How to Change a Leather Watch Band – Spring Bar Style with Holes on the Ends

Whether your current watch band is worn out, or you would just like to give your watch a new look, you can easily replace your leather watch band. This guide will help you change watch bands in cases with holes in the lugs. How do you know if your watch case does or does not have holes? Check the watch lugs, the metal part that sticks out to hold the watch band. If the lugs look like they each have one small round hole, then you should follow these steps to remove your watch band.

Tools Needed:

• A Spring Bar Tool
• A Parts Tray
• A Replacement Watch Band
• Optional: New Spring Bars

Step 1

The first step in changing your watch band is to remove the existing watch band. Start by holding the watch so that it is sitting on its side with the watch crown pointing up. Hold the watch case so one side of the band is facing you.

Step 2

Take your spring bar tool and use the pointed end to push the spring bar down through the hole. When you can feel that the spring bar has been pushed down, use a free finger to push the top of the watch band out from under the lugs. When the spring bar and top of the band are free you can easily pull that half of the watch band out of the case.

Step 3

Take the spring bar out of the band and set it aside in your paw rts tray so you can reuse it. Set the first part of the watch band off to the side so you will remember which side of the watch case it came from. By doing this, you will ensure that the clasp of your new watch band will close the same way as the one on your original band.

Step 4

Turn the watch case so that the half of the watch band that is still attached to the watch case is accessible to your tools.

Step 5

Using your spring bar tool and repeat what you did before. Move the pointed end in into the hole in the case lug and then push down until you can push the band to the side and slide it free of the watch case.

Step 6

Remove the watch band from the case and take the spring bar out of the band. Place it in your parts tray to keep it safe. Set the band aside on the other side of the watch case like you did with the first one to tell which side goes where.

Step 7

Next you need to measure the watch band to determine the size of your replacement band. Once you have the size of the watch band needed, you can choose a size and style that you prefer. For lots of watch band options, visit our watch band page.

Step 8

You are now ready to place the new watch band onto the watch case. Start with your spring bars: If the spring bars from your old watch band are in good shape, you can use them with your new band. If they are damaged, you should replace them now. Insert your spring bars into the holes at the ends of the leather watch band.

Step 9

Then take one side of the new watch band and determine which side of the watch case it belongs on from the old band. Once you know where the first half of your watch band belongs, pick up the watch case and hold it on its side again with the crown pointing to the ceiling. It should be positioned so you can access the side where the first half of the band belongs.

Step 10

Position the spring bar of the watch band in the hole in the bottom lug. Be sure that your watch band’s finished side is facing the same direction as the watch face. Take the forked end of the spring bar tool and position it so that you can push one of the spring ends of the spring bar down so it fits under the lug. Move the watch band around in the lugs until you feel and see the spring bar pop into place. This will happen when the spring bar finds the hole in the watch lug. Don’t worry if it takes you several tries to get the spring bar in position.

Step 11

Now, turn the watch case so that you can access the other set of lugs and pick up the other half of the new watch band.

Step 12

Take the watch band and position it so that the finished side faces the same way as the watch crystal and place the spring bar in the hole for it in the bottom lug. When it is place, use your spring bar tool to push the top part of the spring bar down so it can slide under the top watch lug. Just like you did with the first half, wiggle the watch band around under the top lug until it slips into place in its hole in the lug.

Finished

Once both halves of the watch band are securely attached to the watch case, you are ready to wear your watch again with its brand new look.