How to Change Your Watch Strap in 30 Seconds
In short: to change a quick release watch strap, slide the small lever on the spring bar towards the centre of the strap, tilt the strap away from the case, then reverse the process with the new strap until the pin clicks into the lug hole. It takes about 30 seconds and needs no tools.
Changing a watch strap used to mean a trip to a jeweller, or a fiddly spring bar tool and a scratched case. Every Hartley strap and bracelet, including our steel and mesh bracelets, is fitted with quick release pins instead. Once you have done it once, it takes about 30 seconds.
What is a quick release pin?
A watch strap is held to the case by a spring bar: a small spring loaded pin that sits between the two lugs of the watch. Each end of the pin pushes into a small hole in the lug, and the spring keeps it there.
On a standard strap you need a tool to compress that pin, which is easy to slip with. A quick release pin has a tiny lever built into it on the underside of the strap. Pull the lever with your fingernail and the pin retracts, freeing the strap instantly.
How to tell if your strap has quick release pins
Turn the watch over and look at the back of the strap right next to the case. If you see a small metal lever or nub sticking out from the strap, it is quick release. If the strap edge is smooth, it uses standard spring bars and you will need a spring bar tool.
What you need
- A soft cloth or towel to protect the case and crystal
- Your new strap, in the right width (all Hartley straps are 20mm)
- A fingernail. That is it.
How to remove your strap
- Lay the watch face down on a soft cloth or towel so the case and crystal are protected from scratches.
- Find the lever on the back of the strap, right next to the case.
- Slide the lever towards the centre of the strap with your fingernail. The end of the pin pulls back out of the lug hole.
- Tilt that end of the strap away from the case and it comes free. Repeat on the other side of the watch.
How to fit the new strap
- Check the orientation. The half with the buckle goes at the 6 o'clock side of the watch, and the longer half with the holes goes at 12 o'clock. Keep the lever facing the back of the watch.
- Seat the plain end first. Push the end of the pin without the lever into one lug hole.
- Pull the lever in, guide the other end of the strap into place between the lugs and let go.
- Check it has clicked in. Gently move the strap side to side. You should feel the pin settle into the hole. If it slides freely along the lug, it is not seated properly, so try again.
- Give it a firm tug. Always check both halves are secure before you wear the watch out.
Steel and mesh bracelets
Hartley steel and mesh bracelets use the same quick release pins, so the process is identical. Bracelets are heavier than leather, so take extra care to support the watch while you fit them.
A steel bracelet may also need sizing to fit your wrist. Our how to guides include videos on adjusting the steel bracelet and the mesh strap.
Common problems and how to fix them
The pin will not go into the hole
The lever may not be fully retracted. Pull it all the way in, line the pin up with the hole and release slowly.
The strap feels loose or rattles
One end of the pin has probably missed the hole and is sitting against the lug. Remove the strap and refit it, then do the side to side test again.
The strap is too wide or too narrow
Strap width must match the lug width of your watch. Every Hartley watch has 20mm lugs and every Hartley strap is 20mm, so they all fit each other.
Why quick release straps matter
Straps wear out long before a good watch does, and the right strap changes the whole character of a watch. Quick release pins turn one watch into several. A Legacy on a steel bracelet for the office can be on white silicone for the weekend and on croc embossed leather for dinner, all in the time it takes to make a coffee. Not sure which strap to choose? Read which strap for which occasion.
How to look after your straps
- Leather: keep it dry, wipe it with a soft cloth and let it air out after warm days. Store it flat and out of direct sunlight.
- Silicone: rinse with fresh water after the gym, pool or beach.
- Steel and mesh: clean with warm water, a drop of mild soap and a soft toothbrush, then dry thoroughly.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need a tool to change a Hartley strap?
No. Every Hartley strap uses quick release pins, so you only need your fingernail.
What size strap fits a Hartley watch?
20mm. Every Hartley watch has 20mm lugs and every Hartley strap is 20mm wide.
Do Hartley straps fit both the Legacy and the Heritage?
Yes. All of our straps and bracelets fit both collections.
Can I put a Hartley strap on another brand's watch?
If that watch has 20mm lugs with standard drilled lug holes, a Hartley strap will usually fit.
