Apple Watch Hermès Bands to be Sold Separately, New Colors Coming April 19

[MacRumors]

Apple revealed an expansion to its collection of Hermès Apple Watch bands today, with four additional colors becoming available to buy separately later this month.

Apple's refreshed collaboration with the French fashion house brings sapphire blue, peacock blue, white and orange to the existing collection of Fauve (deer brown), Etain, Capucine, and Bleu Jean.

In the past, Hermès leather bands were only available if customers bought the watch and band at the same time, meaning Hermès bands will become available individually for the first time.

Availability varies with model size, so not all colors are available for both models of Apple Watch. Prices for the new bands will be $340 for the Single Tour (38mm and 42mm). The 42mm model will be available in sapphire blue, deer brown, fire orange and black, while the 38mm version can also be had in white and peacock blue.

The Double Tour is only available for 38mm Apple Watch models and sells for $490 in both regular and long strap lengths. Regular length will be available in white, peacock blue, sapphire blue, tin gray, deer brown and fire orange, while the longer length band comes in deer brown. The Cuff will sell for $690 and is limited to the 42mm size in deer brown.

The new editions will be available at Apple Stores and Hermès outlets from April 19. Apple has updated its website to reflect the change.

Apple and Hermès began offering the special edition Apple Watch Hermès via their online storefronts on January 22. Prior to that, the Apple Watch Hermès collection was only available for purchase in select boutique and Apple retail locations in major cities like Los Angeles, San Francisco, New York, Toronto, Milan, Paris, London, Tokyo, and Beijing.

(via A Blog To Watch.)

Article Link: Apple Watch Hermès Bands to be Sold Separately, New Colors Coming April 19

 

[Crosscreek]

Oh boy...new colors...lets hold an event. Where's the Macs?

 

[mimeArtist]

But you'd not be able to get the digital Hermes face then?

 

[briko]

But you'd not be able to get the digital Hermes face then?

I was just about to ask the same question. Maybe Apple will make it available to download. Hopefully, this would signal the beginning of downloadable watch faces from third party developers.

 

[FieldingMellish]

Hermes and Apple. 2 companies getting away with exorbitant prices.

 

[joshen]

You should be using the official color names in the article, it gets confusing.

 

[Zzzoom]

For the sake of humanity, please no more Apple Watch band articles on the front page. Pleeeease!

 

[nicho]

For the sake of humanity, please no more Apple Watch band articles on the front page. Pleeeease!

It's in the iOS blog...

 

[Sandstorm]

True innovation. So amazing and ahead of time, that they're almost too cheap (for Apple, the luxury fashion brand).

 

[LordQ]

Pretty, but where are the Apple Watch 2 rumours?

 

[solarguy17]

I already think regular Apple Watch bands are to expensive, but why in the world are these so expensive. I can get the same stuff off Amazon for $50.

 

[2457282]

The only way to make the bands worth their price is to include a code that allows you to enable the Hermes watch face. That would be one way folks would know it's the real deal.

 

[dwaltwhit]

i love the blu saphir band! for me the price is a factor; for now I will have to admire from afar, but I love that color!

I wonder if the apple watch 2 will be compatible with these first gen bands. I have bought a few of the eurolastemer (sp?) bands for my space gray sport and whether the new watches work with the old bands will definitely influence my purchase of the new watch.

edit: Is there not a picture of the black?

 

[OllyW]

I can get the same stuff off Amazon for $50.

It wouldn't be the same though. It might look similar but it wouldn't be made from the same quality leather or be as well made and the metal work will probably be inferior.

Whether or not that would justify the extra cost to you is another matter but some people will be prepared to pay the extra for the genuine article.

 

[mcdj]

why in the world are these so expensive. I can get the same stuff off Amazon for $50.

Yep, in fact Hermes has an Amazon outlet store, where you can buy any number of handmade French calfskin straps for $49.99. And they have buy 2 get one free in April, plus they're throwing in a coupon for a free Bloomin Onion at Outback Steakhouse, because Hermes is just that classy.

 

[applesith]

Can these work with the Sport watch? If yes and I can get the Hermes face, I'd consider getting Apple Watch with some of these bands.

 

[Ant2369]

I was just about to ask the same question. Maybe Apple will make it available to download. Hopefully, this would signal the beginning of downloadable watch faces from third party developers.

I was thinking the exact same thing also

 

[H.Finch]

Hermes and Apple. 2 companies getting away with exorbitant prices.

I love people coming to an Apple dedicated site, a brand known as 'premium' and pretty pricey.... and then moaning about prices.... Why not be happy that Apple is one of those brands not going for that 'race to the bottom' all the other brands are going for?

The 'we do it cheap(er)' way, is for brands without principle and creativity. And we have more then enough of those.

 

[lolkthxbai]

I already think regular Apple Watch bands are to expensive, but why in the world are these so expensive. I can get the same stuff off Amazon for $50.

You can't get the "same stuff" from Amazon. It's the brand and quality you're paying for. There's nothing wrong with paying a little or a lot for a band. But there is a difference.

 

[Mac 128]

I thought people were saying this wouldn't happen. Wonder what changed? Perhaps the Watch|Hermes isn't selling well. Also have to wonder why Apple didn't announce this at the Spring event the way they announced the Hermes watch originally.

This is very strange.

 

[lolkthxbai]

I thought people were saying this wouldn't happen. Wonder what changed? Perhaps the Watch|Hermes isn't selling well. Also have to wonder why Apple didn't announce this at the Spring event the way they announced the Hermes watch originally.

This is very strange.

I figure that just like the Stainlees Steel Space Black model, Apple decided to offer more choice to consumers. The bands probably just weren't ready in time to be revealed at the event. The bands are a collaboration between Apple and Hermes so it might have taken longer to finalize than the ones designed and made just by Apple.

 

[mcdj]

Can these work with the Sport watch? If yes and I can get the Hermes face, I'd consider getting Apple Watch with some of these bands.

If you don't mind a shiny steel connector on your matte aluminum watch, it will work. Not my style but YMMV.

Don't hold your breath for the Hermes face. it ain't happening.

 

[Mac 128]

I figure that just like the Stainlees Steel Space Black model, Apple decided to offer more choice to consumers. The bands probably just weren't ready in time to be revealed at the event. The bands are a collaboration between Apple and Hermes so it might have taken longer to finalize than the ones designed and made just by Apple.

I doubt it. The prototypes for those bands have been ready for weeks. And you do realize that was only a couple of weeks ago? I think it took longer for the original Hermes watch to hit the stores after Apple announced it.

So no, I don't buy that answer. Something else is going on. And what happened to the rumored new partnership for another co-brand?
[doublepost=1460040637][/doublepost]

If you don't mind a shiny steel connector on your matte aluminum watch, it will work. Not my style but YMMV.

Don't hold your breath for the Hermes face. it ain't happening.

I asked this question before about Apple not selling leather bands with aluminum finishes, and was told that Apple only sells one lug for everything. Just like the pin on the Sport band that comes with the polished stainless models is neutral to match any watch -- there's not a brushed aluminum pin to match the Sport. So Jony Ive thinks it's perfectly acceptable to mix the metal finishes on the watch bands with the cases.

 

[applesith]

If you don't mind a shiny steel connector on your matte aluminum watch, it will work. Not my style but YMMV.

Don't hold your breath for the Hermes face. it ain't happening.

Oh I didn't think of the finish difference between the sport and these. I just asked my friend at Hermes and her employee discount doesn't apply to these, so I don't think I'll be getting.

 

[MrGimper]

You will not get the Hermes watch face as you have not bought the Hermes watch. Purchasing the strap will not magically engrave "Hermes" on the back of your watch either .....