I spoke with Apple Singapore financial services team, Apple Malaysia telco team as well as the retail operations head in San Francisco, Apple Store employees ONLY get to know of the devices 2-weeks prior to launch. They will be trained on the product during these two weeks. Their only indication is when their leaves are not approved due to management expecting heavy volume.

So when it trickles down to the resellers as well, same, 2-3 weeks prior to the product launch.

Telco's do get the iPhones earlier for all network testing.

I bought one on Lazada but the listing isn't there anymore. But I do see other ones which are tend to be ok I guess. Bought mine for RM150 ish (can't remember) and so far after a year, no issues at all.

Not at all, magnet is still extremely strong that sometimes I have trouble moving it.

That is a very nice and classy leather strap indeed!

Dang Nomad is currently out of stock for their leather straps

Better get a protector, my less than a week old AW2 got scratched after I accidentally walked into a glass door.

Unfotunately I am not as careful as you, I still walk around with it without any protector. Just have to live with the 3 deep scratches I have on my screen.

I didn't use a clear coat because I went swimming with my watch to track but that screwed up the clear coat (plastic one). The touch wasn't responsive.

The sad thing was that after I removed it, I scratched the screen.....

The only stores that I ever come across having Apple watch bands are usually the Apple resellers, whether it may be Mac City, Machines but if I am not mistaken, the iC-zone at Publika has a huge range of products there. Loads of choices. Might want to give them a call first to check about the type of bands you are looking for.

Didn't expect them to actually launch another one considering the AW2 was launched less than a year ago. Probably next year or by a long shot, maybe even end of this year.