Sometimes in yellow, sometimes in blue, sometimes sporty and sometimes chic: Depending on the Apple Watch band, the popular smartwatch turns into a fitness trainer or a watch suitable for the office. The manufacturer offers various original interchangeable bands, whether made of silicone, fabric, leather or metal. We will show you which variants are available and what to look out for when buying.

Apple Watch band sizes

If you want to buy a new wristband, you need to know which size fits. In order for the band to attach to the case of your Apple Watch in the first place, it has to have the right width. There are exactly two different sizes:

38 / 40 mm - There is one strap size for the smaller variant of the Apple Watch. This means that the same wristbands fit on cases with 38 millimeters (up to the Apple Watch 3) and cases with 40 mm case height, which appeared from the Apple Watch 4 onwards.

42 / 44 mm - The larger version of the Apple Watch has a case height of 42 mm (up to the Apple Watch 3) or 44 millimeters (from the Apple Watch 4). The same wristbands fit these.

You do not have to measure the size of your Apple Watch. The case height (38, 40, 42 or 44 mm) is engraved on the back of your Watch. Apple itself offers a few wristbands. The cheapest original bands cost 47.75 euros in stores (including 16 percent VAT, and you will even have to pay several hundred euros for the most expensive variants from Hermès with original Apple bands.

Apple Watch: Original silicone sports wristband

An Apple Watch wristband made of silicone is especially preferred by athletes because it is easy to keep clean - Apple appropriately calls it a "sports wristband". For these customers precisely , Apple also offers the bands from Nike, which are designed to be airier and are more breathable due to the holes in the band.

Sport Loop: Original fabric band from Velcro

The "Sport Loop" wristbands are a good choice for everyday use and sports, because the bands made of soft nylon fabric are very comfortable to wear and can be flexibly adjusted thanks to Velcro. Apple also offers "Sport Loops" from Nike.

Apple Watch: Leather wristband variants

If you are used to classic watches and do not do any sweaty sports, you might opt for a leather band. Apple also offers a Hermès version for affluent fashion fans for at least 359 euros (including 16 percent VAT).

Modern leather wristband

For 145.20 euros (including 16 percent VAT), Apple sells the "modern leather band" for the 40-mm watch in garnet, scarlet red, citrus pink and saddle brown.

Leather strap with end piece

The "Leather Bracelet with Endpiece" features a magnetic clasp. It costs 96.50 euros (including 16 percent VAT) in the Apple Store and appears in Baltic blue, yellow ("California Poppy"), saddle brown and black.

Leather wristband with loop

Diver's blue, saddle brown and black - these are the variants of the "leather strap with loop" for the 44-mm Watch. The regular price is 96.50 euros (including 16 percent VAT).

Solo Loop: Bands without clasp

Exclusively in the Apple Store, the so-called "Solo Loop" bands have been available since fall 2020, and they are made of silicone or braided fabric. The special feature of the Solo Loops is that they do not require a closure. The bands are extremely elastic so that they can be pulled over the wrist. Thus, it is important to choose the right one of the nine sizes when buying. The bands are available exclusively through the Apple Store. Important: They only fit Apple Watches of generation 4 or newer. The reason for this is that the Apple Watch 3 and older cannot recognize when it is taken off due to the no  clasp feature of the Solo Loops.

The classic Solo Loop is made of stretchy silicone. Apple offers it in dark navy, ginger, cypress green, citrus pink, white, black and "Product RED" red. It costs 47.75 euros (including 16 percent VAT).

The braided Solo Loop appears in inverness green, charcoal gray, lemonade pink, Atlantic blue and "Product RED" red. It costs 96.50 euros (including 16 percent VAT).

Apple Watch: Metal milanaise bands

 With metal or Milanaise bracelets, the Apple Watch becomes a piece of jewelry. The original Apple Milanaise bands cost 96.50 euros (including 16 percent VAT) from the manufacturer. They are available in silver, gold and graphite. Some retailers sell them for a few euros less than in the Apple Store.

Apple Watch strap from other manufacturers

 There are also bands for the Apple Watch from other manufacturers and they are often much cheaper. But beware: You should keep your hands off extremely cheap offers - their magnetic clasps may not close reliably. If in doubt, just go for well-known brands, for example, from jewelry manufacturer Peter Jäckel. Apple itself recommends only using "Apple-authorized wristbands" because items from third-party manufacturers can even damage the Apple Watch in the worst case. Apple does not list which bands are authorized by the manufacturer, and the editors could not find this information from retailers either. In the Apple Care terms of insurance, the manufacturer excludes the warranty claim if the insured product has been modified or contains components that were not authorized by Apple, which can be assumed in the case of a strap from third-party, unauthorized manufacturers.

Changing the Apple Watch wristband

Changing the Apple Watch wristband is easy. To do this, you turn the watch over. You press the small area next to the wristband with your fingernail.

Now you can pull the wristband out of the anchorage on the side. You simply reinsert the new wristband into this slot by pushing it in. If you hear a soft mechanical click, it is locked in place.