Links Bracelet Latch Problem

[BPMCH02]

Does anyone else with a links bracelet have an issue where one side of the latch is ever so slightly raised from the other and the latch is a little less tight?

I have had the band for several months and this just started to really bother me....is there any warranty on the bands?

 

[chuyn]

My wife's 38mm sits flat/tight/even. Both feel solid if you squeeze them. My 42mm, one is ever so slightly higher and you can squeeze it down a bit. It's very minute, and aside from noticing it one day, I haven't really cared. Both bands are from when they were first available. I'm sure you can try exchanging it, but that's really nitpicky... some adapters fit into the watch tighter than others too. I just don't think that's enough to ask for an exchange though.

 

[BPMCH02]

Yea, I don't know it seems to work, but my issue is basically exactly as you described on yours. I guess for a $500 band, I want it to be perfect. It just seems like Apple product quality has dropped a little bit recently and it's very disappointing. Not to mention the customer service and feeling at their stores is absolutely terrible recently. It seems like ever since the new retail VP took over, the customer experience at stores keeps going down hill....

 

[BarracksSi]

I don't have Apple's bracelet yet, but I still have reservations about those tight tolerances in the clasp. My other watch bracelets seem pretty bulletproof because they have some amount of "give".

OP, if you remove the bracelet, do you disconnect the links first as Apple's instructions describe? Do you flex it sideways sometimes?

I want to say it could be tweaked back to a proper fit. I've re-bent trumpet valve casings back into playable condition, and their tolerances are even tighter. But, as I said, I don't own this bracelet and haven't had a chance to experiment.

 

[TallGuyGT]

I have a similar issue. My watch will fully clasp, but even slight pressure on one of the buttons will cause the watch to unlatch at one of the 4 latch points. If I don't fix it immediately, the watch will soon pop open on that side. I think the issue is that the lugs are so small and the tolerances are so tight. I have a similar latch on my analog Swiss watch and it is more robust.

I've thought about trying to get the latch exchanged at an Apple store, but it doesn't happen all that often so I haven't made the effort yet.

 

[JayLenochiniMac]

I don't have this problem. Care to upload a pic showing this so we can see how bad the gap is?

The band is under warranty as long as the AW is so, yes, you can swap out a defective band.

 

[BarracksSi]

Fwiw, one of the bracelets I've tried in-store was a little touchy with engaging the clasp.

 

[JayLenochiniMac]

Fwiw, one of the bracelets I've tried in-store was a little touchy with engaging the clasp.

That's normal due to the nature of the design. What's not normal is a gap once latched.

 

[BarracksSi]

That's normal due to the nature of the design. What's not normal is a gap once latched.

Just because it may be "normal" doesn't make it "good".

Don't get me wrong -- I really like Apple's bracelet in every other way. I think it looks great, I dig the pushbutton links, I managed to find a great size for my wrist when I tried it in-store… I want to get one for myself (as long as I can talk my wife into it!).

None of my other watch bracelets are finicky at all, though. They're meant to be durable and to operate consistently, so they don't rely on millimeter-precise fit.

I've seen a few third-party bracelets I might like, but I don't want to buy them unless I can handle them in person first. Maybe I'll be waiting for a while.

 

[JayLenochiniMac]

None of my other watch bracelets are finicky at all, though. They're meant to be durable and to operate consistently, so they don't rely on millimeter-precise fit.

Right, none of your other bracelets sit perfectly flushed once latched so it's a different design.

 

[BarracksSi]

Right, none of your other bracelets sit perfectly flushed once latched so it's a different design.

But is it a better design?

 

[JayLenochiniMac]

But is it a better design?

It's a better design if you like the perfectly flushed look. Durability/functionality is another matter.

 

[starbucks1222]

I was coming on to post about this. This just started happening in the past two weeks to my SB Link. I've had it since Jan, brand new, not a single scratch. It has its own mouse pad at work so it doesn't get scratched from my desk. I made an appointment for tomorrow at Apple. I'm not happy about this since I put out almost $600 with tax for it.