Leather Loop knock off ~ anyone get one yet?

[NovemberWhiskey]

I'm considering buying a Chinese loop, but after reading all this, might just take the slap in the face from Apple & give them $150 instead

It's a good decision. I have never seen aftermarket stuff fit as well as OEM stuff, despite what all the glowing reviews online say. Holds true for a bunch of car parts I have ordered wherein people online raved about fit and quality. Sure enough, as soon as I bought it, it didn't fit at all.

Not saying all aftermarket stuff is bad. But just don't take what everyone says as truth. Some people are just not as meticulous, and perfectly fine with gaps, dull finishes, etc.

 

[broadbean]

I'm considering buying a Chinese loop, but after reading all this, might just take the slap in the face from Apple & give them $150 instead

For me the decision was a fake Loop or none.

 

[Skorpio]

It's a good decision. I have never seen aftermarket stuff fit as well as OEM stuff, despite what all the glowing reviews online say. Holds true for a bunch of car parts I have ordered wherein people online raved about fit and quality. Sure enough, as soon as I bought it, it didn't fit at all.

Not saying all aftermarket stuff is bad. But just don't take what everyone says as truth. Some people are just not as meticulous, and perfectly fine with gaps, dull finishes, etc.

For the most part of this I agree with everything you said (typed). It really irks me when I see people talking about this or that on the Internet (in forum especially) without any real world experience. They read it elsewhere or heard about it then quotes it like they have 1st hand experience.
EVERYONE ON THE INTERNET: Don't believe everything you read! If you research hard enough, there will be a pattern that shows up. Try that path. Filter out all the other junk. Once you have your own experience and conclusions, THEN you can review it, hopefully without bias.
And, like you also said (typed), not all aftermarket car parts are crap. The more expensive, name brand items fit like OEM. Tokico, Koni, and Tein, for example, fit just like OEM suspension struts (and some of these companies are contracted to make the OEM parts).
It's usually the cheap parts (many times from Autozone parts store or the like) that don't fit right without modification.
I say all this as a person who has real world experience in the auto mechanic industry for almost 20 years

 

[AlliFlowers]

For me the decision was a fake Loop or none.

Likewise. The "42s" forget that the "38s" don't have an option of purchasing a leather loop from Apple.

 

[jayrflow]

So I received my black LL from Utica guy and for the most part I'm happy. It took only a few days to get here. Ordered Friday at 12pm and was here this Monday morning. For the most part I'm happy. It does have slight gaps at the connectors. Is there a seller that sells them without any gaps? I'm looking into getting a blue one but I would prefer to get it gapless if possible

 

[exxxviii]

So I received my black LL from Utica guy and for the most part I'm happy. It took only a few days to get here. Ordered Friday at 12pm and was here this Monday morning. For the most part I'm happy. It does have slight gaps at the connectors. Is there a seller that sells them without any gaps? I'm looking into getting a blue one but I would prefer to get it gapless if possible

Check out the pictures and posts from folks who bought from lnkoo888/lnkoo999 on eBay. They are pretty good.

 

[Gregintosh]

I got this leather loop: http://www.ebay.com/itm/111725514913

I'm very happy with it. Looks great, fits well, feels great. We will see how durable it is but it's already become my everyday/favorite.

The connectors are maybe 1mm short of being flush but it doesn't bother me at all (too small a difference to really notice).

I recommend it!

 

[dfine1966]

Anyone buy a 42mm leather loop from the New Mexico guy. I want to get black 42mm black leather loop. I bought a black one from lnkoo888, but had to return it because of the metal showing outside the adapter area. I would if ordered from Freedomoclock09, but they are out of the 42mm black ones. Wanted to by from someone shipping from the US. I know the New Mexico guy ships fasts, just don't know how good his band's ate with fit, length, etc. I noticed the bands that adapters have a B on it are the ones that the metal comes out of the adapter. Any other recommendations would be appreciated.

 

[JoLong]

Anyone buy a 42mm leather loop from the New Mexico guy. I want to get black 42mm black leather loop. I bought a black one from lnkoo888, but had to return it because of the metal showing outside the adapter area. I would if ordered from Freedomoclock09, but they are out of the 42mm black ones. Wanted to by from someone shipping from the US. I know the New Mexico guy ships fasts, just don't know how good his band's ate with fit, length, etc. I noticed the bands that adapters have a B on it are the ones that the metal comes out of the adapter. Any other recommendations would be appreciated.

I did get a 38mm black LL from the New Mexico guy more than a month ago and it's been working pretty well. Magnet is strong, no showing of metal part of adaptor, and no wear and tear even after been washed under running water several times due (as a result of a very unusual humid and hot summer in California). The long part of the LL is a bit longer that I had anticipated, but not too long that it would go past the watch (and I have a small wrist, at the 4th hole on the Apple sport band).

 

[dfine1966]

I did get a 38mm black LL from the New Mexico guy more than a month ago and it's been working pretty well. Magnet is strong, no showing of metal part of adaptor, and no wear and tear even after been washed under running water several times due (as a result of a very unusual humid and hot summer in California). The long part of the LL is a bit longer that I had anticipated, but not too long that it would go past the watch (and I have a small wrist, at the 4th hole on the Apple sport band).

Thanks for letting me know. How is the width of the leather part of the adapter?.Are there any gaps or are they flush to the watch?

 

[sean000]

Likewise. The "42s" forget that the "38s" don't have an option of purchasing a leather loop from Apple.

This is definitely one reason I bought the knock-off leather loop I reviewed here (from Happycell on Amazon). Price was a factor as well, although I don't find $150 to be unreasonable for the Apple leather loop. If Apple had offered a 38mm I might have bought it. I tried one on in the store and it was definitely a beautiful band that probably looks and feels just slightly better upon close inspection... but it's too wide for a 38mm watch.

I have actually been very happy with my knock-off. I don't know how well it will hold up though. I probably wear my brown leather band from Clockwork Synergy more often, and so far the knock-off looks and feels great. I think the risk in ordering one of these knockoffs is that you will get a defective copy that might be a pain to return...and might require a shipping fee to return. There are some that ship from a domestic source that might be less of a hassle to return or exchange. On the other hand I bet the majority of the knock-offs are just fine. I'm happy enough with mine, and I could get two more colors and still be below the price of the Apple version.

Sean

 

[BSG75]

I've been wearing a blue LL from Inkoo that I bought on eBay a few weeks ago. There are aren't any gaps, the magnets are strong and it's holding up well. From reading this thread, I may be one of the lucky ones who didn't get a defective band. I've never tried on the OEM band, so I can't honestly say that this knockoff is just as good as the Apple version.

FWIW, I was in the Apple store the other day and a salesperson noticed my LL and asked me how I liked it. I told him I've been very happy with it and he went on to say that he was thinking about getting one for himself. So...I guess some of the knockoffs are close copies of the OEM.

 

[JoLong]

Thanks for letting me know. How is the width of the leather part of the adapter?.Are there any gaps or are they flush to the watch?

You are welcome. The width at the adaptor is flush to the watch except for one corner, which is about 1mm or less shorter. But not noticeable unless I look for it.

 

[iBlazed]

The prices are pretty low now. $30 from lnkoo888. Combined between my two bands I overpaid $13. Oh well.

 

[exxxviii]

The prices are pretty low now. $30 from lnkoo888. Combined between my two bands I overpaid $13. Oh well.

I love the free market economy!

 

[aziatiklover]

Anyone compares side by side with the OEM ones?

 

[iBlazed]

I love the free market economy!

Lol. Yeah, free market...

 

[usmcchet]

I got one off ebay (black 42mm) and have had it for a week now and so far its doing just fine. It may not be apple quality but its also not apple price either

 

[nburwell]

I'm considering buying a Chinese loop, but after reading all this, might just take the slap in the face from Apple & give them $150 instead

I'd love to do the same. If only Apple made the leather loop for the 38mm case.

 

[ame8199]

Yea I would buy a leather loop as well if Apple made it for the 38mm

 

[MrGimper]

I've received my red, dark brown and black loops from lnkoo999. I also own the OEM Apple blue loop which I've been very happy with.

I paid about £19 per strap with the 15% discount, and TBH what you get for the money is very good. However I was expecting better. All straps suffer from the metal connector peeking out from the watch. The red band is very shiny and feels plastic. I've worn the brown one for about an hour and it's already gone loose twice. Lots of people say Apple overcharge for their stuff and they do, however in my opinion the difference between these knockoffs and the OEM strap is night and day. Considering that the OEM loops are £130 and you can get them A grade from CEX for £75 ish, I think I may just return these and purchase the brown and black OEM from CEX. If nothing else, these serve to advertise the quality you get with the OEM straps.

 

[sean000]

I've received my red, dark brown and black loops from lnkoo999. I also own the OEM Apple blue loop which I've been very happy with.

I paid about £19 per strap with the 15% discount, and TBH what you get for the money is very good. However I was expecting better. All straps suffer from the metal connector peeking out from the watch. The red band is very shiny and feels plastic. I've worn the brown one for about an hour and it's already gone loose twice. Lots of people say Apple overcharge for their stuff and they do, however in my opinion the difference between these knockoffs and the OEM strap is night and day. Considering that the OEM loops are £130 and you can get them A grade from CEX for £75 ish, I think I may just return these and purchase the brown and black OEM from CEX. If nothing else, these serve to advertise the quality you get with the OEM straps.

Not all the knockoffs display the lack of quality you describe. It's probably safer to order one color from a seller to make sure it meets your expectations before ordering more. Of course there can also be sample variation when ordering from the same source, but there are plenty of folks who have received several good copies in different colors from the same seller. My Happycell knockoff does not have the exposed metal issue and it doesn't ever loosen up by itself. Even when my hands are subjected to jarring bumps and vibrations while bicycling it stays put. My only concern is whether or not it will hold up to long term use. I wear a brown leather strap from Clockwork Synergy more often, so my leather loop still looks new after a month of occasional wear. I will probably wear it more in Winter so we will see.

I tried on the genuine leather loop in the Apple Store, and it was indeed a beautiful strap. I received my knockoff a few weeks later, so I have never compared them side by side. All I can say is that I am happy with my knockoff, especially since Apple doesn't even offer one that will fit my 38mm watch. Apple would be wise to add 38mm leather loops to their lineup. Clearly there is a demand for them.

Sean

 

[robertpetry]

It looks like most folks on Amazon are out of the latest run of LL bands. Has anyone tried the Superisun version?

http://smile.amazon.com/Superisun-L...-3&keywords=apple+watch+black+leather+loop+42

 

[dfine1966]

It looks like most folks on Amazon are out of the latest run of LL bands. Has anyone tried the Superisun version?

http://smile.amazon.com/Superisun-L...-3&keywords=apple+watch+black+leather+loop+42

Looking at the dimensions from this seller, it looks a lot like that of Freedomoclock09 on eBay. Which means it could be good, but it won't fill up the gap all the way in the adapter groove. It will be a total of 1mm short total. It might be worth a risk, plus you could return it easy if it isn't.

 

[robertpetry]

Looking at the dimensions from this seller, it looks a lot like that of Freedomoclock09 on eBay. Which means it could be good, but it won't fill up the gap all the way in the adapter groove. It will be a total of 1mm short total. It might be worth a risk, plus you could return it easy if it isn't.

Thanks dfine!

What is the verdict on the updated HappyCell version? http://smile.amazon.com/HappyCell-G...p/B00ZUEDHJW/ref=cm_cr_pr_product_top?ie=UTF8

I will probably order one or the other.

Recommendations? Thanks