Is there a difference between an Apple band and those sold by third parties?
There isn't a big difference between bands sold by Apple and those offered by trusted third-party companies outside of the actual branding. Some Apple bands can be more durable but this isn't a strict rule for every strap.  When looking for a third-party strap, it is important that you shop from a trusted brand. These include sellers like Nomad, Otterbox, and Lifeproof, among others. There are plenty of lower-quality third-party brands that sell Apple Watch straps that look incredibly similar to something from a trusted band. While these may be cheaper, they likely won't last as long.