How to Change a Watch Strap (Spring Bars & Quick-Release)

Changing a watch strap takes about two minutes and one cheap tool. You compress the spring bar that pins the strap between the lugs, lift the old strap out, and seat the new one the same way. Straps with quick-release tabs skip the tool entirely, sliding out by hand. The only thing you must get right before you start is the lug width, the gap between the lugs in millimetres, because a strap that is the wrong width will not fit.

Quick steps

1. Measure the lug width in millimetres and buy a strap to match.
2. Turn the watch over onto a soft cloth, lugs facing you.
3. Slot the spring-bar tool between the strap and the lug, catch the shoulder of the bar, and compress it.
4. Lift that end of the strap out, then repeat on the other side.
5. Fit the new strap: seat one end of the spring bar in its lug hole, compress the other, and let it click home.
6. Tug the strap to confirm both bars are seated.

Match the lug width first

The strap has to match the space between the lugs, measured in millimetres, commonly 18, 20 or 22mm. Measure the gap with a ruler or calliper before buying, or check the spec of your watch. A strap too wide will not fit between the lugs; one too narrow leaves ugly gaps and slides around. If your watch tapers, note that the lug width is what matters, not the width at the buckle. Our strap comparison covers choosing the material once you know the width.

What a spring bar is

A spring bar is a small metal tube with a spring inside and a sprung tip at each end. Those tips sit in holes drilled into the inside of each lug. Press the tips inward and the bar shortens enough to drop out; release them and the spring pushes them back into the lug holes, locking the strap in place. That is the entire mechanism, and understanding it makes the job obvious.

Method 1: the standard spring-bar tool

Most watches need a spring-bar tool, a small handle with a forked end and, usually, a pointed end. It costs very little and saves your fingernails and the case finish.

1. Protect the case. Lay the watch face-down on a soft cloth so you do not scratch the crystal or case while you work.
2. Find the gap. Between the strap and the lug you will see the shoulder of the spring bar. Slide the forked end of the tool into that gap so the fork straddles the bar.
3. Compress the bar. Push the fork against the bar's shoulder to squeeze the sprung tip inward, out of the lug hole. Keep it compressed.
4. Lift the strap out. With that tip freed, angle the strap up and out of the lug. The other end usually pops free with a light pull, or free it the same way.
5. Repeat on the second lug to remove the strap fully.

Work slowly and keep the tool square. The classic slip is the fork jumping off the bar and gouging the lug, which is exactly why the cloth and a steady hand matter.

Method 2: quick-release straps, no tool

Many modern straps have a quick-release spring bar with a tiny lever or knurled tab on the underside. These change in seconds with no tool at all:

1. Turn the watch over and find the small tab protruding from the spring bar under the strap.
2. Slide the tab across with a fingernail to retract one tip of the bar.
3. Lift the strap away while holding the tab.
4. To fit the new strap, seat one end of the bar in its lug hole, slide the tab to retract the other, drop it into place, and release.

If you swap straps often, quick-release bars are worth fitting to any strap; they turn a two-minute job into a ten-second one.

Fitting the new strap

Fitting is the reverse of removal, and there is a knack that makes it easy:

1. Thread the spring bar through the new strap's end loop.
2. Seat one tip first. Drop one end of the bar into its lug hole and let it sit.
3. Compress the free end. With the tool or the quick-release tab, push the other tip in, line it up with its lug hole, and let the spring drive it home. You will often feel or hear a small click.
4. Confirm it is seated. Wiggle the strap and give it a firm tug. Both bars must be locked in their holes. A bar that is not fully seated will let go, and that is how a watch ends up on the floor.

A few things that save grief

• Keep a spare set of spring bars. They are cheap, and one occasionally bends or pings across the room.
• Match the spring-bar diameter to your watch; heavier straps and dive watches often use thicker bars.
• Do the job over a tray or a towel, not a hard floor. A launched spring bar is small and hard to find.
• On a screw-bar strap, common on some sports watches, you need a small screwdriver instead of a spring-bar tool.

Once the strap is on, keeping it clean extends its life, as our cleaning guide explains. If you are sizing a metal bracelet rather than fitting a strap, see our bracelet resizing guide. Straps, spring bars and tools are in the straps and accessories collection and the shop.

Common questions

What tool do I need to change a watch strap?

A spring-bar tool, which costs very little, for standard straps. Quick-release straps need no tool at all, just a fingernail to slide the tab. Screw-bar straps need a small screwdriver instead.

How do I know my strap size?

Measure the lug width, the gap between the lugs, in millimetres. It is commonly 18, 20 or 22mm. Buy a strap to match that figure; the width at the buckle does not matter for fit.

What is a quick-release strap?

A strap fitted with a spring bar that has a small sliding tab. Slide the tab with a fingernail and the strap comes off in seconds, no tool required. It is the easiest option if you swap straps often.

How do I make sure the strap will not fall off?

After fitting, confirm both spring bars are fully seated in their lug holes and give the strap a firm tug. A bar that is not clicked home will release later, so never skip the check.