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Jeremy12345

macrumors regular
Original poster
Sep 24, 2015
102
8
Where did you buy it? Did it come in the apple packaging?
On a website like eBay I talked to the seller and the watch band came with the watch but the seller sold the watch so I bought the band it came with the original box u buy with the stainless steel apple watches and the link cloth and pouch
 

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Dino F

Suspended
Sep 16, 2010
4,515
3,404
Croydon, South London, UK
On a website like eBay I talked to the seller and the watch band came with the watch but the seller sold the watch so I bought the band it came with the original box u buy with the stainless steel apple watches and the link cloth and pouch

...not being funny but there's no way of knowing if your band is real or fake from them pics! I have 2 fake steel bands, bought from Amazon, and they both look EXACTLY like yours.

..and on another note - why would the seller sell the watch and not the steel band, if thats the band which came with the watch when he bought it?? Makes no sense??!?!
:confused:
 
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Jeremy12345

macrumors regular
Original poster
Sep 24, 2015
102
8
...not being funny but there's no way of knowing if your band is real or fake from them pics! I have 2 fake steel bands, bought from Amazon, and they both look EXACTLY like yours.

..and on another note - why would the seller sell the watch and not the steel band, if thats the band which came with the watch when he bought it?? Makes no sense??!?!
:confused:
Does your 1 have the engraving inside ?
 

maflynn

macrumors Haswell
May 3, 2009
73,682
43,740
.and on another note - why would the seller sell the watch and not the steel band, if thats the band which came with the watch when he bought it?? Makes no sense??!?!
Agreed, and that leads me to think its not an authentic band. I don't think images really help in terms of confirming (or denying) the authenticity of the band.
 
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Binarymix

macrumors 65816
Nov 1, 2007
1,134
382
It's real. It has the engraving and the box says it came with the link bracelet. Plus the clasp is slightly different than the knockoffs.
 

chuyn

macrumors 6502
Nov 13, 2015
365
110
Agreed, it has the same engravings as mine (SS though). As far as I've seen, none of the knock-offs have the engravings. Plus, their clasp buttons look more rounded edges and seem more spaced out. I've always noticed the clasp looking a bit different on any of the different generations of knock-offs vs the original. Also, on the replica space black bracelets I've seen, the ends are not polished. They're brushed like the rest of the band. The genuine one is brushed on the front/back but polished on the sides to match the watch.
As for why he'd sell the band, I've actually heard of a lot of people who didn't really like the link bracelet, but had to get one at launch because it was the only way to get the space black watch.
 

Jeremy12345

macrumors regular
Original poster
Sep 24, 2015
102
8
Agreed, it has the same engravings as mine (SS though). As far as I've seen, none of the knock-offs have the engravings. Plus, their clasp buttons look more rounded edges and seem more spaced out. I've always noticed the clasp looking a bit different on any of the different generations of knock-offs vs the original. Also, on the replica space black bracelets I've seen, the ends are not polished. They're brushed like the rest of the band. The genuine one is brushed on the front/back but polished on the sides to match the watch.
As for why he'd sell the band, I've actually heard of a lot of people who didn't really like the link bracelet, but had to get one at launch because it was the only way to get the space black watch.
Thanks also does it have assmbled in China on it ?
 

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chuyn

macrumors 6502
Nov 13, 2015
365
110
For the space black, they should match. Front/back are brushed, while the sides are polished like the watch.

The stainless steel link bracelet is brushed all around.

And as far as I know, knock-off space black link bracelets are brushed all around. Don't hold me to that though, as any new generation of knock-off may have been modified to have polished sides as well. But so far, it looks like they're all brushed on the sides.
 

Madmischief

macrumors regular
Nov 16, 2013
108
70
Oxford, UK
Bit of advice please!

This just arrived and after have two SS watches since launch - I t’s lovely to have a link band. So much nicer than the Milanese loop.

Quick question, my packaging did not come with a plastic strap box. It was bought from an eBay green star UK seller who specialises in AW bands, he said boxes were discontinued. The back sticker says ‘designed for Apple Watch 5 ...’ in the blurb, so 2019 packaging.

Just checking in with you guys, everything looks and feels kosher, usual checks on the bracelet are correct.

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MacDevil7334

Contributor
Oct 15, 2011
2,552
5,816
Austin TX
Bit of advice please!

This just arrived and after have two SS watches since launch - I t’s lovely to have a link band. So much nicer than the Milanese loop.

Quick question, my packaging did not come with a plastic strap box. It was bought from an eBay green star UK seller who specialises in AW bands, he said boxes were discontinued. The back sticker says ‘designed for Apple Watch 5 ...’ in the blurb, so 2019 packaging.

Just checking in with you guys, everything looks and feels kosher, usual checks on the bracelet are correct.

View attachment 1666175 View attachment 1666176 View attachment 1666180 View attachment 1666177 View attachment 1666178 View attachment 1666179
Assuming it has the correct engraving inside the clasp, it looks genuine. Apple stopped selling bands with the plastic cases sometime in 2016. If the box says compatible with AW Series 5, the band was made long after that. You can also check for the Assembled in China marking and a serial number inscribed on one of the lugs. See this thread for a more complete guide to spotting fakes.
 
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