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 with this guide from Esslinger.com.
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.
You will need: A spring bar tool
A replacement watch band A parts tray
And optionally: new spring bars
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, 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.
Take the spring bar out of the band and set it aside in your parts 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.
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.
Take 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.
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.
Next you need to measure the watch band to determine the size of your replacement band.
For help on this, check out this link.
Now that 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 at Esslinger.com.
You can now place the new watch band onto the watch case. If the spring bars from your
old watch band are in good shape, you can use them with your new band. Damaged spring
bars look like this.
Insert your spring bars into the holes at the ends of the leather watch band.
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.
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.
Carefully 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.
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.
Position the watch band 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.
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.
For more information on how to complete watch repairs on your own, visit our Learning Center
at Esslinger.com.