nevsf

Q: Back of Watch fell off

This morning when I took my Apple Watch (sports version) off the charger, the back stayed on the charger while the rest of the watch came off, connected to the back through a small ribbon cable. The back just fell off.

 

I use the watch pretty normally - wear it during the day, charge at night, wear it running for an hour 3 times a week. Don't wear it in the shower or anything like that.

 

I can place the back on the watch but it eventually just falls off again, and I'm sure the moisture seal is shot.

 

Looks like the back is just glued on and prone to falling off. Even my relatively ugly Pebble Watch used screws and a rubber gasket. Apple just squirted a bit of glue around the edge, pushed the back on, and called it a day.


 


<Edited by Host>

Posted on Oct 13, 2015 7:26 AM

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Q: Back of Watch fell off

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  • by BigginAndy,

    BigginAndy BigginAndy Nov 10, 2015 12:58 AM in response to Kstud7
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Nov 10, 2015 12:58 AM in response to Kstud7
    300KpH racing monohull boats are glued together, moisture doesn't seem to affect them very much

     

    Apple have a habit of making kit that cannot easily be opened by the user so I was not surprised to find that my Apple Watch was glued together. Is it an issue ? Not really if the correct glue is used and the quality control is OK (and they fix or replace if there is a problem. After all, many millions of people fly in modern aircraft and most of those are glued together (up to and including the huge 747) and work in a vastly more hostile environment than my watch ever will. I have never known a crash to be down to glue failure.

  • by Csound1,

    Csound1 Csound1 Nov 10, 2015 5:47 AM in response to BigginAndy
    Level 9 (50,417 points)
    Desktops
    Nov 10, 2015 5:47 AM in response to BigginAndy

    Old wives tales persist long after the old wives fade away.

  • by Meg St._Clair,

    Meg St._Clair Meg St._Clair Nov 10, 2015 5:50 AM in response to Csound1
    Level 9 (58,860 points)
    iPhone
    Nov 10, 2015 5:50 AM in response to Csound1

    That's a lovely picture, Csound1. Good memories persist, too.

  • by Csound1,

    Csound1 Csound1 Nov 10, 2015 5:56 AM in response to Meg St._Clair
    Level 9 (50,417 points)
    Desktops
    Nov 10, 2015 5:56 AM in response to Meg St._Clair

    It's a calming influence at a turbulent time, thanks.

  • by john67,

    john67 john67 Jan 12, 2016 10:17 PM in response to john67
    Level 1 (4 points)
    Jan 12, 2016 10:17 PM in response to john67

    Well, I just collected my second replacement watch after the second one had its back fall off too (in October) while attached to the charger. Excellent response from the Apple people, all expressing astonishment that such a thing could happen. Other people have reported two failures like me, so the charger being over enthusiastic in its magnetism must be the suspect. Apple also replaced my charger. From now on I won't risk using the Night Stand setup, and I slide it off the charger always.

  • by dinowatch,

    dinowatch dinowatch Jan 23, 2016 7:46 AM in response to nevsf
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Jan 23, 2016 7:46 AM in response to nevsf

    My wife's 38mm just had the same issue. Pop off when pulling away from charger.

     

    Heading over to Apple soon and hope to get good support. Shocked and frustrating!

     

    Image - 1.jpg

     

    Image - 2.jpg

  • by dinowatch,

    dinowatch dinowatch Jan 28, 2016 8:42 PM in response to dinowatch
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Jan 28, 2016 8:42 PM in response to dinowatch

    Guys, a quick update. Just received a 1:1 watch-only replacement. Only took 4 working days.

     

    It comes in a smaller white box. Kudos to Apple!

     

    Image.jpg

  • by Robbenisland,

    Robbenisland Robbenisland Mar 20, 2016 2:27 PM in response to nevsf
    Level 1 (4 points)
    Mar 20, 2016 2:27 PM in response to nevsf

    The same thing happened to me today. Apple Watch 42mm stainless steel with original Apple Magnetic Dock. i switched from fairly expensive Ssiss watches (Rolex and Jaeger Le Coultre) to the AW and actually thought that Apple is beating them in version 1.0. This is a major setback in quality and trust of craftsmanship. Making a case that works well under the constant stress of daily wearing (heat, movement, moisture) is a challenge and choosing a glued solution vs. screws and/or other mechanical fixtures a major fail in the design of this case. I am surprised that this story did not make it into wider news. Not even the usual Apple Davy tech blogs have referred to it. Feels like a time bomb (no pun intended) if the backs come off one after the other not even a year after launch. Requesting a replacement with Apple customer service. Let's see. In the meantime back to my reliable Rolex Explorer II. image.jpegimage.jpeg

  • by ChrisJ4203,

    ChrisJ4203 ChrisJ4203 Mar 20, 2016 2:59 PM in response to Robbenisland
    Level 9 (58,038 points)
    iPhone
    Mar 20, 2016 2:59 PM in response to Robbenisland

    Contact Apple Support and they will deal with the issue.

  • by sweller,

    sweller sweller Apr 6, 2016 10:15 AM in response to john67
    Level 1 (4 points)
    Apr 6, 2016 10:15 AM in response to john67

    Hello all,

     

    I decided to look online to see if other people had experienced this issue because all of the Apple representatives have told me that they haven't heard of this issue before.  I have already had my watch replaced once due to the back plate coming off and it was shortly after I had purchased my watch and then yesterday to my horror it happened again!  I have had good customer service from Apple, but I am astounded that after spending a substantial sum of money that this is still an issue.  I am of course inconvenienced having to go to the store, and from what I have read not everyone has that opportunity, so I am fortunate there.  I wonder though it being a one year warranty what will they do when this continues to be a problem???  I bought Apple care to make sure I protected my investment, but still I would think that Apple will have to stand by this product beyond one year.

  • by Robbenisland,

    Robbenisland Robbenisland Apr 6, 2016 11:40 AM in response to sweller
    Level 1 (4 points)
    Apr 6, 2016 11:40 AM in response to sweller

    I did call Apple Customer Service and as I did not have the Apple Care Plus the only option was to send it in for “repair or replacement” as they told me. I was reluctant to accept this, as I wanted a direct replacement, which they did not allow to happen. As I was on vacation I did two things:

     

    1. I bought a new Apple Watch (with the new Storm Grey leather loop - very nice). This is a bit crazy I know, but I did not want to go a day without the AW. Shows the power the device and Apple has ;-) The plan is to then sell the repaired or replaced original watch.

    2. After my return from the break I did contact Apple and within a day they did send me a UPS package (I am in Germany) to send back the defect AW. Two days ! later I received a new replacement watch through UPS. So this one is brand new.

     

    In terms of customer service that is a super quick turn around. The fact that they did not bother with putting the defective heart rate monitor disc back in shows either that it is easier for them to just send a new one or that there was a bigger issue with the early build of the AW. I think it is the latter, as I noticed that the new AW I bought has a considerably less strong magnet than my original one. The original watch clicked very hard and strongly into the Apple Magnetic Charging dock. I think they changed the magnets later in the production to put less strain on the glued disk when being connected to the charging cable or dock. I can not prove it and it would require some experts to measure the magnetic strength from day 1 watches vs. current shipments.

     

    If any one has the same issue, I expect Apple will also replace it with a new watch and I assume with one with a refined magnet that avoids this going forward.

  • by john67,

    john67 john67 Apr 22, 2016 9:32 AM in response to RyanInMiami
    Level 1 (4 points)
    Apr 22, 2016 9:32 AM in response to RyanInMiami

    Well, I am waiting for my third replacement watch. My No.3 Apple Watch's back fell off this week as I removed it from the charger (very gently). But this time the Genius response was different. They have discovered a fault in some watches and a modification has been applied and so the replacement will be fine. When I said that I had been very careful removing it from the charger he said that you shouldn't need to. It should just pop off. Again, my annoyance with the fault was alleviated by the charming and immediate helpfulness of the Apple staff. I will be on my fourth Apple watch just over a year! I still love it, sorry, them.

  • by jane e.,

    jane e. jane e. May 4, 2016 8:27 PM in response to nevsf
    Level 1 (4 points)
    May 4, 2016 8:27 PM in response to nevsf

    My stainless steel watch (with milanese loop band) did the exact same thing last Thursday - I did the support chat with Apple - my watch was 3 days out of warranty but they sent me a fed ex box to return it for repair. Today (Wed.) I received a new replacement watch new serial #.

  • by SteveGl,

    SteveGl SteveGl May 18, 2016 2:47 PM in response to nevsf
    Level 1 (4 points)
    Apple Watch
    May 18, 2016 2:47 PM in response to nevsf

    The back plate of my wife’s Apple watch came off on the weekend. I read through the suggestions here and took it to the Genius bar. I am now 26 days out of warranty and because of that, I was asked to pay ~$320 for the repair/replacement.  

  • by john67,

    john67 john67 May 18, 2016 5:22 PM in response to SteveGl
    Level 1 (4 points)
    May 18, 2016 5:22 PM in response to SteveGl

    SteveGI Your earlier post starting "I am furious..." caught my attention. You have good reason. My third watch had its back fall off in April, shortly before the warranty expired. The previous two had the same fault. Each time the back came of on removal from the charger. It was immediately replaced with no questions asked and the Genius said that the watches were modified to correct a problem. For No2 back falling off I was politely quizzed on what I had done with it. In April I said that I had been careful to slide the charger off the watch and the Genius said that I shouldn't have to do this. The watch should just pop off the charger. You have a solid claim for it to be replaced.

    PS I still slide if off: three times unlucky.

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