Huh oh...Can Non-OEM adapters be trusted???

[iBighouse]

I just went to take off my watch...and the band fell apart. One of the inset screws was no longer holding the tubular element in place and it all just fell apart!

I don't know if this was the adapter that was sent with my Black Forest Atelier band, or if it was my LUVVITT adapter (I switched them around when attaching the band) so I don't know if this was some kind of user error or product defect. FORTUNATELY the watch was in my hand and didn't fall apart and fall to the ground!

I'll grab the special screw driver and reinstall the screw and keep a close eye on it.

Update: Repair done. I think I will keep the special screwdriver on my (real) desktop and retighten the screws every other time or so when I switch bands.

 

[Gav2k]

Buy some threadloc

 

[iBlazed]

Unrelated, but I still don't understand why Apple felt the need to match the crown on the stainless watch to the color of the band it comes with. Makes band shopping that much harder later on. Luckily the OP has a black one so its matchable with most things. What about the people stuck with a red digital crown?

 

[aawil]

I had this happen too, hasn't been a problem since I dabbed it with loctite. One set of adapters had something on the threads already but most don't.

 

[iVegas]

Just echoing what other have said ... you have to use thread lock like Loctite or you risk this happening. I believe using thread lock is also listed in the instructions Apple put out for its official third party band makers.

 

[testcard]

Unrelated, but I still don't understand why Apple felt the need to match the crown on the stainless watch to the color of the band it comes with. Makes band shopping that much harder later on. Luckily the OP has a black one so its matchable with most things. What about the people stuck with a red digital crown?

Don't all SS models have a black inset on the digital crown? Haven't seen red.

 

[iBlazed]

Don't all SS models have a black inset on the digital crown? Haven't seen red.

You're right, it's the Edition that has the different colored crowns.

 

[iBighouse]

You're right, it's the Edition that has the different colored crowns.

Oh, i've seen a red crown somewhere on here...so they match the crown to the band huh? odd. I did not know that and I'm SURE glad I got the black band then!

 

[pbody]

I just went to take off my watch...and the band fell apart. One of the inset screws was no longer holding the tubular element in place and it all just fell apart!

I don't know if this was the adapter that was sent with my Black Forest Atelier band, or if it was my LUVVITT adapter (I switched them around when attaching the band) so I don't know if this was some kind of user error or product defect. FORTUNATELY the watch was in my hand and didn't fall apart and fall to the ground!

I'll grab the special screw driver and reinstall the screw and keep a close eye on it.

View attachment 572500

Update: Repair done. I think I will keep the special screwdriver on my (real) desktop and retighten the screws every other time or so when I switch bands.

Had the same thing happen to me today with my clockwork synergy band. Posted pics on the 3rd party band thread. Going to order some loctite and some extra screws now to keep handy. Apple specs say the screws should not be reused, and they definitely should be fixed in place with a locking material.

Edit: looks like your screw is bare. Compare to the blue on the screw in my pic https://forums.macrumors.com/thread...nd-strap-thread.1866289/page-81#post-21661841

 

[testcard]

Oh, i've seen a red crown somewhere on here...so they match the crown to the band huh? odd. I did not know that and I'm SURE glad I got the black band then!

Possibly this:
https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/review-watchdots-for-apple-watch.1899546/#post-21575295

 

[iBlazed]

Possibly this:
https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/review-watchdots-for-apple-watch.1899546/#post-21575295

No, from Apple's own website...

 

[testcard]

No, from Apple's own website...

Got it, thanks.

 

[fireman13]

Got it, thanks.

The colored crowns you are seeing are probably from watch dots(I think that's what it's called) all stainless steal watches come with a black dot and the edition watches come with other colored crowns to match the band they ship with (which doesn't make any sense to me at all)

 

[testcard]

You're right.
http://shop.watchdots.com

 

[ThaRagingAsian]

Don't all SS models have a black inset on the digital crown? Haven't seen red.

I got the white sports band and the crown inset is still black. all the same,

 

[iBighouse]

ok,will go to Home Depot and pick up a small tube of loctite tomorrow.

 

[broadbean]

Tim Cook's SS Watch has a red crown.

 

[fischersd]

ok,will go to Home Depot and pick up a small tube of loctite tomorrow.

The spec that Apple published stated that all of the non-OEM adapters were to have thread locker on the screws to prevent that. If that adapter came with the band, you really should let them know - they may have a QC issue.

Tim Cook's SS Watch has a red crown.

It was stated by one of the Apple employees previously that all internal Apple watches had red crowns. (presumably to try to more easily trace down any leaked photos / sitings prior to release).

 

[Mac2me]

Not surprised by your adapter following apart if they never used threadlocker on it. It needs to be applied to the screw when the band is put on. This has been discussed in numerous threads regarding third-party bands and adapters. Any Watch person buying any third-party, non-Apple band should be aware of this issue whether or not they are putting the bands on the adapters themselves. Clearly this only applies to the Apple Classic style tubular adapter. Not an issue with the spring pin type.

BTW if you use a threadlocker too strong for your screws, you will either strip the screw when trying to take apart because of the force needed to break a stronger seal and/or need to cut the adapter tube off if you decide to get rid of the band for whatever reason, leaving your adapter pretty useless as I don't see anyone selling the tubes. Apple also says in their Band Developer Guidelines to dispose of used screws. Third party adapter sellers like Freedomoclock supply extra screws with their adapters but I haven't heard of people who buy their bands preinstalled on an adapter receiving extras.

iBighouse, you might want to read posts #2028 and #2031 under this thread about the kind of threadlocker to use before buying any: https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/the-great-third-party-band-strap-thread.1866289/page-82

Has anyone contacted Clockwork Synergy about this? If they are providing straps without proper use of an appropriate threadlocker, than people's watches will be falling off. So far the people I've read posting of this problem haven't lost their watch on a hard surface yet, thinking just a matter of time.

You should be seeing threadlocker all around the screw when it's removed. When applied to the thread and inserted it will spread all over the thread as it's screwed into place. Loctite says it will also seal out water, etc and prevent corrosion so if it isn't applied properly you won't see it spread all over.

Let it cure the full 24 hours.

 

[Mac2me]

Since people have turned this into a two topic thread, I will say that the black crown dot works will all watches as the face of the watch is black.