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Announced September 9th, 2014, this device is Apple's first foray into smart wearables. iFixit's repair manuals are applicable to Apple Watch (steel) and Apple Watch Sport (aluminum).

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Rear sensor disk separates from watch body

The sensor disc on the rear of the watch becomes detached from the body of the watch with normal use (not worn in shower, damaged, or dropped).

I have a video showing it detached when the watch is removed from an Apple charging night stand. It has happened TWICE, once with the original watch (purchased 5/15) and once with the replacement watch (replaced 12/15).

Is this a design defect is in the way the sensor disk is affixed to the body of the watch? This is a serious problem as it makes the watch unusable.

It has not been reported previously in the press.

Answered! View the answer I have this problem too

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I would recommend you go to an Apple Store and with your original repair paperwork in hand (from the first time) and your watch to see what they say.

You might be having a chemical reaction with your sweat on your arm and the adhesive Apple used to hold the sensor disk.

See if you can get ahold of some ph test strips. Place one under the watches location and have a few friends do the same with their watches. After building a sweat on a jog or a game of basketball, see what yours looks like and your friends are they the same? While this only checks for how acid or base your skin is in comparison with your friends it might be a clue.

You may also want to see a doctor if yours is not the same as your friends as you could have an underlying health issue here as well.

In any case let us know what you find out.

Update (08/27/2016)

Given the fact this is a new product category for Apple, you do need to keep that in mind. Thats not to say they get a pass here, far from it! They need to service the product until they get it right. Sounds like they've taken care of you.

While there are a few cases of a problem, I haven't seen a mountain slide of complaints online. So you are unique and Apple needs to learn about why the watch is failing on your arm and not others so it can be used by all. Remember Apple has sold over 12 million Apple Watches! So they appear to have met with what the public wants for durability.

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No mfgr should release a product that disintegrates durning normal use (independent of the user's particular skin chemistry). The bonding between the watch body and sensor disk is defective. This is an Apple design deficiency. BTW, both times the watch was returned to Apple for replacement.

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So this just happened to me. And by the way this is my second watch because my first watch did the same thing. I had apple care so they sent me another watch. I've had this one for about 6mths and this morning I removed it from the charging disc and the sensor fell off. So I get to call them tomorrow! :( Besides this one issue.....I love my watch.

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Your experience is very similar to mine. Last week the back fell off of my wife's 38 mm stainless steel and for the third time it is being replaced. The last two times it was replaced even though the watch was out of warranty. Approval for the out of warranty replacement required a call to Apple support and a discussion with a senior repair advisor.

I have also had the back fall off of my 42 mm stainless steel once.

Neither watch was used in any extreme conditions or exposure to any water.

Using what is apparently a heat sensitive glue to attach the back plate appears to be a design deficiency.

Both watches were charge for using official Apple chargers and cables. The support so far has been good, though complicated by my location in Thailand with no Apple stores in the country, only a third-party repair center called iCare.

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Jon Turner will be eternally grateful.
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