A better fit means better readings
For best results, the back of your Apple Watch needs skin contact for features like Wrist Detect, the Taptic Engine, and the electrical and optical heart sensors. Wearing your Apple Watch with the right fit—not too tight, not too loose, and with room for your skin to breathe—keeps you comfortable and let the sensors do their jobs.
You may want to tighten your Apple Watch band for workouts, then loosen it when you’re done. In addition, the sensors will work only if you wear your Apple Watch on the top of your wrist.
Learn more about getting the best results when you use the Blood Oxygen app on Apple Watch Series 6 and Series 7.
Too loose
If your Apple Watch doesn’t stay in place, or the sensors aren’t reading your heart rate, tighten the band a bit.
Just right
Your Apple Watch should be snug but comfortable.
If you have a Solo Loop or Braided Solo Loop, the band size should be comfortable, but snug against your wrist. Simply pull from the bottom of the band to stretch it over your wrist when you put it on and take it off. Solo Loop may increase in length over time.
For people who are sensitive to certain materials
A great deal of care and research goes into choosing materials for all our devices. In addition to ensuring that all materials adhere to existing regulations, we developed our own specification for Apple Watch that goes beyond those requirements.* In fact, every material that touches your skin has gone through extensive evaluation in accordance with our specification. This includes:
- Thousands of material composition tests
- More than a thousand prototypes worn for trial studies
- Thousands of toxicological assessments
- Consultations with board-certified dermatologists
A small number of people will experience reactions to certain materials. This can be due to allergies, environmental factors, extended exposure to irritants like soap or sweat, and other causes. If you know you have allergies or other sensitivities, be aware that Apple Watch and some of its bands contain the following materials:
Nickel. Apple Watch models with a stainless steel or an aluminum case, the stainless steel band release buttons of Apple Watch Series 4 and later and Apple Watch SE, the stainless steel portions of some Apple Watch bands, the metallic portions of the Hermès bands, and the magnets in the watch and bands, each contain some nickel. However, they all fall below the strict nickel restrictions set by European REACH regulation. Therefore, while nickel exposure is unlikely to be a problem, you should be aware of the possibility in case you're susceptible to nickel-related reactions.
Acrylates. The Apple Watch case, the Woven Nylon, the Milanese Loop, the Modern Buckle, and the Leather Loop contain trace amounts of acrylates and methacrylates from adhesives. Acrylates and methacrylates are found in many consumer products that come in contact with the skin, such as adhesive bandages. Some people may be sensitive to them, or may develop sensitivities over time. Apple Watch and its bands are designed so that parts containing acrylates and methacrylates are not in direct contact with your skin.
Another potential cause of discomfort is wearing your Apple Watch too tightly or loosely. An overly tight band can cause skin irritation. A band that’s too loose can cause rubbing. If you experience redness, swelling, itchiness, or any other irritation, you may want to consult your physician before you put your Apple Watch back on.
What's in your Apple Watch
These are the materials that we use to make your Apple Watch.
Apple Watch Series 7
- Apple Watch Series 7 (GPS + Cellular) (Stainless Steel) and Apple Watch Series 7 (GPS + Cellular) (Hermès): stainless steel case, sapphire crystal, ceramic back
- Apple Watch Series 7 Edition: Titanium case, sapphire crystal, ceramic back
- Apple Watch Series 7 (GPS + Cellular) (Aluminum), Apple Watch Series 7 (GPS + Cellular) (Nike), and Apple Watch Series 7 (GPS): aluminum case, Ion-X glass, ceramic back
Apple Watch Series 6
- Apple Watch Series 6 (GPS + Cellular) (Stainless Steel) and Apple Watch Series 6 (GPS + Cellular) (Hermès): stainless steel case, sapphire crystal, ceramic back
- Apple Watch Series 6 Edition: Titanium case, sapphire crystal, ceramic back
- Apple Watch Series 6 (GPS + Cellular) (Aluminum), Apple Watch Series 6 (GPS + Cellular) (Nike), and Apple Watch Series 6 (GPS): aluminum case, Ion-X glass, ceramic back
Apple Watch SE
- Apple Watch SE (GPS + Cellular) (Aluminum) and Apple Watch SE (GPS): aluminum case, Ion-X glass, ceramic back
Apple Watch Series 5
- Apple Watch Series 5 (GPS + Cellular) (Stainless Steel) and Apple Watch Series 5 (GPS + Cellular) (Hermès): stainless steel case, sapphire crystal, ceramic back
- Apple Watch Series 5 Edition: Titanium or ceramic case, sapphire crystal, ceramic back
- Apple Watch Series 5 (GPS + Cellular) (Aluminum), Apple Watch Series 5 (GPS + Cellular) (Nike), and Apple Watch Series 5 (GPS): aluminum case, Ion-X glass, ceramic back
Apple Watch Series 4
- Apple Watch Series 4 (GPS + Cellular) (Stainless Steel) and Apple Watch Series 4 (GPS + Cellular) (Hermès): stainless steel case, sapphire crystal, ceramic back
- Apple Watch Series 4 (GPS + Cellular) (Aluminum), Apple Watch Series 4 (GPS + Cellular) (Nike+), and Apple Watch Series 4 (GPS): aluminum case, Ion-X glass, ceramic back
Apple Watch Series 3
- Apple Watch Series 3 (GPS + Cellular) (Stainless Steel), Apple Watch Series 2 (Stainless Steel), and Apple Watch (1st generation) (Stainless Steel): 316L stainless steel case, sapphire crystal, ceramic back
- Apple Watch Series 3 Edition and Apple Watch Series 2 Edition: Ceramic case, sapphire crystal, ceramic back
- Apple Watch Series 3 (GPS + Cellular) (Aluminum) and Apple Watch Series 2 (Aluminum): 7000 series aluminum case, Ion-X glass, ceramic back
Apple Watch Edition
- Apple Watch Edition (1st generation): 18-karat gold case, sapphire crystal, ceramic back
What's in the bands
These are the Apple Watch band materials that come into contact with your skin:
- Sport Band: Fluoroelastomer with stainless steel, ceramic, titanium, or 18-karat gold
- Apple Watch Nike Sport Band: Fluoroelastomer with stainless steel
- Apple Watch Nike Sport Loop: Woven nylon with reflective threads (aluminum-coated glass beads on PET yarn)
- Hermès Bands: Leather with stainless steel
- Milanese Loop: Stainless steel
- Link Bracelet: Stainless steel
- Leather Loop: Leather with stainless steel
- Modern Buckle: Leather with stainless steel or 18-karat gold
- Classic Buckle: Leather with stainless steel or 18-karat gold
- Woven Nylon: Nylon with stainless steel
- Sport Loop: Woven nylon
- Solo Loop: Silicone
- Braided Solo Loop: Polyester yarn with stainless steel
- Leather Link: Leather with stainless steel
Keeping your Apple Watch and bands—as well as your skin—clean and dry maximizes comfort and prevents long-term damage to the watch. This is especially important after workouts or exposure to liquids such as sweat, soap, sunscreen, and lotions that can cause skin irritations.
If you have questions about wearing your Apple Watch, contact Apple Support.
* Learn more about Apple's restrictions on wearables.