Brushing Up
The Link Bracelet - 100% StunningAF!
I purchased the Link Bracelet for the Apple Watch way back on August 09, 2015, the same day I bought my partner’s engagement ring. Man, that made for a costly day! Thankfully she said yes (to the ring, not the Link Bracelet).
When Apple announced the Link Bracelet, they touted that it was manufactured using a highly precise machining process comprising more than 100 components, which took over nine hours per band to produce. Additionally, each Link Bracelet was brushed by hand to create a beautiful pattern on the band. Here’s that description from Apple’s website:
“Crafted from the same 316L stainless steel alloy as the case, the Link Bracelet has more than 100 components. The machining process is so precise, it takes nearly nine hours to cut the links for a single band. In part that’s because they aren’t simply a uniform size, but subtly increase in width as they approach the case. Once assembled, the links are brushed by hand to ensure that the texture follows the contours of the design. The custom butterfly closure folds neatly within the bracelet. And several links feature a simple release button, so you can add and remove links without any special tools. Available in stainless steel and space black stainless steel.”
- Apple’s Apple Watch Website from April 24, 2015
But as time went on, the band got inevitably nicked, bumped, and scratched by life (or rather, my clumsy meandering through it). Uneven marks began to form, and the brushed look slowly faded away.
Before shot the Link Bracelet.
And so yesterday, on a whim, I decided that I would try to re brush my Link Bracelet, to return it to its former glory! I read one forum that gave me a general sense of what to do, so in typical fuck measuring, cut once fashion, I raced over to the hardware store and picked what I needed. Here’s my breakdown:
Pick up a synthetic steel wool sanding pad (Fine/000 grade; ~$3-7). One person in the forum even used a Scotch Scouring Pad.
Unbuckle the band from the watch.
Use the release buttons to split the band into two parts.
Cut a piece of the steel wool pad into a 2”x2” square.
Covering the black plastic connectors up top (I didn’t want to sand them down), carefully, and applying a fair degree of pressure, slowly slide the pad vertically down the length of the band half you are working on.
Repeated this brushing 50-60 times per half, stopping every 10-15 strokes to wipe and shake out any small filings that had accumulated by tapping the band against the table.
Repeat for the second half of the band.
Result? The band has been restored to its former brushed look - and a lot of the uneven scratches and nicks have been brushed out. This process renewed that slightly matte look that the Link Bracelet had contrasted with the mirror polished Stainless Steel Apple Watch.
After. I’m surprised by the amount of shavings it created. I definitely wouldn’t recommend doing this in a poorly ventilated area.
The only change I would make in the future is that I would use a slightly coarser 00 Grade pad to give the Link Bracelet a coarser, more defined, brushed look.
