With simple steps and a specialized tool kit, you can change your watch strap right at home.
When you appear dashing at the office or energetic on an outing with friends, the watch is always the accessory that helps you assert your unique personality and stand out to everyone. In watch design, the strap significantly contributes to the overall value. Therefore, using just one type of strap may become boring, or the strap may fade and deteriorate over time. Hence, refreshing or replacing it is necessary.
There are several common materials used for watch straps such as leather, metal, rubber, and synthetic fibers. We have an article introducing these types of straps, which you can view here. Each strap has its own charm but here we only focus on metal and leather straps, the two most popular types.
In watches that use metal and leather straps, the dial and strap are usually connected by a detachable pin, which allows you to easily replace it when the strap is damaged. There are some other very special types of pins, but we only refer to the two common ones today: smart pins and standard pins. Below is an illustration:
Regarding the characteristics of these two types of pins, with the smart pin (QUICK RELEASE SPRING BARS), you only need to gently pull it with your hand to attach or remove it within seconds. Meanwhile, for the standard pin, you need to have a specialized tool to change the strap.
Specialized watch strap tool
Next, we detail the steps to change your strap:
Step 01: Choose the Strap by Standard Size
The first step is to accurately select the correct strap size. This is very important; please carefully follow the sizing guide in the image below to choose the right strap for you.
As illustrated in the image, this strap is sized 20-18mm, meaning the width of the part attached to the watch face is 20mm, while the width of the end that attaches to the watch clasp is 18mm.
Step 02: Identify the Watch Strap Pin
As introduced above, if the strap is integrated with a smart pin, you can quickly replace it in just a few seconds. This smart pin is usually only integrated in high-end leather straps. The replacement process is quite easy; simply use your fingertip to gently pull the pin to remove or attach the strap. Below is an illustrative guide:
Guide to Changing Straps with Smart Pins
In the case where the strap set only uses standard pins, you need to proceed with the following steps.
Step 03: Prepare the Watch Strap Tool
Do you think a simple screwdriver or pointed object is enough to change a watch strap? In reality, if you use household items that you believe will work, you might encounter problems, and worst of all, the watch face and strap might get scratched. Therefore, to safely change the watch strap, you need to prepare a specialized watch strap tool. And you will be given this tool kit when you purchase watch strap products at SAIGIO.
Step 04: Prepare a Lining Cloth
Prepare a cloth or soft fabric, lay it on a flat surface, and ensure that there are no foreign objects on it. Then place the watch face-down. Note that all actions must be carried out on the back of the watch, which helps protect the watch face from any scratches if you slip.
Step 05: Remove the Strap
Using the V-shaped tip of the tool, press between the watch strap and the lug. The tip of the pin has a spring and a small protrusion to serve as a support for the tool; thus, when you insert the tool, let it rest against this small part, then gently pull the pin toward the strap to compress the spring. Once you see the pin head come free, remove the strap by hand. Repeat the same process on the other side.
It is recommended to use a specialized tool to remove the watch strap
Step 06: Install the New Strap
First, insert the pin into the new strap set. Next, note that the inside of the lug has a small hole to hold the head of the pin. Then, install one end of the pin into the watch’s lug. For the other end, gently compress the spring to insert it into the remaining hole. This completes all the steps to detach and attach a watch strap set.
How to attach a new strap to the watch face
It is really easy to change your watch strap at home; you just need to follow the simple steps above to refresh your watch with the strap you love.
