I suspect writers and analysts are missing just how popular Apple Watch bands will be.
The bands are tremendously easy to swap out—an overlooked innovation of something the watch market has never really done, especially at this end. Watches are very personal fashion statements, even for (soon to be) watch wearers who aren’t aware of it or think they don’t perceive watches that way (spoiler: they do).
Anecdotally, among my fellow Early Adopters, I saw quite a few people order at least one additional band of either a different color (say, a black Sport band in addition to white) or style, such as a Milanese loop or link bracelet for when it’s time to take things up a notch. Or they went the other route like me, ordering a Watch with one of the metal bands (Milanese, if you’re interested), then a Sport band for when it’s time to do sports.
When I think about the innovative ease of swapping bands and Apple’s surprisingly low prices, I won’t be surprised if the bands become a sleeper hit of the Apple Watch. These deeply personal, and now incredibly useful, devices will finally join the rest of your wardrobe in being nearly effortless to adjust and re-personalize on a daily basis. That’s going to be powerful, convenient, and appealing.
