If you’re like me, you love the look of a leather watch band. When I bought my Apple Watch, I immediately began exploring leather band options for my Watch. Of course, one option has always been the Hermès collection from Apple, but the price tag, and the inability to buy it apart from a special edition Apple Watch, was a turn off for me. (OK, it was mostly the price tag.)
Luckily, I do have friends in high places, well places up north anyway, and the fine folks at Pad & Quill offered to send me a leather Apple Watch band of my choice to try out and review. Being a child of the late 60s/early 70s, I immediately begged them for the Lowry Cuff Band, a leather band that recalls the fat leather watch bands of my youth.
Overview
The Lowry Cuff Band for Apple Watch is made specifically for the 42mm Apple Watch, and fits wrists from 125-215mm in size. (Around 4.9-inches to 8.7-inches.) The band is available in Chestnut (my choice) and American Tan, and both models feature full-grain vegetable-tanned hand-stitched leather from Horween Tannery. (There’s a 25-year guarantee on the leather!)
When I received my Lowry Cuff, it was of course, packaged in Pad & Quill’s famous exclusive packaging, which is just damned fun to look at and anticipate opening. Once the box was opened, I was presented with the beautiful band shown above. ready to be installed onto my Apple Watch.
Installation of the Lowry Cuff is exactly like any other band made for your favorite wearable, the provided lugs slide right into the slots on the Watch, snapping securely into place. I found the Lowry Cuff to be soft and supple directly out of the box. I did find the band was a bit tight at first, requiring me to use the end hole to fasten my band around my wrist. however, within a few days, the band had stretched slightly, and I can now wear it comfortably using the second hole. (As a comparison, I usually wear my stock Apple Sport band on the second hole, as seen below.)
The Lowry Cuff is beautiful, and wears well. People regularly ask me which band it is, and where I got it. The band recalls the styles of the Mod era, yet works perfectly with today’s styles. (OK, for me, that’s a pair of jeans, and a Deadpool t-shirt, but still…)
I should note that after about one week, I removed the band to swap it out for the sport for a day, and the center fastener that locks the lug into place on the Watch fell out. This didn’t stop me from being able to use the band, but it wouldn’t lock securely into place. I contacted Pad & Quill, and they immediately sent me a new band. (Their customer service is excellent, and they’re quite responsive, even when you’re not reviewing one of their products.) I have been assured they have changed lug suppliers, and the problem lugs are no longer an issue. I do know that I haven’t experienced any issues with my replacement band.
Verdict
The Pad & Quill Lowry Cuff for Apple Watch is an excellent, high-quality leather band, perfect for any 42mm Apple Watch. The band is stylish, wears well, and doesn’t interfere with the Watch’s biometric measurements, or any other operations of the Watch.
The $129.00 price of the Lowry Cuff may turn some people off, but this is literally a case of you get what you pay for. It compares favorably to more expensive bands offered by other manufacturers, and it offers excellent quality of materials and workmanship. If you want a band that you will likely use for a number of years, take a look at the Lowry Cuff from Pad & Quill. And tell ’em MacTrast sent ya!
Rating: 4.5/5.0
Price: $129.95 – Available now at the Pad & Quill website.
Pros:
- So damned stylish
- Quality leather, with hand-crafting
- Customer service second to none
Cons:
- Some may think it is a bit expensive
- If you buy one, you’ll want more P&Q products
Disclaimer: Pad & Quill sent me the Lowry Cuff at no cost for review. I have not been compensated for the review. All thoughts and opinions are mine.
