How to Replace a Watch Strap: A Step-by-Step Guide
Changing a watch strap is the easiest way to transform the look of your timepiece. Here's how to do it properly without scratching your case or bending your spring bars.
A strap change is the single most impactful modification you can make to a watch. A steel bracelet becomes a dressy leather strap. A tired rubber strap gets replaced with a NATO. Same watch, completely different character.
The good news: you don't need a watchmaker for this. With the right tools and a little care, you can do it yourself in under five minutes.
What You'll Need
A spring bar tool — this is the only specialized tool required. It has a forked tip on one end (for removing bars between lugs) and a pointed tip on the other (for bars with drilled holes). You can find decent ones for under CHF 10. Don't use a knife, flathead screwdriver, or your fingernails — you'll scratch the case or hurt yourself.
The correct strap — you need to know two measurements: the lug width (distance between the lugs in millimeters) and the desired strap length. Common lug widths are 18mm, 20mm, and 22mm. If you're unsure, measure the space between the lugs with a ruler or caliper.
New spring bars — if your existing spring bars are bent, corroded, or the tips feel weak, replace them. We sell spring bars in every common size. Using worn spring bars is the #1 cause of watches falling off wrists.
Removing the Old Strap
Step 1: Place the watch face-down on a soft surface (a microfiber cloth works perfectly). This protects the crystal and gives you access to the spring bars.
Step 2: Locate the spring bar shoulder — the small gap between the end of the spring bar and the inside of the lug. Slide the forked end of your spring bar tool into this gap.
Step 3: Push the spring bar tip inward (compressing the bar) while simultaneously pulling the strap away from the lug. The bar will compress enough to clear the lug hole, and the strap will slide free.
Step 4: Repeat on the other side. Set the spring bars aside if you're reusing them.
Installing the New Strap
Step 1: Insert the spring bars into the new strap (push them through the holes in the strap ends). Make sure the bars click and extend properly — push each tip with your finger to confirm it springs back.
Step 2: Hook one end of the spring bar into the lug hole on one side. Use the pointed end of the spring bar tool to compress the other tip, and guide it into the opposite lug hole.
Step 3: You should hear and feel a click as the bar seats into the hole. Gently tug the strap to confirm it's secure.
Step 4: Repeat for the other half of the strap.
Tips from Experience
Tape your lugs: If you're worried about scratches, place a small piece of painter's tape on the inside of each lug before you start. This protects the polished surfaces from accidental slips of the spring bar tool.
Quick-release spring bars: If you change straps frequently, invest in quick-release spring bars. They have a small lever that you can operate with your fingernail — no tool needed. We stock these in all common sizes.
Strap thickness matters: Make sure your new strap isn't too thick for the space between the caseback and the spring bar. This is a common issue with aftermarket leather straps on watches designed for thin rubber or fabric straps.
Browse our full collection of watch straps, rubber straps, and leather straps — we carry options for every lug width and style.
