This article explains how to change your Apple Apple leather band, as well as other Apple bands. The Apple Watch 1st generation, Series 1, Series 2, Series 3, Series 4, Series 5/SE, and Series 6 are all covered by these guides.
What you have to notice when changing Apple leather band
- Turn your Apple Watch off, then slide the bands across to remove each strap by holding down the band release buttons on the back.
- With the text on the new band facing you, slide the new band in until you feel and hear a light click.
- You must use an Apple leather band designed exclusively for Apple Watches.
How to Remove Your Apple Watch Band
Before you can replace your Apple Leather Watch’s original wrist strap with a new one, you must first remove it.
- Place your Apple Watch face down on a clean, smooth surface, such as a microfiber cloth or a soft mat on your desktop. Make sure your Apple Watch is turned off so you don’t tap anything by accident.
- Press the band release button on the back of the Apple Watch with your fingertip or fingernail. (For each strap, there are two band release buttons. They can be found at the top and bottom of the back of the Apple Watch. The buttons are the same color as the rest of the back of the Apple Watch, but they’re fairly easy to spot)
- While holding the button, slide the band across to remove it.
- Release the band release button once the band has slid out. If the band still won’t slide out, press the band release button again, this time making sure you hold it down.
- Do the same for the remaining strap.
How to Install a New Apple Leather Band
It’s even easier to put on a new band than it is to take off the old one. However, you need to remember that the Apple Watch doesn’t use a standard watch band. You need to wear a watch strap specifically made for the device.
- Make sure the new band’s small text on the back is facing you.
- Tilt the new wrist band a little so that it’s in line with the angle of the Apple Watch’s wrist strap slot.
- Slide the new band in until you feel and hear a soft click. If you don’t hear or feel a click, try sliding the band out and then back in.
How to take care of your Apple leather band
First and foremost, be careful not to stain your Apple leather band with food, oil, lotions, moisture, sweat or perfume. If possible, remove it while sleeping and bathing. Avoid leaving your iWatch strap in direct sunlight. Prolonged exposure to sunlight or high intensity source of light can lead to a discoloring, fading and deformation of the leather.
Never soak a leather band in water nor clean it with an abrasive or acid leather watch strap cleaner. Remember that leather treated with aniline tanning methods is sensitive to water, humidity, grease and exposure to intense light.
Steps to clean dirty Apple Watch bands
- Remove the band from the Apple watch.
- Wipe the band with a dry cotton or microfiber cloth to remove dust, avoid scratching the leather.
- Gently wipe both sides of the band with a clean damp soft cloth.
- Add a drop of moisturizing liquid hand soap to the damp cloth.
- Wipe the watch band in small circles to remove stains.
- Do not insist on a specific spot otherwise you might create a new stain.
- Use another clean damp cloth to remove the soap.
- Gently dry the leather with a clean dry cloth.
- Let the band dry completely before attaching it to your Apple Watch again or storing it.
- Don’t expose leather bands in direct sunlight or at high temperatures.
You don’t need specific cleaning products (specialized saddle soap is only good for unfinished leather bands).
How to clean a white Apple leather band
If your Apple Watch band is made from white leather and it has an oil, grease or moisture stain, you can clean it by sprinkling some talc powder or cornstarch on it.
Allow it to dry for a few minutes, then blow away the powder and gently wipe the watch band with a soft dry cotton or microfiber cloth.
Remember to remove the band from the watch before cleaning it!
Cleaning a leather watch band with vinegar
If you mix one part white vinegar with three parts water, you can make your own home-made leather watch band cleaner, ideal to clean a leather Apple Watch band.
Always try this on the inside of the band first, because there is the risk that the vinegar might affect the color of the leather.
How to clean a leather watch strap that smells
Denatured alcohol is effective if you want to clean the leather watch strap and remove stains and smell from the internal side of bands like Cavallino or Galuchat. Don’t try it on the outside part of the band if you are not hundred percent sure.
Clean a leather watch band baking soda
Baking soda is sometimes used to remove smell and stains from sport leather, however don’t use it on delicate leather like Nappa or Croco or Python.
For sport leather iBands you can mix a tablespoon of baking soda and a tablespoon of water to make a polish paste for your leather watch strap. Rub this paste on both sides of the band and wait for about an hour. When the paste is dry, wipe it away with a damp cloth and allow the band to dry completely before attaching the strap to the watch again.
If the leather is too dry, you can make it soft again with a leather conditioner for watch straps. This will restore the leather of your watch strap.
B.A Handmade – Premier quality leather band provider in the US
B.A Handmade specializes in design, manufacture and supply of quality watch straps. All products are meticulously handcrafted or imported with clear origins. Watch bands at B.A Handmade are meticulously designed and crafted, made entirely by hand, with carefully selected and imported full-grain leather materials.
You can choose an leather band HERE or request your own customized Apple leather band. Besides, when you buy a leather strap at B.A Handmade, you will get a free needle buckle and strap replacement tools.
