Hands on with Apple's ornate gold Milanese loop for the Apple Watch
To go with the stunning new gold finishes of the Apple Watch Series 4, Apple has introduced a new gold option to their lineup of Milanese loop bands, and we've got one.
AppleInsider strapped on Apple's latest band to our new Apple Watch to take them for a spin.
From a physical standpoint, nothing has changed compared to the silver or Space Black versions. It is still made of stainless steel, woven on custom Italian machines. The clasp has a perfectly tuned magnet that holds its place but is easy to remove at the end of the day. A small silicone ring helps keep its spot during the day and prevents any metal-on-metal scratches.
The ends of the lugs are a polished stainless steel, while the front is more matte. Apple Watch Series 4 comes in gold aluminum and gold stainless steel, and this is clearly designed for the stainless model. If attached to the aluminum model, it will look great, but there will be the subtle differentiation between the two finishes. It most likely won't be noticed when worn, other than perhaps by the wearer.
We've worn Apple's Milanese Loop bands for many years, and they are some of the most comfortable around. They can be infinitely adjusted for the exact fit, and the movement of the mesh makes them far more comfortable than other, stiffer, bands.
The only downsides to a loop-style band are the limitations when it comes to docks. It can't lay flat on a dock, and instead must have access for the remainder of the band to wrap around behind the charger.
One of the biggest hurdles for potential purchasers will be the price, especially when comparing to cheap options on Amazon. But, when compared side-to-side, there is a stark difference. Amazon models typically have a looser weave, aluminum lugs, non-matching finishes, and a higher likelihood of the finish scratching off and losing its color and luster.
The difference between a cheap clone and Apple's version can be felt immediately when holding the two models in your hands.
AppleInsider strapped on Apple's latest band to our new Apple Watch to take them for a spin.
Modern design
From a physical standpoint, nothing has changed compared to the silver or Space Black versions. It is still made of stainless steel, woven on custom Italian machines. The clasp has a perfectly tuned magnet that holds its place but is easy to remove at the end of the day. A small silicone ring helps keep its spot during the day and prevents any metal-on-metal scratches.
The ends of the lugs are a polished stainless steel, while the front is more matte. Apple Watch Series 4 comes in gold aluminum and gold stainless steel, and this is clearly designed for the stainless model. If attached to the aluminum model, it will look great, but there will be the subtle differentiation between the two finishes. It most likely won't be noticed when worn, other than perhaps by the wearer.
We've worn Apple's Milanese Loop bands for many years, and they are some of the most comfortable around. They can be infinitely adjusted for the exact fit, and the movement of the mesh makes them far more comfortable than other, stiffer, bands.
The only downsides to a loop-style band are the limitations when it comes to docks. It can't lay flat on a dock, and instead must have access for the remainder of the band to wrap around behind the charger.
One of the biggest hurdles for potential purchasers will be the price, especially when comparing to cheap options on Amazon. But, when compared side-to-side, there is a stark difference. Amazon models typically have a looser weave, aluminum lugs, non-matching finishes, and a higher likelihood of the finish scratching off and losing its color and luster.
The difference between a cheap clone and Apple's version can be felt immediately when holding the two models in your hands.
Comments
you wrote that there“s no physical change.
But I‘ve noticed a big one with my silver stainless steel.
The ‚clasp‘ can now get loose and if you’re not careful the watch might fall down if you’re not aware.
That means that the end of the clasp can now be removed from the watch!
Andy
You are flat out wrong. I have a series 0 SS with Milanese loop band and it does NOT pull through the anchor attached to the watch. No way, no how.
they lowered it by a lot. The SS finish is now just $349, down from $499, and the DLC is $449, down from $549. It’s interesting that the DLC used to be $50 more, and now, with the lowered price being $100 less than it used to be, it’s $100 more than the natural finish version is now. DLC finishes are expensive.
i hope this doesn’t mean it’s being discontinued. If so, it explains why it isn’t coming in a PVD gold finish too. I hope not.
The cheap bands in that price range I got on Amazon were chinese junk. For leather, anyway. I bought a second Apple brand classic leather buckle band since they discontinued it. Wanted a third party but none of them looked just to me.