How to Replace a Watch Strap Buckle – Step by Step

A buckle wears out, rusts or simply breaks long before the strap itself needs replacing. Fortunately, it's one of the easiest repairs you can do yourself on a watch strap.

Why replace just the buckle?

If the strap is still in good condition but the buckle has bent, lost its prong or rusted, there's rarely any reason to replace the whole watch strap. A new buckle in the right width solves the problem in a few minutes and is also an easy way to freshen up an older strap – try a gold-tone buckle, for example, to give a well-worn leather watch strap a lift.

How to remove the old buckle

Most buckles are attached to the strap with the same type of spring bar that holds the strap to the watch. Use a spring bar tool, compress the bar from one side and carefully lift it out once it comes free of the hole, just as when changing a strap – see our guide to changing your watch strap if this is new to you.

How to fit the new buckle

Position the new buckle at the end of the strap, push the spring bar back through the strap's loop and into the buckle's holes until it clicks into place on both sides. Give the buckle a gentle tug to make sure it's secure before putting your watch back on.

Tools you need

A spring bar tool and possibly a few spare spring bars if the old bar is bent or damaged – see our full range of watch strap tools. Our buckles come in black and gold-tone, in widths of 14, 16, 18, 20 and 22mm.

Conclusion

Replacing a buckle is quicker and cheaper than replacing the whole strap, and needs only the same simple tools as a regular strap change. See the full selection of watch strap buckles.