The Apple Watch Classic Buckle revision 3 is my favourite band. It is simple, classy but still with a modern look and IMO a great match on my Hermès.
As Apple now only sells revision 4 bands, I was lucky to get some spare Classic Buckle revision 4 bands from eBay in different colors. Saddle Brown, Black, Red and Marine Blue. In fact I never saw last color in person but it is amazing and very nice on the Hermès too. In fact it looks a bit the same as Hermès Blue Jean, where Apple’s Red almost resembles Hermès Feu Epsom.
As a collector of vintage IWC and Rolex watches I was still missing a dark brown strap made by Apple. Saddle brown is nice but not very vivid and ageing takes….ages. Here the Fauve Barenia leather is much more easier to have a patina
As I now have some spares I thought it was time to make my own Dark Brown Classic Buckle band.
Here is the recipe:
1) Dry your band, to have it free from moisture.
2) Mask backside with (mask) tape
3) If the band is dirty (shame on you) use some leather cleaner.
4) Put just a very little (good quality) dark brown shoe polish on a cloth and start wiping in round circles on the upper part of both bands.
4) Have the shoe polish dry for 5 minutes
5) Polish wipe in round circles. The leather will heat up and gets a shine. (The stock Classic Bands hardly shine if not at all).
I applied about 2 layers of dark brown but found that the color difference was only a bit darker and not to my taste…so
6) Put just a very little (good quality) black shoe polish on a cloth and start wiping in round circles on the upper part of both bands.
7) Have the shoe polish dry for 5 minutes
8) Polish wipe in round circles.
Now the result was much better (darker).
9) To 'antique' the band I applied a last layer with both equal parts of black and dark brown shoe polish.
7) Have the shoe polish dry for 5 minutes
8) Polish wipe in round circles.
Voila, this is the result. I like it a lot. Stitching is very dark now (nice contrast) and band so much more vivid.
A last word. This is just an experiment and it is on your won risk. If you do the same, please apply only a very small portion shoe polish and have patience.
The classic buckle is finally classic. Enjoy
As Apple now only sells revision 4 bands, I was lucky to get some spare Classic Buckle revision 4 bands from eBay in different colors. Saddle Brown, Black, Red and Marine Blue. In fact I never saw last color in person but it is amazing and very nice on the Hermès too. In fact it looks a bit the same as Hermès Blue Jean, where Apple’s Red almost resembles Hermès Feu Epsom.
As a collector of vintage IWC and Rolex watches I was still missing a dark brown strap made by Apple. Saddle brown is nice but not very vivid and ageing takes….ages. Here the Fauve Barenia leather is much more easier to have a patina
As I now have some spares I thought it was time to make my own Dark Brown Classic Buckle band.
Here is the recipe:
1) Dry your band, to have it free from moisture.
2) Mask backside with (mask) tape
3) If the band is dirty (shame on you) use some leather cleaner.
4) Put just a very little (good quality) dark brown shoe polish on a cloth and start wiping in round circles on the upper part of both bands.
4) Have the shoe polish dry for 5 minutes
5) Polish wipe in round circles. The leather will heat up and gets a shine. (The stock Classic Bands hardly shine if not at all).
I applied about 2 layers of dark brown but found that the color difference was only a bit darker and not to my taste…so
6) Put just a very little (good quality) black shoe polish on a cloth and start wiping in round circles on the upper part of both bands.
7) Have the shoe polish dry for 5 minutes
8) Polish wipe in round circles.
Now the result was much better (darker).
9) To 'antique' the band I applied a last layer with both equal parts of black and dark brown shoe polish.
7) Have the shoe polish dry for 5 minutes
8) Polish wipe in round circles.
Voila, this is the result. I like it a lot. Stitching is very dark now (nice contrast) and band so much more vivid.
A last word. This is just an experiment and it is on your won risk. If you do the same, please apply only a very small portion shoe polish and have patience.
The classic buckle is finally classic. Enjoy
