WHIMVOY Review: Are These Apple Watch Bands Worth The Money?

Ad. I’ve had my Series 6 Apple Watch 40mm for ages now, and whilst I love the watch itself, I’ve always felt like it looked a bit… boring? Like, it’s just this functional bit of tech on my wrist rather than something that actually looks nice. So when WHIMVOY reached out asking if I’d like to try a couple of their watch bands, I jumped at the chance.

WHIMVOY specialise in making Apple Watch bands that look more like jewellery than tech accessories. Think feminine, elegant, proper pretty – a million miles away from those basic silicone sport bands we’ve all got kicking about.

They sent me two bands to test: the Moonlight Leather Watch Band in Pink & Rose Gold and the Floral Quartz Chain Watch Band in Rose Gold. Here’s what I actually thought after wearing them for a few weeks.

What Is WHIMVOY?

WHIMVOY is a brand that makes watch bands for Apple Watch (and Samsung, Garmin, Fitbit, and Google watches too). They’re all about turning your smartwatch from a bit of functional tech into something that looks like proper jewellery.

Their whole vibe is feminine and elegant – lots of leather, metals, beads, and crystals. If you’re after a sporty band for the gym, this isn’t the place. But if you want something that looks gorgeous with a dress or for work? They’ve got loads of options.

They’re based in China and ship globally, with free standard shipping on orders over $59 USD (or about £47). They also do this “Buy 2 Get 1 Free” deal, which makes the price per band much more reasonable if you’re buying multiple.

Unboxing: First Impressions

Both bands arrived in their own little boxes, which was a nice touch. Each one came with:

• The watch band itself
• Spare links/pins for adjusting the size
• A little tool for removing links (for the metal bands)
• Instructions

The packaging felt quite premium – not cheap or flimsy at all. Everything was well protected, and the presentation made it feel like you were opening something special rather than just another bit of tech.

The Moonlight Leather Watch Band: Pink & Rose Gold

This was the first one I tried, and honestly, I fell in love with it straight away.

What It Looks Like

The Moonlight band is a proper classic leather strap with a moccasin-style finish. Mine’s in pink leather with rose gold hardware – little stars and moons embossed into the leather with rose gold detailing. It’s dead cute without being childish, if that makes sense.

The leather is soft but feels quite sturdy. It’s 170mm long (about 6.7 inches) and adjustable, so it fits wrist sizes from about 130mm to 180mm. The clasp is a simple tang buckle – nothing fancy, just a standard belt-style fastening.

Wearing It

I’ve worn this one loads since I got it. It goes with pretty much everything – dresses, leggings, even my pyjamas when I’m working from home. The pink is a really lovely soft colour that’s not too bright or in-your-face.

The leather is comfortable. I’ve not had any rubbing or irritation, which I sometimes get with cheaper watch bands. It’s also quite breathable – my wrist doesn’t get sweaty as it does with silicone bands.

The rose gold hardware matches my Series 6 Apple Watch perfectly. I know some people have the aluminium or stainless steel watches, so you might want to think about which colour hardware will work with your watch.

The Downsides

The only slight issue I’ve had is that the leather takes a bit of breaking in. For the first few days, it was quite stiff and felt a bit tight even on the looser holes. After about a week of regular wear, it softened up and became much more comfortable.

Also, because it’s leather, you need to look after it a bit more than you would a plastic band. I wouldn’t wear it in the shower or for swimming (not that I’d wear my Apple Watch for swimming anyway). If it gets wet, you need to let it dry naturally rather than blasting it with a hairdryer.

The Floral Quartz Chain Watch Band: Rose Gold

This one’s completely different in style but equally lovely.

What It Looks Like

The Floral Quartz band is a metal chain-link style with little quartz crystal flowers dotted along it. Mine’s in rose gold, and the crystals catch the light beautifully. It’s proper statement jewellery – the kind of thing that makes people ask “ooh, where did you get that?”

It’s 195mm long (about 7.7 inches) and adjustable to fit wrists from 130mm to 225mm, so it’ll fit most people. The clasp is a sliding type, which I’ll get to in a minute.

The material is zinc alloy with quartz crystals. It’s got a nice weight to it without being heavy or uncomfortable.

Wearing It

This band is gorgeous for dressier occasions. I’ve worn it to a few work events and got loads of compliments. It makes the Apple Watch look like an actual piece of jewellery rather than a fitness tracker.

The crystals are secure – I was worried they might fall out, but they’re all still firmly in place after several weeks of wear. The rose gold finish hasn’t tarnished or faded either, which is always a concern with cheaper jewellery.

Temperature-wise, it’s fine. Metal bands can sometimes feel cold when you first put them on, but this warms up quickly and doesn’t feel uncomfortable.

The Downsides

Right, the clasp. It’s a sliding clasp, which means you slide it along to adjust the size. It works fine once you get the hang of it, but it took me a few goes to figure out how tight or loose I wanted it. There’s also no locking mechanism, so if you accidentally knock it, it can slide and loosen slightly.

The other thing is that it’s quite dressy. I wouldn’t wear this for everyday pottering about the house or for exercise. It’s definitely more of an “occasion” band rather than an everyday one.

Also, like all chain-link metal bands, it can catch on your clothes or hair occasionally. Not a dealbreaker, but worth mentioning.

Comparison: Leather vs Metal

Both bands are lovely, but they serve different purposes:

Moonlight Leather Band is your everyday workhorse. It’s comfortable, versatile, looks good with most outfits, and feels more casual. Perfect for daily wear.

Floral Quartz Chain Band is your special occasion piece. It’s dressier, makes more of a statement, and turns your Apple Watch into a proper accessory. Great for events, dinners, or when you want to look a bit more put-together.

If I could only have one, I’d probably pick the leather band just because I’d wear it more often. But having both means I can switch depending on what I’m doing, which is ideal.

Quality and Price

Let’s talk money. The Moonlight Leather Band is $40 USD (about £32), and the Floral Quartz Chain Band is $35 USD (about £28).

That might seem steep compared to the £5 knock-offs you can get on Amazon, but the quality difference is massive. These feel like proper accessories rather than cheap tat.

The materials are good quality – the leather is genuine leather, the metal doesn’t feel flimsy, and the crystals look like actual quartz rather than plastic. Everything feels well-made and durable.

Are they as expensive as Apple’s own bands? No. Apple charges £99 for their leather bands and even more for their metal ones. WHIMVOY is significantly cheaper whilst still being decent quality.

Would I pay this much for them myself? Probably, yes. Especially with the “Buy 2 Get 1 Free” deal they run. If you’re getting three bands for $75 (about £60), that works out at £20 per band, which feels like good value for the quality.

Fitting Your Apple Watch

Both bands are designed to fit multiple Apple Watch sizes. I’ve got the 40mm Series 6, and they fit the following models:

• Apple Watch Series 11 & 10 (42mm and 46mm)
• Apple Watch Ultra 3
• Apple Watch Series 1-9 & SE (38/40/41mm)
• Apple Watch Series 1-9 & SE & Ultra (42/44/45/49mm)

So basically, they’ll fit pretty much any Apple Watch you’ve got. The connector bits are the standard 14mm lug width that Apple uses.

Fitting them is dead easy – you just slide them into the slots on your watch the same way you would with any Apple Watch band. No tools needed for installation, just for adjusting the size on the metal one.

Who Are WHIMVOY Bands For?

These bands are perfect if you:

• Want your Apple Watch to look more like jewellery and less like a fitness tracker
• Prefer feminine, elegant styles
• Wear dresses a lot (like me!) and want something that matches
• Work in an office and need something smart
• Have multiple occasions and want to switch between casual and dressy
• Are fed up with boring silicone bands

They might not be for you if you:

• Only want sporty bands for exercise
• Prefer a minimalist, tech-forward aesthetic
• Want something waterproof for swimming
• Need the absolute cheapest option available
• Like chunky, statement bands (these are quite delicate and feminine)

The Range

WHIMVOY have loads of other styles too. I’ve been browsing their website (dangerous, I know), and they’ve got:

• Crystal and rhinestone bands
• Beaded bands
• More leather options in different colours
• Elastic bangle-style bands
• Metal link bands in various finishes
• Bowknot designs (very cute)

Most are in the £25-£45 price range, which seems to be their sweet spot. They also do phone cases, watch cases, and charms if you want to coordinate everything.

Sustainability and Ethics

WHIMVOY mention on their website that they use ethically sourced leather and focus on low-waste production. They make things in small batches rather than mass-producing, which is good.

They’re manufactured and shipped from China, which I always like to mention for transparency. The shipping takes about 7-15 days for standard (which is free over $59) or 5-10 days for express.

They offer a 30-day return policy if you’re not happy with your purchase, which gives you peace of mind.

My Verdict: Are WHIMVOY Bands Worth It?

After wearing both bands for a few weeks, I’m genuinely impressed. They’ve completely changed how I feel about my Apple Watch – it actually looks like something I want to wear now rather than just a functional bit of tech.

The quality is solid. These aren’t going to fall apart after a few weeks like cheap Amazon bands. The leather is real leather, the metal feels substantial, and the crystals are securely attached.

The designs are lovely. They’re feminine without being over-the-top, elegant without being boring, and versatile enough to work with different outfits.

The price feels fair for what you’re getting. Yes, you can get cheaper bands elsewhere, but you get what you pay for. These feel like they’ll last.

Would I recommend them? Absolutely. Especially if you’re someone who wears their Apple Watch daily and wants it to look nice rather than just functional. The “Buy 2 Get 1 Free” deal makes them even better value.

My personal favourites? The Moonlight Leather Band for everyday wear and the Floral Quartz for special occasions. Having both gives me loads of versatility.

The Pros

• High-quality materials that feel premium
• Beautiful, feminine designs that look like jewellery
• Comfortable to wear for long periods
• Fit multiple Apple Watch sizes
• Much cheaper than Apple’s own bands
• “Buy 2 Get 1 Free” deal makes them better value
• 30-day return policy
• Lots of styles to choose from
• Make your Apple Watch look like an actual accessory

The Cons

• More expensive than basic Amazon bands
• Leather needs breaking in and careful maintenance
• Some styles are quite dressy (not great for everyday casual wear)
• Metal bands can catch on clothes/hair
• Sliding clasp on the chain band takes getting used to
• Shipping from China takes 1-2 weeks
• Not waterproof (though most fancy watch bands aren’t)

Where To Buy

You can get WHIMVOY bands directly from their website at www.whimvoy.com. They ship to the UK and loads of other countries.

Keep an eye out for their promotions – they often run “Buy 2 Get 1 Free” or “Buy 3 Get 2 Free” deals, which make them much better value.

They also sell on Amazon if you prefer shopping there, though you might not get all the same deals or the full range.

WHIMVOY Discount Code

Get 20% off with the code: SKW20!

Final Thoughts

The WHIMVOY watch bands have genuinely made me enjoy wearing my Apple Watch more. Before, I’d sometimes leave it at home because it looked a bit naff with certain outfits. Now I actually want to wear it because it looks nice.

If you’re on the fence about whether £30-£40 is too much for a watch band, I’d say give them a go. The quality difference compared to cheap bands is noticeable, and they make your Apple Watch feel like a proper accessory rather than just a bit of tech.

I’m already eyeing up a few more designs on their website. The Crystal Bowknot one looks gorgeous, and I quite fancy trying one of their beaded bands too. This could get expensive…

Have you tried WHIMVOY bands? Or do you have other favourite brands for Apple Watch accessories? Let me know in the comments!