Practical Photographs by Ripley Sellers
In 2024, the radically new Apple Watch Ultra 2 will not be displayed, but you will see new case colors and a very exciting new bracelet option (and additional cosmetic options). In 2022, Apple originally debuted a larger ultra version of the Apple Watch, following the slightly upgraded Apple Watch Ultra 2 in 2023. Today at Apple’s keynote speech at Cupertino, the announcement of the new Apple Watch Series 10 includes interesting new options for the unchanged Apple Watch Ultra 2. Even if the Apple Watch Ultra hardware hasn’t changed, the new options are really sexy.
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The biggest story is the addition of a black DLC (diamond-like carbon)-coated version of the Apple Watch Ultra 2. DLC coating is popular in the traditional watch world and is highly rated for its scratch-resistant quality. Titanium is more likely to scratch than steel, so coating with DLC is a very effective way to protect the base metal. People also prefer the deep gray/black color of the DLC. This makes Ultra 2 look even more masculine and “tactical.” I would like to add that the non-DLC version of the Apple Watch Ultra 2 is still coated for scratch resistance, but it also protects you from the DLC-coated version (in addition to the very cool black color). Apple simply said, “We’ve learned that our customers love Black,” which is well justified for an additional version of the Ultra 2 SmartWatch. It is important to note that there is no price difference between the standard version of the Apple Watch Ultra 2 and the DLC-coated version.
What’s most exciting for me is the brand new mesh metal bracelet option, which is now available in titanium too. Apple has had a steel Milanese bracelet for a while, but this new bracelet is a completely different design with an ultra and (as opposed to magnetic) buckle system. Mesh metal bracelets are popular in the traditional watch world, but bracelets made of titanium are extremely rare (and expensive). Apple has beautifully elegantly crafted titanium Milanese bracelets, and most of what is available in the luxury industry feels engineering and expensive compared to it. From bracelet sizing to audible clicks on aviation style buckles, everything is well thought out and works effectively. If you think your Apple Watch Ultra 2 is already cool, try it out with a natural or DLC titanium mesh metal bracelet for a very impressive visual upgrade.
Other new options for the Apple Watch Ultra 2 include more color styles for existing strap options. It also includes the first Hermes strap (an interesting woven style) exclusively for the Apple Watch Ultra family. With the Watch OS 10 software update, Apple Watch Ultra 2 will also receive several new features. My favorite is the brand new Tide application that has previously been missing from the Apple Watch platform. The exercise and activity tracking application also gets new features. Perhaps my favorite is the dedicated snorkeling app. Not only does it provide useful information for snorkeling (against scuba diving), it could also work with the Apple Watch Series 10 (though underwater features are more robust on Ultra, which doubles the water resistance of a standard Apple Watch).
2024 is probably not the year to upgrade your existing Apple Watch Ultra 2, but for those who don’t have it, the black version is very smooth. Anyone who owns an Apple Watch Ultra 2 will want to take a look at the mesh titanium metal bracelet as it is a valuable accessory. The Apple Watch Ultra 2 maintains a starting price of $799, which applies to both the standard model and the new Black DLC version. For more information, please visit the Apple Watch website.
