Apple's impressive new Apple Watch Series 10 and Apple Watch Ultra 2 come with an equally impressive new lineup of bands. Here's a look at all the bands Apple released to coordinate with its new watches and all the new colors available for existing watch styles.
The interchangeable bands for the Apple Watch have always been a key selling point for the wrist-worn computer. As the Apple Watch is part technology, part fashion statement, the interchangeable bands allow users to inject their style into their wearable devices.
Since watch bands are wrapped around your wrist many hours a day, having a comfortable band is important, and so is having a band that accessorizes.
Apple showed off new band models coordinated with specific models. But bands aren't limited to specific watch models. You can interchangeably use bands designed for cases between 38mm and 41mm, as with bands for 44mm through 49mm cases.
While there are a countless number of third-party bands available, many of them are made with substandard materials. It's not uncommon for a band purchased from a no-name company online to fall apart quickly or cause skin irritations.
Apple's bands are designed with tested and reliable materials, and many users upgrade their watches long before their band wears out.
New Apple Watch bands
There are six new Apple Watch bands and more than 30 new color choices for existing band styles. That is a dizzying array of choices when considering the dozens of colors already available in each band style.
Most new bands are from Hermes, a longtime partner with Apple in high-end bands. High-end is the key phrase here, as the top-end Hermes Grand H in the Satine color costs $999.
Titanium Milanese Loop
The one new style of watch made directly by Apple is the Titanium Milanese Loop. Apple designed this band exclusively for the Apple Watch Ultra. This band will only be available when purchasing an Apple Watch Ultra or Apple Watch Ultra 2.
The new Titanium Milanese Loop was designed to withstand corrosion from saltwater activities. The band is woven from aerospace-grade titanium and has a clasp-fastening buckle similar to those found on parachute harnesses.
The band adds $199 to the price of an Apple Watch Ultra or Apple Watch Ultra 2.
While this is the only new band from Apple, it also added dozens of color options across all 13 band styles. These bands are available in the accessories section of the Apple Store.
Sport Band
In the Sport Band line, which is $49, Apple has added the colors Plum, Lake Green, Denim, Starlight, Light Blush, Stone Gray, and Black.
Braided Solo Loop
The new colors in the Solo Loop, which is also $99, are Ultramarine, Star Fruit, Lake Green, Light Blush, and Black.
Nike Sport Band
The Nike Sport Band and Nike Sport Loop are both available for $49. The Sport band now comes in the uniquely named Volt Splash. The Sport Loop collection has added Grey/Blue, Green/Grey, Black/Blue, Starlight/Pink, and Blue/Red.
Apple's original Milanese Loop
Apple's original Milanese Loop is $99 and comes now in Gold, Slate, and Natural. This band is woven metal, but not the high-end titanium of the Apple Watch Ultra version.
The rugged-looking Alpine Loop band comes in Tan, Navy, Dark Green, traditional Gree, Blue, and Black and is $99.
The nautically inspired Ocean Band comes in Navy, Black, and Slate, keeping with its theme. These bands are $99.
Moving up the price range, the metal Link Bracelet series comes in at $349, and the new colors are Natural, Gold, and Slate.
New Hermes Watch bands
Apple and Hermes have had a long partnership, and the launch of the Apple Watch Series 10 and the Ultra 2 features multiple new bands.
The first two bands are $349: the Hermes Twill Jump Attelage Single Tour and Hermes Torsade Single Tour.
As its name implies, the Hermes Twill Jump Attelage Single Tour is woven from twill fabric and has a lighter and more casual look than many Hermes bands. This band comes only in 42mm size, Noir/Gold, and Rouge Grenat/Vermillion.
In Hermes watches, the word "tour" refers to how many times the band wraps around the wrist. The Torsade Single Tour comes in Navy and Rouge Greanat and is only available in 46mm. The Torsade Double Tour is available only for 42mm watches and comes in Vert Moyen and Rouge Grenate.
For use in the water, the Hermes En Mer in Blue Nuit is available only for the Apple Watch Ultra, and the water-resistant molded rubber band has a clickable buckle to secure it. The Hermes En Mer is $449.
And finishing off the new-color bands is the $349 Hermes Kilim Single Tour in the very continental-sounding Bleu de France, Vert Moyen, and Beton.
Finally, the Hermes Grand H comes only in Satine. It is a metal band that looks like it's (arguably) worth every dollar of its $999 price tag. The band is stainless steel and uses a traditional butterfly clasp.
11 Comments
This story is not correct. I ordered the Milanese Loop with my Series 10, so it's not true that it can only be ordered with the Ultra. Also, why would it add $199 to the cost of the Ultra when the band only costs $99. Also, it only added $50 to the cost of my Series 10. The base price of my Series 10 Titanium is $749. Ordering the Series 10 Titanium with the Milanese Loop, brings the total to $799, which is the base price for the Ultra. It's a trade-off. The titanium case and sapphire glass make it extra durable and scratch resistant, but it's also much thinner than the Ultra and even has a slightly larger screen.
Okay, I guess I was misremembering.
So I looked at the Apple Store site and the “new” bands look like they have the same connectors as the old bands. Will the old bands fit on the Series 10?
It's always amusing to look at the Hermes prices--$350 for a silicone watchband, $999 for stainless steel links. Or you can go full Hermes and order the 10 titanium in polished silver with the exclusive Hermes watch face plus the Hermes stainless steel link bracelet for $2,000. My inclination is to wonder if anyone actually buys these products, but since Hermes has been an Apple Watch partner forever, I guess the answer is yes.