Best Knock Off SG Milanese Loop

[darthbane2k]

Can anyone recommend a good knock off space grey Milanese loop that looks like the real thing and more importantly feels like it - ie isn’t thin and flimsy?

If anyone has any pics that would be great too!

Thanks

 

[iKevinT]

Can anyone recommend a good knock off space grey Milanese loop that looks like the real thing and more importantly feels like it - ie isn’t thin and flimsy?

If anyone has any pics that would be great too!

Thanks

I’ve been buying knock off bands since I first got my series 0 watch. The knock off companies selling on Amazon seem to come and go when their inventory runs out, selling products made in China. There’s really not a “brand” to recommend unless it was just purchased. Even the leather loop band I paid $50 for from Casetify was exactly like the $12 ones I bought on Amazon but stamped Casetify. I have a black Milanese loop band from Amazon purchased a year ago that seems indistinguishable side by side to an Apple band but no longer available when I look at past orders.

 

[darthbane2k]

Thanks for that. Just wondering if anyone can share any links to some they may have recently ordered that turned out ‘ok’

 

[CarlJ]

One of the better ones was the "Spigen A300 Apple Watch Band Milanese Loop", which had a good run on Amazon (was available for many months), but is long since gone. Wasn't quite as weighty as the real ones, but feels nice and looks nice. The company is still around, producing mostly phone cases. It's possible that Apple asked them to stop. And the Spigen was available in Space Gray like Apple's aluminum watches (vs. Apple's official Space Black). But, as iKevinT said, most of the knockoffs on Amazon have a fairly limited lifetime online. And the same exact item may be available under several brand names, likely produced in the same factory. Added to this, of course, some companies "reuse" Apple's official product photos on their Amazon listings, rather than real pictures of their own products, and others use computer renders of their products.

As you have surmised, the safest approach with the knockoffs is to find mentions here (or, I suppose, similar forums) from people who have recently purchased specific items (and provide URLs) and then provide their own pics and comments. Sorry I can't help you with current ones. You might try the pinned thread called "The Great "Third Party Band/Strap" Thread". Maybe start at the end and work backwards.

FWIW, I've bought a few knockoff sport bands (in colors Apple still doesn't have), and found them to be not nearly as nice as Apple's, so I limit myself to the official ones of those (others here have since had some much better experiences - look around), and I also bought a couple knockoffs of the Milanese Loop (in black/gray, before Apple sold such a thing) - one was mediocre, and is in the bottom of a drawer somewhere, the other is the aforementioned Spigen, which is pretty good. I've also got a red Leather Loop, that's perhaps 70-80% as good as my real one, but was $20 (and that listing is also long since gone).

 

[iKevinT]

The leather loop knockoffs from Amazon were my wife and my favorite bands, different colors more leather like than others, but all really some kind of vinyl or plastic. Favorite because of the micro adjustability, comfort and looks. Then all but replaced by Milanese loops and Sport bands. The Leather Loops went through the same seller changes described earlier on Amazon, and became hard to find, most having issues with separation of the material from the metal connector. A visible imperfection not like it was going to come apart though. My favorite band getting most use now is a real Apple brand Sport Loop.

 

[negativzero]

Sorry to hijack, but are there any good gold Milanese loops with polished gold lugs around? Aside from Apple, the ones I see are matte finished instead.

 

[staggerlee41]

As @CarlJ mentioned the Spigen band is great. I found one of those and was recently going to order another just to keep on hand but they're gone. What a shame. Also I agree with the comments regarding their appearance on Amazon. They come and go fast with varying names and seem to be similar products. I ordered one made by Seoaura, will compare it to the Spigen band after receipt and then report back with my thoughts.

Also agree that the knockoff Sport bands are nowhere near as good as Apples. I too only buy the genuine product now. For leather, I use FFF and absolutely love them. Great look, great design, exceptional customer service, by far the most comfortable bands I own and hand made.

Update: I received a Space Gray band from Seoaura today and my initial comparison to the Spigen band is it is a little darker, more black than Space Gray. Spigen is a closer match to Apple's SG but not a 100% match either. It is however close enough. Also it feels slightly heavier than the Spigen version but I cannot confirm that at this point. It does however seem to be of good enough quality for the asking price.

The photos in this link are a bit deceptive as the magnet appears to be rounded and with the product I received, it is more similar to Apple's.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07FPHC3XC/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o01_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Here are some shots of the two side by side so you can see the color variation. Spigen is on the left, Seoaura is on the right. In the last shot, Spigen is on top, Seoaura is on the bottom.

 

[rsxmachine]

As @CarlJ mentioned the Spigen band is great. I found one of those and was recently going to order another just to keep on hand but they're gone. What a shame. Also I agree with the comments regarding their appearance on Amazon. They come and go fast with varying names and seem to be similar products. I ordered one made by Seoaura, will compare it to the Spigen band after receipt and then report back with my thoughts.

Also agree that the knockoff Sport bands are nowhere near as good as Apples. I too only buy the genuine product now. For leather, I use FFF and absolutely love them. Great look, great design, exceptional customer service, by far the most comfortable bands I own and hand made.

Update: I received a Space Gray band from Seoaura today and my initial comparison to the Spigen band is it is a little darker, more black than Space Gray. Spigen is a closer match to Apple's SG but not a 100% match either. It is however close enough. Also it feels slightly heavier than the Spigen version but I cannot confirm that at this point. It does however seem to be of good enough quality for the asking price.

The photos in this link are a bit deceptive as the magnet appears to be rounded and with the product I received, it is more similar to Apple's.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07FPHC3XC/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o01_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Here are some shots of the two side by side so you can see the color variation. Spigen is on the left, Seoaura is on the right. In the last shot, Spigen is on top, Seoaura is on the bottom.

The lugs are horrible on that seoaura. Look at that gap!

 

[staggerlee41]

The lugs are horrible on that seoaura. Look at that gap!

If you're looking at the second picture for reference, it is exaggerated because it's pushed more to one side. While I don't discount authentic Milanese bands are of higher quality, this one was under $12 and for the price is not bad.