I see many videos on how to remove a leather watch strap and change it for another band. However, in most cases people use a springbar tool for this. What if you have no tools at all?
Follow these simple steps to change the watch strap with a common tool like a kitchen knife.
Remove your watch strap yourself without tools, just a kitchen knife.
Discover in 6 short steps how to remove the watch strap and put it back on.
- Place a cloth on the table for a soft surface
- Turn the watch upside down
- Press a knife between the leather watch strap and the watch case
- Slide the pushpin out of the hole
- Replace the strap.
- Press the pushpin back into the holes with your nail
1. Place a cloth on the table for a soft surface
Prevent damage to the watch by working on a cloth or towel. You probably have it somewhere at home. Place this on the kitchen table or a solid surface with sufficient light.
2. Turn the watch upside down
Place the watch face on the towel so that you can easily change the watch strap.
3. Press a knife between the leather watch strap and the watch case
Now comes the trickier part. Press the kitchen knife (or springbar tool) between the watch band and the holder (also called the watch lug). Press down as far as you can until you can’t go any further.
In this way you ensure that you touch the pin with your kitchen knife that is in the leather watch strap.
PS: do you see a hole on the outside of the watch case? Then remove the watch strap by pressing the pin from the outside. For example, you can do this with a thumbtack instead of a knife.
4. Press the springbar out of the hole
Keep pressure on the pin that is in the leather strap. Then move the top of the blade to the outside. In this way you will push the springbar out of the hole. Also, try to push the sharp side of the blade more to the inside of the leather watch strap. You only need a millimeter, so keep trying.
Great, you did it! Now the watch strap is removed from the watch case without tools.
5. Replace the strap without tools
Remove the pin from the leather strap and grab the new band to replace it.
6. Press the springbar back into the holes with your nail
Finally, place the springbar in one of the two holes. Then press the bar on the other side further into the watch band with your nail. You can also use a common tool, such as the kitchen knife.
In this way, the springbar also shoots behind the holder (lug) of the watch case on the other side. Then gently move the watch strap with your fingers until you hear “Click.” There you go, you have replaced your own watch band at home without tools!
If these steps where helpful to replace your watch strap at home, please feel free to share this post! Thank you!
Last but not least, you could also check out this post about the perfect leather watch strap size.