Apple Watch Woven Nylon Band (42mm, Close Your Rings, Black Buckle, 2018)

[This is my 800th post!]

This “Close Your Rings” Apple Watch Woven Nylon band was only available to Apple employees who participated in and completed the “Close Your Rings” challenge in 2018.

According to MacRumors writer mikedop, who has extensively researched and written about the challenges:

“The Close Your Rings Woven Nylon was the second ever employee exclusive Apple Watch band. This exclusivity combined with the unique design lead to a high demand for the band on secondhand markets like eBay… The Close Your Rings 2018 prize came with a challenge card as well…in a book-like style, with the text on the outside and the band stuck to the card on the inside. The text, sitting on the front below a metallic silhouette of the activity rings in either gold, silver or bronze, read the following: ‘Closure. At last. You did it. You completed the Close Your Rings Challenge, and this band is proof. Put it on your wrist. Let it go straight to your head. You’ve earned it. Wear it, flaunt it, feel free to sweat all over it. It’s yours.’”

Incidentally, the first employee-exclusive Apple Watch band was the original Pride band given to employees who attended the LGBT Pride festival in San Francisco on June 26, 2016.

This Close Your Rings woven nylon band is all black with black plastic lugs and a black buckle. It has a three-color loop closure (called the “keeper” in watch parlance) in blue, green, and red—representing the colors of Apple’s Activity rings. This band is in the 42mm size.

Although this band was not available for sale, this is the description that Apple used for the Woven Nylon Band collection:

“Every Woven Nylon band is made from over 500 threads woven together in a unique, colorful pattern. Monofilaments connect four layers of the weave to create a single durable band with a comfortable, fabric-like feel.”

Sources: Apple, MacRumors (mikedop, Pride band)

Band Apple Watch Hermès Single Tour (44 mm, Bleu Navy, 2020)

The Apple Watch Hermès features a “classic Hermès design.” According to Apple’s website, the band is “Handmade by artisans in France from supple Swift leather. The stainless steel buckle recalls those on the straps of a saddle, a nod to the equestrian heritage of Hermès.”

Apple’s Hermès Leather collection included both “single tour” and “double tour” styles. The double tour offered the unique style of wrapping twice around the wrist, while the single tour was the traditional single wrap. Depending on the style, Apple Watch Hermès bands were offered at premium prices between $319–$849 in nylon and leather.

The Apple Watch Hermès designs were a part of what Apple described as an “iconic collaboration” and said, “Apple Watch Hermès brings innovation and style to the forefront of your wrist.” Like other Apple Watch bands, the colors and patterns change seasonally and offer “a sophisticated palette of energetic brights and subtle seasonal tones on leather and woven nylon bands. Available in a wide range of styles and colorways in Double Tour or Single Tour.”

Interestingly, the Hermès website offered details about this band not provided on Apple’s website. Namely, Hermès describes Swift leather:

“This extremely supple, sophisticated leather is named after Jonathan Swift, the author of Gulliver’s Travels, to highlight its resemblance to Gulliver calfskin, which is no longer featured in today’s collections.
First appeared in the collections: 2004
Appearance: Almost smooth with a delicate shine; lightly marked grain that is sometimes hardly noticeable
Feel: Soft and tender
Hand: Supple and generous
Change over time: Becomes even more supple”

Editorial comment: It’s like butter.

Further, Hermès provided a description that is arguably clearer than Apple’s:

“You can match this band with any stainless steel Apple Watch case (Series 7 or previous versions). The 41 mm band works with the 38 mm, 40 mm and 41 mm cases; the 45 mm band works with the 42 mm, 44 mm and 45 mm cases.”

Technically, this band fits any Apple Watch, but stainless steel on aluminum is apparently considered très gauche. Although seemingly non-standard, I have titled this post using the product name provided by Hermès.

Finally, I don’t get the opportunity to use my four years of high school French often, but I have noticed that Americans frequently mispronounce the brand name Hermès. This video provides a great example of a native French speaker pronouncing the name. [Roughly, it’s pronounced air-MEHZ, but it’s best to hear it.]

Sources: Apple, Hermès

Apple Watch Classic Buckle (Generation 3, 316L Stainless Steel Buckle, 42 mm, Red, Spring 2016)

The Apple Watch Classic Buckle was made in two sizes and fit wrists measuring 130–195 mm (38 mm version) and 150–215 mm (42 mm version). Apple described this band as a traditional design “made from a calf leather that ages naturally over time to acquire a beautiful patina. A contrasting interior lining creates a dramatic two-tone look, and the color-matched edge stitching provides a subtle complement.”

This version of the Classic Buckle is the third generation of the design (the fourth generation added a spring-loaded square buckle to make it easier to insert the band). Its color is Red, but the band is not part of Apple’s (PRODUCT)RED collection.

In this example the Red Classic Buckle is paired with an Apple Watch Series 7 in silver stainless steel.

Sources: Apple, Bandbreite app

Apple Watch Woven Nylon Band (42 mm, Black, Space Gray Stainless Steel Buckle, 2017)

The Apple Watch Woven Nylon Band was available from 2016–2019. This band design was the first to include plastic connecting “lugs” to attach to the watch.

This Black Apple Watch Woven Nylon Band was available beginning in Fall 2017. This example fits the 42 mm Apple Watch. Although this band is called “black,” it is primarily gray. It has a Space Gray Stainless Steel Buckle and features three thick stripes in gray and dark gray with the edges in black.

According to Apple:

“Every Woven Nylon band is made from over 500 threads woven together in a unique, colorful pattern. Monofilaments connect four layers of the weave to create a single durable band with a comfortable, fabric-like feel. Available in seven vibrant colors”

Unlike the Apple Sport Loop bands that shipped with two sizes in one box, each Woven Nylon box included one size band with twelve notches. The 38 mm version was designed to fit wrists 125–195 mm, and the 42 mm fit 145–215 mm wrists.

No new Apple Watch Woven Nylon band styles were introduced after Summer 2018.

Source: 9to5mac, Bandbreite app

Apple Watch Woven Nylon Band (42mm, Space Orange/Anthracite, Stainless Steel Buckle, Fall 2016)

The Apple Watch Woven Nylon Band was available from Spring 2016–Summer 2018. This band design was the first to include plastic connecting “lugs” to attach to the watch.

This Apple Watch Woven Nylon Band in Space Orange and Anthracite (dark gray) was available during the Fall 2016 season and among the first Woven Nylon bands available. This example fits the 42mm Apple Watch and had a Stainless Steel Buckle. Up close, it uses a wavy pattern with two shades of orange and anthracite. (Anthracite is a hard coal with a high carbon content.)

Apple began releasing products in the color “Space Gray” in 2013 with the iPhone 5s and has changed shades a few times over the years. “Space Black” debuted in 2014 with the Apple Watch. Except for shades of gray and black, this is the only of another “Space” color from Aple.

According to Apple:

“Every Woven Nylon band is made from over 500 threads woven together in a unique, colorful pattern. Monofilaments connect four layers of the weave to create a single durable band with a comfortable, fabric-like feel. Available in seven vibrant colors”

Unlike the Apple Sport Loop bands that shipped with two sizes in one box, each Woven Nylon box included one size band with twelve notches. The 38mm version was designed to fit wrists 125–195mm, and the 42mm fit 145–215mm wrists.

Apple Watch Woven Nylon band styles were discontinued in Summer 2018.

Source: 9to5mac (Woven Nylon, Space Gray), Apple, Wikipedia

Apple Watch Woven Nylon Band (42mm, Red, Stainless Steel Buckle, Spring 2017)

The Apple Watch Woven Nylon Band was available from Spring 2016–Summer 2018. This band design was the first to include plastic connecting “lugs” to attach to the watch.

This Apple Watch Woven Nylon Band in Red was available during the Spring 2017 season. This example fits the 42mm Apple Watch and had a Stainless Steel Buckle. Although its color is “red,” it includes red plastic connectors and three stripes in yellow, red, and gray.

According to Apple:

“Every Woven Nylon band is made from over 500 threads woven together in a unique, colorful pattern. Monofilaments connect four layers of the weave to create a single durable band with a comfortable, fabric-like feel.”

Unlike the Apple Sport Loop bands that shipped with two sizes in one box, each Woven Nylon box included one size band with twelve notches. The 38mm version was designed to fit wrists 125–195mm, and the 42mm fit 145–215mm wrists.

Apple Watch Woven Nylon band styles were discontinued in Summer 2018.

Source: 9to5mac, Apple

Apple Watch Woven Nylon Band (42mm, Navy/Tahoe Blue, Stainless Steel Buckle, 2016)

The Apple Watch Woven Nylon Band was available from Spring 2016–Summer 2018. Woven Nylon bands were originally available in seven colors. The original colors included gold/red, gold/royal blue, royal blue, pink, pearl, scuba blue, and black. This band design was the first to include plastic connecting “lugs” to attach to the watch.

This Apple Watch Woven Nylon Band in Navy/Tahoe Blue was available during the Fall 2016 and Spring 2017 seasons. This example fits the 42mm Apple Watch and had a Stainless Steel Buckle.

According to Apple:

“Every Woven Nylon band is made from over 500 threads woven together in a unique, colorful pattern. Monofilaments connect four layers of the weave to create a single durable band with a comfortable, fabric-like feel. Available in seven vibrant colors.”

Unlike the Apple Sport Loop bands that shipped with two sizes in one box, each Woven Nylon box included one size band with twelve notches. The 38mm version was designed to fit wrists 125–195mm, and the 42mm fit 145–215mm wrists.

Apple Watch Woven Nylon band styles were discontinued in Summer 2018.

Source: 9to5mac, Apple