The Apple Watch has become one of the most popular smartwatches in the world, but it all began with the very first Apple Watch, released in 2015.
If you own one of these original models, are restoring one, or are simply curious about its history, this guide gives you a complete overview of every version released, all the features, and-most importantly-which Apple bands fit the 38 mm and 42 mm sizes.

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1. Release Date of the First Apple Watch

• Announced: September 9, 2014

• Released: April 24, 2015

• Launch OS: WatchOS 1.0

This was Apple’s entry into the smartwatch world, combining technology, health features, and design in a way no other device had done before.

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2. Case Sizes of the First Apple Watch

The first generation was available in two sizes:

• 38 mm

• 42 mm

These sizes became the foundation for later models and remain important today because of band compatibility.

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3. All Variants of the First Apple Watch

Apple released the first Apple Watch in three main collections.

 

A. Apple Watch Sport (Aluminium)

• Material: 7000-series aluminium

• Glass: Ion-X

• Colors: Silver, Space Gray, Gold, Rose Gold

• Sizes: 38 mm and 42 mm

• Lightweight and designed for an active style

 

B. Apple Watch (Stainless Steel)

• Material: Polished stainless steel

• Glass: Sapphire crystal

• Colors: Stainless Steel Silver, Space Black

• Sizes: 38 mm and 42 mm

• More premium and durable than the Sport model

 

C. Apple Watch Edition (18K Gold)

• Material: 18K Yellow Gold or Rose Gold

• Glass: Sapphire

• Sizes: 38 mm and 42 mm

• Designed as a luxury product with exclusive band options

 

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4. All Original Band Types Released in 2015

Apple introduced a wide selection of bands for the first generation.

 

Sport Band

• White

• Black

• Blue

• Green

• Pink

• Black with Black Pin

• Black with Gold Pin (Edition)

• White with Gold Pin (Edition)

 

Leather Loop (42 mm only)

• Bright Blue

• Stone

• Light Brown

• Black

 

Classic Buckle

• Black

• Brown

• Midnight Blue

 

Modern Buckle (38 mm only)

• Soft Pink

• Brown

• Midnight Blue

• Black

 

Milanese Loop

• Stainless Steel

• Space Black

 

Link Bracelet

• Stainless Steel

• Space Black

 

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5. Features and Functions of the First Apple Watch

Even the very first Apple Watch came packed with features that many people still use today.

 

Main Functions

• Notifications for calls, messages, and apps

• Quick replies to messages

• Siri with voice commands

• Digital Crown for scrolling

• Taptic Engine for subtle haptic feedback

• Force Touch

• Apple Pay (via NFC)

• Music controls

• Remote camera shutter

• Multiple customizable watch faces

 

Health and Fitness

• Optical heart rate sensor

• Step counting

• Move, Exercise, and Stand rings

• Calorie tracking

• Workout modes such as running, walking, cycling, rowing, and stair climbing

• Note: No built-in GPS (it used the iPhone’s GPS)

 

Display

• Retina OLED

• 450-nit brightness

• Ion-X or sapphire glass depending on the model

 

Battery and Charging

• Up to 18 hours of battery life

• Magnetic charging cable

 

Connectivity

• Bluetooth 4.0

• Wi-Fi (2.4 GHz)

• Works with iPhone 5 or newer

 

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6. What the First Apple Watch Did Not Have

Compared to today’s models, the original Apple Watch lacked several modern features:

• No GPS

• No cellular connectivity

• No always-on display

• No sleep tracking

• No ECG

• No blood oxygen sensor

• No fall detection

• Not fully swim-proof (IPX7 rating only)

 

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7. Band Compatibility: Which Bands Fit the First Apple Watch?

This is one of the most common questions for users of the 2015 Apple Watch.
Fortunately, Apple kept its band connector design consistent for many years.

Here is the clear compatibility overview:

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Bands that fit the 38 mm Apple Watch

Fully compatible bands include:

• 38 mm bands

• 40 mm bands

• 41 mm bands

These all use the same small-size connector.

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Bands that fit the 42 mm Apple Watch

Fully compatible bands include:

• 42 mm bands

• 44 mm bands

• 45 mm bands

• 49 mm Apple Watch Ultra bands

 

These all use the same large-size connector.

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8. Why the First Apple Watch Remains Popular

Even years after its release, many people still appreciate the first-generation Apple Watch for its design, simplicity, and the large selection of replacement bands available.
The classic 38 mm and 42 mm shapes are still widely supported by modern straps, making it easy to refresh the watch with new styles.

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9. Complete Table - First-Generation Apple Watch (2015)

 

Category	Apple Watch Sport (Aluminium)	Apple Watch (Stainless Steel)	Apple Watch Edition (18K Gold)
Case material	7000-series aluminium	Stainless steel	18K Yellow or Rose Gold
Glass type	Ion-X glass	Sapphire crystal	Sapphire crystal
Back material	Composite	Ceramic / composite	Ceramic
Available colours	Silver, Space Gray, Gold, Rose Gold	Stainless Steel Silver, Space Black (DLC)	Yellow Gold, Rose Gold
Case sizes	38 mm, 42 mm	38 mm, 42 mm	38 mm, 42 mm
Band combinations	Sport Band	Sport Band, Milanese Loop, Leather Loop, Classic Buckle, Modern Buckle, Link Bracelet	Exclusive premium leather bands + Edition Sport Bands
Quick-release band system	Yes	Yes	Yes
Display type	Retina OLED	Retina OLED	Retina OLED
Display brightness	450 nits	450 nits	450 nits
Force Touch	Yes	Yes	Yes
Digital Crown	Yes	Yes	Yes
Taptic Engine	Yes	Yes	Yes
Processor	Apple S1	Apple S1	Apple S1
Storage capacity	8 GB (2 GB music, 75 MB photos)	8 GB	8 GB
Wireless connectivity	Bluetooth 4.0, Wi-Fi 802.11b/g	Bluetooth 4.0, Wi-Fi 802.11b/g	Bluetooth 4.0, Wi-Fi 802.11b/g
Water resistance	IPX7 (splash-resistant)	IPX7	IPX7
Battery life	Up to 18 hours	Up to 18 hours	Up to 18 hours
Charging method	Magnetic inductive charger	Magnetic inductive charger	Magnetic inductive charger (premium charging case)
Compatibility at launch	iPhone 5 or later (iOS 8.2+)	iPhone 5 or later	iPhone 5 or later
Health sensors	Optical heart-rate sensor, accelerometer, gyroscope	Optical heart-rate sensor, accelerometer, gyroscope	Optical heart-rate sensor, accelerometer, gyroscope
GPS	No (uses iPhone GPS)	No	No
Apple Pay	Yes (NFC)	Yes (NFC)	Yes (NFC)
Notifications	Yes	Yes	Yes
Phone calls	Yes (via iPhone)	Yes (via iPhone)	Yes (via iPhone)
Message dictation	Yes	Yes	Yes
Siri	Yes	Yes	Yes
Handoff	Yes	Yes	Yes
Watch faces	All standard watch faces	All standard watch faces	All standard watch faces + exclusive variants
Activity tracking	Move, Exercise & Stand rings	Move, Exercise & Stand rings	Move, Exercise & Stand rings
Workouts	Running, walking, cycling, elliptical, rowing, stair climbing	Same	Same
Step counting	Yes	Yes	Yes
Calorie tracking	Yes	Yes	Yes
Stand reminders	Yes	Yes	Yes
Watch-to-watch communication	Digital Touch, heartbeat sharing, sketches	Digital Touch, heartbeat sharing, sketches	Digital Touch, heartbeat sharing, sketches
Photo viewing	Yes	Yes	Yes
Remote camera control	Yes	Yes	Yes
Music control	Yes	Yes	Yes
Maps & navigation	Yes (via iPhone)	Yes	Yes
Wi-Fi without iPhone nearby	Limited functions	Limited functions	Limited functions
Exclusive Edition features	-	-	Luxury charging case, exclusive bands
Weight	Lightest	Heavier	Heaviest
Price at launch	Most affordable	Mid-range	Ultra-premium (€10,000–€18,000)
Main audience	Active lifestyle, everyday users	Premium lifestyle users	Luxury buyers

 

 

Conclusion

The first Apple Watch laid the foundation for all models that followed.
With two classic case sizes, three material options, and a wide variety of original bands, it remains an important part of Apple’s history.
And thanks to Apple’s consistent connector design, finding the right replacement band for a 38 mm or 42 mm Apple Watch is still easy today.