Grovemade’s new leather Apple Watch bands now available from $79

Grovemade has unveiled a new line of Apple Watch bands, taking its classic American-made style and applying it to Apple’s popular wearable. The latest leather straps out of Portland come in a range of styles and colors to match your personal preferences. Like so many other brands on the market today, Grovemade is looking to undercut Apple on the pricing of its official Watch Bands…

Grovemade is entering the competitive Apple Watch accessory world just a few months after This is Ground did the same. Both brands are known for high-quality craftsmanship, so it’s no surprise that they’ve both put a focus on this category. Grovemade has long been known for its attractive Desk Collection but its not dabbled much in the area of Apple-specific accessories. You can learn more about the brand’s backstory in our Small States coverage from a few years back.

“The Leather Apple Watch Band is a striking addition to our everyday carry, rounding out the collection with a piece that seamlessly complements the design of the Apple Watch,” says Ken Tomita, co-founder, Grovemade.

The new Apple Watch bands from Grovemade will focus on a minimal design with vegetable-tanned, full grain leather materials. London Tan or Black shades are available alongside matching watch buckles that are made from stainless steel and thankfully not plastic. At first glance, I’m a big fan of the metal clasp that has a Grovemade logo and sharp edge. You can see further details of both models on this landing page over at Grovemade.

Prices will start at $79 for the watch and go up to $139 for a bundle that includes both versions.

For comparison, Apple’s official leather bands start at $149. That makes these new Grovemade straps upwards of 50% less. Combined with a made in America story, it won’t be a surprise if these bands are a hit. The previously mentioned This is Ground Connoisseur Collection (reviewed here) sells for $115.

If even a $79 price tag is too rich for your blood, we’ve highlighted a number of more affordable options in the past. Just recently, Apple introduced quite a few new bands and we rounded up the best alternatives here with prices starting at under $10 including nylon, sport and leather options.

The new Grovemade Apple Watch bands are available for purchase today direct from the manufacturer starting at $79. We’ll have a full hands-on review in the coming weeks with further details on the build quality and design.