Apple on Monday launched a limited-edition Black Unity Apple Watch and Sport Band to celebrate Black History Month.
The Black Unity Apple Watch Series 6 is an aluminum, space gray model with custom laser etching. The watch's back crystal displays the words "Black Unity." For the accompanying Sport Band, Apple's design team drew inspiration from the Pan-African flag. The band's closure also has laser etching, showing the words "Truth. Power. Solidarity."
The company has also launched a Unity watch face to match the Black Unity watch and band. The watch face shows a continually changing pattern, dynamically shifting as you move. The watch face is available in watchOS 7.3, which launched on January 26.
Apple says that Black creative community members and Apple allies collaborated on the Apple Watch and Sport Band design. The company adds that its Black Unity collection pays homage to the craft-quilting tradition in the Black community.
The colors represent "red for the blood that unites people of the African Diaspora and was shed for their liberation, Black for the people whose existence is affirmed by the flag, and green for the vibrant natural wealth of Africa, the Motherland."
As part of the Black Unity initiative, Apple announced its support for organizations dedicated to advancing racial equity and justice. These include:
- Black Lives Matter Support Fund via the Tides Foundation
- European Network Against Racism
- International Institute on Race
- Equality and Human Rights
- Leadership Conference Education Fund
- NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund, Inc.
- Souls Grown Deep
The Black Unity collection is available starting today. The limited-edition Black Unity Apple Watch Series 6 starts at $399 and is available in both GPS and cellular variants and 40mm and 40mm sizes. The Black Unity Sport Band costs $49.