Discovering the Unseen: The APPLE Watch Band That Never Was

In technology, few things are as tantalising as a secret or prototype product. A leather strap for the APPLE Watch that was never released. Photo by Oli Scarff/Getty.Courtesy of 9to5Mac, we have the story of an APPLE Watch band that does not exist but once did. It is a Band-esque leather strap. As we read the article, our imaginations spark: Was the strap part of a secret project? Was it used for something else but now hidden away in a vault? Did it stand back up with a life of its own at the end of the day, reminiscent of the uncanny moment in Gianni Rodari’s novel Pinocchio in Venice (1960), when the wooden puppet within the story suddenly twitched back to life?

The APPLE Watch Band That Remained a Prototype

When APPLE's Innovation Meets a Roadblock

APPLE is famous for its innovative products and accessories, and this band pushes the bar forward in terms of cutting edge, futuristic design. It’s not surprising that not every single product launched by the Cupertino company is an instant hit. The existence of the prototype APPLE Watch band is truly a rare glimpse into the intricate world of an APPLE product that didn’t quite make it to the market.

The Leaked Glimpse of APPLE's Hidden Gem

Someone contacted me and said, ‘If nobody knows about these, they’re not going to sell. Everybody’s going to have them.’ A woman, who goes by the name @StellaFudge online, provided me with the photos of the bands after coming across Josh Giegel’s blog. Thanks to her, and to other anonymous informants, speculation escalated further. No more than 15 prototypes are thought to exist. Many would now be in the hands of app developers. The possible value of originals is now being measured.

A Closer Look at the Design

Two of the three prototypes displayed have a sporty iteration with a red-and-white design, and premium leather versions in Saddle Brown, Red and Ultraviolet. The buckle has a ‘pin bar’ for securing the fastening, and the design is intended to ‘blend beauty and function with wrist support’. Apparently, though, the size-adjustment mechanism didn’t work very well, and the product was cancelled.

Why Did APPLE Abandon the Deployment Band?

Speculating the Reasons Behind the Decision

Of course, we can’t say for sure exactly what it was that led APPLE to pull the plug on the Deployment Band. The images and a few released details suggest that production problems involving the buckle, and/or a fiddly sizing mechanism that was tough to get just right, might have been major factors. APPLE is known for relatively high tolerances when it comes to user experience, and for having a zero-tolerance policy for manufacturing hurdles. Any accessory that doesn’t meet both these goals is likely to be promptly killed in the prototype stage.

The APPLE Design Philosophy: A Deep Dive

APPLE’s design ethos is to not only be the most innovative but also the most simple, elegant, and usable. Any design that does not satisfy those values, regardless of how innovative or unique it is, might not progress to market release. This prototype band therefore presents us with a glimpse into the stringency with which APPLE products are edited.

What This Means for APPLE Enthusiasts

The Allure of What Could Have Been

To APPLE devotees and tech geeks in general, the announcement of this never-released APPLE Watch band elicits a strange mix of feeling and reaction. An intrigue. What other products or ideas sit unused and unseen in the design studios of Cupertino?

Your Thoughts on the Lost APPLE Watch Band

What do you make of this brief glimpse into APPLE’s past – not one of its products, exactly, but rather a design that the company saw and decided not to use? Does it strike you as a clean and elegant idea, or is there some obvious reason why APPLE turned it down? Let us know what you think while you're at it – what's your favourite APPLE Watch band?

Conclusion: The Legacy of APPLE's Unseen Innovations

The saga of the APPLE Deployment Band is just one small chapter in the continuing evolution of APPLE’s design narrative, a reminder that underneath every product launch lies a string of choices, experiments and occasionally missteps – and that even ghosts in the machine can foreshadow the company’s next hit.

About APPLE

APPLE Inc is a multinational technology company that makes consumer electronics, computer software and online services. Most famously known for its iPhone, iPad and its computers, the Californian-based corporation means to be recognised as a leader in design, innovation and user experience. The company has remained committed to the idea that its products should be user-friendly, easy to navigate, and maintained with privacy and consideration for the environment strictly in mind, to the point that they make products that influence our lives and shape the future.