There are lots of good reasons to buy a new watch strap. Changing your strap can give your trusty old Omega, Seiko or Timex a new lease on life. If you've recently acquired a new watch, you may want to store your OEM strap or bracelet to keep it in pristine condition. Even if you're not concerned with preserving the OEM strap, often they aren't the ideal quality, fit or design for your wrist comfort or personal style.
Shopping for and wearing new straps is one of the fun things about owning a watch. But before you get started, you'll need to know how to achieve the best fit for your watch case and wrist size. With watch straps, size matters, and we can help.
Find your perfect fit
You'll need at least two measurements to choose a strap that fits properly: the width and the length. If you plan to swap out the buckle for a new one or switch to a deployant clasp, you'll also need to know the strap/buckle taper measurement.
Strap width
The terms "strap size," "strap width" and "lug width" are often used interchangeably. Don't let this confuse you; they all mean the same thing. Basically, the width of the strap where it attaches to the watch lugs (the two projecting arms on the watch case) is the strap size.
To determine your strap size, try the easy way first: check the back of your current strap for an imprint that indicates the size.
If no useful information is provided on the strap, use a metric ruler or a caliper to measure the watch lug width, or the internal distance between the lugs. This measurement will be a whole number, expressed in millimeters (i.e., 20mm). If your lug width is 20mm, you need a 20mm strap.
Strap length
If your strap is too tight, it could irritate your skin and affect your circulation. Too loose, and your watch will migrate around your wrist, constantly straying from its desired location. You want to choose the correct length for your wrist size.
To determine your wrist size, measure your wrist in inches. Use a flexible tape measure or a strip of paper to wrap your wrist where your watch would naturally sit. Mark the point where the two ends meet. If you're using paper, measure it with a ruler. That number is your wrist size.
Compare your wrist size to each manufacturer's specifications in our product listings to make sure you're buying the right length. If you find yourself between two lengths, round up.
Strap/buckle taper
Most watch straps taper in width toward the buckle. Your buckle size matches the width at the buckle end of the strap, not the lug end. If you have a 22mm strap that tapers to 20mm at the buckle, you need a 20mm buckle. A 22mm buckle will be too big.
The strap/buckle taper is important information if you're swapping out the buckle with one of your own, or want to add a deployant clasp. Holben's includes this detail in all of our product listings.
Changing your watch strap
Consider investing in an inexpensive spring bar tool for strap changes. If your strap uses standard spring bars, a spring bar tool can save you a lot of frustration. It can also help with quick-release bars if you have larger fingers or are dealing with mobility issues like arthritis.
Cover your work area with a light-colored towel or cloth to protect your watch, keep tools and parts from rolling away and hopefully catch any spring bars that may fly into the air. Place your watch on the towel with the back facing up; this protects the front of the watch from accidental slips or scratches. You can also wrap the lugs (avoiding the holes) with masking or painter's tape.
Remove the old strap
Removing the old strap involves a few simple steps.
- Use the forked end of your spring bar tool to expose the shoulder of the spring bar between the strap and the lug, then push the shoulder of the bar away from the lug hole towards the strap.
- Extract the bar from the hole in the lug and remove that side of the strap.
- The opposite side of the strap should fall out of the lug hole on its own. If not, repeat the process on that side.
Sometimes the ends of the spring bars are exposed through holes in the lugs. If this is the case, simply use the pointed end of your spring bar tool to push in one end of the bar until it separates from the lug.
Install the new strap
Installing your new strap is similar to removing the old one, only in reverse.
- Make sure that both your watch and the strap are facing up, and that each strap piece is placed correctly; typically the buckle piece sits at the twelve o'clock position.
- Insert a spring bar into the channel in the strap end. Slip one end of the bar into the corresponding lug hole.
- Using your spring bar tool, depress the other side of the bar and guide it into the hole in the other lug. You should hear an audible "click" when the bar pops into place.
- Repeat the operation with the other strap piece.
Change the buckle
Changing the buckle works the same way as changing the strap, with a few other considerations.
- Use your spring bar tool to remove the spring bar connecting the old buckle to the strap.
- Place the prong of the new buckle (facing the same direction as the strap) in the slot on the strap.
- Insert the spring bar through the strap channel, taking care to catch the prong.
- Confirm that the prong is correctly positioned (sitting on top of the buckle, not underneath it), then insert the spring bar into the buckle holes.
Now all that's left to do is enjoy your new strap. If you have any questions, contact us and we would be happy to help.
Customer Reviews
I use several types of straps in my collection, but good rubber is my favorite. I’ve been around the block with many rubber straps, this is one of the best for sure. This strap is very FKM like, and thankfully has no scent. I cannot use the vanilla scented straps as they give me a headache. The biggest selling point is the sizing. Not nearly enough straps offer multiple sizes and it makes all the difference. I ordered the “short” strap and it’s perfect for my 7 inch wrist. I definitely recommend the Hirsch Pure!
High quality, comfortable, breathable, and scent free. Short length is perfect for 6 1/2 inch wrists. A minor caveat is the keepers are a little tight and not the most graceful to slide the strap through.
I bought a “M” Hirsch Pure Black strap. The only rubber straps I’m familiar with are the ones from BONETTO CINTURINI or OEM Panerai. I’d say this Hirsch strap is closer to the Panerai. The quality, comfort, and attention to detail. Plus they are both made out of the Caoutchouc rubber.
The strap is thin but has a nice suppleness to it. It is a matte black and looks great on everything I’ve tried it on. Other reviews said the underside was flat. It definitely has a curve to the underside. For me, it works great to allow the skin to breathe and not have holes cut into the strap that can be sharp sometimes. The strap and buckle are light and comfortable. The quick-release spring bars are really nice and high quality. My only issue is the sizing. I bought a short “M” size and it’s a tad small. I thought from the 110x70mm sizing it would be good but I wish I bought the regular “L” version. I got around this by removing the second keeper. I’ve got it on an Omega Seamaster 300 36mm Midsize. The strap is so good though, that I’ll probably buy the “L”.
Currently deployed getting the hell beat out of it with no issues.
Material 5 stars
Buckle 5 stars
Shape 3 stars
So the rating should really be 4.5 stars.
I really wish they made the straps curve where they connect to the watch.
Then this would have been the perfect strap ...
Compare with the $50 FKM strap that hugs the hand much better:
This is (or should be) the standard by which all other rubber straps are judged. It is just perfect in texture, flexibility, and utility. The only complaint is that it smells... rubbery. Life-hack: Put it in a baggie with a vanilla-scented strap (Bonetto) for a few hours, and it'll pick up the scent like a PB&J in a lunchbox with a banana. The buckle was a bit flashy for me, as I was putting this on a new Marathon Steel-Cased Navigator. Uncle Seiko to the rescue, because he sells bead-blasted 18mm buckles.
Very comfortable, luxe rubber strap. Works well on a range of watches. Shown here with the Fluco deployant strap, which is a great combo. And of course Mike's service is always impeccable.
I purchased my third Hirsch Pure Rubber Strap for the new SPB151, and it’s perfect, which is why I have 3 of these straps in the first place.
This is a well made strap, made from quality materials. That said, i found it terribly stiff and uncomfortable. The fit for me was also in the unfortunate stop of either way to loose or a bit to tight.
The strap and buckle are high quality and absolutely comfortable. I forget I am wearing it. The service and delivery from Holben’s are first class.
