Singer James Hetfield spotted wearing a Apple

Caught on camera with guitar in hand and tattoos on full display, James Hetfield — co-founder, rhythm guitarist, and lead vocalist of Metallica — is seen wearing an Apple Watch Series 6 in 44mm stainless steel on a rich brown leather strap. The pairing is casual yet considered, the steel case catching light against his heavily inked wrist while he works what appears to be a session or rehearsal setting.

Apple launched the Series 6 in September 2020, and it represented a meaningful step forward in the wearable category. The 44mm stainless steel variant houses Apple's S6 chip — a dual-core processor derived from the A13 Bionic — and added the SpO2 blood oxygen sensor alongside an always-on altimeter. The display is up to 2.5x brighter in always-on mode than its predecessor, and water resistance is rated to 50 metres. The stainless steel case, as seen here in silver, provides a notably more premium finish than the aluminium base model, with a sapphire crystal front glass and a ceramic back.

The brown leather strap appears to be a third-party offering — possibly from Nomad, whose Modern Strap with stainless steel hardware became popular precisely for upgrading the aesthetic of the stainless Apple Watch. It's a collector-minded choice: off-the-shelf Apple leather bands are competent, but the aftermarket strap here elevates the wrist presence considerably.

Hetfield has never been particularly associated with haute horology — no Rolex Daytona or Patek Philippe sightings in his archive. His Apple Watch choice is consistent with a pragmatic, working-musician sensibility. The man who wrote 'Enter Sandman' seems more interested in what a watch does than what it says about his tax bracket. That's not a criticism — it's a perspective.

On the market, the Series 6 stainless steel in 44mm retailed between $699 and $799 at launch, depending on connectivity tier. Grey market values have softened considerably since Apple discontinued the model, with clean examples trading well below retail. The aluminium GPS version launched at $399, while cellular stainless pushed toward $749–$799. Today, used units are available from $150–$300 depending on condition. A sensible, durable tool watch — even if it won't appreciate.