Last week, we launched Rocky Point Band, and the response from the Nomad community was incredible. To celebrate, we sat down with Creative Director Nick Walden and Senior Product Manager Harvey Hunerberg to dive into the design process, discuss their favorite features, and more.

Madeline: Where did the idea for Rocky Point Band come from?

Nick: Ever since the Ultra was released, with its focus on ruggedness and adventure, we wanted to design a band that felt like it was made specifically with that in mind. And as Apple’s first foray into larger, more durable watches, it got me thinking about Casio’s G-Shock line of rugged watches and what something like that could feel like on the all new Apple Watch Ultra.

Madeline: How long did the design process take and what went into it?

Nick: The entire design process, from the initial idea to launching the band, took about 18 months. Once we had the concept, I worked closely with an incredible industrial designer, Marco, to sketch out various ideas based on the features we envisioned for this new band. The moment I opened the file of concepts, I knew the very first one was the winner. From there, we built the design in 3D using CAD, and then we brought in another designer who specializes in surfacing to refine the intricate details that make a flexible product like a watch band come to life. The surfacing is what truly elevates the product. It takes it from feeling boring and a bit bland into something special. You can’t always pinpoint why it feels special, but you just know it does.

Madeline: Can you walk us through the production process? 

Harvey: The titanium hardware is made using Metal Injection Molding, or MIM. This process is faster, cleaner, and more repeatable than conventional CNC machining. The metal is injected into molds and allowed to cool, then cleaned, ground down, and burnished to remove imperfections. It’s then colored and hardened using a PVD process, or Physical Vapor Deposition. Our metal is also finished with a Diamond Like Carbon (DLC) surface which increases its Vickers hardness rating by roughly 3x. 

Harvey: The band itself is made of raw fluoroelastomer rubber, or FKM, which is cut and placed in the mold. The material is then compression molded, which holds the product in a very hot, very high pressure environment for several minutes to form and cure the FKM. The bands are then removed, trimmed, cleaned, and finished with the titanium hardware.

Madeline: Can you touch on the materials we use for Rocky Point Band?

Harvey: We use FKM for all of our rubber Apple Watch Bands because it’s high-quality and durable. FKM is very inert, which makes it great for wearables. It doesn’t react with chemicals and doesn’t irritate the skin, so it can be worn daily and for long periods of time. We color our FKM all the way through and don’t use coatings, so dirt and stains can be wiped off and the band will look new for ages. If you were to cut your Rocky Point Band in half, you’d see a single piece of evenly colored FKM. 

Harvey: We chose titanium because it’s the material used for the Apple Watch Ultra case and provided the qualities we were looking for for the Rocky Point Band. It’s lightweight, strong, and matched the finish we wanted to achieve.

Madeline: Why did we decide to include both a FKM loop and a titanium loop? Was it purely design-driven or does the dual-material serve some purpose?

Harvey: This was mostly design driven, but the FKM loop is softer and easy to move around, so the user can adjust this one easily and it will have minimal impact on the user's comfort.

Nick: Like Harvey said, the decision to include a titanium loop on the band was mostly design driven. As this band was specifically designed from the ground up for the Ultra, we wanted to really showcase the titanium on the band by having both the buckle and secondary loop made out of matching titanium. This made the band look and feel both more durable and allowed it to better match the Ultra.

Madeline: How about the traditional buckle? 

Harvey: A couple of factors went into the traditional buckle. The buckle is a very secure attachment system. It gives Rocky Point the security to be worn in virtually any demanding application. Second, the buckle allowed us to add more creative design than a pin allows us. Lastly, the buckle is distinctly different from the Sport Band and that’s what we were aiming for with the Rocky Point Band. We wanted an all-new Apple Watch accessory, built from the ground up to look awesome and perform well.

Madeline: How does Rocky Point Band compare to Sport Band and Rugged Band? How does Rocky Point Band fit in our band lineup? 

Harvey: Rocky Point is our most premium and our most rugged band. It’s our first band designed specifically for Apple Watch Ultra and that's the watch most of our customers are using.

Nick: Our Sport Band is incredibly popular, and for good reason. Its pin-and-tuck design is innovative yet secure. It’s perfect for just about anything you throw at it. Rugged Band, on the other hand, is a more traditional watch band with metal lugs and a buckle. Rocky Point blends the best aspects of both bands, with a focus on durability and extreme performance. Like Sport Band, it integrates smoothly with the watch, but it also features a new titanium buckle for a secure, time-tested closure that’s been used on traditional watches for centuries. Rocky Point is also wider than both the Sport Band and Rugged Band, giving it a more rugged and durable look that fits the larger Apple Watch Ultra perfectly.

Madeline: What new features does Rocky Point Band bring to the table?

Harvey: A couple key features set Rocky Point Band apart from our other FKM bands. We made it wider, we added over-molded lugs to a buckle-style band, and we improved its fit in Apple Watch Ultra’s lug channel.

Madeline: What’s a feature you’re particularly excited about and why?

Harvey: The underside of the band is designed with ventilation channels, similar to our Sport and Rugged bands. We’ve found that people wear our bands in water and when they sweat, so it’s important that the band be designed to dry comfortably without having to take it off. This is a subtle feature but important for any band designed to be worn during activity. 

Nick: I’m not sure if you would necessarily call this a feature per say, but my favorite aspect of this band is its design and surfacing. It’s a perfect blend of rugged and polished, while not being “in your face extreme.” Think about how Land Rover has been known for its rugged off-road capabilities, while at the same time being extremely refined and built with the highest quality materials.

Madeline: What do we mean when we say this band is “Designed for Ultra”?

Nick: It is, quite literally, designed specifically for the Apple Watch Ultra from the ground up. We set out to create an all new band that not only worked with the Ultra, but complemented it and felt like it was “the” band for the Ultra. It’s got a wider stance, matching titanium hardware, and the rugged look that the Ultra is known for.

Madeline: Who did we design this band for?

Nick: That’s a great question. It’s designed for those who push the limits every day and need a band that can’t just withstand anything they throw at it, but was specifically designed for it. 

Madeline: What explains Rocky Point Band’s higher price point compared to other bands? 

Harvey: The titanium hardware is more premium and durable than stainless steel and it was built from the ground-up with all new tech and features.

Madeline: Can you share future plans for Rocky Point Band? 

Harvey: We’re going to introduce new band and hardware colors this year. We're super excited to offer products designed specifically to match the new devices coming this September. And we’re already working on expanding the Rocky Point Band family lineup.

Rocky Point Band combines rugged durability with style, making it the perfect match for the Apple Watch Ultra. We’re thrilled with how it turned out, and we think you’ll love how it feels, whether you’re out adventuring or just going about your day.

Have questions or feedback for Nick and Harvey? Email them to support@nomadgoods.com and we'll pass them along.