Shout out to the Link Bracelet, almost 5 years old

[adamjackson]

My Space Black 42mm Link Bracelet that came on my original Space Black Apple Watch has survived my series 1, 2, 3 and 4 (hopefully 6 when that comes out next year). I wear it every single day, it's traveled the world with me, a few days at the gym, multiple beach days, from -20F to 90F temperatures and it's been banged around and today...one of the links gave up.

See the left one has a missing click button in the center. I went to stretch my wrist and the bracelet popped off and fell onto my lap in the car.

Luckily, Apple included a few extra links for which I've had to make adjustments over the year (always sizing down thanks to steady and slow weight loss from 300lbs to now 245 since I bought an Apple Watch) and so I repaired it and we're back in business.

If this thing ever truly breaks, I wouldn't hesitate to purchase another one:

I love this bracelet and it does show signs of wear. I hope Apple gives me a few more generations of use or this bracelet with a lot of moving parts will have out-lived the watch band ecosystem.


Here's a photo of it on May 21st, 2015 when I unboxed it:

 

[seadragon]

I just bought one yesterday in the regular SS. Really enjoying it. So comfortable and very well made. Nice to see it has longevity also!

 

[farfromovin]

Nice! Looks like that black coating has held up pretty good over several years. I got a plain SS link recently. Love the black but I have bad luck with black metal bands causing lots of wear. I do agree, the link band is amazing.

 

[Pug72]

Same, though mine is still mint. As long as the new gens support the strap, I'll be using it.

 

[Strangedream]

I love the look and feel of my SB link bracelet but boy is it a smudge magnet. Anyways it's great to see it's still holding up pretty well after 5 years.

 

[twanj]

I've only had mine a year, but I love it.

 

[Glockworkorange]

My Space Black 42mm Link Bracelet that came on my original Space Black Apple Watch has survived my series 1, 2, 3 and 4 (hopefully 6 when that comes out next year). I wear it every single day, it's traveled the world with me, a few days at the gym, multiple beach days, from -20F to 90F temperatures and it's been banged around and today...one of the links gave up.

See the left one has a missing click button in the center. I went to stretch my wrist and the bracelet popped off and fell onto my lap in the car.

Luckily, Apple included a few extra links for which I've had to make adjustments over the year (always sizing down thanks to steady and slow weight loss from 300lbs to now 245 since I bought an Apple Watch) and so I repaired it and we're back in business.

If this thing ever truly breaks, I wouldn't hesitate to purchase another one:

I love this bracelet and it does show signs of wear. I hope Apple gives me a few more generations of use or this bracelet with a lot of moving parts will have out-lived the watch band ecosystem.


Here's a photo of it on May 21st, 2015 when I unboxed it:

They're nice, for sure. I had that same one but ended up returning it because I just could not justify the cost.

 

[Pseudo-Fed]

Awesome.

 

[perezr10]

Wow, how many days a week did you wear it on average? I have one that’s about 5 years old too but I only wear it about 5 or 6 days a month. I have quite a few other bands that I rotate too.

Oops! Never mind. I just saw that you started with “wear it every single day”. That is impressive.

 

[adamjackson]

Wow, how many days a week did you wear it on average? I have one that’s about 5 years old too but I only wear it about 5 or 6 days a month. I have quite a few other bands that I rotate too.

Oops! Never mind. I just saw that you started with “wear it every single day”. That is impressive.

I probably use a sport band or Milanese 1-2 days a month. When I eat too much salt, the link gets too tight for a few days and I don't feel like adding or removing links just cause I ate a large pizza with beer so I just switch to a more on the fly adjustable band until my wrist gets small again

This has been my watch I'd say 11+ months out of the year for the last 5 years.

 

[danmart]

My original SB Link band is still in daily use; I pass my watches on to my dad, so after I wore it for a year he has worn it for over three years.

After a year or so without an SB Link of my own I decided to buy a new one when I got my S4, so now we are both wearing them most days...

 

[PrettyWings]

This thread should be pointed out to anybody who's concerned about their watch not looking pristine. Look at that thing. That's a band that was worn. That watch has been with you through a lot. The weight management journey and other things. And it probably provided a lot of convenience for you through it all. It's meant to do that. It's meant to be used.

 

[richxps]

Just curious how do you clean the link band ? I have the black one and notice some dirt in the links

 

[adamjackson]

This thread should be pointed out to anybody who's concerned about their watch not looking pristine. Look at that thing. That's a band that was worn. That watch has been with you through a lot. The weight management journey and other things. And it probably provided a lot of convenience for you through it all. It's meant to do that. It's meant to be used.

...and I'm wearing it now! This link bracelet is actually officially now affixed to a Series 5 Space Black watch (my series 4 screen was broken while working out and it collided with a machine) so I bought a Series 5, took off the sport bracelet and put the link bracelet back on!

Just curious how do you clean the link band ? I have the black one and notice some dirt in the links

Jewelry cleaner. https://www.amazon.com/Magnasonic-Professional-Ultrasonic-Eyeglasses-MGUC500/dp/B007Q2M17K

I don't put the watch in here because it's job with the vibration is to get into every nook and cranny and loosen up the dirt. but I put my link bracelet and glasses in there once a month and clean them.

 

[richxps]

Thanks ..How does it feel working out with ? My sport loop and band both looked grungy after a few weeks in the gym, does the link hold up better

 

[adamjackson]

Thanks ..How does it feel working out with ? My sport loop and band both looked grungy after a few weeks in the gym, does the link hold up better

If I remember, I change the band to sport before gym workouts. Primarily because it doesn't allow my wrist to really swell or get pumped up (if that's the right word) when I'm doing any arm work. I also change out to a sport band if I'm going out into the woods camping and just want a lighter strap. At the end of the day, it's a $500 band so I do try to take care of it and not put it in harms way.

for workouts, I think the sport band is better. the sport loop holds every bit of sweat and dirt you throw at it. they get pretty gross really fast.

 

[Donnation]

The Link Bracelet is my all time favorite band from Apple. I wear mine every day during the work week.

I'm surprised you worked out in yours, I can't imagine doing that in such an expensive band. Glad it lasted so long for you.

 

[TwiceNightly]

Do you sleep with it on too? I do and I love my link but I worry about damaging/breaking it all the time but this thread is starting to help me get over that!

 

[twanj]

Do you sleep with it on too? I do and I love my link but I worry about damaging/breaking it all the time but this thread is starting to help me get over that!

Sport loops are for sleep

Way more comfy.

 

[Pitch]

Does anyone know how to get scratches off of the non-black SS link bracelet? Or should I just learn to live with them?

 

[FenC]

There's already a thread about that very question. Literally right below this one as I type.

 

[Pitch]

There's already a thread about that very question. Literally right below this one as I type.

Thanks, I didn't see it. I'll take a look there.