Level 1 (4 points)

Apple Watch Series 11 - Paint coming off in < 2 months

Anyone have any experience with this? I purchased this Series 11 46 mm Jet Black 2 months ago, and already seeing paint coming off the back of the watch. If this is happening only 2 months in, I have serious concerns regarding the quality of the coating on the watch for the future. Visited my local Apple service centre and they indicated this is a "cosmetic issue" and not covered. Seems like a manufacturing defect to me if it is happening within the warranty period. Thoughts?

Posted on Oct 2, 2026 1:54 PM

6 replies

steve626

Level 7 (20,243 points)

Oct 3, 2026 12:04 PM in response to SteveCe71

SteveCe71 wrote:

Ummm. What are you talking about? I think you are just seeing the reflection of the phone taking the picture. The issue is the paint coming off after two months of wearing the watch.

Lower portion and slightly left of center in your photo, there is a clear dent in the ring that goes around the sensors. It is not a reflection. It looks like pretty severe impact type of damage. It appears to be significant handling damage.

muguy

Level 10 (95,874 points)

Oct 2, 2026 1:58 PM in response to SteveCe71

That is cosmetic wear and tear, not a manufacturing defect.

SteveCe71 Author

Level 1 (4 points)

Oct 2, 2026 2:29 PM in response to muguy

I don’t know, seems like pretty poor quality if paint is coming off in a few months of using the watch. I’ve been a long time Apple user and this doesn’t seem to be up to the quality I have seen with previous Apple watches I’ve owned. What will this look like after a year? Never experienced this with an Apple product.

SteveCe71 Author

Level 1 (4 points)

Oct 3, 2026 12:52 PM in response to steve626

I really think I'd know if there was a dent. The issue is not the sensor ring, and there is no "significant handling damage". It is the paint coming off from simply wearing the watch. Here's a few more pics to help out. The reflections on the watch when taking the pic really don't help...

Kilgore-Trout

Level 8 (43,363 points)

Oct 2, 2026 2:34 PM in response to SteveCe71

Seriously? The mount ring for the sensor array has a dent. How did you even do that?

SteveCe71 Author

Level 1 (4 points)

Oct 2, 2026 7:20 PM in response to Kilgore-Trout

Ummm. What are you talking about? I think you are just seeing the reflection of the phone taking the picture. The issue is the paint coming off after two months of wearing the watch.

Originally posted at discussions.apple.com/thread/256369286