How to Change Your SevenFriday Watch Strap: Tutorial

After 4 years of good and faithful service, it was time to replace the straps on my SevenFriday P2 watches and SevenFriday M1/1. The perfect opportunity to put together a tutorial for all owners of the Swiss brand’s watches. Follow the steps below to do it at home (video at the end of the article!).

What you’ll need

Before you start, make sure you have the following:

• A spring bar tool (also called a spring bar remover). You can easily find one at a watchmaker’s or online on sites like Amazon.
• A soft cloth or a piece of paper towel to protect the lugs of the watch.
• Your new leather replacement strap (see SevenFriday straps on their website).

1. Understanding the technical terms

Before you begin, here are a few useful terms:

• Spring bar: A small spring-loaded metal bar that secures the strap to the watch lugs.
• Lugs: Extensions of the watch case used to attach the strap.
• Spring bar tool: A notched V-shaped tool designed to remove or refit spring bars.

2. Removing the old strap

1. Protect the lugs: Place a soft cloth around the lugs to avoid scratching them during the process.
2. Insert the spring bar tool: Position the notched tip between the leather strap and the watch lug. This will give you access to the spring bar.
3. Press the spring bar: Gently push the spring-loaded end of the bar inward while lightly pulling the strap outward with your other hand.
4. Remove the strap: Once the spring bar is released, the strap will come away easily.

Tip: Take the opportunity to clean the area between the lugs with a microfibre cloth. These spots often collect dust or debris.

3. Fitting the new strap

1. Fit the spring bar into the strap: Insert a spring bar at each end of your new strap.
2. Set one end into the lug: Align one end of the spring bar with the hole in the first lug.
3. Adjust with the spring bar tool: Use the tool to compress the other end of the spring bar and guide it into the hole in the second lug.
4. Listen for the click: You should hear a faint click confirming the spring bar is properly seated.
5. You’ll also need to fit the buckle to the new strap.

Video

Same procedure to change the strap on the M1/1

Changing the strap on your SevenFriday watch is a straightforward operation that requires only a few tools and a little patience. However, if you’re unsure or worried about damaging your watch, don’t hesitate to leave the job to a professional watchmaker.