How To Change Your Watch Straps
November 9, 2018
If you are a watch owner, after some time, you would want a new look when strapping on your watch. While its not the economical, you would want to buy a new watch for that new look or have something alternating on your wrist with your favorite timepiece.
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But for affordability and frugality sake, its wise to just change the strap of your favorite watch to achieve that wanted new look.
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Before we begin, here are some recommended tools that you would need in order to change the strap of your watch.
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Watch Spring Bar Tool
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Microfiber Cloth
Changing straps is an easy task once you have done your first attempt
Step 1:
Make sure the watch head and bracelet are clean of dirt and dust before we change straps as these contaminants can cause scratches during the process of strap changing. Use the microfiber cloth to clean the watch head and bracelet and visually check if it looks free of external contaminants.
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Step 2:
Check your watch case. Does it have lug holes for easy spring bar removal? If yes, it will make the process easier for you. If not, then you would have to maximize the use of the spring bar tool as you will need to extract the spring bar underneath the watch face.
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We find that if you use quality spring bar tools like the Bergeon 6767-F, removing spring bars are easier, cleaner, and less prone to unwanted scratches.
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Also, it is important to safely place or mount the watch head on a soft surface. You can use the microfiber cloth for this. But if you are serious and plan to do this several times a month, you can purchase a watch maker’s rubberized mat like the Bergeon Rubber Mat.
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If your watch case has lug holes, proceed to Step 3A.
If your watch case has no lug holes, proceed to Step 3B.
Step 3A
Step 3A:
Now, with the pointed end of the spring bar tool, gently press into the lug hole until you feel it fully depressed. Usually when leather or rubber straps are installed on the watch head, you can dislodge the strap when you have removed just one end of a spring bar/lug hole.
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Repeat the process for the other end of the watch case.
Make sure the spring bars don’t get lost during the dislodging process.
Step 3B
Step 3B:
Turn over your watch case so you can see the back case/end. For stainless-steel bracelets, you can usually see small openings, so you can insert the forked-end part of the spring bar tool.
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Using the forked-end of your spring bar tool, gently pry and depress the spring bar so you can release them inside the inner lug hole. Most often than not, you would have to fully depress both ends of the spring bar/ lug holes to dislodge the stainless-steel bracelet.
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Repeat the process for the other end of the watch case.
Make sure the spring bars don’t get lost during the dislodging process.
Step 4 for with lug holes
Step 4:
Now, get your replacement strap and place the spring bars inside. Make sure they fit in nicely.
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Gently align the new straps with the lug holes. You may have to put in the strap with one end of the spring bar first. Once one end of the spring bar is in, you can use your fingernails or the forked-end of the spring bar tool to depress the remaining spring bar end and slowly lodge it inside the other lug hole.
Repeat the process for the other end of the watch case.
Congratulations, you have now swapped in and installed your new straps!
