Pitaka Dreamland ChromaCarbon Band for Apple Watch Review and Giveaway

I recently reviewed Pitaka‘s new ChromaCarbon watch bands. Combining carbon and aramid fiber, the bands are light, solid, and colorful. The Pitaka Dreamland ChromaCarbon Bands are even more stunning. Their intricate designs, inspired by great architecture, are unlike anything we’ve seen. The $129 watch bands even come with a Rubik’s Cube of similar design. And… we are giving one away.

The Pitaka Dreamland ChromaCarbon Band for Apple Watch comes in two styles. As Pitaka explains,

Inspired by the intricate structure and boundless imagination of architectural art, particularly these two highly dreamlike examples of modernist architecture, we take their iconic design elements – mosaic and staircase – to create a spiritual space to explore the realm of dreams and our inner mind.

The first design is called Mosaic and was inspired by the work of architect Gaudi, whose Casa Batllo “turns minor and disorderly fragments into units of all things to reproduce the iconic mosaic texture.” As we will see, Pitaka’s take on Goudi’s design will grab attention.

The second design is called Stairs, and it was inspired by the work of Bofill, whose Red Wall Apartment offers a stunning visual of “infinite loops and overlapping stairs. Like the Mosaic watchband, Stairs is sure to be a conversation starter.

Both bands are compatible with all Apple Watches, including the SE and the Ultra. That’s possible because Pitaka saw fit to include two different size attachment sets so one band can work with all Apple Watches regardless of size.

Inside the box, you’ll find the Stairs or Mosaic Dreamland ChromaCarbon Band for Apple Watch, an extra link, and a link tool that looks similar to the SIM tool we all got to know over the past few years. The box also includes a Dreamland Rubik’s Cube with a similar design to the included watch band. I initially thought including the Rubik’s Cube was a bit odd, but it adds to the experience of unboxing the band, and… who doesn’t love Rubik’s Cubes??

Each watch band is 189.5mm and arrives with 20 links. Resizing the bands isn’t difficult once you understand that the sizing pins are springloaded and simply require you to insert the removal tool into each side to release it.

I highly recommend watching this video from the product page before you begin the process of resizing. I didn’t, and the process took far longer than needed.

The bands are just 4mm thick and weigh just over an ounce. Don’t let the light weight fool you, though; thanks to the carbon fiber used in their construction, the bands may be light, but they are also incredibly strong. Carbon fiber is, in fact, stronger than steel.

Unfortunately, carbon fiber alone wasn’t sufficient for creating the intricate designs Pitaka desired. To accomplish the intended look, Pitaka developed its ChromaCarbon technology. This technology combined a later woven Aramid fiber on top of the carbon fiber. As the company explains,

ChromaCarbon is a composite lamination technology that combines carbon fiber and aramid fiber by using special resin processed through high temperature and high pressure to maintain different materials’ excellent durability and toughness. And Fusion Weaving technology lets us cover black carbon fiber with pixelated colors of aramid fiber.

The new bands are part of the company’s Weaving+ product series. Launched in 2023, Weaving+ “presents brand-new vitality and artistic expression by weaving high-performance materials in a new way to make cases more creative and possible in pixel art form.”

The result speaks for itself.

I’ve quickly become a huge fan of these watch bands. They are surprisingly light but have a strength and durability that surprises me each time I put on my watch. They appear to have sharp, clean edges yet are so smooth that they have never gotten snagged on my arm hair.

Pitaka notes that they are so smooth and, thanks to the carbon fiber, don’t capture body heat that you can comfortably wear your watch to monitor sleep. (My watch’s battery isn’t sufficient for sleep monitoring if I want to wear it the next day, so I haven’t done so, but it is good to know I COULD.)

The universal fit not only means the bands will work with any of the watches Apple has thus far released but also makes it likely that the bands will fit future Apple Watches. Of course, there’s no guarantee Apple won’t suddenly change designs and make EVERY current band obsolete, but I find that highly unlikely and remain confident the bands are future-proof.

I especially love the magnetic clasp on the bands. Strong neodymium magnets align the band’s two sides when brought into proximity and let the mechanism lock the band in place. Like the bands themselves, the clasp is smooth and doesn’t snag. It is a great system and the best, most comfortable approach to a watch clasp that I’ve found.

Pitaka Dreamland ChromaCarbon Band for Apple Watch Features:

• Made from carbon fiber and aramid fiber
• Size: 42/44/45/49mm & 38/40/41mm
• Adjustable watch band bracelet length
• Lightweight and comfortable
• A patented secure magnetic clasp

I’m quite taken with these Pitaka Dreamland ChromaCarbon Bands for Apple Watch; the lightweight, smooth edges and remarkable strength make for an exceptionally comfortable and durable watch band. The magnetic clasp makes it easy to put on the watch and leaves you confident it is secure on your wrist. And when it comes time to charge the watch, the clasp releases just as quickly as it locks around your wrist.

Then there is the design. As someone who usually goes for monochromatic watch bands, I am surprised by how much I like these designs. They are intricate enough to catch your eye without being TOO busy. Finally, there is the inclusion of a Rubik’s Cube. I get the cubism link between the designs and the toy, and while I initially found shipping the bands with a matching Rubik’s Cube odd, the response of “Cool, a Rubik’s Cube” by three people who came into my office last week changed my opinion.

In all, the Pitaka Dreamland ChromaCarbon Bands for Apple Watch are great. Some people may balk at their price of $129, but the bands are solid, and the fact that they are likely future-proof makes them an investment more than a purchase.

The Pitaka Dreamland ChromaCarbon Band for Apple Watch sells for $129; it is available directly from the manufacturer.

Source: Manufacturer supplied review sample

What I Like: Clean, refined look; Cool graphics; Strong but light; Fits all Apple Watches; Magnetic clasp is easy, convenient, and reliable; Suitable to wear while sleeping; Includes a matching Rubik’s Cube

What Needs Improvement: It’s pricey but worth it

*****

And now for the Giveaway! We’ve got a new Pitaka Dreamland ChromaCarbon Band for Apple Watch in Mosaic, valued at $129; this includes the watch band, the extra link and sizing tool, and the Rubik’s Cube.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

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