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Non-OEM (FAKE/CLONE) Apple Watch Bands
- Thread starter appleboyy
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Never mind whether it's "actually leather or not".
How are you planning to test whether it's jam packed full of toxins and will poison you?
Oh please.
How do you know the PU leather couch you're sitting on is safe or not? How do you know if the food you're eating is safe or not?
Pretty much everything is made in china these days, and as has been shown in the past: Even Apples (providers) plants have problems with unsafe chemicals, and poor working conditions.
The world is full of uncertainties. Live a little, or climb back under your rock.
My mistake. You're completely right.
Why does Apple even bother complying with those silly international product safety standards or with supplier responsibility?
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Not sure why people are so concerned what is / isn't in Apple Watch bands, I've never seen it before for iPhone cases and some people must be holding those for a similar amount of time...
Would you consider this, for example, to be living a little?
"A counterfeit product is often created in a sweatshop, in violation of child labor laws, anti-sweatshop laws and basic human rights. Dana Thomas, described the conditions she witnessed in sweatshops in her 2007 book Deluxe: How Luxury Lost Its Luster.
"I remember walking into an assembly plant in Thailand a couple of years ago and seeing six or seven little children, all under 10 years old, sitting on the floor assembling counterfeit leather handbags. The owners had broken the children's legs and tied the lower leg to the thigh so the bones wouldn't mend."
http://www.cnbc.com/id/38229835
"I remember walking into an assembly plant in Thailand a couple of years ago and seeing six or seven little children, all under 10 years old, sitting on the floor assembling counterfeit leather handbags. The owners had broken the children's legs and tied the lower leg to the thigh so the bones wouldn't mend."
http://www.cnbc.com/id/38229835
Apple don't make a 38mm leather loop, so third party bands are the only option. There was quite a few leather sofa's causing major skin irritation a couple of years back. All from major retailers who were 'following' EU regulations.
If the band has got any doggy chemicals in it, it will most likely irritate the skin first. My concern is I tend to get eczema from plastic watch band but not from leather!
If the band has got any doggy chemicals in it, it will most likely irritate the skin first. My concern is I tend to get eczema from plastic watch band but not from leather!
You're skirting the fact that a lot of products are produced this way in China, maybe not to this extreme but nonetheless almost anything you buy cannot guarantee safety or working conditions used to make the everyday items we use.
So, you scrutinized the background of every company for every product in your household before you bought it?
Having worked in factories with less than ideal conditions I can safely say regulations mean squat. Unless of course they get caught in an audit, which they usually know is coming and 'prepare' for.
Btw apple got in **** for the health and safety conditions of its providers employees, then they fixed the problem, you were quite happily buying up your apple products at that time I'm sure.
Im not saying you're wrong, just being a little over dramatic.
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Had to do it on paypal, since when I first ordered the band 2 months ago the seller misled buyers (first act of shadiness).
Originally, it was at a set price. After paying them through aliexpress I (and other users on here) got an email saying they made a mistake, the page was only a preorder and we had to pay more. Told them no, and they offered me a discount. So I accepted.
To pay more, we had to send them additional money through paypal, outside of AliExpress. As far as the AliExpress site is concerned I only paid the original upfront money, so even if I did a dispute there I would need to do a second one on Paypal any ways.
As for how I'm tracking, I'm just using the china post link from the order page.
Just received my blue leather loop from a US ebay seller in Las Cruces, NM. I already own the stone leather loop and will be wearing that far more, but wanted the blue for the occasional use. Price was $60, ordered last friday and received it today.
I have to say i am rather impressed with this thing for the price. The magnet is just about as strong as the genuine one. The leather has a slight more rigid feel than the OEM, but not quite plasticy. It feels great on the wrist too. It closes all the way around too. I was nervouse bcause some pics showed the band looking squared off when closed, as iff there were only magnets in the center, but that is not this case, at least from this seller.
One issue is that it is not perfectly flush with the ss body of watch. Actually, the top of my band is, and only one side of the bottom is noticeable, but it really is only a small thing. I'll probably forget about it after this post.
The connectors seem secure on the band, just make sure to insert into watch and wiggle around to make sure magnets are locked in.
The other issue is the length, it's fine for me, but i prefer a shorter length. I wear the medium OEM loop and the small/medium sports band (although close to the end). If you have very small wrists, this may be too long for you.
Other than that, the quality so far is very nice. The color is great, it feels comfortable, the magnets are strong, and the price is not gouging. Oh and there is zero creekiness so far, unlike my OEM.
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Just received my blue leather loop from a US ebay seller in Las Cruces, NM. I already own the stone leather loop and will be wearing that far more, but wanted the blue for the occasional use. Price was $60, ordered last friday and received it today.
I have to say i am rather impressed with this thing for the price. The magnet is just about as strong as the genuine one. The leather has a slight more rigid feel than the OEM, but not quite plasticy. It feels great on the wrist too. It closes all the way around too. I was nervouse bcause some pics showed the band looking squared off when closed, as iff there were only magnets in the center, but that is not this case, at least from this seller.
One issue is that it is not perfectly flush with the ss body of watch. Actually, the top of my band is, and only one side of the bottom is noticeable, but it really is only a small thing. I'll probably forget about it after this post.
The connectors seem secure on the band, just make sure to insert into watch and wiggle around to make sure magnets are locked in.
The other issue is the length, it's fine for me, but i prefer a shorter length. I wear the medium OEM loop and the small/medium sports band (although close to the end). If you have very small wrists, this may be too long for you.
Other than that, the quality so far is very nice. The color is great, it feels comfortable, the magnets are strong, and the price is not gouging.
What size are your wrists?
Just received my blue leather loop from a US ebay seller in Las Cruces, NM. I already own the stone leather loop and will be wearing that far more, but wanted the blue for the occasional use. Price was $60, ordered last friday and received it today.
I have to say i am rather impressed with this thing for the price. The magnet is just about as strong as the genuine one. The leather has a slight more rigid feel than the OEM, but not quite plasticy. It feels great on the wrist too. It closes all the way around too. I was nervouse bcause some pics showed the band looking squared off when closed, as iff there were only magnets in the center, but that is not this case, at least from this seller.
One issue is that it is not perfectly flush with the ss body of watch. Actually, the top of my band is, and only one side of the bottom is noticeable, but it really is only a small thing. I'll probably forget about it after this post.
The connectors seem secure on the band, just make sure to insert into watch and wiggle around to make sure magnets are locked in.
The other issue is the length, it's fine for me, but i prefer a shorter length. I wear the medium OEM loop and the small/medium sports band (although close to the end). If you have very small wrists, this may be too long for you.
Other than that, the quality so far is very nice. The color is great, it feels comfortable, the magnets are strong, and the price is not gouging. Oh and there is zero creekiness so far, unlike my OEM.
Glad to see this worked out! After your recommendation I ordered the red from the same guy. I already own an official blue, but like you, I wear a medium loop and wanted the red for the occasional wear. Seems like I may be happy with my purchase!
Nah. There were 4 left when I ordered... what was it... two days ago? I saw they were sold out today though.Must have gotten the last red one, sold out now
Yea that's a different story of course.
I think you've learned your lesson then, never ever send them money outside Aliexpress. (I could have told you that before though
).Also, a tip for the next purchase you make on Ali.
IF you ever place a dispute, and they offer to send you a replacement if you close the dispute, NEVER accept that.
After you have closed a dispute, you cannot re-open it, and they might not send a replacement at all, and then you are out of options.
Some try to scam that way.
Until now it seems most of the loops have this "connector does not completely fill insert of watch body" problem. Wondering what they do during production that causes this fault. Also I have seen official measurements of one third party loop that said the connector length would be 33 mm. When I measured the 42 mm watch I found this to be too short by approximately 2 mm in order to fit the housing completely. Strange that someone would already be that imprecise at the drawing board. I have a loop incoming to see the connector thing myself.
Thank you for sharing your impressions!
I see that one issue with the fake versus OEM in manufacturing is that the leather edges at the connector at cut flat as if the band were flat on a table and blade was perpendicular. On the OEM however, there is an angle to the cut at that location. This angled cut makes the band appear flat once it's curved and worn on your wrist. It's possible that the measurements for the fakes are using the top, front facing width where it is slightly narrower as opposed to measuring the bottom, wrist-side leather width.
Sounds confusing, but have a look and you'll see what I mean.
btw i ordered also a milanese loop replica for 50$. just arrived today. looks pretty good and the magnet is strong enough
edit: i got it from here: http://www.aliexpress.com/item/2015...tic-closure-clasp-watchstrap/32358152162.html
edit: i got it from here: http://www.aliexpress.com/item/2015...tic-closure-clasp-watchstrap/32358152162.html
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I think I ordered the same type of replica but from a different seller, should be arriving Monday. Will compare to see if it's from the same factory.
I haven't checked the rest of the posts, but I received two leather loops from Aliexpress today for my 38mm SS. Since the real one is not offered in my size, I figured I'd give it a go. Got one in red and blue and I think they look okay. I've never seen one in person so have nothing to compare it too. Magnets are strong.
Can u dm the link to where u purchased these looks great
These are new "Faux leather loop":
http://www.ebay.com/itm/38mm-Faux-L...t=LH_DefaultDomain_0&var=&hash=item2ee3c7da7e
http://www.ebay.com/itm/38mm-Faux-L...t=LH_DefaultDomain_0&var=&hash=item2ee3c7da7e
