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Apple Watch New Spring Bands Launched: Wrist-On Review

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The success of Apple Watch is not just measured in sales of the hardware itself. There's also a roaring “after-market” in accessories, including cases, wireless charging stands and – most of all – replacement Watch bands.

David Phelan

After all, this is a personal device, so you want to personalize it, right? Lots of companies make elegant bands for Apple Watch but Apple itself, arguably, still makes the best ones.

The Spring release of new bands is upon us, announced alongside the new iPad mini and second-generation AirPods, among other products, and these sultry new accessories are now on sale in stores as well as online.

Here’s all you need to know.

Apple

Spring colors

Papaya and Spearmint are among the newly arrived colors and they look as mouth-watering as they sound. Less appealing-sounding, because it’s just a little confusing, is Hype Grape, though that turns out to look good, too.

My very favorite is Sunset, which is a feisty orange, just the right side of unmissable. It’s a spiffy color with a price to match as it’s only available in the Modern Buckle (40mm, $149) and Leather Loop (44mm, also $149). If you’re looking for a dressy, classy look, it’s the real standout in the current crop, I’d say.

David Phelan

If there’s anything wrong with it, it’s the fact that the edges on the Leather Loop are colored in a darker orange which, at a glance looks a little dirty. Oh, and with the Leather Loop, don’t make the mistake I made and attach it to the Watch the wrong way up, which left me complaining that the magnetic closure was too weak to hold it in place.

If I had followed Apple’s unsurprisingly meticulous instructions in the box, I’d have got it right and would have found the strap holds perfectly.

As for other colors, Apple is careful to spread the love between the different styles of band, though not all colors are available in every single variant.

The new bands are available in 40mm and 44mm sizes. These are the same as the two Apple Watch Series 4 sizes, but if you have any previous version of Watch, measuring 38mm and 40mm respectively, then the new straps will still fit. The miracle of precision from the Watch designers means that the 40mm straps fit 38mm Watches and 44mm bands are a perfect fit for 42mm timepieces. The older straps fit the appropriate new Watches, too.

David Phelan

Sport Band

The Sport Band, that solid workman of the band range, good for all situations and ideal for sportier activities, comes in three new colors, Spearmint, Papaya and Delft Blue.

Papaya is a gentler version of Sunset but very lip-smacking none the less. Delft Blue is the biggest statement of the three, a powerful and solid shade that means business but still, like you, has depth. The price for the Sport Band is $49 (£49 in the U.K.).

Apple

Nike Sport Band

The Sport Band designed for the Nike+ versions of the Watch – though they fit every Watch whether you’re active or not – has three new colors, too. Choose from Spruce Fog and Vintage Lichen, Black and Hyper Grape, and Teal Tint and Tropical Twist. In each instance, the first color is the main part of the strap, the second one is the edges of the sporty perforations.

The Black is the subtlest with its purple-ish Hyper Grape holes, though the Teal Tint is certainly fetching.

Unlike some brands, Apple doesn’t impose a price hike for the Nike model, so these Nike Sport Bands also cost $49 (£49 in the U.K.).

David Phelan

Sport Loop

The best band for swimming is the Sport Loop, not only because it’s waterproof, but because it’s reversible: you can turn it inside out so that the Velcro attachment is facing inwards, ensuring it doesn’t catch and come open in a particularly intense butterfly stroke. There are four new shades for Spring: Spearmint, Papaya, Cerulean and Lilac. You can guess at each of these from their names, apart from the Cerulean, perhaps. This is principally blue but has a clever weave which looks different in different lighting conditions.

David Phelan

That’s similar to the Lilac which, depending on how much sunshine is falling on it varies from almost purple to pale mauve.

David Phelan

Both, not to mention all the variations in, between look good, though I’d say this color has a lighter, gentler feel to it than Cerulean. Prices match the Sport Loop, $49 (£49 in the U.K.).

David Phelan

Nike Sport Loop

Another chameleon effect is the Hype Grape Nike Sport Loop which gleams purple in some lights, pale blue, almost green in others.

David Phelan

Turn the clasp over to see just how azure-green the blue threads are.

David Phelan

It’s the best of the five new shades here, which also include Teal Tint, Black, Summit White and Spruce Fog. Actually, Summit White is also pretty snazzy. $49 each (£49 in the U.K.).

Modern Buckle and Leather Loop

David Phelan

There are two colors here, Sunset as mentioned above and Lilac in the Modern Buckle (40mm) and Cornflower in Leather Loop (44mm). The speckled finish on the Leather Loop is particularly attractive in both colors, though the smooth Modern Buckle leather also looks classy.

Apple

Modern Buckle comes in three sizes, Leather Loop in two, so measure your wrist first. The price for each is $149 (£149 in the U.K.).

Apple

Hermès Leather

If you want the most upscale bands of all, then Hermès may have something to tempt you. Be warned, these admittedly gorgeous straps come at a price: $489 (£489 in the U.K.) for the Double Tour, 40mm width and $339 for the Single Tour, which comes in 44mm width.

The new colors are Hermès Bleu Lin/Craie/Bleu du Nord, which is a creamy trio of pastels and Etoupe Swift which is meaty and earthy. Then there’s Rose Sakura/Craie/Argile which includes a pink shade which is possibly the most lickable of all, resembling an irresistible strawberry ice cream.

My favorite though is the Indigo/Craie/Orange band which is elegant and punchy in equal measure. Though by now you’ll have noticed I’m a bit of a sucker for orange.

David Phelan

Do Watch bands have to be released every season? Really, no, but Apple’s skill is pick up on the emotions of the Spring. And here’s my top tip: if you like any of the new colors, don’t hesitate. When the Summer arrives, the Spring bands will be gone. Like Spring, I suppose.

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