How To Change Your Watch Strap

Swapping straps for your watch is dead simple and a must know for anyone who wants to add versatility to their style. If you aren't willing to change the strap yourself, we offer a free strap swap service with any Barkerhill purchase at our authorised distributor.

If you need more spring bars check for our quality standard spring bars and curved spring bars. Many vintages watches, like the Rolex GMT 16700 or older references, have very little clearance between the spring bar and case body which makes it difficult to swap straps. We recommend using a set of curved spring bars to solve this problem.   

 

  1. From the back side of your watch, insert the forked end or v-shaped end of your spring bar tool in between the strap and the watch lug. The spring bar has a indentation that the tool will fit into which makes compressing the spring easier.
  2. Gently apply pressure inwards towards the strap, away from the watch/lug, and slowly compress the spring bar. 
    Simultaneously, apply some downward pressure so the end of the spring bar pops out from its hole in the lug. Ensure control when applying force, to prevent slips and potentially scratch the watch. After the spring bar has popped out on one side, you can easily slide it out of the other lug hole.
  3. Spin the watch around and repeat steps 1 and 2 on the other side. After removing the strap on both ends, separate the spring bars from the strap.
  4. To reattach the spring bars, insert one end of the spring bar into the lug hole. Next, using the forked end of your tool again, place the tool's tip into the indent or ridge of the spring bar on the unseat end and compress the spring bar and carefully align the end with the lug hole to seat it. Make sure the spring bar is properly seat and will not come loose. Repeat this on the other side of the watch.
  5. Now you're ready to put your NATO strap on. Grab the long end of your strap and thread it through the space between spring bar and top and bottom of the case followed by the keeper on the short end of the strap.

Congratulations! You've successfully changed your strap.