Apple announces new Apple Watch International Collection bands and faces

Apple Watch International Collection (Image credit: Apple)

What you need to know

Apple just announced the Apple Watch International Collection.
The new collection consists of 22 limited edition Sport Loop bands and accompanying faces.

Apple just announced a new Apple Watch International Collection, a set of 22 special edition Sport Loop bands and colorful faces.

Apple says the new collection is all about celebrating "the indescribable drive and competitive spirit of all athletes and fans." We are of course edging nearer to the Tokyo Olympics.

The soft, breathable, and lightweight International Collection Sport Loop bands are available representing the following countries: Australia, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, China, Denmark, France, Germany, Great Britain, Greece, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Mexico, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Russia, South Africa, South Korea, Spain, Sweden, and the US.

Apple Watch Us International Collection (Image credit: Apple)

Apple's Newsroom announcement post speaks with Amy Van Dyken, a six-time Olympic swimming gold medalist, about how she uses her Apple Watch when exercising in her wheelchair. It's a great read and one well worth spending a few minutes on.

"I share activity with my sister and my niece," Van Dyken said. "I love how it helps me stay connected to my family — we enjoy encouraging one another."

As for the watch bands, they're available in both 40mm and 44mm sizes and cost $49 each. Apple says you can buy them on apple.com and in Apple Stores. The watch faces will be downloadable via an App Clip printed on the band's packaging.

The new bands will be compatible with all Apple Watches, including the current favorite — Apple Watch Series 6. Need to grab a watch to put your new band on? These are the best Apple Watch deals available today.

Oliver Haslam has written about Apple and the wider technology business for more than a decade with bylines on How-To Geek, PC Mag, iDownloadBlog, and many more. He has also been published in print for Macworld, including cover stories. At iMore, Oliver is involved in daily news coverage and, not being short of opinions, has been known to 'explain' those thoughts in more detail, too. Having grown up using PCs and spending far too much money on graphics card and flashy RAM, Oliver switched to the Mac with a G5 iMac and hasn't looked back. Since then he's seen the growth of the smartphone world, backed by iPhone, and new product categories come and go. Current expertise includes iOS, macOS, streaming services, and pretty much anything that has a battery or plugs into a wall. Oliver also covers mobile gaming for iMore, with Apple Arcade a particular focus. He's been gaming since the Atari 2600 days and still struggles to comprehend the fact he can play console quality titles on his pocket computer.