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Apple Watch straps: expect discoloration, deformation of Sport and Leather bands over time

Apple-watch-bands-discoloration

If you notice discoloration or deformation of your Sport or Leather Apple Watch band over time, you may not be happy, but it is normal, according to sources briefed on internal Apple support docs.

While scratches and dents might be a given for Apple’s metal bands, you can also expect some discoloration for Apple’s fluoroelastomer Sport and selection of leather bands over time with normal wear and tear. Apple notes that discoloration of leather bands is “due to sweat or lotions” and an “expected behavior”. Apple’s documentation offers an example of the discoloration using an image of its blue Leather Loop band that appears quite faded:

Apple-watch-bands-discoloration-2

In addition, Apple notes that band deformation is normal around the buckle of its leather straps (as pictured below):

Apple-watch-bands-deformation

For that reason, Apple will be denying any return or replacement requests based on straps showing these signs of wear. Not surprisingly, that will include scratches and marks on the metal bands:

Apple-watch-bands-scratches

Earlier today we told you about Apple’s inspection process for damaged Apple Watch units, including how the company plans to determine if your device is eligible for repairs or replacement under warranty.

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Comments

  1. Alex Yamil - 9 years ago

    is good that apple let this now publicly then people not gonna “gate” things

    • lkrupp215 - 9 years ago

      Oh mark my words, there will definitely be “gate” things. Some people are incredibly OCD about stuff like this. Others are out from the get-go to find something to harp on. There WILL be a “scratch-gate”, a “deformed-gate”, a “water resistant-gate.” Remember, this is Apple we’re talking about.

      • crichton007 - 9 years ago

        Yes, because a leather watch band has never “deformed” on any other watch before. For that matter a something plastic has never discolored before either. /s

      • freediverx - 9 years ago

        Well, to present the contrarian point of view, one might argue that since Apple charges higher prices for their products ($50 for a rubber band that may cost pennies to make) people have higher expectations for those products.

    • houstonche - 9 years ago

      Quite a stretch. It is commonplace to have color fade in rubber and deformation in wrist watch bands (just like belt loops).

      Let’s not exxagerate the concern for a “gate”.

      • Matthew Kramer (@pilot) - 9 years ago

        It’s one of the reasons I went with the leather loop over the classic buckle. The link bracelet looks cool, but it’s just a tad heavy and a little too flat/rectangular for my taste.

      • 89p13 - 9 years ago

        But, as the previous two posters have said, the “Apple-Haters” will (try) to make an “Apple’s Poor Quality” – gate story out of this and the Android-bois will pick up on it.

        Just the nature of the beast. So little noise – but it’s just to be expected!

    • akibbe02 - 9 years ago

      Gaters gonna gate.

    • 2is1toomany - 9 years ago

      This wasn’t meant to be public. These are Apple Confidential training materials for Apple employees.

  2. Can you post the images without the watermark, please? and if posible on higher resolution? I’m trying to see the issue on the metal band, but no luck. of if possible to add the new ones compared with these will be awesome!

    Thanks in advance

  3. pdoobs - 9 years ago

    it makes me sick that crap like this needs to exist. wear and tear on an object you actually wear should be common sense…

  4. Milorad Ivović - 9 years ago

    It’s a shame it’s come to this. This is the Apple equivalent of McDonalds putting hot coffee warnings on their hot coffee. People are real asshats.

    Personally, I think it’s a great shame that many people inflate the price of apple products by taking such brazen advantage of the 14 day return policy too. “oh I don’t like the colour”… THEN CHOOSE BETTER NEXT TIME. products should only be returned if there’s something wrong with them.

    • demeetreee - 9 years ago

      I have a friend like this… Ordering his jeans and shoes in 3 or 4 different sizes at once. For a total of, say, 400€… only to return everything except one piece. I could have punched him every damn time he tells me about it. And speaks about his acts as if it was the most natural and granted thing in the world. I told him that this is wrong and that so many people along the transaction are involved, who need to be paid for his weekly try outs, he just smirked and said “It’s their fault for providing us with that service, so I’m gonna do it”… Damn, sometimes people are so dumb.. (He fails to understand that the companies do have these policies by law and not because the feel like it – in Germany at least and I suppose in most other countries as well..)
      Very sad world we live in. And as Milorad said, this has an impact on the calculated pricing of the product, as well…

    • Jassi Sikand - 9 years ago

      You’re generally correct except for the color thing. A lot of people preordered before trying on because Apple was stupid and had both start on the same day. And a return period isn’t meant just meant for nonfunctioning products. Nonfunctioning products are actually covered by warranty. Return is actually meant for dissatisfaction.

      • Milorad Ivović - 9 years ago

        No, I’m correct INCLUDING the colour thing. I understand this is common practice, but it’s wrong. If you don’t know what colour you want, wait until you do.

        That would have left more preorder slots for people who knew exactly what they wanted, instead of a bunch of preorders ending up as bloody refurb stock, 14 days later.

        I’m fully aware of apple’s allowances, I’m telling you they’re generous. Instead of accepting generosity for what it is, people take advantage of it. That drives up the price. Generosity is not an entitlement, it’s a show of faith to customers, who in turn end up ravenously drooling and snarling like swine, instead of behaving like responsible people.

        Do you need strict rules to govern your good behaviour or do you know the difference between right and wrong? Don’t buy a thing unless you know you want it. Return it if it’s not fit for your needs, or if it was misrepresented in some way. Warranty is for those who want products fixed, returns are for getting your money back. People who return flawless products which are otherwise completely fit for purpose, shouldn’t be allowed to buy another one for 30 days.

        You are not entitled to be the first in line, if you don’t KNOW what you want. Go try it on first and then be the last in line. Don’t abuse the generosity of companies who offer us great customer service, because the rest of us pay for your abuse.

  5. kpom1 - 9 years ago

    News flash: Things that you wear on your body show wear and tear over time. Shocking!

    • Chris Cooper (@clcooper) - 9 years ago

      LOL, and this breaking news just in: Your sunglasses will get scratched if placed in a purse, and jeans will show wear in the knees if you wear them a lot!

      • jrox16 - 9 years ago

        Luckily Apple doesn’t make glasses….we’d never hear the end of it.

  6. Bill Noyes - 9 years ago

    Jeez, welcome to the world of having and wearing a watch!

  7. Paul LeMay - 9 years ago

    This is a public information announcement for those youngsters who have never owned a watch before

  8. RP - 9 years ago

    If you wear something long enough, …it will look worn? There is wear and tear on this? Leather will not look supple and soft forever? I am truly shocked!

  9. galley99 - 9 years ago

    I have had issues in the past with sweat damaging earbud cables. I always wipe off the cables on my Klipsch earbuds and have not had any issues. I’ll be doing the same with my sport band.

  10. Maybe I should phone Movado, Breitling, and Rado to let them know how I feel about the wear on their respective watch bands. It’s a watch, it will go through normal wear and tear. People act as if Apple should have changed the way leather and rubber is manufactured so as to not discolour or misshape.

  11. jrox16 - 9 years ago

    Every watch band ever made since the beginning of the wrist watch has done this…. but I still expect the trolling vultures and over-zealous click-bait tech blogs to create #BandGate in the coming weeks.
    Get the popcorn ready.

  12. Jorge Ferreira - 9 years ago

    Like ANY other watch band that has existed over the ages. SERIOUSLY?

  13. lkrupp215 - 9 years ago

    Well, it looks like the first “gate” has officially arrived. Let’s call it fat-gate. Certain, shall we say, large individuals are complaining in the Apple discussion forums that there is no XL size bands available and how could Apple alienate their customers like this. One guy has even posted a video on YouTube of his attempts to fit the Milanese band over his 210mm wrist. Oh the horror!

  14. Austin Newdick - 9 years ago

    The stainless steel on my rolex is scratched. Should I cry about that too? My paint on my car has discoloured, I guess Lexus owes me one… Give me a break, it’s a wearable product, if you don’t want scratches or discolouration either don’t buy ANY watch or buy one and don’t wear it.

Author

Avatar for Jordan Kahn Jordan Kahn

Jordan writes about all things Apple as Senior Editor of 9to5Mac, & contributes to 9to5Google, 9to5Toys, & Electrek.co. He also co-authors 9to5Mac’s Logic Pros series.