With simple steps and a specialized tool kit, you can replace your watch band right at home.
Whether you appear sophisticated at the office or dynamic while enjoying outdoor activities with friends, a watch is always the accessory that helps you assert your unique personality and stand out. In watch design, the band plays a significant role in the overall value. Therefore, wearing only one style may become boring, or a band may fade and deteriorate after a period of use. As a result, renewing or replacing it is necessary.
There are several popular materials used for watch bands such as leather, metal, rubber, and synthetic fibers. We have an article introducing these types of bands, you can check it out here. Each band has its own charm, but here we only discuss metal and leather bands, the two most common types.
In watches that use metal and leather bands, the case and the band are usually connected by a detachable pin, making it easy to change the band when it is damaged. There are some other unique pins, but we only refer to the two common types currently: smart pins and standard pins. Below is an illustration:
Regarding the characteristics of these two types of pins, the smart pin (QUICK RELEASE SPRING BARS), requires you to simply use your hand to gently pull to attach or remove it in just a few seconds. Meanwhile, with the standard pin, you need specialized tools to change the band.
Specialized tool kit for watch band replacement
Next, we provide detailed steps for changing the band:
Step 01: Choose the Band in the Correct Size
The first step is to select the exact watch band size. This is very important; carefully follow the instructions on how to measure the band size in the image below to choose the correct size for your needs.
As shown in the example, this band is sized 20-18mm, meaning the width of the band attached to the watch face is 20mm, while the width at the end attached to the lug is 18mm.
Step 02: Identify the Watch Band Pin
As mentioned above, if the band features an integrated smart pin, you can quickly replace it in just a few seconds. This smart pin is usually only found in premium leather band models. The change is quite straightforward; simply use your fingertip to gently pull the pin to remove or attach the band. Below is an illustrated guide:
Instructions for Changing a Band with a Smart Pin
In cases where the band uses only a standard pin, you will need to follow the subsequent steps.
Step 03: Prepare the Tools for Changing the Band
Do you think a simple screwdriver or any pointed object is enough to change a watch band? In reality, if you use makeshift household items, you may encounter difficulty, and worst of all, the watch face and band may get scratched. Therefore, to safely change a watch band, you need to prepare specialized watch band tools. And you will receive this tool kit when purchasing watch band products at SAIGIO.
Step 04: Prepare a Lining Cloth
Prepare a cloth or soft fabric, lay it out on a flat surface, and ensure that there are no foreign objects on it. Then, place the watch face down. Note that all operations should be performed on the back of the watch to protect the watch face from any scratches if you accidentally slip.
Step 05: Remove the Band
Use the V-end of the tool to press into the gap between the watch band and the lug. The tip of the pin tool features a spring and a small protrusion that serves as a fulcrum, so when you insert the tool, rest it against this small part and apply a light pull on the pin toward the band to compress the spring. Once you see the pin head come out, simply remove the band by hand. Repeat the same for the other side.
It is recommended to use specialized tools to remove the watch band
Step 06: Install the New Band
First, insert the pin into the new band. Next, notice that the inside of the lug has a small hole to hold the pin head. Then, attach one end of the pin into the watch lug first. For the remaining end, gently compress the spring and insert it into the other hole. You have now completed the steps to remove and install a watch band.
How to Install a New Band onto a Watch
It’s very easy to change a watch band at home; simply follow the above steps to refresh your watch with the band you love.
