How To Replace A Watch Spring Bar
In this article
Identify Your Band Style Before Starting
Look at the rear of the band before you touch any tools. Some bands flow smoothly into the watch case without any gaps, meaning they lack an end piece entirely. Other bands terminate in an end piece, an extra metal piece at the end of the band that has two wing-like protrusions that slightly overlap the watch lugs. The lugs themselves are the metal parts that stick out to hold the watch band. Hold the watch under a bright lamp and tilt it so the light catches the seam between the band and the case. Take a moment to compare both sides of the lugs.
Set Up Your Workspace And Tools
Set out a container for small parts, the replacement band, and a tool designed to compress spring bars. Keep everything within arm’s reach so nothing gets mixed with loose change or screws. If your watch uses a metal bracelet rather than a leather or rubber strap, confirm that the lug width matches the new band before you begin, a detail covered in our practical buyer’s guide to sizing a watch bracelet. Lay out the new band beside the old one so you can compare the end piece orientation before anything is removed, and clear a spot for the spring bar once it pops free. This same patient approach applies to other small watch jobs, such as replacing a watch battery at home without ruining it, where a slip of the screwdriver can mar the case back.
Remove The Old Spring Bar
Flip the watch over so you are working from the back. Slide the forked end of the spring bar tool into the gap under the top lug between the end piece and the lug where the piece dips away. Push down and then to the side to pop the spring bar free. The fork catches on the donut ring of the spring bar, which gives you the leverage needed to compress it. If the bar refuses to budge, work the tool gently from a slightly different angle rather than forcing it. Some straps release by pressing a small pin rather than manipulating a hidden bar. Keep the parts tray directly beneath the watch so the bar lands in it instead of on the floor.
Inspect The Spring Bar And End Piece
Before installing anything, examine the old spring bar for a bent or flattened donut ring. Check the end piece for a clean divot where the tool fork will rest during installation. If the end piece is misshapen, the wings may not sit evenly against the lugs, so straighten it carefully or swap in a new end piece if one is available.
Install The New Spring Bar
Position the replacement band so the end piece wings sit on top of the back of the lugs. Take the forked end of the spring bar tool and place it in the divot of the end piece. Press down steadily until the bar seats in the lug holes. Repeat on the opposite side if your band uses two bars, then inspect the seam between the band and the case to ensure nothing is crooked. If one side feels looser than the other, remove the bar and try again rather than wearing the watch with uneven tension.
Check The Fit Before Wearing
Give the band a firm tug to confirm that both spring bars are fully seated. If you hear any creaking or feel movement, remove the bar and reseat it rather than wearing the watch with a loose attachment. Once the repair is done, you might enjoy testing your watch knowledge at Watchdle.
FAQ
Where is the small pin located on a watch strap?
The small pin sits on the underside of the watch strap near the watch case, and you press down on it with a fingernail or small tool.
What tools are needed to replace a spring bar?
You need a spring bar tool, a parts tray, and a replacement watch band, with optional spring bars available if the originals are worn.
How do you know the spring bar is seated correctly?
The spring bar clicks into place when it is installed correctly.
What should you do if the spring bar will not come out?
Use small tweezers to pull out a particularly stuck spring bar.
Handy for this at home: a spring bar tool.
A new watch to identify is waiting every day at Watchdle.
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