Whether it’s staying on top of your notifications or getting in your 10k steps, an Apple Watch can be a gamechanger to your daily routine. Apple promotes their smartwatch as being the “ultimate device for a healthy life” with three Apple Watch models to choose from.
It’s not just tech fans who are loyal to their Apple Watch. You’ll see the distinctive smartwatch almost everywhere you look. It’s like wearing your phone on your wrist, letting you stay connected wherever you go.
Just like adding a case to your smartphone, you can personalize your Apple Watch by changing out the band.
Described as the ultimate device for a healthy life, Apple Watch allows you to wear your smartphone on your wrist and express your personal style by changing the straps (Credit: Thanes.Op / Shutterstock)
Apple offers dozens of straps for you to choose from, with brands as varied as Hermes to Kate Spade and Louis Vuitton selling their own Apple Watch straps.
They’re the perfect way to make your Apple Watch your own and transform this tech essential into a stylish accessory. Once you start buying Apple Watch bands, you won’t be able to stop at one.
Are you the owner of a sleek new Apple Watch or considering buying one? Our guide takes you through everything you need to know about Apple Watch straps and the best ones to buy in 2022.
Why Apple Watch bands are popular
There’s an Apple Watch strap for every occasion. They’re popular for all the same reasons that we love phone cases for. One reason for the popularity of Apple Watch straps is that this smartwatch has become an everyday accessory. By changing out the strap, you can make your Apple Watch match every outfit in your closet.
It’s easy to pop out the strap and swap it out with another style. There are also different styles of Apple Watch straps on the market – from sporty silicone straps to leather watch straps that feature the brand’s monogram.
Just like changing out the bracelets that you wear every day, you can swap out your Apple Watch strap.
You can change the strap of your Apple Watch to match every outfit in your closet (Credit: Allmy / Shutterstock)
While it’s easy to accumulate a collection of Apple Watch straps, you can also choose to invest in one as your signature. It’s one of the best cost-per-wear ratios that you’ll get from any designer accessory as something you’ll wear every day.
Apple Watch straps are popular as not every band will work with your day-to-day activities. Most people choose to invest in an Apple Watch for its fitness benefits, meaning that you’ll want a different strap to wear while working out than your day-to-day style.
If you’re dedicated to closing your fitness rings, you’ll want more elevated Apple Watch straps to wear for special occasions.
The most popular brands for Apple Watch straps
When the Apple Watch hit the market in 2015, there was only a small number of brands that offered straps. As the smartwatch has evolved, more third-party brands have started to offer straps for this piece of everyday tech. Most of your favorite designer brands that sell iPhone cases also offer Apple Watch straps.
One of the most popular designer brands for Apple Watch straps is Hermes. Uniquely for the French fashion house, you can purchase your Hermes Apple Watch directly from Apple.
The strap replicates the classic look of the brand’s Single Tour and Double Tour bracelets with reimagined leather links and the dynamic chain motif.
Elevate your Apple Watch further with Hermes watch straps, available in several styles and designs (Credit: Apple)
There are several Hermes Apple Watch straps available – from the Gourmette Double Tour that pays homage to the brand’s 1930s dog collars to the Circuit H Single Tour with its modern chain motif.
You can find Hermes’ Apple Watch straps in a series of sophisticated, bright, and subtle shades in woven nylon and leather. The most affordable and understated of the Hermes Apple Watch straps is the Sport Brand that is light, water-resistant, and flexible in its design.
Unique watch straps made of polished links, leather, and silicone from mid-tier contemporary fashion brands Tory Burch, Kate Spade, and Michele (L to R)
Other mid-tier contemporary fashion brands, such as Tory Burch and Kate Spade, have launched their own Apple Watch bands. It’s not just the design that makes these Apple Watch straps unique – it’s also the material that they’re made with.
It’s not just fashion brands that have entered the Apple Watch strap market. Designer watch brands such as Michele also sell Apple Watch bands as they try to tap into a younger demographic that is swapping traditional watches for smartwatches.
How to make your Apple Watch look more feminine
An Apple Watch isn’t the most feminine accessory you can buy. The distinctive square face of an Apple Watch is designed to be understated and unisex.
Although previous Apple Watches have only been available with a silver, gold, or rose gold face, the Apple Watch Series 7 has expanded the color selection to 10 different options – more than any of the recent iPhone models.
Make your Apple Watch look more feminine with a strap that has a more feminine design
Except the face isn’t the first thing people will notice about your Apple Watch. Just like a traditional watch, it’s the strap that does the talking. One of the easiest ways to make your Apple Watch look more feminine is to choose a strap that speaks to your personality.
The different Apple Watch bands available are similar to the straps you’ll see on normal watches. You’ll find silicone, stainless steel, leather, and link straps available.
Some of the most unique straps buck this trend entirely and include scarf watch straps that give this latest piece of tech a contemporary twist.
The best designer Apple Watch straps
Are you ready to personalize your Apple Watch with a new strap? In 2022, there are dozens of designer brands on the market that offer interchangeable Apple Watch bands.
We’re rounding up some of the best designer Apple Watch straps to buy in 2022 – from the sporty silicone styles to the most elevated leather straps.
1. Hermes – 41mm Gold Attelage Double Tour, $489 at Apple
If Hermes is your go-to designer brand, you’ll want to check out their Apple Watch strap collection.
While we associate the French fashion house with its iconic leather accessories and Birkin bags, the Apple Watch strap is one of the most affordable among Hermes accessories.
Handmade by artisans in France, this understated yet elegant Hermes Apple Watch strap is a slim, extra-long band that wraps twice around the wrist
It’s an easy way to add a touch of Parisian chic to the latest smartwatch technology. This Apple Watch strap is a slim, extra-long band that wraps twice around your wrist.
2. Tory Burch – The Monogram Print Leather Band, $95 at Nordstrom
You don’t need to spend hundreds of dollars to get a designer Apple Watch band. One of the most popular fashion brands for Apple Watch straps is Tory Burch.
The preppy American brand incorporates its signature double-T logo into a smooth leather strap that features a gleaming gold-tone medallion to elevate the style.
A striking Apple Watch strap, Tory Burch’s The Monogram band is made of leather patterned with the signature double-T logo and accented with gleaming gold-tone medallions
This Tory Burch strap is an ideal choice for everyday wear, whether you’re hitting the treadmill or heading into the office.
3. Coach – Signature Canvas Apple Watch Band, $95 at Nordstrom
Do you want a classic leather strap without paying a Hermes price tag? Coach is one of your best options. This Apple Watch strap features Coach’s signature coated canvas with a buckled closure.
A classic design from a mid-range luxury brand, this Apple Watch strap is made with Coach’s signature coated canvas
At under $100, this Apple Watch strap is the perfect investment into your everyday closet.
4. Hermes – 41mm Kraft/Lime Jumping Single Tour, $319 at Apple
Equestrianism is at the heart of the Hermes brand – making it no surprise that their sports heritage makes an appearance in their Apple Watch designs.
The Jumping Single Tour is a classic Apple Watch band made from woven textile with a vibrant design that makes a statement. You can even wear this designer Apple Watch strap while swimming due to its nylon fabric.
The sporty Hermes Kraft/Lime Jumping Single Tour Apple Watch band is crafted from swim-proof woven textile with a vibrant design
The Jumping Single Tour is available in six colorways, including neutrals like beige and black, along with bright neon hues.
5. Michele – Apple Watch Stainless Steel and Silicone Bracelet Band, $295 at Nordstrom
The most versatile Apple Watch straps are the ones that look more like a bracelet than a watch strap.
Michele is synonymous with their women’s watches that blend function with feminine designs, allowing you to express your individual style.
A silicone-wrapped stainless steel bracelet Apple Watch strap edged in gold-tone plating with a push-button box-clasp closure from watch brand Michele
The brand’s signature Apple Watch strap is available in several metal configurations to match the Apple Watch faces. This strap is one of the most versatile options on this list, whether you’re working out, heading to the office, or going out with friends.
6. Hermes – 41mm Fauve Barenia Gourmette Double Tour, $849 at Apple
Hermes has incorporated some of its most iconic designs into its Apple Watch straps, with this band being the prime example of that.
The Gourmette Double Tour pays homage to the dog collars released by Hermes in the 1930s with links that are weaved through the Fauve Barenia leather.
Inspired by the 1930s Hermès dog collars, the Fauve Barenia Gourmette Double Tour Apple Watch band features woven links and an extra-long design that wraps gracefully twice around the wrist
As a Double Tour style, you can wrap this extra-long strap gracefully twice around your wrist. If you want an elegant style that you can wear every day, the Gourmette Double Tour is the ultimate investment for your Apple Watch.
7. Tory Burch – Bands for Apple Watch Gift Set, $195 at Nordstrom
If you like the aesthetic of the Hermes Gourmette but cringe at the price tag, we’ve got the solution for you.
This Tory Burch gift set gives you two Apple Watch straps for a fraction of the price of one Hermes strap – and includes a braided strap that is synonymous with Hermes’ equestrian heritage.
This Tory Burch Apple Watch gift set includes two straps, one braided and one solid, both featuring the brand’s signature double-T logo medallion
Both watch straps feature different interpretations of Tory Burch’s signature double-T logo that frames your Apple Watch face. This gift set gives you an understated Apple Watch strap for everyday style and another more feminine style for a Parisian-inspired look.
8. Coach – Signature C Rubber Apple Watch Band, $85 at Nordstrom
Leather isn’t the right material for everyone. If you want a watch strap that will work for everything, rubber can be a better alternative. It’ll withstand your daily workout or commute while giving you a sleek finish.
Sleek yet sporty, this Coach Apple Watch band features iconic Cs that texture the matte silicone rubber material
The Coach signature C rubber strap is made using silicone with a buckle closure and sits under $100.
9. Wristpop Rose Straps Apple Watch Scarf Watch Band, $45 at Nordstrom
Apple Watch straps aren’t all leather or silicone. One of the most uniquely feminine straps on our list is this scarf band.
It takes its inspiration from the classic Hermes twilly and has a vintage-inspired look. The design of the scarf band incorporates the classic equestrian motifs that we know and love from Hermes – at a fraction of the luxury brand’s price tag.
A uniquely feminine Apple Watch strap, this vintage-looking Wristpop band is made of polyester and is tied around the wrist like a scarf
This scarf watch band is the perfect choice for wearing during spring and summer when you want to transform your Apple Watch into a feminine accessory.
10. Michele Stainless Steel Apple Watch Bracelet Watch Band, $595 at Nordstrom
Most of us are buying an Apple Watch to replace our everyday analog watch. If you want to keep the look of a sleek watch, you’ll want to try this stainless-steel watch band by Michele.
Sleek and chic, Michele’s stainless-steel Apple Watch bracelet strap features a two-tone design plated in rosy 18-karat gold
The two-tone stainless-steel strap incorporates rosy 18-karat gold and is compatible with Series 1 – 6 of the Apple Watches. At almost $600, this Michele Apple Watch band is a splurge purchase for those who want a versatile, all-in-one style.
11. Kate Spade New York Silicone Apple Watch Floral Band, $54.60 at Nordstrom
If you want a feminine and floral Apple Watch band, look no further than Kate Spade. This vibrant strap features flowers in bloom and is the perfect way to update your Apple Watch for spring and summer.
Kate Spade’s Apple Watch floral band will give any outfit a vibrant and feminine finish
At under $55, it’s one of the most affordable styles on this list. You’ll find most of Kate Spade’s seasonal prints available in their silicone Apple Watch straps.
12. Kate Spade New York Scallop Apple Watch Bracelet Band, $128 at Nordstrom
You can get the look of a chain-link Apple Watch strap for a fraction of the price of a Michele strap. This Kate Spade Apple Watch band features curved scallop links that add a feminine twist to the classic silhouette.
A classic stainless-steel watch bracelet design, this polished Kate Spade Apple Watch band features curved links that look like cute scallops along the sides
13. Anne Klein Ceramic & Stainless-Steel Apple Watch Band, $85 at Nordstrom
One of the most classic Apple Watch bands on our list is this ceramic link style by Anne Klein.
This sophisticated Apple Watch strap features smooth ceramic links with liquid-shine stainless steel and a rose gold finish. You can purchase this Apple Watch band in soft pink or matte black for a sleek look.
Anne Klein’s Apple Watch band is crafted from smooth ceramic links liquid-shine stainless steel, offering a sleek finish
Which of these Apple Watch straps will you be buying in 2022?