Good news is, the jewler had just as hard a time as I had trying to get the band I wanted to use off of the inexpensive watch that I purchased and ended up having to cut the pins in the watch (gave me new springs, just in case). The good part about that is 1) I didn't feel inept for such an easy task, 2) I have the band out, and 3) I got 2 backup springs.
Bad news is, the band I got (which is 22mm width) is too freaking wide! Either the measurements, of the Motorola bands as 22mm wide, are incorrect or the measurements, for the watch I purchased. Here's finally a pic of the band I was hoping to use:
Here's the funny part. When I first went in, asking if he could put my replacement band on the moto 360, his answer was that it wouldn't be possible because there is likely "curved pins" due to the curvature on the back of the moto 360. Obviously, we all know that to be incorrect because there are already videos showing the uninstall process and there being standard straight pins (with springs). The catch, of course, is that they are hidden about halfway in, so there's an illusion that the pins might be curved and proprietary. I just said "ok" and asked if he could take off the band from the other watch.
I successfully removed the leather band from my moto 360 (just did one side and took all but 30 seconds, if that) and took pics of those 2 plastic prongs that are referred to in other posts:
If you look at those plastic prongs, I'm guessing Motorola would probably say something to the extent like, "they're there for stability of the back plate." If they did, I'd call b.s. The modifications that people have done, scraping away those prongs, shouldn't change the stability of the back plate at all or any other part of the watch. I'm still holding to the fact that those things were put in, by Motorola, purposely to sell more bands. At $29 (leather) and $79 (metal), who would blame them. Whether or not those plastic prongs really need to be clipped out, just to use other bands, still remains to be determined. I'm convinced that thinner metal bands could be used without clipping those prongs out.
That said, I might take a dremel to the band I wanted, just to make the ends (that hold the springs) fit perfectly inside the moto 360 slot.
All that would have to be modified are the wider ends, where there is additional metal for easy access to the spring. As long as I dremel just enough to still access the spring (for changing the band again, later down the line) then I should be all set and the top of the watch should hide any gaps (or disguise the gaps).
So, my backup band is on its way and I'll try that out, when it gets in. For those that aren't "DIY" savvy, taking off the bands is an unbelievably easy task (as I had originally suspected). Installation is equally as easy, but I would stick with bands that are known to work (without modification), just for sake of making it easy on yourselves.
For those that are DIY savvy...SO easy to be inventive with this watch. The spring holes are in such a stable location of the watch (the wider/curved cutout hide the springs from easily falling out). I suggest making measurements of bands you are considering, prior to getting too creative, but I can see people making many different bands work and without causing any harm to the watch. Have fun! I'll report back when I've successfully completed my DIY project with the blue stainless band.
