The Great "Third Party Band/Strap" Thread

[luckyblue]

Has anybody tried any 3rd party leather loops ? I really want one but 150.00 is ridiculous from apple. Thanks

My thought on this... is that I'm going to get some nice quality leather bands ($20 to $50 range) and buy adapters separately. Soon enough when Apple releases the 3rd party band specs/requirements there will be a lot more options to choose from.

I have some on order and will post pics when I get them.

 

[scott99]

Thanks, for the price I ordered on. I have adapters on the way (hopefully). Or might swap out for my MK silicon band. But that silicon band is by bar the most comfortable I have and do like the look.

Your welcome, enjoy. It's a really nice leather strap for the price, very well made.

 

[scott99]

Still waiting for this band, I ordered it June 3 with a "delivery date of July 20th." It shipped the same day June 3, coming from China. It just came through NYC yesterday so I HOPE to get it today..or tomorrow or Sat via USPS.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00YUO7OFQ

I ordered one too, but much later than June 2nd. Hope I get it before I go on vacation July 12th. Some guy on eBay is selling it for around $50 and says pretty quick shipping, like next week. Shipping from Nevada. If I could cancel mine I would buy one, but mine says shipped already.

 

[toph2toast]

Since I'm too lazy to comb through 47 pages of comments, has anyone found a decent 3rd party band that is similar to the Apple sports band? Just having a hard time coughing up $49 for the apple version. I know I've seen some though.

 

[Mac2me]

My thought on this... is that I'm going to get some nice quality leather bands ($20 to $50 range) and buy adapters separately. Soon enough when Apple releases the 3rd party band specs/requirements there will be a lot more options to choose from.

I have some on order and will post pics when I get them.

They did a while ago: https://developer.apple.com/watch/bands/ Docs at bottom

 

[PhillyGuy72]

I ordered one too, but much later than June 2nd. Hope I get it before I go on vacation July 12th. Some guy on eBay is selling it for around $50 and says pretty quick shipping, like next week. Shipping from Nevada. If I could cancel mine I would buy one, but mine says shipped already.

I saw a few after I ordered it that was shipping domestically. From the time I ordered to marked as "Shipped" was about 1 hour. Yeah the shipping is slow as a slug, I noticed it sitting in China from last Saturday and it finally updated yesterday. The delivery system first shows "EPACKET", but then changes to USPS.

You can track your shipment at https://tools.usps.com/go/TrackConfirmAction, just use the number you received from Amazon (ex: LN012345678CN ) - enter that as a tracking number.

You should see where it is now. You can also sign up for email updates when it has movement.

 

[scott99]

I saw a few after I ordered it that was shipping domestically. From the time I ordered to marked as "Shipped" was about 1 hour. Yeah the shipping is slow as a slug, I noticed it sitting in China from last Saturday and it finally updated yesterday. The delivery system first shows "EPACKET", but then changes to USPS.

You can track your shipment at https://tools.usps.com/go/TrackConfirmAction, just use the number you received from Amazon (ex: LN012345678CN ) - enter that as a tracking number.

You should see where it is now. You can also sign up for email updates when it has movement.

Turns out, I ordered the same day as you, June 2nd. Mine is still in Shenzhen though.

June 15, 2015
8:31 am
Processed Through Sort Facility, SHENZHEN EMS, CHINA

I have ordered watches from China before, for example, Parnis makes some nice, inexpensive watches, but they do take a few weeks to get delivered.

 

[luckyblue]

They did a while ago: https://developer.apple.com/watch/bands/ Docs at bottom

Cool, I didn't know that. Thanks for the info! I'm assuming we will see more bands available soon from the more reputable brands.

 

[sdallnct2]

Your welcome, enjoy. It's a really nice leather strap for the price, very well made.

Is it comfortable?

I love the all black look of watches. My favorite daily wear watch BAW (before Apple watch) was an all black MK watch. So I thought I'd really like the SG w/black sport band. However the SG w/black band all sort of runs together. I hadn't thought about the display being off. So there is not only no color change, but not texture change either.

So I want to keep the black, sleek look but at least have some shading or texture change.

 

[CjonesHouston]

Are these from Monowear? Looks similar to one that I have ordered.

No not Monowear . I got it off Amazon.
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00L8O8NFG?

 

[easheer]

Just received a couple bands from B and R bands.

Honey Gator Leather Strap

http://www.bandrbands.com/Apple-Watch-Band-42mm-Honey-Gator.aspx

Field Drab Leather Strap

http://www.bandrbands.com/apple-watch-band-42mm-field-drab-leather.aspx

I've bought several bands from them before for my Bell & Ross watches and the quality is excellent. Honey gator is a little stiff, but will break in nicely after a little wear. Field drab leather is very soft with little to no break-in necessary. Adapters were a little finicky to slide in, but nothing of any real concern. Both bands came with a screwdriver and extra screws to disassemble the adapter if you so choose.

Overall very pleased with both!

 

[easheer]

A couple quick snaps of another B and R band. Brown Gator w/ white stitching on my wife's 38mm Sport. I think the dark brown looks really nice with the aluminum casing. Only issue is the SS adapter, but hopefully we can swap that out.

http://www.bandrbands.com/apple-watch-band-38mm-brown-gator-white-stitch.aspx

 

[Mooch55]

Just received a couple bands from B and R bands.

Honey Gator Leather Strap

http://www.bandrbands.com/Apple-Watch-Band-42mm-Honey-Gator.aspx



Field Drab Leather Strap

http://www.bandrbands.com/apple-watch-band-42mm-field-drab-leather.aspx



I've bought several bands from them before for my Bell & Ross watches and the quality is excellent. Honey gator is a little stiff, but will break in nicely after a little wear. Field drab leather is very soft with little to no break-in necessary. Adapters were a little finicky to slide in, but nothing of any real concern. Both bands came with a screwdriver and extra screws to disassemble the adapter if you so choose.

Overall very pleased with both!

Those look good, thanks for sharing. I am interested in ordering from them, but the sizing is confusing. I was looking at the stitched leather band but have no idea what size to order.

 

[easheer]

Those look good, thanks for sharing. I am interested in ordering from them, but the sizing is confusing. I was looking at the stitched leather band but have no idea what size to order.

• XS measures 110/70mm.
• STD measures 120/80mm.
• XL measures 130/90mm.

Add the two numbers together for total band size.

180 fits up to 7in
200 fits up to 7.8in
220 fits up to 8.6in

I've got a pretty small wrist, 6 1/4 in and ordered and an XS.

 

[Mac2me]

If anyone wants instruction on how to install bands on your watch, I found this watch band site's blog to be helpful:

http://blog.esslinger.com/how-to-change-a-watch-band

Don't overlook their Video library for further instructions.

Their main site ( http://www.esslinger.com ) has the bands, watch tools, threadlocker liquid, etc. Somehow I feel the Apple Watch is going to make a lot of us more knowledgeable in this industry. LOL.

 

[jjp007]

Still waiting for this band, I ordered it June 3 with a "delivery date of July 20th." It shipped the same day June 3, coming from China. It just came through NYC yesterday so I HOPE to get it today..or tomorrow or Sat via USPS.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00YUO7OFQ

LeT me know how this turns out. I was looking at buying one earlier.

 

[scott99]

Is it comfortable?

I love the all black look of watches. My favorite daily wear watch BAW (before Apple watch) was an all black MK watch. So I thought I'd really like the SG w/black sport band. However the SG w/black band all sort of runs together. I hadn't thought about the display being off. So there is not only no color change, but not texture change either.

So I want to keep the black, sleek look but at least have some shading or texture change.

It's pretty comfortable. It's not as comfortable as the sport band though. But pretty comfy.

 

[fishkorp]

You got them from "The Utica Guy"? Spring bars just like that? Any problems with the mechanisms (parts falling out from the release button area)? Better than lugs with elbows?

Yes, spring bar version from the Utica guy. After my HORRIBLE first experience with him, I have him another shot. These adapters seem pretty solid and well built, no issues yet. They arrived within a couple days as well. He's redeemed himself as a seller for me. Maybe he was just selling product before he had them early on.

 

[SidBoggle]

I thought I would dip my toe in the water. I picked up these 42mm adapters and a 24mm strap yesterday. So far I'm quite impressed. UK sellers both delivered next day.

 

[aawil]

One thing I'll say about the Utica guy is he was nice enough to send out new screws and screwdriver after I stripped the first out. That being said they did strip easy. The new one are phillips.

 

[Javabird]

• XS measures 110/70mm.
• STD measures 120/80mm.
• XL measures 130/90mm.

Add the two numbers together for total band size.

180 fits up to 7in
200 fits up to 7.8in
220 fits up to 8.6in

I've got a pretty small wrist, 6 1/4 in and ordered and an XS.

Do you also need to add in the size of the watch? For example, for a XS - 180mm with a 38mm watch would be a total size of 180 + 38 = 218 mm, or about 8.5? Or is the 180 the total size including the watch?

(It would help if the website just had a size chart that compared to Apple watch sizes).

 

[geoffm33]

Another B and R band here. Just received the Cognac Leather/Khaki Canvas 22mm Watch Band.

Pardon the hairy arms...

 

[Javabird]

Do you also need to add in the size of the watch? For example, for a XS - 180mm with a 38mm watch would be a total size of 180 + 38 = 218 mm, or about 8.5? Or is the 180 the total size including the watch?

(It would help if the website just had a size chart that compared to Apple watch sizes).

Ok, after reading up on this more it appears that the case size is actually factored into the band size (the case adds length, but length is also subtracted by the overlapping buckle....) Here are a couple of links I found helpful on determining watch band length:

http://www.basandlokes.com/strap-size-help/
http://www.strapfreak.com/content/how-do-i-determine-what-size-watch-strap-i-need

BandR Bands has the band sizes listed under their other watch bands, but for some reason they aren't listed under the Apple Watch bands.

 

[Tangmu]

http://www.aliexpress.com/item/Luxu...32368933560.html?spm=2114.32010308.4.2.fVeTgQ - this appears to be it - I just placed an order. If you search Aliexpress for Apple Watch Link Band they have one for the 38MM and 42. I just ordered the link band for the 38 MM - hopefully it will be just as described. It sounds identical to Apple's link band.

It won't be identical to Apple's band - although somewhat similar. I received pictures from the actual model they are waiting to receive from the factory next week and they look like this. Still somewhat similar but a real clone consisting of 120 parts and is precise and well built enough to last will cost its money - also in China.

 

[batristain]

It won't be identical to Apple's band - although somewhat similar. I received pictures from the actual model they are waiting to receive from the factory next week and they look like this. Still somewhat similar but a real clone consisting of 120 parts and is precise and well built enough to last will cost its money - also in China.

Yes after I saw your pics I actually cancelled my order - I will just suck it up and order the actual Apple Link band - the shipment times have gone down drastically now.

Cheers,
Bobbie