An Apple Watch is a highly desirable item, and whether you’ve saved up for one yourself, or have been given one as a gift (lucky you), no doubt you wear it every day and once you’re used to the functionality, you’ve probably come to rely on it as much as your iPhone. The problem is that anything you wear on your wrist is vulnerable to damage from scratches, knocks and spilled liquids. The parts of the Apple Watch that are most susceptible to damage (just like any other type of watch) are the crystal and the band.
Water resistance
Spilled liquids should be less of a problem for your Apple Watch than for your iPhone or iPod, as although Apple don’t claim they are waterproof, tests have shown that the Watch can withstand being worn in the shower or taken for a swim. If you do happen to submerge your Watch, and are worried that water may have got inside, then the dry rice first-aid trick is a good idea. Simply switch it off, wipe off excess water, drop the Watch into a bag of dry rice, and leave it somewhere warm for a couple of days.
Replace or refurbish the band
Apple Watch bands are not unlike ordinary watch bands and are made from a variety of materials. They are pretty simple to replace if they become too damaged or scratched, and the stainless steel version can also stand having surface scratches removed by use of stainless steel polish if you feel like taking the time and trouble.
Care for the crystal
Luckily, the Apple Watch crystal is made from extremely tough glass – either Ion-X for the Watch Sport, or Sapphire for the Apple Watch and Edition versions, and tests have proved that these are difficult to damage intentionally.
Apple will usually replace faulty devices without too many questions, so if your Watch battery won’t charge, there is a screen glitch or it simply won’t function properly, provided it’s in warranty (or covered by insurance), and hasn’t been tampered with, you are usually on safe ground. Apple will offer a repair or replacement. However, what if you suddenly notice that your crystal has become scratched, cracked or broken without you apparently doing anything that could have caused the damage?
In fact, there has been a recent court case where a gentleman from Wales took Apple to court to get them to refund the cost of his Apple Watch, which through no fault of his own, had developed a cracked crystal. It took him six months (and a great deal of stress) to get the case through the small claims court, but in the end he won his refund plus court costs.
Taking the stress out of a repair
Not everyone can (or wants to) expend so much time and effort. If your Apple Watch is damaged and out of warranty or not covered by insurance, it may be easier in the long run to get a stress-free, value-for-money repair from a local Apple Watch technician featured on iTechnician.
