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cmChimera

macrumors 601
Original poster
Feb 12, 2010
4,308
3,844
A recent plane trip seems to have scratched my space black links. I have two links I removed for fit that I'll replace a couple of these with, but I was curious if anyone has found actual Apple links for sale so that I can have extra if something like this happens and also wanted to pass on the warning to avoid the plane's seatbelt.

Also, has anyone dealt with Apple about links scratching or anything?
 

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gsmornot

macrumors 68040
Sep 29, 2014
3,669
3,850
A recent plane trip seems to have scratched my space black links. I have two links I removed for fit that I'll replace a couple of these with, but I was curious if anyone has found actual Apple links for sale so that I can have extra if something like this happens and also wanted to pass on the warning to avoid the plane's seatbelt.

Also, has anyone dealt with Apple about links scratching or anything?
The scratches seem fine and will be a normal thing for a watch over time. With that said, it look like Apple will offer a section of links soon if not already. The idea being to fit larger wrists than the standard band can manage. Seems like the guess on pricing put the links in the $100 range if I recall.
 

Starfox

macrumors 6502
Apr 7, 2011
256
9
A recent plane trip seems to have scratched my space black links. I have two links I removed for fit that I'll replace a couple of these with, but I was curious if anyone has found actual Apple links for sale so that I can have extra if something like this happens and also wanted to pass on the warning to avoid the plane's seatbelt.

Also, has anyone dealt with Apple about links scratching or anything?

The same exact thing happened to me. Didn't see it coming, but now I wear a leather loop while flying :S
 

powerbook911

macrumors 601
Mar 15, 2005
4,003
383
I wear a sport band except for a few hours once a week. This keeps the link bracelet in better shape. Most of all, since I workout daily, it prevents me from having to swap bands every single day, which I believe would eventually cause some damage to the bracelet and watch case.

Now with even more sport bands available, they are a lot of fun. Plus, the one day a week or two weeks I finally put the link bracelet back on, I appreciate it that much more since I don't use it 7 days a week.
 

BarracksSi

Suspended
Jul 14, 2015
3,902
2,664
All of my watches have dings and scratches. I can't tell you how most of them happened.

Worry less and enjoy your watch.
 

Shinigami301

Suspended
Jun 5, 2010
216
127
cogito, ergo zoom.
Had the exact same issue with my stainless link, in business class on a Delta flight, but was able to erase the damage in 10 seconds with appropriate Scotchbrite pad. The black can't be fixed the same way, unfortunately.

I've done this several times over the past few months. Watch still looks new.
 

JayLenochiniMac

macrumors G5
Nov 7, 2007
12,819
2,390
New Sanfrakota
I don't get it. We all put on our seat belts when we drive on a daily basis, yet it's the airline seatbelt that scratched three forum members' link bracelets. What gives?
 

powerbook911

macrumors 601
Mar 15, 2005
4,003
383
I don't get it. We all put on our seat belts when we drive on a daily basis, yet it's the airline seatbelt that scratched three forum members' link bracelets. What gives?

Good question. However, I suspect in a automobile, you get the metal latch buckled and its then gone. In an airplane, that large metal buckle sits round there, in the middle of your body so each time they lower their arm, it hits?
 

NovemberWhiskey

macrumors 68040
May 18, 2009
3,023
1,272
It's not just airplane seatbelts. I used to wear a G-Shock, and that thing always got banged around on my car seatbelt. I used to use my left hand (I'm in the US, so the driver's seat is on the left, and the seatbelt is to my left) to both get the belt, and buckle it in. because of that motion, since you have to pronate/supinate (sorry, i forget the right term) in the middle of the motion, and/or since you are reaching for the belt buckle blindly, I used to always scratch my G-shock.

Now that I have the Apple Watch, I am much more careful, and reach for the buckle with my right hand, decreasing the chance of banging it on the buckle when reaching blindly.

For airplane seats, the buckle usually sits in the middle of the lap, and people usually wear seatbelts much more loosely on airplanes for comfort (as opposed to car belts which are to your right/left and tucked away behind the body). Since they are loose and in the middle, it is much more likely you will hit your watch there.
 

maflynn

macrumors Haswell
May 3, 2009
73,682
43,740
Metal bands are going to get scuffed up, there's really no way around that.
 

BarracksSi

Suspended
Jul 14, 2015
3,902
2,664
It's "problems" like this that make me wonder how many people here have never worn a watch before.
 

cmChimera

macrumors 601
Original poster
Feb 12, 2010
4,308
3,844
The scratches seem fine and will be a normal thing for a watch over time. With that said, it look like Apple will offer a section of links soon if not already. The idea being to fit larger wrists than the standard band can manage. Seems like the guess on pricing put the links in the $100 range if I recall.
Yeah, I see they sell the band separately now, but it doesn't seem like the extra links package is offered in Space Black.

The same exact thing happened to me. Didn't see it coming, but now I wear a leather loop while flying :S
Yeah I'll be wearing a sport band.

I don't get it. We all put on our seat belts when we drive on a daily basis, yet it's the airline seatbelt that scratched three forum members' link bracelets. What gives?
Different seatbelt. Different positioning, and different materials.

Good question. However, I suspect in a automobile, you get the metal latch buckled and its then gone. In an airplane, that large metal buckle sits round there, in the middle of your body so each time they lower their arm, it hits?
Exactly.

It's "problems" like this that make me wonder how many people here have never worn a watch before.
I don't really see why that's relevant. I would just rather not mess up an expensive band unnecessarily.
 

BarracksSi

Suspended
Jul 14, 2015
3,902
2,664
I don't really see why that's relevant. I would just rather not mess up an expensive band unnecessarily.
It's relevant because it's unrealistic to expect a metal bracelet on one's wrist to remain unscathed through daily use.

I understand that, yes, link-style watch bracelets are more expensive than leather or (usually) mesh straps, but unless the wearer is super-paranoid and avoids all extra contact, or the watch lives in a box (what good is a watch that isn't being worn?), nicks and scuffs will happen.

Anyway, glad to see that your AW is getting some real-world usage.
 

gsmornot

macrumors 68040
Sep 29, 2014
3,669
3,850
Yeah, I see they sell the band separately now, but it doesn't seem like the extra links package is offered in Space Black.
I noticed and thought about updating my reply but didn't make it back here. Maybe sometime they will make the offer available.
 

cmChimera

macrumors 601
Original poster
Feb 12, 2010
4,308
3,844
I noticed and thought about updating my reply but didn't make it back here. Maybe sometime they will make the offer available.
Yeah, most likely. I'll pick some up if they release them.

It's relevant because it's unrealistic to expect a metal bracelet on one's wrist to remain unscathed through daily use.

I understand that, yes, link-style watch bracelets are more expensive than leather or (usually) mesh straps, but unless the wearer is super-paranoid and avoids all extra contact, or the watch lives in a box (what good is a watch that isn't being worn?), nicks and scuffs will happen.

Anyway, glad to see that your AW is getting some real-world usage.
One of the reasons I bought the Space Black watch was because of its scratch resistance. I don't expect my watch to remain flawless for eternity but I'm also not going to carelessly put my watch in situations where it's going to be damaged. The fact that the airline seatbelt caused some pretty deep scratches in my band is something I would be concerned about in the future, and would avoid. I'm sorry this offends you?
 

cmChimera

macrumors 601
Original poster
Feb 12, 2010
4,308
3,844
I agree. Why are people so clumsy that they can't avoid hitting the metal buckle in the center (when the arms/wrists normally reside at the sides)?
Are you kidding? Do you never move your arms? Have you ever tried to read a book while never moving your arms from armrests?
 

JayLenochiniMac

macrumors G5
Nov 7, 2007
12,819
2,390
New Sanfrakota
Are you kidding? Do you never move your arms? Have you ever tried to read a book while never moving your arms from armrests?

I'm more conscious when it comes to not hitting stuff with my watch. I guess some people are more perceptive of their surroundings than others. I also practice proper typing techniques, which require that you hover your wrists while typing. Many don't do this and as a result, scratch the hell out of their link bracelets from resting their wrists on their MacBooks, etc.
 

cmChimera

macrumors 601
Original poster
Feb 12, 2010
4,308
3,844
I'm more conscious when it comes to not hitting stuff with my watch. I guess some people are more perceptive of their surroundings than others. I also practice proper typing techniques, which require that you hover your wrists while typing. Many don't do this and as a result, scratch the hell out of their link bracelets from resting their wrists on their MacBooks, etc.
Oh gotcha. You're super aware of your surroundings so you keep your arms completely still on a plane. Ok.
 

BarracksSi

Suspended
Jul 14, 2015
3,902
2,664
I've never seen a coating, especially on a steel watch, that doesn't eventually get nicked up.

Supposedly they can get pretty tough, and coated titanium does really well, too. But if you want it to stay forever black, you get solid ceramic instead -- which is lighter, but not as shatter-resistant…
 
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