Link Bracelet owners: Has your bracelet shown any rust? Is it easily scratched?

[Luba]

Apple says both the SS and the DLC coated link bracelets are NOT water resistant. Perhaps when water is trapped in the links it can rust??

More than 1 review of the SS Link Bracelet have said it scratches easily. I know SS link bracelets will scratch, but the reviews imply the Apple bracelet gets scratched up more than the average bracelet. Has that been your experience?

Reviews of the black DLC coated link bracelet have said the black color has rubbed off?? That's hard to believe with DLC coating. I would think it's more likely that the DLC coating chip off than getting rubbed off. What's your experience?

Thanks in advance for your feedback! Many Apple Stores have been sold out of bracelets for a while now, but it looks like they will soon get more inventory. I'm thinking of getting one.

 

[AndrewR23]

Have had the black link bracelet a few weeks and I have a 5 yr old nephew I've been watching for 2 weeks now. My watch has been so banged up these last 2 weeks that the SS has scratches everywhere. BUT the space black link band is perfect. Checked everywhere for scratches or chips and none. So Im pretty impressed by it.

 

[44267547]

I own the regular stainless and black stainless link bands. My regular stainless link band has some very minor scratches, they're almost are not visible unless you look very closely. My black stainless link band does not have any signs of wear or scratches. I actually thought my black link band would show more scratches, but it's been surprisingly resilient. Both hold up very well and I have been impressed with the durability. And I can't attest to any corrosion, because I don't wear the link bands around water.

 

[xDKP]

I have a regular stainless steel and use it a lot - it does get scratches yes, but no more than any other normal stainless steel bracelet for any other watch. I have some automatic watches as well with normal oyster style steel bracelets and they are the same or more scratched...

So nothing bad at all - it's all patina and part of the great look of a watch actually being used

 

[SoN1NjA]

Have the raw stainless as well

No rusting, lots of scratches, although they aren't that big of a deal since you don't really notice them during use

 

[PaladinGuy]

I'm also curious as to why Apple says they are not water resistant. I've worn plenty of dive watches with the same type of steel bands. It's made from 316L steel, which should be very resistant to corrosion. I just got a link Band, and I plan to wear it almost all the time. I don't hang out at pools much, but I'd hope it would be fine to get wet occasionally.

 

[Ixidor]

Scratches yes, plenty. 316L stainless steels are very soft (relatively speaking) and therefore, prone to scratches.

As for corrosion resistance, 316 is considered a general purpose marine grade stainless steel. Basically, this grade provides excellent corrosion resistance relative to its cost for corrosion resistance against chloride environments (i.e. sea water). But as far as stainless steels go, there are many more grades that are far more corrosion resistant and more expensive.

Why does Apple not want to say its water resistant? My guess is that Apple is just being very conservative. Taking a shower or going to the beach/swim/dive should be fine. That's not to say the link bracelet will never corrode, but that won't happen unless you intentionally try to cause it to corrode (i.e. leaving it in sea water 24/7 while repeatedly scratching it...)