Bani McSpedden (watch editor of the Australian Financial Review and watch-next.com) has a fascinating take on Apple Watch from the perspective of a watch expert and wearer (don’t miss the video).

This point about bands stood out to me:

Even little details like strap changes have been addressed in an ingenious way. The straps on Apple’s watch – in four styles from silicon to fine leather and metal versions – slide into the case rather than loop around a spring bar, making switching from one to another as simple as pressing a recessed button.

Why traditional watchmakers haven’t come up with something like this after all these years – well, a century – is a mystery.

David Chartier made a similar argument earlier today:

When I think about the innovative ease of swapping bands and Apple’s surprisingly low prices, I won’t be surprised if the bands become a sleeper hit of the Apple Watch. These deeply personal, and now incredibly useful, devices will finally join the rest of your wardrobe in being nearly effortless to adjust and re-personalize on a daily basis. That’s going to be powerful, convenient, and appealing.

I can’t wait to see which companies will get into the business of third-party Watch bands. Fortunately, it sounds like it’ll be easy to switch between multiple bands, which should help swapping them on a daily basis. John Gruber writes:

At first, I found swapping watch bands to be a bit fiddly. I can see why Apple wasn’t allowing anyone to do so in the hands-on areas at the press events. But once you do it a few times, you get the hang of it. They really are rather easy to remove, yet they feel very secure once clicked into place. My advice: pay attention to the angle of the slot as you slide them into place.

See also: CNET’s video on swapping bands.