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The Great "Third Party Band/Strap" Thread

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The first post of this thread is a WikiPost and can be edited by anyone with the appropiate permissions. Your edits will be public.
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pocketdoc

macrumors 6502a
Apr 15, 2008
799
37
ohaishawnn said:
I've been really wanting a cheaper band that is like Apple's link bracelet. What do you guys think about getting this expansion one:

http://www.esslinger.com/hadley-roma-black-metal-expansion-watch-band-with-expandable-ends-16-22mm/

Do you think it would work fine with adapters that I have? Size wise? I'm not good with what sizes are what and you know.
Click to expand...

I don't think it will look good on a 42mm AW. 24mm is what you need, and only the ends are 22mm. The band itself is 16 mm. That would probably look funny. 22mm would slide around on a connector. (16-22 mm means the band width is 16mm and the ends stretch out to max of 22mm)

I have also looked for stretch bands and they don't make one that is 24mm wide.

There are plenty of link bracelets that are not stretch. Many listed on this thread.
 
C

Cjhooper

macrumors member
Apr 26, 2015
56
37
ohaishawnn said:
I've been really wanting a cheaper band that is like Apple's link bracelet. What do you guys think about getting this expansion one:

http://www.esslinger.com/hadley-roma-black-metal-expansion-watch-band-with-expandable-ends-16-22mm/

Do you think it would work fine with adapters that I have? Size wise? I'm not good with what sizes are what and you know.
Click to expand...
Me too! I bought one similar
To this, the same size, and it is just too small for the aw. You might be able to get away with it if you have the smaller watch but I have the 42 and it just didn't look right as much as I wanted it to.
 
T

T4R06

macrumors 65816
Oct 8, 2007
1,212
74
CT
Here the burgundy
image.jpg
image.jpg
image.jpg
 
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Tangmu

Tangmu

macrumors member
Jun 19, 2015
74
50
nicho said:
the top two pictures look just like the sport band, the final one less so - and I'm pretty sure it's this that shows the actual product. the first two looks like they got both types of black sports band, and photoshopped out the apple markings on the stainless steel pin one to pretend it's theirs...
Click to expand...

No, I can confirm that there are much better clones on the market now which look very similar to Apple's sport bands and are only missing the prints on the back of the band - also the side of the bands seems to show imprecisions of the mold used in production. They also include a red version - so there is your first color Apple does not officially ship. Those new clones should go for about 15 to 20 USD at the moment.

Personally I would however think for a moment before completing the purchase.
 
fischersd

fischersd

macrumors 603
Oct 23, 2014
5,380
1,942
Port Moody, BC, Canada
AutoUnion39 said:
So I've been looking for something like this: http://www.amazon.com/Apple-Watch-S...sr=8-8&keywords=apple+watch+42mm+leather+band

Is there one out there without the stainless steel finish? It would look weird on my black watch.
Click to expand...
First-off, you need to test links before you post them. :) That one brought up a search page...this shortened link works: http://www.amazon.com/Apple-Watch-Strap-Band-Accessories/dp/B00XP4VPYS/

The guys over at clockworksynergy have it right, in that, they allow you to mix/match the adapter and buckle you need for your watch.
You could start with this brown one...at the very least, have a look around. :)

http://www.clockworksynergy.com/sho...her-vintage-brown-watch-band-for-apple-watch/
 
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nicho

macrumors 601
Feb 15, 2008
4,250
3,250
Tangmu said:
No, I can confirm that there are much better clones on the market now which look very similar to Apple's sport bands and are only missing the prints on the back of the band - also the side of the bands seems to show imprecisions of the mold used in production. They also include a red version - so there is your first color Apple does not officially ship. Those new clones should go for about 15 to 20 USD at the moment.

Personally I would however think for a moment before completing the purchase.
Click to expand...

sport bands and leather loops are not the same thing... i'm yet to see a sport band that looks anything like the apple ones. the leather loops however, do seem to be very similar - just not finished too well.
 
luckyblue

luckyblue

macrumors regular
Jan 7, 2010
154
90
fischersd said:
Everyone that's fans of clockworksynergy, Jeff in their sales department wanted me to pass along that they now have:

- 18 premium leather colours
- 6 nylon colours
All 5 of the adapter colours (Stainless Steel, Space Grey, Black, Rose Gold, Yellow Gold)

By the end of August, they will have an additional:
- 15 silicone colours
- 20 nylon colours

Also: the adapters they have built to Apple's specifications. If the adapters ever become available from Apple for licensees, they'll likely purchase them from Apple (depends if Apple's reasonable in their pricing of course) :)
Click to expand...

I can attest that they have great bands! I got 5 bands from them a few weeks ago. Their leather is quality and is really soft and comfortable! I'm sure I'll get some more when they come out. :)
 
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Tangmu

Tangmu

macrumors member
Jun 19, 2015
74
50
nicho said:
sport bands and leather loops are not the same thing... i'm yet to see a sport band that looks anything like the apple ones. the leather loops however, do seem to be very similar - just not finished too well.
Click to expand...

No one is talking about leather loops? Why are you?
 
N

nicho

macrumors 601
Feb 15, 2008
4,250
3,250
Tangmu said:
No one is talking about leather loops? Why are you?
Click to expand...

where's the red one?

[edit: i stand half corrected. the main focus of that thread for the last few pages has been the availability of red (in particular) leather loops - i hadn't looked recently. but there's no way that "red" sport band is red. the photos show it as pink, like the apple one]
 
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Tangmu

Tangmu

macrumors member
Jun 19, 2015
74
50
nicho said:
where's the red one?

[edit: i stand half corrected. the main focus of that thread for the last few pages has been the availability of red (in particular) leather loops - i hadn't looked recently. but there's no way that "red" sport band is red. the photos show it as pink, like the apple one]
Click to expand...

I stand half corrected too. There are some confusing colors and descriptions. I was basing my impressions on this article. However it looks like the colors in the first pictures might be heavily oversaturated and the Chinese term "fenhong" (pink) has been directly translated into "hong" (red) by the seller. Not the first time that has happened on AliExpress. Guess we're even now! ;-)
 
O

oftheheavens

macrumors 68000
Jul 9, 2008
1,988
498
cherry point
luckyblue said:
I can attest that they have great bands! I got 5 bands from them a few weeks ago. Their leather is quality and is really soft and comfortable! I'm sure I'll get some more when they come out. :)
Click to expand...

I ordered one off of the recommendations of the two of you, I also paid for express shipping so hopefully it comes quick! How long did it take for you to get your bands and how are the adaptors?
 
T

T4R06

macrumors 65816
Oct 8, 2007
1,212
74
CT
Last edited:
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ReardenMetal

ReardenMetal

macrumors 6502
May 1, 2015
263
120
Los Angeles
oftheheavens said:
I ordered one off of the recommendations of the two of you, I also paid for express shipping so hopefully it comes quick! How long did it take for you to get your bands and how are the adaptors?
Click to expand...

I'll chime in here. Another happy customer with their nylon black & silver band. Ordered on a Saturday late afternoon, received Thursday. Pretty good for free and across the country.
 
JTR555

JTR555

macrumors regular
Jun 25, 2013
112
30
Virginia
Brien said:
Thanks. Are they made from stainless? The listing just says 'silver' from what I can gleam (maybe I'm missing it).

I was also eyeing these (Apple style) lugs:
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00V9P7ZSA
Click to expand...

Yes, they are stainless steel. They are polished on the sides and perfectly match the polished stainless steel Apple Watch. The tops are brushed, but you don't see much of them and there really is no need for them to be polished there.
 
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JTR555

JTR555

macrumors regular
Jun 25, 2013
112
30
Virginia
Brien said:
Thanks. Are they made from stainless? The listing just says 'silver' from what I can gleam (maybe I'm missing it).

I was also eyeing these (Apple style) lugs:
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00V9P7ZSA
Click to expand...

I'm staying away from third-party Apple-style lugs because I'm not crazy about the size of the gap they leave between the watch and the band and there's the whole issue of having to use thread locking glue with the screws to make sure they don't pop out. Seems more complex than it needs to be.
 
A

AppleTech22

macrumors 6502a
Jul 10, 2010
548
126
US
ohaishawnn said:
I've been really wanting a cheaper band that is like Apple's link bracelet. What do you guys think about getting this expansion one:

http://www.esslinger.com/hadley-roma-black-metal-expansion-watch-band-with-expandable-ends-16-22mm/

Do you think it would work fine with adapters that I have? Size wise? I'm not good with what sizes are what and you know.
Click to expand...

I did a few nights of research looking for a wider expansion and the best is the 22 MM they have on that site in silver/stainless. Unfortunately every single other link band that I have seen has links that do not even remotely resemble the even links on the Link. Funny how much demand there is for one, yet no product available. I ordered the HOCO for my SGS with hope that something else will show up later on
 
Gixxerrobi

Gixxerrobi

macrumors newbie
Jun 23, 2015
25
17
Got my second adapter from Amazon for my black band....looks good with black too !
 

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