "just cheap takes". Even if they look different, they are still pretty cheaply made. I costs a lot to make a really good band.
I'm concerned that the bands won't fit the slots properly, and with some time, they will distort, and wear them. The slide in locking portion needs to be polished, and from the ones I've seen so far from third parties, they're not.
I should say that while the Etsy bands are very good bands for cheap bands, it's the others I'm worried about. Those are essentially no name bands, with no real warrantee for the bands, and a greater likelihood of damaging the watch because of poor tolerances, materials, and design of the attachments.
A toothbrush won't damage the finish of a SS bracket, unless you use some toothpaste to clean it with. You can use liquid soap, and work it between the metal by moving the band back and forth.
But the best way to clean it is to buy a $29 ultrasonic jewelry cleaner on amazon, and just use some of that softsoap with it.
The great thing about Apple's attachment design is that it's so much easier to remove the bands than with the old pin and spring design, that it's very practical to remove the bands for cleaning.
Well, I for one am VERY impressed that they can offer this at such a great discount, and with a sapphire cover no less! Let Apple match that!!!
Stainless Steel plus Aluminum equals Corrosion.
But as far as I can tell Apple's bands are assembled with pins just like my other link bracelets, and they will have to be replaced over time. It seems to me that it's no different than taking it to a jeweler. Just take it to the Apple Store, and they'll repair it. The one thing I'm not sure about is how they will handle the gunk that inevitably accumulates between the links of any watch bracelet. My jeweler would throw it into an ultrasonic bath, a device I eventually bought for myself to save me the inconvenience of going to the jewelry store. It will be interesting to see if Apple adopts similar strategies once the watch has been about there enough to to warrant such a need.
In any event, whether Apple designed the adjustable link to address a mass market solution or not, it doesn't really matter since you are comparing a $1,000 watch with a $20,000 Rolex. Apple's solution is far better than having to run by he jewelry store every time you need a minor adjustment.
I don't agree with that at all. Perhaps none of these early ones are, but I've seen plenty of third party accessories that rival Apples own.I agree. A person who only sees the watch as a "computer" would do this. Watches have traditionally been seen as jewelry, for men in particular since they wear very little else, and a statement of wealth and power. Putting a cheap band on a nice watch almost always blatantly makes the statement that the wearer is cheap, or tasteless. Apple has made it quite clear that the ?Watch is a fashion statement as well, and the wide variety of quality well designed bands demonstrate that. Putting a cheap band on it does a disservice to Apple's design and intent with this product, as well as others impressions of the watch. What happens when someone sees the ?Watch for the first time on your wrist, and they think your poor decision to pair it with a cheap third party band, is what Apple sold you with it?
Thanks for the link.
Not sure if I will purchase but the craftsmanship of the watchbands per your link, are hands above the cheap alternatives shown in this article.
Which is probably why we haven't seen watch faces yet. I've seen some of the watch faces available for Android Wear and they're not good. I will be very interested to see what Apple does here.
I'm hoping they offer red and orange. But richer colors, not pastels.