Cloth straps are comfortable and wick away moisture, but they hold the moisture and aren’t very formal. Silicone straps are durable and waterproof, but they trap sweat. I have sensitive skin and need to wash silicone straps and let my wrist breathe occasionally if I don’t want to get rashes. Leather, on the other hand, is durable. It’s comfortable to wear and breathable, and it will mold to your skin. In my opinion, it’s also far more stylish and professional-looking than either cloth or silicone.
Bluebonnet is a small Texas-based company that makes Apple Watch straps out of full-grain calf leather. I was very impressed by the thickness of the leather and the build quality of the Apple Watch inserts and buckle (whether the metal parts are silver or stainless steel varies on the color of the band). It fit my 41-mm Series 7 perfectly. But if you have a smaller wrist, you will probably need to punch an extra hole or two in the band. Avoid the temptation to use a knife—either get a leather hole punch or take it to a shop.
★ Alternative: If you’re a baller, Apple has its own proprietary Hermès collaborations that I do not own. However, I’ve played with the Single Tour band for Apple Watch at the Apple Events and they are beautiful and turn your Series 10 into more of a dress watch, if you’re the kind of person who cares about watch etiquette.
Quince is a direct-to-consumer business that purports to offer luxury essentials at an affordable price. The leather on its Apple Watch strap ($30) is stiffer and thinner, the color is not as vibrant, and the hardware is weird—I’m not sure why the buckle has an extra loop on top. However, it comes in two different sizes, and the small size fits my Watch SE well. If you want a cheaper option, this one will work for you.
