Roger Fingas
Apple on Friday quietly introduced several new band options for Apple Watch focusing on options for people with larger wrists, while at the same time activating orders for the standalone Modern Buckle.
The Sport Band is now available in an large and extra large sizes at no extra cost, but only for owners of 42-millimeter Watches. Meanwhile a Link Bracelet Kit, costing $49, lets owners of the 42-millimeter Link Bracelet stretch the size of the band by up to six more links.
The Modern Buckle — exclusively for 38-millimeter Watches — can finally be purchased as a separate accessory for $249 in small, medium, or large sizes. The band has been listed on Apple's website for months, but until today was simultaneously quoted as unavailable. That forced people considering the product to choose it during their original Watch purchase.
In the U.S., the Link Bracelet Kit is currently shipping in five to seven business days, while Modern Buckles have a one- to two-week delay.
Apple has been fine-tuning its sales of the Watch since the device launched in April, for instance by changing the way shoppers browse through bands on the online Apple store. The biggest shift came in June, when the product moved into retail outlets for the first time.
As of this month customers will also be able to shop for the Watch and accessories at Canadian and American Best Buy outlets, and Harvey Norman in Australia.
Charles Martin
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Marko Zivkovic
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27 Comments
[IMG ALT=""]http://forums.appleinsider.com/content/type/61/id/61770/width/350/height/700[/IMG] I brought a Chinese knock off of the Apple Link Bracelet for 85 dollars. That is what the clone looks like. THE GOOD: It emulated the look of the links of the official Apple one to a t. Significantly cheaper than the $450 Apple variation. THE BAD: It was difficult to remove unlike the official Apple bands. Also, the tiny rubber connectors were already wearing off after a few days. There is no button behind links. The clasp is different from the official one and pushes into your skin. Requires paper clip to remove links. THE UGLY: It was pretty sub standard quality but with a marvelous look. From resizing three times, a pin broke and wouldn't connect the link anymore. Basically, its a story of you get what you pay for. Returned it to seller on eBay. I own the official Apple Link Bracelet now. Very happy with it. My wallet is not.
I must admit, at first I was smitten by the Milanese Loop, but the Modern Buckle has grown on me.
Has anyone got experience with a Modern Buckle ? watch?:
How comfortable is it to wear? My concern is that the Buckle might touch the desk surface too often when typing on a Qwerty keyboard?
"Meanwhile a Link Bracelet Kit, costing $49, lets owners of the 42-millimeter Link Bracelet stretch the size of the band by up to six more links."
Come ON, Apple! That's just insane. It cost me $500 for my link bracelet, and it's one link short of being perfect. For that, you expect me to shell out $50 MORE???!!!
I've been a supporter of Apple in many different ways since 1984. This is simply unacceptable to me. IF you have a link bracelet, and it's too tight, then GIVE people the links they need. Anything else is just greed. And greed is not becoming to you, Apple. Not becoming at all.
[quote name="Sacto Joe" url="/t/187728/apple-watch-gets-larger-sport-bands-link-bracelet-kit-activates-orders-for-modern-buckle#post_2761407"]"[COLOR=000000]Come ON, Apple! That's just insane. It cost me $500 for my link bracelet, and it's one link short of being perfect. For that, you expect me to shell out $50 MORE???!!![/QUOTE] For the extra links? Of course! They have to draw the line somewhere with how many links the provide or the price would simply be more. My suggestion is to A) buy the kit and then sell the remaining for 4 link on eBay for $8-12 each thereby recouping most or all of your cost, or B) wait for someone else to sell their remaining links on eBay. If I fault Apple for anything here it's not having these available on day one. [QUOTE]I've been a supporter of Apple in many different ways since 1984. This is simply unacceptable to me. IF you have a link bracelet, and it's too tight, then GIVE people the links they need. Anything else is just greed. And greed is not becoming to you, Apple. Not becoming at all.[/quote] Is that standard practice among watch makers? What if you can't come into the store where they can verify your wrist size and ownership of the watch with the proper band; how many of these extra links should Apple send out. Considering that it takes 10 hours to polish each link bracelet and the additional cost for the link bracelet, not to mention the links you are buying all have additional mechanics in them, I'd say that that $8.17 per finished stainless steel link is quite reasonable. edit: Yikes! Looks like $8-12 would be a steal right now. [LIST] [*] http://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_from=R40&_trksid=p2051541.m570.l1313.TR0.TRC0.H0.Xextra+link+apple+watch+braclet.TRS0&_nkw=extra+link+apple+watch+braclet&_sacat=15032 [/LIST]
Baloney. People with wrists larger than the maximum are not common, probably 1/100th or less of your customer base. It's a tiny price to pay. Keeping your customers happy is the bottom line for a company like Apple.
And nothing could be easier than for Apple to ship these kits to Apple stores and let people know that they can come in and get them for free.
"What if you can't come into the store where they can verify your wrist size and ownership of the watch with the proper band?" Then have them pay for shipping for the links and charge them $8-12 each.
You're just trying to find excuses for Apple. There aren't any.