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>“Most watch users don’t know how to change the strap and I bet pre-Apple Watch, many didn’t realize that was an option I get it, they got bands and ecosystem

>“Most watch users don’t know how to change the strap and I bet pre-Apple Watch, many didn’t realize that was an option I get it, they got bands and ecosystem and everything, but making it sound like no one swapped bands pre apple is a stretch

reaperducer 3y ago
making it sound like no one swapped bands pre apple is a stretch I suspect the author is too young or rural to remember when watch stores were common (stand-alone, in malls, in department stores, in airports, etc...), and you'd go in to have a battery changed, or pick a new strap from the hundreds on display.
- icepat 3y ago
  Yes, a very odd take. I had watches ever since I was a child, and changing the watch band was a regular occurrence. Mostly because I would wear through them.
  - Kon-Peki 3y ago
    In more recent times, the Timex Weekender had a very large ecosystem of swappable bands. But it was designed such that you needed no tools and just slid the bands in and out. The Apple system is really nice, in that you can quickly and easily change attached bands without tools.
    - icepat 3y ago
      Oh the Apple watch system is definitely nice! And I prefer it to having to fiddle around with small pins to shim my watch band off. But that's not so much the issue, the rather odd idea of "hardly anyone changing watch bands before Apple" is.
      - ghaff 3y ago
        What probably is true is that pre-Swatch (and maybe some other brands/lines), people certainly replaced watch bands. But it was more because the band was worn out as opposed to casually swapping them for fashion reasons.
        icepat 3y ago
        Yep, I only swapped my band because it was trashed, and always to the exact same one as before.
- justsomehnguy 3y ago
  > too young or rural to remember >> Antonio G. Di Benedetto, a writer covering tech deals and The Verge’s Deals newsletter, buying guides, and gift guides. Previously, he spent 15 years in the photography industry. He is on Twitter since 2009 so he is at least 35? Probably just never paid any attention for the pocket watches. Or just "journalism".
matwood 3y ago
Yeah, Shark watches were all the rage when I was a kid. They had lots of different straps, and early versions of complications (add-ons you could stick on the band). https://www.hodinkee.com/articles/a-definitive-deep-dive-on-the-freestyle-shark-watch https://www.hodinkee.com/articles/a-definitive-deep-dive-on-...
babypuncher 3y ago
Watch people, sure. However most people who were just rocking a basic Casio from Sprawl-Mart probably never even thought to swap their band. What is really impressive about the Apple Watch is that it convinced a lot of people who really didn't care about watches to start dropping $200-$500 on them.
- ghaff 3y ago
  By the time the strap is worse for wear on my cheap Timex, the battery is probably near-replacement, and the crystal is probably a bit banged up too. So easier to just spend $30 to replace the whole thing. But I've certainly replaced watch bands in the past (or had it done). Never really been a watch person. I do have an Apple Watch which I wear mostly for hiking, etc. I like it but it's probably my most optional Apple device.
  - drivers99 3y ago
    I wore the same Timex Triathlon for about 16 years. I replaced the watch band and the battery numerous times. Eventually the plastic button (the main one in the bottom left) wore out and it lost its water resistance and I finally switched watches. But to switch watches due to the replaceable parts (battery, watch band) seems unnecessary and wasteful.

reaperducer 3y ago

making it sound like no one swapped bands pre apple is a stretch I suspect the author is too young or rural to remember when watch stores were common (stand-alone, in malls, in department stores, in airports, etc...), and you'd go in to have a battery changed, or pick a new strap from the hundreds on display.

icepat 3y ago
Yes, a very odd take. I had watches ever since I was a child, and changing the watch band was a regular occurrence. Mostly because I would wear through them.
- Kon-Peki 3y ago
  In more recent times, the Timex Weekender had a very large ecosystem of swappable bands. But it was designed such that you needed no tools and just slid the bands in and out. The Apple system is really nice, in that you can quickly and easily change attached bands without tools.
  - icepat 3y ago
    Oh the Apple watch system is definitely nice! And I prefer it to having to fiddle around with small pins to shim my watch band off. But that's not so much the issue, the rather odd idea of "hardly anyone changing watch bands before Apple" is.
    - ghaff 3y ago
      What probably is true is that pre-Swatch (and maybe some other brands/lines), people certainly replaced watch bands. But it was more because the band was worn out as opposed to casually swapping them for fashion reasons.
      - icepat 3y ago
        Yep, I only swapped my band because it was trashed, and always to the exact same one as before.
justsomehnguy 3y ago
> too young or rural to remember >> Antonio G. Di Benedetto, a writer covering tech deals and The Verge’s Deals newsletter, buying guides, and gift guides. Previously, he spent 15 years in the photography industry. He is on Twitter since 2009 so he is at least 35? Probably just never paid any attention for the pocket watches. Or just "journalism".

matwood 3y ago

Yeah, Shark watches were all the rage when I was a kid. They had lots of different straps, and early versions of complications (add-ons you could stick on the band). https://www.hodinkee.com/articles/a-definitive-deep-dive-on-the-freestyle-shark-watch https://www.hodinkee.com/articles/a-definitive-deep-dive-on-...

babypuncher 3y ago

Watch people, sure. However most people who were just rocking a basic Casio from Sprawl-Mart probably never even thought to swap their band. What is really impressive about the Apple Watch is that it convinced a lot of people who really didn't care about watches to start dropping $200-$500 on them.

ghaff 3y ago
By the time the strap is worse for wear on my cheap Timex, the battery is probably near-replacement, and the crystal is probably a bit banged up too. So easier to just spend $30 to replace the whole thing. But I've certainly replaced watch bands in the past (or had it done). Never really been a watch person. I do have an Apple Watch which I wear mostly for hiking, etc. I like it but it's probably my most optional Apple device.
- drivers99 3y ago
  I wore the same Timex Triathlon for about 16 years. I replaced the watch band and the battery numerous times. Eventually the plastic button (the main one in the bottom left) wore out and it lost its water resistance and I finally switched watches. But to switch watches due to the replaceable parts (battery, watch band) seems unnecessary and wasteful.