To be honest, I was super tempted by the new color options for Apple Watch Sport Bands offered by Apple to the catalog. There is one particular color that I finally pick over the white band – the Fog color with the new 316L Stainless Steel Pin, thanks to the wide popularity on Reddit. Below is a quick unboxing and hands-on of this new band. For more Apple Watch Band reviews, check out the list here!

Shop Apple Watch Bands
Spigen Apple Watch Case Rugged Armor (38mm)

For those who may be interested in getting a replica Hermes Apple Watch band, there have been multiple threads on Reddit talking about some pre-orders on eBay available right now.

On Taobao, the largest B2C platform in China, there are already numerous online shops selling or offering pre-order on replica Hermes Apple Watch Bands, with a price tag ranging from $30 to $90. However, the quality varies in terms of leather quality, the design of the buckles, coloring on the leather, etc. But it is certainly impossible to expect exact quality out from Hermes factories with such a price range, or even lower in some of the eBay vendors.

In this post, we want to quickly show you, especially for those who are really curious about that, with some pictures captured from the buyers or from some private discussion with the sellers on the 3 different models of the bands for reference and personal judgement before cashing in.

Double Tour

Single Tour

Cuff

From the number of photos above, obviously there are more love towards the Double Tour band but the leather quality really differ from different vendors. So what do you think about the bands? Do you like them? Will you get any one of those? Let me know in the comments. We will also update this post soonest when we find out more from the customers. Stay tuned!

A couple of weeks ago we talked about there are tons of options for knockoff bands imitating the Hermès high quality leather bands. The quality really varies from one and another but so far I have not seen any bad comments towards any of the dozens of vendors.

One of the most popular Apple product accessory manufacturers from China, Hoco, has recently released a 3-in-1 bands bundle with all the three styles of Hermès Apple Watch bands for just CNY 298 (US$46), that you may need to get all the genuine ones along with the Stainless Steel watches for US$3,850. It comes with 38mm and 42mm, with all 4 color options you can get from Hermès.

Hoco has had just released the 42mm model two weeks ago followed by the 38mm ones a few days ago. The package appears to be exclusive for China market at the moment as I could not find any of these on eBay yet. We are lucky to have got the package today and get hands on these bands for 38mm Apple Watch size shipped from Hoco flagship online store for a review here as some may have requested for that some days ago.

One of the major reasons to get the watch band set is that, there is no standalone bands from Hermès for Apple Watch, especially  the Cuff band is exclusive for 42mm size Apple Watch at the moment. But it really looks cool to put on, for both casual wear and business attire. But it is not at the level that I would pay thousand bucks and get another Apple Watch. In addition, there have been several calls on third-party “Hermès” bands on Reddit so I think famous brand like Hoco could have done a good job on that. Another reason is very straightforward: I really love the design of it especially after the famous blogger Jeff Benjamin showed off his try-on of this particular band.

Specifications

For those who are curious about the lengths of the bands, you can refer to the table below. All are measured in milimetres:

Unboxing

You will expect to have some sort of “kit-set” of the bands that you can configure and combine per your wish. It comes with the assembled Cuff band and the longer band for Double Tour band.

To learn how to remove the band with the buckle, you can click here to watch from the official tutorial done by Hoco (in Flash media format).

Before moving on, check out a short video walkthrough of the watch bands:

Quality

The quality is excellent at this price tag. It is genuine first-layer calf leather and well-manufactured. It smells good without any kind of chemical-kind of smell. Despite the fact that it is definitely not as premium as what you could expect from Hermès as those are really well-picked from the production line, I have to say, it is far better than the Hoco Leather Band with Classic Buckle ones that we reviewed and you may also find it with very low-cost options on eBay or so. The leather is quite durable as far as I have tested and it is quite soft hence super comfortable to wear.

The design of the metal buckle does not really look close to the one from Hermès. The quality does not match, it is still strong enough to hold. The adapters are well-polished, no friction when putting onto or off from the Apple Watch.

Notably speaking, the leather for the Cuff band is just well adapted to allow the heart rate sensor to stay in contact with the wrist as what you expect from Hermès. Two major downside: 1) You can’t really put it to charge on a charging dock like the iNERTIA Rainbow Stand, but just barely chargeable on others like the Mophie Watch Dock, because that the band has elevated the watch and does not allow any touch point there; 2) It is quite a difficult task to take out one of the bands that comes with the buckle to combine for Single or Double Tour bands. But as I really liked the Cuff band and for that Double Tour looks  more feminine, I did not plan to take it out again except for the coverage of this review.

Comparing with the real Hermès bands

I made an appointment at the local Apple Store and tried on the Hermès Apple Watches. In the meantime, more importantly, I have also taken a few pictures of the bands in order to make a comprehensive side-by-side comparison for you to get a feeling of what to expect here.

There are a number of obvious differences that I have noticed:

1. Hoco’s leather is softer and thinner
2. Hoco has dual rings to hold the other side of the band instead of one
3. The pin holes are significantly smaller
4. The buckle designs are quite different
5. Sewing quality is far behind standard from Hoco
6. For Double Tour longer band, the Hermès band has a thicker inner layer
7. Hoco bands have raw inner layer but Hermès ones are well-composed

Conclusions

Without a doubt, there is nothing really near the genuine Hermès bands in terms of design and quality. With less than $50 price tag, you can’t expect yourself getting supreme leather as well as the exclusive Watch Face from Hermès. Nevertheless, the quality offered is a value for money it is really a good deal that indeed you can enjoy 3 different bands which is around $15 for each, and with a freedom to choose or switch from one to another. Nothing I can really complain about but I do not recommend switching from the Cuff band to the other combinations as it will take you some effort and time to take the band with buckle out from the Cuff. Do bear in mind if you purchase it.

So what do you think about the Hoco Replica Hermès Bands? Do you like it? And do you plan to buy one and try it out? Let me know in the comments and for more Apple Watch Band reviews, check out the list here!

Disclaimer: I am not hired for helping Hoco to promote with free samples. I paid the full price for the package, tried it out and present my personal feeling and experience with the bands. 

Edit #1: For those who are curious about the link to the bands, here it is.

Edit #2: Some Redditors found a few listings on eBay: [1] [2] [3]

5 months ago shortly after the Apple Watch was released, I reviewed the Metal Link Band from Monowear with an unboxing video that I have got from their Kickstarter campaign. The review is one of the most popular ones of the site and the band is also one of my favorites in my Apple Watch Band collection.

Today, Monowear quietly launched a series of new bands and I am fortunate to receive a few bands from Monowear a few days ago to try out and have a thorough review by the time they come on sale. In the meantime, you can check out the unboxing video with a detailed walk-through with my voice-over introducing all the 3 bands below before you read the review literature.

Product: Brown / Navy Leather + Black Buckle
Price: $79.99
Compatibility: 38mm and 42mm Apple Watch
Website: http://www.monoweardesign.com/shop/?category=Leather

The Monowear Leather Band now comes with 5 different color options including Brown, Black, Navy, Red and Crème. For those who might have seen or purchased this band before you should know that the first generation only comes with Chrome buckle. But now Monowear added. To me, I prefer Black stainless steel buckle over the Chrome buckle for some colors especially lighter color that will create a contrast and better appearance overall.

According to Monowear, this Brown Leather band with Nappa Finish comes with a slightly dark color comparing with the first generation. This band does look sharper in real life than the picture showing on Monowear shop. The feeling is not as raw and thick as Black Forest Atelier handmade bands but the genuine leather that the band is made of is very high quality so it looks a bit more premium that many other third-party leather bands that you can get cheap from Amazon or eBay.

One point to note before you buy is that the leather does not come with soft nature. It will take some time to soften it as long as you wear it oftenly. However, this should be very common for genuine leather products as you would expect.

I personally really love brown leather bands and I do have a collection from a few other other manufacturers. This one from Monowear in pretty well-designed. It is sleek, minimal and elegant. The brown color is perfectly tuned. Most importantly, it is comfortable to wear even though it is a bit hard at the beginning.

That said, after trying on the Navy Blue Leather Band, I received more compliments from my family and friends. It looks really good. No matter it is Navy or Midnight Blue, they are definitely one of the most loved colors that Space Grey Apple Watch owners will go for. Despite the fact that the Navy Leather is listed as being done with Nappa Finish which should be the same as the Brown Leather band. However, in reality, there is still a difference in terms of the texture or leather pattern as I could have spotted from the Macro lens.

Product: Black Mesh
Price: $99.99
Compatibility: 38mm and 42mm Apple Watch
Website: http://www.monoweardesign.com/shop/black-mesh

The black color Mesh Band should be one of the most wanted color options not only from Monowear but also from the whole market as many Apple Watch users have got their Space Grey models. It is a newly added collection to the Monowear Apple Watch Band family in addition to the Silver Mesh that has been already available since the Kickstarter campaign.

There are indeed options for a third-party black Milanese Loop but the miles may vary from time to time. However, Monowear has done it right with the Mesh band for those who may not be a fan of the Milanese Loop completely but would still love to have similar choices. The Mesh band is not a rip-off, but a completely different design.

The black color match of the Mesh has finally perfectly matched with Space Grey Apple Watch as you should have noticed from the pictures below. The Matte Dark Gray adapters and lugs go well with the band itself and the watch case too.

Obviously, due to differences in design, composure and material, it requires a bit of skill to put on the band to make sure it is fit for the wrist. You may need to adjust the position of the buckle before putting on the band onto the Watch. The Mesh band is noticeably heavier than the Milanese Loop. I mean, one side of the band is already heavier than the whole piece of Milanese Loop so it does add some weight on your wrist.

So how do you like the new iteration of Monowear bands? Will you be getting one from the list soon? Let me know in the comments and be sure to check out the unboxing video on my YouTube channel if you haven’t. For more Apple Watch Band reviews, check out the list here!

Earlier this year, we received a couple of so-called replica Apple Watch Bands – The Modern Buckle and first generation Classic Buckle which could be purchased at a fraction of the price but with exact same quality and appearance.

In September, Apple refreshed the Watch and Bands line-ups with new colors and designs. One of the new products is the new Classic Buckle with a two-tone design rather than a plain piece of leather.

This traditional design has been updated with a new calf leather that ages naturally over time to acquire a beautiful patina. The contrasting interior lining creates a dramatic two-tone look, and the filleted edge detail provides a clean geometry. Available in black and saddle brown.

We are here today to review the Black version of this new Classic Buckle which can be purchased at more than 50% off from the genuine price at the Apple Store. Unfortunately, we could not compare this with the real Classic Buckle band in the Apple Store as they are not allowed to have this band for in-store try-on.

The band itself comes with very high quality. Looking at the front side, the interior lining is well created that I could not see any flaw even under the Macro lens of my camera. The calf leather shares very similar pattern as the first generation.

Flipping over to the back side, the leather is also with high quality. Neither of the marks of “38mm” and “Natural Leather” are blurry. They are deeply engraved with clarity, unlike other knockoff bands that you could easily get from eBday or Amazon.

Putting this band side by side with the first generation, you will notice the significant difference in terms of the design. The leather quality in hand of the new one feels better as well. And speaking of adapters and buckles, both are solid and well-polished with exact same quality from Apple.

Overall speaking, instead of classifying this band as a replica, it is more likely to be one of those coming off from Apple’s production line with really minor flaw that does not meet the super high standard of quality control. However, I can hardly notice anything bad with the band that I received and it is really a good deal that I can get it with less than half of the full price.

Check out the “unboxing” video that showcases how the band looks as well as comparison with the first generation Classic Buckle. And please let me know what you think about this band.

For more Apple Watch Band reviews, check out the list here!

For those who have been following my blog, you will know that I own a series of collection of different Apple Watch bands. I have also shared with all of you with a number of reviews here. One of our most favorite brands is Monowear.

Monowear is very dedicated to make their products better and roll out new designs to millions of Apple Watch users since their tremendous success on Kickstarter with quality watch bands. Last month, we received and reviewed their new lineups for the month including the new Leather Bands and Black Metal Mesh.

In November, Monowear rolled out a new Gold lineup for all their existing designs, plus a stunning new design combining the beauty of polished stainless steel and ceramic. I am fortunate to get hands on all these new bands and am going to share with you in detail.

Black Leather + Gold Buckle
Material: Genuine leather, Nappa finish
Price: $79.99
Link: http://www.monoweardesign.com/shop/black-leather-gold-buckle

Last month, we talked about the leather bands with black buckle that matches with the space grey model Apple Watch. To fit the new design from Apple with matte gold and rose gold, Monowear has added these options to refresh and complete their current leather lineup with yellow gold finish to the adapters and buckle.

Quality remains high as usual and the Black Leather option looks best with the gold finish on the adapters and buckle. This also matches with the color scheme of the Apple Watch Sport with Gold Aluminum Case, as well as the gorgeous screen covered by Ion-X glass.

There is also Rose Gold finish for the Monowear Leather Band and the price is also set at same level as $79.99.

Gold Mesh
Material: Stainless Steel
Price: $99.99
Link: http://www.monoweardesign.com/shop/gold-mesh

Last month, we also talked about the Black Mesh metal band which is pretty amazing to me and fits my Space Gray Sport better although I have already got the official Milanese Loop from Apple Store. These options are both low profile but elegant.

The Gold Mesh, in contrast, looks really sharp in person as none of the parts a of other color but gold. The color is more to matte gold side so the adapters go perfectly with my matte gold Griffin Ultra Thin Case. Since the case isn’t bulky, if you are using non-gold Apple Watch Sport but you like the band itself, this is a good combination that you could have.

One good thing I love about the Mesh band is that it can take 122mm-176mm wrists. So even I get fat or stronger, it still fits at anytime I put it on.

Gold Metal
Material: Stainless Steel
Price: $119.99
Link: http://www.monoweardesign.com/shop/gold-metal

The Monowear Black Metal Link is the first third-party Apple Watch band that I owned since I got my Apple Watch at first batch delivery window in late April. I am glad to be one of their backers on Kickstarter for this nice watch band and our review on it has been very popular in the community thanks to all the supports from readers and Monowear.

Followed by the black and silver Metal Links, Monowear just launched the Gold Metal this month alongside with other gold color lineups. There is nothing at all I can complain about the design. As you can see from the pictures below, the combination of gold and silver-colored stainless steel links looks extremely neat and premium. The brushed links brings a classy appearance that fits for all occassions that you go with the watch. The solid build and weight give users a comfortable wearing experience as well.

Surprisingly, despite the fact that the adapter finished with gold color, it goes very well with my Space Gray Apple Watch, even without the matte gold case.

Silver Ceramic
Material: Stainless Steel
Price: $149.99
Link: http://www.monoweardesign.com/shop/silver-ceramic

Last but not least, Monowear adds a new series of Apple Watch band collection to their shop. It is called Ceramic, and is available in both Silver and Rose Gold.

The band is constructed with two different materials, Stainless steel and Ceramic. The buckle comes with butterfly closure, in which you can easily open the buckle by pressing on both side of the release buttons.

Build quality is premium that worth the bucks that you pay for. All the links and parts are well polished to allow the band really stands out from the crowd. Pictures tell millions words so you will actually easily find how much effort has been spent on this stunning watch band.

However, this Ceramic band does look a bit feminine in my opinion. But similar to Apple’s Modern Buckle and Milanese Loop, with the right color you picked, the band will look actually more on a unisex side, or it may suit you in some way if you have a smaller wrist than a strong guy.

If you want to opt for the Rose Gold edition, you will have the pay a $20 premium than the silver one. If you have a Rose Gold Apple Watch Sport, you should definitely go for this finish.

So what do you think about Monowear’s new lineups of Apple Watch bands? Let me know in the comments.

In September, Apple released Hermès Apple Watch with premium quality leather bands that led to a mass fervour on the fashion of different styles of watch bands. There has been upsurge on third-party  sellers to produce similar Double Tour bands and Cuff bands. This opens up numerous opportunities for users to get a variety of choices, not only with different designs and finish, but also, more importantly, different size options for both 38mm and 42mm watch cases, as well as customized band lengths in which Apple does not offer too many of those.

A couple months ago, we specifically put up a coverage on the Hoco’s Replica Hermès Apple Watch Bands and a comparison with the genuine bands. However, the Hoco’s bands are more on a low cost side with fair quality subjected to standardized manufacturing processes. Same forApple for their various leather bands such as the Modern Buckle and Classic Buckle which are more on the high cost side. If you are looking for something handmade and vintage, instead of industrial perfection, as a gift to yourself or good friends during the holiday season for a fair price for quality and uniqueness, I have a got a great recommendation for you here.

Name: Cuff Tuscan Leather Apple Watch Band
Seller: BuonGustoItaliano Etsy Shop
Material: Vegetable-tanned genuine Virgin Tuscan Leather
Country of Origin: Italy
Band Length: 120mm/80mm
Thickness: 3mm
Adapters Color: Silver / Space grey / Gold / Rose gold
Buckle: Stainless steel silver / Brushed metal-black
Price: $149.90

As I mentioned in previous reviews, I am a big fan of the Cuff band after seeing it be implemented on the Apple Watch. There is growing number of options joining the market and I found BuonGustoItaliano (B.G.I) that offers a bunch of them. The review unit that I fortunately received from them is Volcano Grey, which is one of the best-fits for the Space Grey Apple Watch Sport. There are many more styles and color options available for the Cuff leather bands on B.G.I. so be sure to check it out as well.

Unboxing

As it is for review purpose, it does not come with fancy packaging but a well-protected express package. Certainly this is not something we want to focus on as the band is the real cool thing here.

Design and quality

The design is pretty much what you could expect from the Cuff band. It is presented as advertised. The hand-stitched cuff band is well crafted with rugged look. The adapters are sewed in the leather bands. Both bands are securely sitting in the fixed strap bars.

The center hole allows the watch sensor to remain in touch with your skin and the heart rate monitor to function as it should be when the bands bend around your wirst. I would say it does not come with a really particular fancy design which out-performs the other cuff bands.

Notability speaking, there is no marking, logo or signature engraved on the band.

Comparing with Hoco’s knockoff Hermès Cuff Band, the one from B.G.I. is significantly wider and longer in every part, even for the hole opened for heart rate sensor. The thickness is almost the same. But in terms of softness Hoco’s band comes short comparatively. The stitching patterns are different as well. Certainly, B.G.I. cuff band looks more natural as it is handmade.

The bandmade cuff band’s quality is superb. The leather is extremely soft out of the box and durable as far as I could try out in the couple full days of usage. It is pleasant on the touch and to smell without any  chemical or machine footprint. The stainless steel adapters and buckle are solid. There is nothing going behind the leather bands from Apple and other brands marking up on goodwill for their mass produced retail goods.

Conclusions

Overall speaking, this buff band is a good-looking and high quality. It is very comfortable to wear with thanks to the super-soft leather. It also holds securely on the wrist, and at the same time, does not interfere any of the functions of the Apple Watch.

What’s cool about this option is that you can get it for your 38mm sized Apple Watch, unlike the bands from Hermès or Pad & Quill. Additionally, the shopowner is a very nice and friendly person. It was a pleasant experience to talk about the watch band in the previous days.

If I were to receive this from my friend as a Christmas gift, I will be really happy as this band is unique and stylish. If this is something you are looking for, head over to BuonGustoItaliano Etsy Shop and get one from the shelf now.

Happy New Year folks! Sorry for belated post and review that I promised to you guys for quite a while. I have been really busy and unhealthy and things get better today so I decided to sit down and chase back what I needed to do.

So in 2015, we brought to you two different Apple Watch Cuff band reviews, one from Hoco which is a nice knockoff for Hermès, and the other one handmade from Bologna, Italy. Both have been staying well with me for a while, for both work and formal social networking occasions.

However, recently I have fallen in love with a new Cuff Band I received – the Venture Black from Montecelli Bands in the United States, and I have been wearing it since the first working day of 2016.

Name: Venture Black Apple Watch Cuff Band
Seller: Montecelli Bands
Material: Leather, Steel, Nickel, Beeswax
Country of Origin: United States
Hardware Color: Silver / Gray / Gold / Rose Gold / Steel / Black
Price: $169.00

Again, this is a handmade leather Cuff Apple Watch band that attracted my attention over hundreds choices on the internet. Proudly hand-crafted by our leather artisans in Wasilla, Alaska, the band is a cut from 5 ounce genuine leather and hand-dyed with a beautifully distressed finish.

Certainly you will find the imperfect and unsmooth surface on the front and at the back. At the front, the bands are hand-dyed in the color you opted for (black in this review). There is an apparent vestige of dying on the leather and it looks more obvious upon usage. This is actually not a bad thing for those who likes the band to go wear-and-tear and ages naturally.

On the back side, you will find significant evidence of hand-dying, along on the raw leather service. What’s great is that there is a marking of the name of the designer and workshop – Montecelli, in which the other buff bands could have lacked of. The inner texture is raw but comfortable to skin touch.

This modern Cuff is adapted to allow the heart rate sensor to stay in contact with the wrist with a precise cut-out on the 2.5mm thick leather band. It also includes hardware finishes that matches with the Apple Watch, including the adapter, buckle and even the decorative studs along on the longer bands. And in my case, it’s all Space Gray. This is a really nice feature to have that makes the whole thing looks harmonized and unified.

My overall impression to the band after wearing it for two weeks is positive. It is comfortable, durable and stylish. I really could find any similar design at least in my region that makes my Apple Watch stands out from the crowd.

As the craftsmen will craft for your wrist specifically, your made is made-to-order so it will take approximately 3 weeks to be shipped. So be patient if you decided to order one which I highly recommend you do. Check it out on Etsy now and you will also find different finishes that fits color options of the Apple Watch Cases.

Hoco has been doing great jobs in making third-party Apple Watch bands to the market with a good reputation on the quality and value-for-money. This happens especially on the replica Hermès bands that we reviewed earlier back in October 2015.

A recent tweet from one of my long-time reader, Russell Nicholls, drew my attention to a new line-up from Hoco which is knocking off Apple’s 2nd gen Classic Buckle with the two-tone design and Saddle Brown color option, that costs you $149, at a fraction of price. After considering the total cost including discount, transportation and lead time, I decided to give it a go, try it out and share with you how I feel about the band.

Unboxing

If you have purchased anything from Hoco, the yellow package is something you should expect the same for this Classic Buckle band. There is nothing else instead. Interesting is, the package comes with a little piece of calf leather, which is trying to prove the leather used for the band is of good quality.

Quality and Design

With a price tag which is just 16% of the genuine band, you can’t expect too much out of a knockoff. But the new Saddle Brown Classic Buckle from Hoco really out-performs the black one of the same line-up, as well as all the predecessors. The leather is smooth and soft. The back layer comes with same texture as the Hermès knockoff.

In terms of design, the Hoco Saddle Brown Classic Buckle tries its best to look like the genuine band, such as the lining and buckle. The thickness and width come close as well. It comes with silver color-schemed adapters and buckle so make sure your watch also matches with it. The adapter does not stick out so nothing to worry about. But overall speaking, it is a nice looking band and very well-manufactured considering this price point.

Comparing with Apple’s 2nd gen Classic Buckle

I am not able to get the Saddle Brown Classic Buckle from Apple for a 100% head-to-head comparison but the black one does serve as a good reference point here. There are quite a few difference that I could notice:

• The texture of the leather used are completely different on both sides of the bands
• The genuine band is more “machine-perfectized”
• The design of the band at the tip is different: rectangular vs curved
• Hoco’s Saddle Brown build quality is not bad but the black one of much less premium
• The genuine band is softer than Hoco’s black band, but similar softness with the Saddle Brown
• Hoco’s Saddle Brown leather band is slightly lighter (around 5 grams less), even lighter for black one
• Hoco’s adapter is matte silver finish which is also different from its buckle
• Hoco’s interior lining looks less sharp especially on the front face

Below are some pictures of the bands side-by-side:

Hoco’s Saddle Brown Classic Buckle vs Genuine Black Classic Buckle

Hoco’s Black Brown Classic Buckle vs Genuine Black Classic Buckle

Conclusions

If you are simply looking for a leather band in saddle brown color, there could a vast number of options out there in the market. However, if you really look to get the same design as the Class Buckle, this one from Hoco can be added into your cart to check out with. But I don’t recommend the black one which looks really cheap comparatively.

You can now purchase this band from AliExpress for $25 but the deal isn’t lasting much longer. Hurry up if you wanna get one. For just $25, why not?

One more thing…

I would like to take this chance to thank my fellow readers and followers for the support over the past 300 days since the blog has established. It means a lot to me and without you reading, commenting and sharing, the blog won’t go that far. The blog is not generating a revenue more than it costs but I still want to give something back to you guys. So I decided to give away ONE iTunes Gift Card ($15) as my first personal giveaway event. I hope this will continue as time goes, certainly with your continuous support.

To win a $15 iTunes Gift Card, you need to:

1. Must be located in the United States
2. Follow me on Twitter (@chanxin)
3. Tweet out this post using the share button below or retweet this post from my Twitter feed (@chanxin)
4. Be patient and wait until the giveaway ends :)

A winner will be randomly selected and announced on Twitter at GMT 0800 on 6th Feb, 2016 (Saturday). the redeem code will be sent via DM.

Are you bored with Apple’s single color Sport Bands? Well here are something cool and stylish upcoming that could juice up your experience. WRBLS International, a newcomer to the Apple Watch scene, will be launching their Kickstarter campaign soon and enter the market with unique collection of Apple Watch bands.

Collections

The first wrbls collection featuring three different lines catering to practically all needs: Urban Stylers, Business Casual and Sporty.

The urban stylers line includes trendy and hip bands featuring unique designs that make you stand out from the crowd. The business casual line consists of bands coming in a classy and timeless design intended to be your perfect companion during your day at the office or the night out. The sporty line combines fresh and young colors with bold patterns which turns into bands that perfectly suit casual and sporty outfits.

Quality

The company aims at providing quality when it comes with materials being used. High-performance silicone polymer will be used as base material for its extremely resistant, water and sweat repelling, tear-proof and durable nature, combining with a state-of-the-art pin-and-tuck closure system. The result is a perfectly fitting and easily swappable band – made for every occasion. Here are a gallery of what you can expect from the team.

Impression

Honestly speaking, I always use my Sport Band as I sweat a lot and swap between different colors pretty often to match with what I put on. But single color is monotonous, boring and not vivid. WRBLS opens up and leads the market with stylish and fashionable options for Sport Band lovers. I am personally highly anticipating this product to come onto my wrist, and can’t wait to show you guys if it happens.

More info

Check out the cool promotional video of WRBLS bands below and keep an eye on their launch on Kickstarter next Wednesday (10th Feb). You can also head over to their Facebook Page or official product site for more pictures and details.

Edit: The Kickstarter campaign has started here!

Haven’t been reviewing Apple Watch bands for a while and I am really tempted by the new Woven Nylon bands from Apple for the variety of vibrant color options and high build quality. My order for the 38mm Royal Blue band has just arrived at my office today and I am going to go through the unboxing with you here, compare with different Apple Watch bands and pair with my Space Gray Apple Watch Sport.

Unboxing
There is not much to expect from the packaging as it comes with the same design as the Sport Bands (as shown with the Product Red band below). Inside the box you will find the standard documentation and the Woven Nylon band is securely packed inside. However, unlike the Sport Bands, it comes with only one single size that Apple said it should fit 125–195mm wrists.

The Woven Nylon Band
I have tried a few nylon bands in the past for both mechanical watches and smartwatches. The quality isn’t really desirable and they are generally very thin with a couple of layers only. However, the Woven Nylon band from Apple is made from over 500 threads and monofilaments connect four layers of the weave to create a single band which makes it not only durable but very light and comfortable to wear as well. It is by far the best nylon bands that I have ever had. Here are some high-definition close-up shots of the bands that may help you understand more on the band itself and what you should expect if you want to get one for yourself.

Side-by-side comparison with other Apple Watch Band line-ups
Comparing the Nylon band with the Sport Band, the length is somewhere between the two sizes of the Sport band but it comes with more pin holes that offers better flexibility for adjustments.

Comparing with the leather bands, it is longer than the mid-size Modern Buckle and shares the same length as the second-gen Classic Buckle band. And as expected, it is slightly shorter than the Milanese Loop.

Pairing with Space Gray Sport
It looks surprisingly good (at least for me) on the Space Gray Aluminum Case. But it’s certainly a personal preference. I will let you judge with the pictures below:

Conclusions
Overall speaking, Apple really surprised us with such a high quality and fashionable new line up for Apple Watch that makes the collection more complete. The band is very light and comfortable to wear with. For just $49 which is the same price tag as the Sport Bands, it is a no brainer indeed. But I still suggest that you may wish to try out in-store if possible to pick the best color for your Apple Watch before purchasing.

What do you think about this combination? Let me know in the comments and be sure to subscribe to my blog for more Apple Watch band reviews in the coming few weeks.

In response to a Reddit request on how third-party or knockoff for the new Nylon Apple Watch bands perform, a replica costed RMB 95 ($14) has been shipped from China very early today to my office. Due to limited supply, I was unable to get the exact same color as my genuine nylon band. But here is the best comparison possible.

The design of the knockoff nylon band is completely different from what was advertised and that of Apple’s nylon band. Except that the adapters and buckles are metallic, the other parts looks cheap. The junction between the bands and the buckles and adapters are of old watch style.

Let’s take a very close look at the bands side-by-side. The images below were taken with the 15x Macro Olloclip Lens in order to tell the truth.

The texture and quality are nowhere near the Apple’s genuine nylon bands. The knockoff is not woven nylon with multiple layers. The overall pattern is inconsistent and poorly manufactured.

It is barely a layer of nylon thread glued on a plastic watch band. The edges are raw and rough. Poorly made.

The junctions to the adapters (left) and buckle (right) are taking completely different approaches.

Overall speaking, this is a cheap knockoff in terms of price and build quality. Although it looks merely ok from far but the design is not very appealing. Although it is fairly comfortable to wear with, but it is highly doubted on its durability comparing with the genuine Apple Nylon bands. Apple has done a much better job to prevent a true replica here.

What do you think about this knockoff Nylon band? Will you still for it for the lower cost? Let me know what you think in the comments.

Looking for quality Apple Watch bands that stand out from the crowd is a never-ending task. We have covered quite a number of Apple Watch bands, both premium and budgeted, since day 1 that the Apple Watch has shipped. It is never too many to add to my collection despite the fact that I have owned over 30 of them. In this review, we are going to look at two flagship line-ups from Mintapple, that offers variety of high quality leather and metal Apple Watch bands.

Followed by the new line ups of Apple’s genuine Apple Watches and Bands and also a new Space Black Milanese Loop for £179, third-party manufacturers have even taken a step forward to fill up the color option gap with a much affordable price point. Mintapple, based in the United Kingdom, is one of the best and leader in the market.

Today, we are going to take a look at their newly released Space Grey Milanese Loop which is specifically built for the Apple Watch Sport with Space Grey Aluminium Case which has a bigger community of users.

• Built from 316L Stainless Steel
• Extra strong hold magnetic fastener
• Matches Apple Watch in Space Grey
• Wrist size for 38mm: 155mm-250mm; 42mm: 170mm-275mm

Unboxing

The band is well-seated in the Mintapple Apple Watch Strap standard packaging with high quality foam that protects the Milanese Loop perfectly. No surprise, no redundancy.

Design and quality

There is nothing really special that you should expect from a Milanese Loop replica. It is more close to the design from Apple than that of the Black Mesh band from Monowear.

The adapter has a minimal lighter color difference than that of the band and the Space Grey. The matte finish of it also matches the case and helps slide in smoothly. I would say this is the best I have ever seen and tried.

The mesh is smooth, soft and very comfortable to wear. The material used is strong and durable. The coating is well-done and uneasy to get scratched out. The magnet is strong to hold the band in shape and prevents the band from loosing on your moving wrist.

Comparing with Apple’s Milanese Loop

Let us compare the Milanese Loop from Apple and Mintapple side by side.

Looking from a distance, expect the fact that Mintapple is about 7-8mm longer than that of Apple’s, it is very difficult to spot any difference in terms of design. However, the textures are quite different. Apple’s Milanese Loop is more polished and the one from Mintapple is polished and smooth but more of a Matte finish.

Looking the bands’ texture under 15x Macro lens, it is appearant that Apple’s Milanese loop is woven more closely but you can see more obvious space between the mesh patterns, which could attract small particles or dust more easily. However, after a few days of usage, Mintapple Milanese Loop is far much less likely to pull up hair than the one from Apple which I often encounter.

From a side view, it is more obvious to spot the difference of the woven mesh pattern. We can see the mesh is more closely woven together from Apple. But again, you can’t really spot the difference at normal daily usage.

The two bands shared the same thickness but noticably the one from Mintapple is less heavy than that of the Apple band due to more loose mesh design.

Final thoughts

Overall speaking, the Milanese Loop from Mintapple is a very high quality third-party option for about half of Apple’s price. More importantly, it is able to match the color of the Space Grey Apple Watch Sport that Apple’s option may not be a perfect match. It is as comfortable to wear as the one from Apple. The magnetic closure is stronger than that from Apple that it is less often for me to adjust the strap throughout the day of use.

Mintapple Milanese Loop Magnetic Band – Space Grey  is in stock for £99.99. There are also Yello Gold and Rose Gold variants with the same price tag that fit different case colors of Apple Watch Sport models.

Let me know what you think about this Space Grey Milanese Loop from Mintapple in the comments. Stay tuned with us for an upcoming review on their premium Genuine Exotic Crocodile Leather band very soon.

You guys know I am big fan of Monowear Apple Watch Bands and did review a number of their flagship line ups since I got my Apple Watch at launch. I leave the links to my reviews in later part of this post for your perusal.

I am very happy to be sponsored with their new Leather Deployant Bands that somes with excellent classic design and quality that sweeps competitors away.

Band Color: Brown, Black, Red, Navy and Crème + Various colors of Stitches
Band Material: Genuine leather, Nappa finish
Adapter & Buckle Finish: Stainless Steel, Space Grey Sport, Silver, Gold, Rose Gold
Adapter & Buckle Material: Stainless steel
Length: Based on Apple Watch of your choice (Click here for size chart)
Compatibility: 38mm or 42mm Apple Watches

Unboxing

The Monowear Leather Deployant Apple Watch Bands come with familiar packaging if you have already got it before. You can see from the front how the band looks like on the watch. At the back you can find all the product information the specific model, color and size that you ordered.

Comparison with first generation Monowear Leather Band

There is a significant leap forward from their first Leather Band months ago. There are some major changes materialized in terms of the band finishing, stitching and buckle.

Despite with same Nappa finish, the feel on touch is different from its predecessor in which this Deployant band feel a little bit more rough and raw. Much softer leather quality gives a better user experience when wearing the band. Note that the 42mm option has a slightly wider band width than the 38mm one that fits better with the larger Apple Watch.

One more thing is that the band is slightly thicker near the adapter, but thinner where it overlaps with the buckle so that when clasp closes it won’t get too thick and difficult to lock up.

The new single-fold deployment clasp replaces the classic buckle which not only makes the band looks more modern, but also makes it easier for users to take it on and off with the buttons aside. The stainless steel clasp is very strong, secured and well crafted so it will not scratch your skin, at least never happens on me. I did find that the buckle for 42mm band is noticeably heavier so if you are not a fan of such, you need to bear this mind before cashing in.

As a long-term partner and user of Monowear Apple Watch products, I personally really like this generation of leather band. To me it has a better design with stitches than the predecessor which is simply a plain piece of leather. The leather quality feels better than previous generations too. More importantly, the clasp is very easy to use and more convenient than classic buckles. The Leather Deployant is simply a proud addition to my Apple Watch band collection.

Summarizing the good and bad about the Monowear Leather Deployant in bullet points:

Pros

• Appealing new classic design with stitches along the band
• High quality genuine leather used
• Easy implementation of deployment clasp
• Comfortable and durable to wear
• Trusted quality for the brand
• High level of customization with multiple band, buckle and adapter colors options
• Free shipping for most bands you order

Cons

• Slightly more premium price over a number of options on Amazon/eBay
• A few similar options of other brands that may not allow user to stand out
• Requires slightly more effort to adjust the band with the buckle pinned at certain hole

You are order the Monowear Leather Deployant Apple Watch band for $89.99 and enjoy free shipping with promo code MONOSHIP if you order from Monowear. Order ships within 3 to5 business days but you can also check out Monowear’s global retailers near you for any occasional deals or discounted shipping.

Be sure to check out more Monowear Apple Watch Band and accessories reviews on my blog below!

• Monochest ($99.99 with a free Monowear Band) (Video review)
• Leather Band ($79.99) (Written review / Unboxing video)
• Black Mesh ($99.99) (Written review / Unboxing video)
• Gold Mesh ($99.99)
• Black Metal Link ($119.99) (Written review /  Unboxing video)
• Gold Metal ($119.99)
• Ceramic Band ($149.99)

Earlier this month, we reviewed the Mintapple Space Grey Milanese Loop. The feedback is surprisingly controversal on design, quality and price. Today we look at Mintapple’s Genuine Exotic flagship line-up: the limited edition Genuine Crocodile Leather Apple Watch Strap.

Specifications

• One-off built genuine crocodile skin with soft calf leather backing
• Mintapple designed stainless steel adjustable clasp
• Color-matching Apple Watch adapter lugs & clasp
• Wrist size: Size guide (Click here to request for Custom size)

The crocodile skin was manufactured, soaked and stained produce a comfortable feel and a unique color to the strap. The Genuine Exotics collection is unique due to the nature of the material used. They are customized that you may often see ones available with the exception to the “Sold Out” straps.

Unboxing 

The Genuine Exotic band does not come with a more premium packaging but the same as the Milanese Loop. With high quality foam surrounding the tray offers great protection to the band along the transportations.

Review

My first impression to the Genuine Crocodile Leather Apple Watch Strap is that the leather  skins used on both sides of the band are of very premium feel. Unlike what Apple could offer with machine-manufactured perfection and homogeneity, this band looks special and standing out. Despite the fact that the band is a little bit rigid at early stage, after a couple weeks’ usage, it is getting much softer and more comfortable to wear. Surprisingly, it does not look as bulky as I expected even though I have a relatively small wrist.

Mintapple offers the Genuine Exotic and other collections Apple Watch Band with both shiny silver, polished darker black or even yellow and rose gold color options to match the stainless steel or aluminium hardware of any Apple Watch models.

The one we received is for Black or Space Grey model. The adapters are well-polished creating no friction sliding into your Apple Watch. The single-fold deployment clasp comes with a glossy that could fit better with the stainless steel Apple Watch.

Compared to Apple’s Classic Buckle or Modern Buckle Bands, Mintapple’s Exotic Genuine feels much stiffer before getting worn into the shape of your wrist. It is initially more difficult to put on and remove, and the clasp is quite tight that you may need to exert more force to open it. It gets much better now after 2 weeks of daily usage. There is no issue with hair tugging hair or skin irritating issues so far but I personally do not recommend a frequent usage generally for a leather band if you tend to sweat a lot in summer time.

Summarizing the good and bad of the band,

Pros

• High quality genuine crocodile and calf leathers
• Solid build quality
• Good color coating to match Apple Watch casing
• Uniqueness for color and material

Cons

• Relative steep price tag
• May be too bulky for some people
• The clasp is too tight at first use and requires extra effort or small tool to open the clasp to adjust length
• Mintapple engraving on buckle that not all will like

Conclusions

The Mintapple Genuine Crocodile Leather Apple Watch Strap is extremely premium and certainly comparable with other brands such as Meridio, Bianca Mosca or on Etsy. It is unique, tough and very comfortable to wear with the calf leather backing.

Honestly, this is one of the best leather bands I have ever tried. I have been wearing my Apple Watch with the band for two weeks already and the leather is getting softer than day 1, which fake leathers cannot replicate. But I highly recommend you go through their Custom Shop if you have a small wrist as the band could be a bit too long for you.

Most Genuine Exotics bands are sold out at the moment but you can get those in stock for £169.99. The price could be a bit aggressive but you get what you paid for. But for sure it could be a better deal when it comes with discount occasionally.

Find out more nice options of Apple Watch bands from Mintapple and let me know what you think about Mintapple Genuine Crocodile Leather Apple Watch Strap down below. Be sure to check out more Apple Watch Band reviews here.

Since the Apple Watch has launched till the second generation is coming soon, we have been dedicated to bring to our readers with reviews on different types of Apple Watch bands offered by third-party manufacturers. My collection has already gone over 30 bands as of today and be sure to follow and check out our official Instagram for more.

There are quite a number of leather bands in my big collection but the genuine leather Apple Watch strap series from Lac Crado quickly becomes my favorite when I shopped over their online store. In this review, we are going to take a look at a few of them.

Genuine Crocodile Belly Strap – $99

This is my favorite out of the three bands for review. The quality is excellent. The leather is very soft already so it is needless to wear it out. The texture looks very pleasing. The stitching work is well done. The brand new leather smell is good too.

The most comparable band is Apple’s Classic Buckle. Both bands come with pleasing pattern and soft texture. The two-tone design looks familiar too. Certainly this comes to a decision of picking up a band that is perfectly manufactured or raw and handcrafted.

Unfortunately, quickly after I received the review unit, the Crocodile Belly strap has sold out so if you are going to get one of this, be sure to follow Lac Crado Etsy shop for the latest availability.

Genuine Ostrich Leg Strap – $99

This is the band that offers a different character and that I received most compliment for. It is not common to see Apple Watch band made of Ostrich Leg. The pattern is special and unique. The texture is a bit tougher than the crocodile belly but it is well-processed so nothing really to worry.

The inner layer leather appears to be calf leather. The smell and texture are excellent as what you expect from genuine leather pieces. The leathers are well stitched and I personally could not find too many flaws out of it.

The only thing that may be of different taste is the buckle. It is relatively big in size and may not fit everyone. Due to shortage of material, this review unit comes with a silver buckle but look surprisingly good too. So overall speaking, if you need something look special, this Ostrich Leg leather strap should be on your shopping list.

Yellow Python Strap – $99

The Python leather band is something that I wanted for quite some time as the thickness and texture are appealing and standing out. The yellow color that I pick could be a bit more feminine than I expected

The two-tone design is shown with 2 layers of leather stitched together. There are some engraving on the inner layer which is perfect for those of you disliking a logo or brand-name show on the outer surface or on the watch buckle itself.

The leather is thick by nature but not tough to wear. But you may need some help with the shop if 5 punch holes are not sufficient for you with the relatively long strap.

To summarize purely based on the review units,

What are good for the bands:

• High quality genuine leather materials
• Leathers are beautifully and precisely stitched
• Variety of strap designs and color options
• Customized hardware color options
• Soft and comfortable upon arrival
• 3 months warranty on par with Apple’s band
• Free express shipping if purchase more than 2 bands

A few minor issues:

• Some bands and hardware colors are currently out of stock
• Adapter has different design that may not please everyone
• Insufficient holes for small wrists for the review units
• Normal shipping could take longer to arrive for some Regions
• Many competitive options at same price point

Check out more on Lac Crado online shop and Instagram for more Apple Watch band styles and be sure to subscribe and follow us for more reviews on Apple Watch bands and accessories. Let me know what you think in the comments.

A few months ago, we introduced to you stylish Apple Watch Sport Bands from WRBLS International that brings cool and colorful options to your Sport Band collections. The campaign has been successfully funded and thanks to the sponsor from WRBLS for making this review happen and let’s take a look if you haven’t received your Kickstarter bands already.

WRBLS offers abundance of choices of stylish Sport bands for your Apple Watch, including Business Casual, Sporty and Urban Stylers, ranging from sharp and colorful patterns to more low profile professional designs for customers to choose from. In this review, we will look at Christy (€46) from the Urban Styler collection.

As you might have expected from a silicon band, it is durable and water-proof which is a perfect option for workouts, beach trips or day-t0-day hangouts. The sharp and colorful pattern of the Christy band here with me looks cool, sporty and more importantly, matches with the hot summer time here. There is no doubt about how cool it looks on your wrist design-wise.

In terms of quality, I have not experienced any washout of colors as I sweat quite a lot after workout. In terms of texture, maybe it is an early review sample, it is slightly rough on the edge. The surface is less polished than those from Apple but yet comfortable to wear. So in summary:

Pros

• Morecompetitive price against Sport Bands from Apple
• Variety of choices
• Stylish and colorful designs
• Compatible with all Apple Watch sizes

Cons

• Less smooth surface versus Apple bands
• Logo at the edge of longer-side band that may not please everyone

Overall speaking, if you are looking for less boring Sport Band for your Apple Watch with a budget, WRBLS is a decent choice and certainly there is at least one design for you. You can order all the styles watch bands wth both 38mm and 42mm sizes from WRBLS Shop for €39 to €46. For more promotional details, you can always check our previous post. And be sure to follow us for more cool Apple Watch Bands or accessories reviews.

About a year ago, shortly after the Apple Watch launched, we have reviewed a tremendous amount of Apple Watch bands and featured five different high quality handmade leather Apple Watch bands from Black Forest Atelier, and I personally still use them from time to time if any of them matches with my mood or outlook for the day.

Today, we are going to take a look at two more amazing bands from Black Forest Atelier, namely Limited Edition Bullets and Skull Sterling Silver 925 Pendant 2-piece watch strap and Handmade Leather Cuff Band C3 – Military Army Style, with loads of high quality, high-resolution photos that help tell a much better story.

Handmade Leather Cuff Band C3 Military Army Style – USD 89.90

This band has quickly become my daily driver for business attire as the design is a perfect match with suit and tie. Needless to say, the two think layers of high quality genuine leather are stitched together with golden color threads making it an eye-candy accessory to go with as well as adding security and durability to the band structure itself.

The best thing, in addition to the superior quality of the watch band itself, is that you can also get it for 38mm size Apple Watch without paying a premium to Apple for the Hermès Cuff bands. And as usual, Black Forest Atelier offers maximum flexibility that allows users to customize with band length and hardware color so make the band truly belong to the Apple Watch on your wrist.

Of course we have talked about a budgeted option from Hoco, but it is nowhere near this one we are reviewing from Black Forest Atelier. It is more comfortable to wear and looks much better in terms of leather color and band design itself.

If you have a few more bucks to spare for a good quality cuff band for your Apple Watch, this should be the one added into your shopping cart for checkout.

Limited Edition Bullets and Skull Sterling Silver 925 Pendant – USD 249.82

This two-piece Apple Watch band is definitely a break-through and creative design for the Apple Watch after-market that offers customers with really unique style and standalone character. It is composed with handcrafted vintage scratched leather and high-quality sterling silver pendant with really some weight there.

There are quite a number of options for the band with the pendant with different textures and designs including Samurai Bronze, Sakura Silver and Fleur De Lis which both look super cool with a relatively lower price tag. However, the leather bands are more or less the same which is more on a rough and vintage style.

The cool thing about this band is again you can request Pionier 1956 to craft the pendant and the band with the size fit for your wrist. The review unit that I received is a perfect fit on my 155mm wrist, with some buffer allowed if I would gain some weight.

Overall speaking, this two-piece design is very special in the market and if you are looking for something that stands now, this is a very decent option, provided that you have some cash to splash.

Some of the bands are on sale now with quite a good discount off from original price so be sure to check out both Black Forest Atelier and their spin-off Etsy shop Pionier 1956. There are more cool and stylish handmade leather bands to browse and choose from if you are interested. And we also had quite a few other Apple Watch band reviews here in this blog and more pictures on our official Instagram account.

Let us know what you think about the two bands we introduced today in the comment section.

This is the Apple Watch band that I have been wearing now for quite a few weeks upon receiving it. This has been my number one go-to band that I carry with me to work, despite owning a number of leather Apple Watch bands already.

Thanks to the sponsor from Strapley, I am able to get a customized, hand-stitched, tailor-made genuine leather Apple Band with high level of style with it, rustic and elegant.

The band comes with minimalistic yet elegant,well-cushioned package. The best thing I like about it is that the band is brand new, unlike some of those that I ordered before some other sellers that seems to be used or tested for couple times.

Being priced at $115, it is definitely not for those who look for a budgeted option. But you get what you paid for and worth the bucks. The watch band is completely handmade by Strapley’s own artisans in the United States. Every Strapley is crafted by hand with 100% full-grain leather sourced in the USA, and includes 2 Apple Watch strap adapters and matching buckle. You can choose from a variety of customization options for stitch colors, including white, red, orange, black, cream and navy, depending on which style you pick. For adapters, you can pick from silver, space gray and rose gold. Overall, there are dozens to choose from.

Speaking of design, the Navy Undertone that I picked looks sharp with the Space Gray aluminum case. I highly recommend you pick a darker color band and go with a lighter color stitch. This will definitely make the band more colorful and stand out.

In terms of quality, it is one of the best that I have ever owned and tried. The stitch is well done. The genuine leather is sourced from premium tanneriesis. It is quite tough at first use but gets better over time.

Another good thing I like is that the adapter Strapley uses has the closest color to the actual Space Gray of the Apple Watch. Check out the pictures in this post and compare with some other bands we reviewed and you will see the difference.

Overall speaking, if you are to look for a rather special, handcrafted Apple Watch Band and have a bit more cash to splash, but not up to the price points of those offered by Apple, Strapley Apple Watch bands is a really good option. The band is made of high quality leather, durable and is comfortable to wear. The design is fashionable that fits both casual and business occasions. Highly recommend you to head over to Strapley now to check out for more great customized Apple Watch Bands. Be sure to check out more Apple Watch band reviews on my blog and more cool pictures on our official Instagram account.

Last week I dropped by the Apple Watch Sub-Reddit and came across a post that some Apple Watch users are interested in knowing the difference between the second and third generation Classic Buckle and users comments on the leather quality.

Since I am a big fan of the Classic Buckle Apple Watch Bands as I wear the 38mm size, and personally own the first and second generations Classic Buckle watch bands since my first Apple Watch, and I recently got the third generation with the new Sea Blue color for my Stainless Steel Apple Watch Series 2 that I showed off on my Instagram, I think I am able to share something about them. Despite that it is not the Saddle Brown that Redditor knuche was actually looking for, I am still wanting to share with you guys on the differences across the three generation Classic Buckles.

So let’s walk it through.

The design and leather

Apple has been iterating the designs of the Classic Buckle on every single launch of new Apple Watch line ups.

Facing up, the first generation Classic Buckle (the top one) is more simple in design, a fine piece of genuine calf leather. The second generation (the middle one) was updated with “a new calf leather that ages naturally over time to acquire a beautiful patina”, interior lining and filleted edge. The latest generation (the bottom blue one) also comes with nice piece of calf leather but added color-matched edge stitching that “provides a subtle complement“, according to Apple.

There is subtle difference on the texture of the Classic Buckles as far as I could feel when using it. They are getting more comfortable to touch on with newer generations.

Turning to the backside, the major difference between the first and second generations is the two-tone design, with another layer of Saddle Brown calf leather which is more comfortable to wear. There is also a lining on this side of the second generation Classic Buckle. The third generation added a color matching stitch – the upper side is blue stitching but the back is brown – which is subtle but super nice design here. And you may also notice that the finish and texture of the third generation has a better match with the upper side instead of a smoother finish as the second generation.

Near the adapter you will find the “Natural Leather” engraving for the second and third generation Class Buckles. However, it is more clear on the third generation comparing with the second generation.

The dimensions

On the shorter side of the band, the three generations are of the same width and length.

On the longer side, the second and third generation shared the same length and they are approximately 1mm longer than the first generation due to its design change at the tail of the band in a rounded shape. However, they share the same width.

In terms of thickness, the three bands are basically the same despite of changes on design and slight difference on the finish at the edge.

The buckles and adapters

The adapters are exactly the same across the three generations, with the same material used – Stainless Steel, design and finish.

The size and location of the screws and the engrave of “Assembled in China” are exactly the same as well.

The buckles are also identical in terms of material, design and finish.

So does the above information help you understand better about the Classic Buckle and make a good decision before buying? Which one do you like the most? Let me know in the comments and be sure to check out my other Apple Watch band reviews.