Picked up the VeryBet (Chinese factories PLEASE hire me to come up with names for you) Leather Link strap and its immediately rocketed to my favorite of strap for the AW Series 6 in blue. I cant compare it to the apple leather loop, because they are more rare than a white rhino, but I can say the band looks amazing, is a great color, works well, feels like it is on sturdily, and at 1/3 the cost of the Apple band, is a great deal. My one critique is that the loop feels stiff and papery. But I have worked in the leather goods industry for a long time, and I have low expectations in general. My guess is that the Apple Watch band feels nice, and likely wears better with age, but again I dont know because its only theoretical at this point.
Pros:
- Great color match to the watch in blue
- Sturdy magnets
- Compass still works fine
- Locks in place well, if a little snugly
- Feels great on the wrist
- Feels like a quality product (How will it age? Don't know)
- Sized well for the (S/M wrist)
Cons:
- Feels little papery (does the apple band also? We may never know.)
- Creaky when wearing/moving wrist (I dont mind this at all)
In short, I will be waiting to see how it wears before ordering more, but I definitely intend to get this in other colors. I can get 3 for the price of one apple band, and until I have felt it and seen that it is demonstrably better, I will be doing just that.
Here are some pics, including with my much loved Spigen easy on/off bumper:
{PS NOTE: The lower part of the band was not perfectly centered in the photo. This was user error and I have included the last pic showing it properly centered}