A glitzy bracelet for fancy eventsHaley Perry/NYT Wirecutter
The next time I get the opportunity to put on a fancy outfit, I’ll likely accessorize it with the Posh Tech Serena Faux Tennis Bracelet Band. Unlike so many other bands out there, this one makes the Apple Watch look and feel like a real piece of jewelry.
This slim, shiny bracelet is the best statement band I’ve found to glam up the Apple Watch.
Posh Tech makes a ton of decorative bands, but I chose the Serena band for its resemblance to a true double-row bracelet. It has two rhinestone-encrusted ropes that connect to a small set of standard links on the underside of the band, and each side is detailed with a wrapped knot that covers the area where the bracelet meets the Apple Watch adapter. This band is decidedly flashy, but it also makes the Apple Watch feel much less out of place alongside an elegant garment.
This band has a fold-over clasp that provides an extra layer of security, and it’s easy enough to don and remove by yourself. It’s also comfortable to wear: It’s not too stiff, it doesn’t snag hair or scratch the skin, and it’s lightweight. The length is nicely adjustable, and the box includes two extra links that require no tools to add or remove.
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The Serena band comes in both gold and silver, and because it’s so eye-catching, I recommend choosing the color that matches your watch case so that it doesn’t draw undue attention. Color-wise, the silver band looks just fine paired with my starlight-colored Apple Watch case, though the blingy design does contrast with the plain, matte-aluminum finish.
While this band comes with two sets of adapters to fit any model of Apple Watch, it looks better with smaller Apple Watches. At almost 0.375 inch wide, this bracelet is about as slim as it gets, and I would think twice before buying it for a larger Apple Watch model. Posh Tech doesn’t include free shipping for returns, and it charges a 10% restocking fee, so if you want to try the Serena band for yourself without worry, you may want to snag it from a third-party retailer with a more flexible return policy.
A solid, understated stapleHaley Perry/NYT Wirecutter
I tend to steer away from squared-off metal bracelets and watches, but Quince’s Stainless Steel Bracelet Smartwatch Band has me rethinking my aesthetic. It isn’t as chunky as I expected at the time I ordered it; instead, it’s slim and detailed, and I can’t picture an outfit that it wouldn’t go well with.
This stainless steel band has a refined, basket-weave design that goes with just about anything.
Quince offers this stainless steel band in five colors: silver, gold, and rose gold, as well as a couple of two-toned options. It has a tasteful basket-weave pattern and a straight, rectangular shape, and the polished steel is impressively shiny. At 0.75 inch wide, this band is a bit too slim to look proportional with larger Apple Watch cases, but it’s a flattering option for anyone who wants a chunky design that doesn’t swallow up smaller wrists.
This band is flexible and smooth against the skin, and it has a substantial butterfly clasp that keeps it secure. The metal feels substantial yet lightweight on the wrist, and I had no problem wearing it all day long.
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I appreciate that this band is easy to dress up or down: It’s minimalist enough to wear into an office yet shiny and sophisticated enough to pair with a fancy outfit. However, you may find this model too slender if you have a bigger watch case, or if your wrist tends to look better with a wider band. If you like solid metal bands but want a bit more bulk, you might be happier with the Machete band or Shinola band we recommend.
A colorful take on a classicHaley Perry/NYT Wirecutter
The Machete Boyfriend Apple Watch Band elevates the classic three-link design with a splash of color.
This two-toned band comes in 13 colors, and it looks good on wrists and watches of all sizes.
So many of the decorative bands I’ve tested look out of place when paired with larger Apple Watch cases, but the Boyfriend band looked great on both the 40 mm and 45 mm watches I wore it with. And the fit was universally proportional on everyone I asked to try it on, from people with slender arms and frames to friends with bigger wrists and bodies.
Machete offers this band in 13 acetate colors, including vibrant blues and greens as well as marbly browns and beiges. You can also choose between gold-toned and silver-toned stainless steel for the outer edges. I tested the white shell and classic tortoise variants with silver stainless steel, and I was immediately struck by the quality of the metal. The brushed stainless steel was lustrous and thick, but the band still felt surprisingly lightweight. And though I tried with some effort, I could not easily scratch or smudge it.
The quality of the inner acetate, however, varied between the two colors I tested. The classic tortoise pattern looked sophisticated and well-matched against the bordering metal, but the white shell version appeared too plasticky and fake to justify the band’s $140 price tag. That version’s stark white pigment also contrasted strangely with lighter skin tones, making our testers’ arms look yellow and aged. If you end up with a color you dislike, Machete offers free returns within 30 days of purchase.
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I found the Boyfriend band comfortable enough to wear for a full day without noticing. It’s not too stiff, and it doesn’t snag or tug on long arm hair. I also like that it closes with a foldover clasp, which makes putting the watch on and taking it off quick and painless. Machete includes a handy spring-bar tool for removing links and resizing the band.
Because it comes with two sets of adapters to fit any Apple Watch, this band makes a particularly nice gift. Rather than worrying about its compatibility with your giftee’s watch, the only guesswork you’ll have to do is in choosing the perfect color.
A beaded band with flapper flairHaley Perry/NYT Wirecutter
The Posh Tech Penny Beaded Band looks and feels a bit like a piece of costume jewelry, but as a vintage-glamour aficionado, I immediately fell for this jazzy beaded number. Available in both gold and silver, this beaded band is a fun departure from traditional watch band styles. But it works best on smaller wrists.
Embellished with several strands of beads and fake pearls, this budget elastic band seems inspired by the flappers of the 1920s, making it great for costume parties. But it does run a bit small.
The Penny band has four distinct strands of beads that incorporate faux pearls, two sizes of solid metal balls, and even a small chain-link detail. You wouldn’t fool anyone into thinking these pearls came out of an antique jewelry box, but for less than $40, this band is a fun accessory to whip out for a swanky event.
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The Penny band is fully elastic, so all you have to do to put on your watch is stretch it over your hand and slide it onto your wrist. In a way, I prefer this method to having to fool around with a fiddly clasp or closure.
However, this band runs tight. I have a very small wrist (about 5.5 inches in circumference), and even still, the beads left little imprints on my skin after just a few minutes. It’s also too snug for me to wear comfortably for a full day — I’ll likely wear this band only to a formal event lasting a few hours. If you have bigger wrists, the elastic poses even more of a problem: Not only will it feel tight, but the beads will also separate as the elastic stretches, exposing the strings in the empty spaces.
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Posh Tech includes two sets of adapters, making this band compatible with every Apple Watch model. It looks proportional with small and large watch cases alike, and you can fan each strand out across your wrist if you want a wider, strappier look.
A luxurious three-link bandHaley Perry/NYT Wirecutter
If your sentiment toward watch bands is “the chunkier, the better,” Shinola’s 24mm Stainless Steel 3-Link Apple Watch Bracelet is the one for you. This sturdy band was an instant crowd-pleaser among the men I recruited to try it on, and it looked attractive on slender and broad arms alike.
This striking stainless steel band is the heftiest of the bunch, and it has a classy, executive appeal. It’s available only for larger Apple Watch cases, but that’s also where it’s the most befitting.
The Shinola band has an Oyster-style design with brushed metal on the side borders and a polished finish on the center links. It’s shiny and reflective yet not overly flashy, and unlike so many bands that seem out of place with larger Apple Watches, it looks perfectly proportional with a big case.
This is the heaviest stainless steel band I tested, but it didn’t feel fatiguing after a full day of wear. It has a strong butterfly clasp that keeps the watch from budging, and the links never snagged or pulled my partner’s untamed arm hair.
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As with any link band, you might find yourself in between sizes. But because these links are wider than most, finding the sweet spot between too loose and too tight can be harder. Shinola does allow returns within 30 days if you can’t find the perfect fit after purchase, but it doesn’t include a resizing tool.
Though Shinola doesn’t offer any other stainless steel or hardware colors besides silver, it has a separate 20 mm version if you prefer a slimmer width — though that bracelet is compatible only with smaller Apple Watch cases.
While this band doesn’t feel too stiff or restricting once it’s on your wrist, sliding the adapters on and off the Apple Watch itself is pretty tough. The band is rigidly structured in such a way that you have to get the second adapter in at the perfect angle, which can be a bit of a battle — and if you’re really rough in your attempts, the butterfly clasp can bend. If you like swapping out your watch band regularly, I recommend that you give yourself a few extra minutes when getting ready to account for the finicky process of attaching this band.