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14 Fashionable Bands for Apple Watch

 & Chandra Steele Senior Features Writer

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When it first came out, just having an Apple Watch made you stand out. But as sales of the watch have entered the millions, your smart timepiece is starting to blend in.

Apple review, Apple commentary, Apple news... Everything AppleYou could do as Ludacris has and customize the bezel with 65 diamonds. Or you could become a wraithlike and imperious fashion designer like Karl Lagerfeld or rock star like Beyoncé and snag a not-available-to-the-masses 18k gold version. But more likely you'll have to just buy a band that suits you. There are plenty of options thanks to the Made for Apple Watch program, which lets third-party manufacturers sell bands.

Until last week, meanwhile, some Apple-manufactured bands were a bit snug on larger wrists. But the company has answered customer complaints and released the $49 L/XL Sports Band and the Link Bracelet Kit for 42mm watches.

If you want something with a bit more style, though, we've put together a list of bands that look good, come in a variety of styles, and are often less expensive than those from Apple.


CasetifyCasetify
$70
Either design your own band or choose one of the hundreds Casefity already offers. The result is very Swatch watch.



Monowear LeatherMonowear Leather
$79.99
Monowear has handsome leather bands in five colors (Creme, Black, Poppy Red, Navy, and Brown) at a good price.



Reserve StrapReserve Strap
$249.99
The Apple Watch's battery runs shy of a full day. But this silicon band is said to increase the watch's battery life by 125 percent.



JETech Leather BandJETech Leather Band
JETech has a leather band that comes in stone or black.



Aerb Milanese LoopAerb Milanese Loop
$24.99
Apple's Milanese Loop is $149. This similar style from Aerb is just $24.99 and fits every model of the Apple Watch. Verified purchasers on Amazon swear it's true.



ChiTronic Leather StrapChiTronic Leather Strap
ChiTronic offers a simple black leather strap for a ridiculously low price. Sometimes you get what you pay for though so read the Amazon comments before deciding if you're willing to gamble.



Pandawell Leather BandPandawell Leather Band
$29.99
Pandawell has leather bands stamped with an alligator pattern available in five colors. It also has some very happy customers on Amazon.



IVSOIVSO
$12.50
IVSO offers a leather band that comes in three colors and is under $20.



Monowear NylonMonowear Nylon
$59.99
Monowear's nylon bands are sporty without being chunky. They come in seven colors and some have a choice of black or chrome loops. All of which can be used with every edition of the Apple Watch.



Rebecca Minkoff Double Studded Wrap BandRebecca Minkoff Double Studded Wrap Band
$100
Being fashionable is a wrap with this Rebecca Minkoff band that offers more standout style than most.


E3 Supply Co. Horween Leather Watch StrapE3 Supply Co. Horween Leather Watch Strap
$99
This is the most Hunger Games your Apple Watch is going to look.


Black Forest Atelier Handmade Vintage Leather Rally RacingBlack Forest Atelier Handmade Vintage Leather Rally Racing
$89.90
Your pulse might race at the sight of this handsome rally-inspired band.


Case Mate Brilliance BandCase Mate Brilliance Band
$80
The brilliance of this band is that it shines bright like a diamond but doesn't cost nearly as much.


Click Band AdapterClick Band Adapter
$24.99 to $34.99
If none of these bands do it for you, then buy the Click Watch Band Adapter and attach any 22mm band to your Apple Watch band.The adapters should start shipping in September.


This story was originally published on May 19, 2015.

About Our Expert

Chandra Steele

Chandra Steele

Senior Features Writer

My Experience

My title is Senior Features Writer, which is a license to write about absolutely anything if I can connect it to technology (I can). I’ve been at PCMag since 2011 and have covered the surveillance state, vaccination cards, ghost guns, voting, ISIS, art, fashion, film, design, gender bias, and more. You might have seen me on TV talking about these topics or heard me on your commute home on the radio or a podcast. Or maybe you’ve just seen my Bernie meme

I strive to explain topics that you might come across in the news but not fully understand, such as NFTs and meme stocks. I’ve had the pleasure of talking tech with Jeff Goldblum, Ang Lee, and other celebrities who have brought a different perspective to it. I put great care into writing gift guides and am always touched by the notes I get from people who’ve used them to choose presents that have been well-received. Though I love that I get to write about the tech industry every day, it’s touched by gender, racial, and socioeconomic inequality and I try to bring these topics to light. 

Outside of PCMag, I write fiction, poetry, humor, and essays on culture.

My Areas of Expertise

  • Making incomprehensible tech news easy to understand
  • Expanding the boundaries of topics covered in the industry
  • Figuring out tips and tricks in apps and on devices and letting you know about them
  • Putting together gift guides for everyone in your life 

The Technology I Use

All that gadgets is gold for me: my iPhone 11 Pro, my fifth-generation iPad that I use only for streaming videos and music, my iPad mini 4 that I like to take with me whenever I carry a bag that can fit it, and my MacBook Pro. Why are they all different shades of gold, though? What’s going on, Apple? 

None of them quite live up to my two past loves: my LG Lotus LX600 phone and my Sony Walkman NW-E005 MP3 player. 

I've never given up wired earbuds so I was ahead of all those trend pieces. I use a Mangotek Lightning-to-3.5mm headphone jack adapter to connect them to my phone. 

I have had so many ebook readers, but I prefer paper to them all. Still, my Kindle Paperwhite is perfect for traveling or when I’m too impatient to wait for a book to be released in paperback.

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