2021 International Collection
Apple released twenty-two, count ‘em, twenty-two new Limited Edition International Collection Sport Loops for Apple Watch.
On June 29, 2021, Apple announced a limited release of nearly two dozen international Apple Watch Sport Loops. This is the second time Apple has released a series of bands to around the Summer Olympics. In 2016, Apple released fourteen Woven Nylon bands for the Apple Watch to coincide with the Rio Games in Brazil. These 14 bands were highly exclusive, available for only a brief timeframe circling the Olympics, and sold at only one retail location - Apple VillageMall - with a cost of nearly USD 100 apiece. Fourteen countries were represented in the 2016 collection (Australia, Brazil, Canada, China, France, Germany, Jamaica, Japan, Mexico, Netherlands, New Zealand, & South Africa). And all fourteen countries in the 2016 collection make their second appearance in this 2021 collection, with Belgium, Denmark, Greece, Italy, Russia, South Korea, Spain, & Sweden added to this year's release.
All 22 Bands are available in markets where Apple has an online presence and possibly through Apple Resellers. Leaks in late 2020 hinted at the possibility that these bands existed, though you have to suspect that the postponement of the 2020 Olympics Games due to the COVID-19 pandemic was why Apple hadn't released these bands last year.
But now they're out, they cost $49 apiece (or 1,078$ if you buy the whole set across three separate Apple IDs as you're limited to 10 per customer) and are available through the Apple Online Store in both 40/44mm variants. I can't imagine these will be around too long, and as of this post, several countries appear to have sold out or are no longer available for online ordering.
Below is a gallery of the 2016 Bands from Rio alongside their new 2021 counterparts:
And below is a gallery showcasing the eight new countries added this year:
All bands include a corresponding Stripe Apple Watch face, which can be added via an App Clip code included with each strap or just or downloaded through Apple's Website.
Not only are many of the patterns and colour choices in these sport loops quite lovely (the Netherlands band is gorge!), but they're a great complement to showing the love of country during sporting events, national holidays, and more!
I'm kinda glad that some of the bands sold out before I made a mess of things and bought the whole collection. As it currently stands, I ordered the band for Canada (cuz Canada!), along with bands for Netherlands and France (because I loved how each strap looked).
