Community Stories

Have I changed watched straps too many times?

ninman
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So I've noticed my Speedmaster lugs have fairly deep scratches from changing straps quite a lot.

I use the Omega spring bar tool, but I sometimes find the spring bars can be really hard to get a grip of, along with requiring quite a lot of pressure to remove.

The result are lugs that look like this.

Should I try to fix it? Should I give up my strap changing habit? Is my technique bad? Are the scratches that bad?

What do you think?
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Eve
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My lugs on some watches look much worse, why would you care how the back of the lug looks?
 
STANDY
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You do know you can buy plastic spring bar tools that don’t scratch your watch lug's for a few dollars 😗

👍
 
ninman
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STANDY STANDY
You do know you can buy plastic spring bar tools that don’t scratch your watch lug's for a few dollars 😗

👍

I did not know that lol.
 
Annapolis
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There might be some people who would never buy a watch with scratched lugs—especially if it’s meant to be a collectible piece. But I think you’ll find that most of us here buy our watches to wear and don’t lose sleep over this kind of normal wear and tear. (The same is true with desk diver scratches on clasps.)

I know you’re not asking about resale—my point is just that affecting value is one way to decide whether this “matters.” IMO this wouldn’t impact the desirability of the watch for most people, and would barely change the value—especially since it wouldn’t be hard to erase.

I’d give this no more thought than a minor scuff on the sole of my shoe. Not that I go out of my way to scratch my lugs. If you’re using the right technique and tools, it shouldn’t happen. But it’s nothing to worry over.
 
Donn Chambers
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Another member of the “Scratched Lug Society” here. I enjoy switching straps on my Speedmaster and only you are going to see those scratches anyway. Would rather change the strap quickly when I want and not worry about it than fuss about with taping lugs and angsting over a single scratch.
 
thelinendial
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It bothers me personally, so I now only own quick release straps. It takes 3 second to swap a strap, without tools and no scratches.

Also, per M'Bob, I use two layers of painter's tape if I need to use tools.

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Edited:
 
Modernism
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We've probably all got those scratches.. I actually questioned why they weren't polished out on last year's Omega service and was given some excuse or other, but doesn't really bother me
 
avidmark
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Mine look like that and it doesn’t bother me. I change straps usually every few days and am careful without being obsessive. It’s just happens over time. I’ve accepted that and enjoy the hobby more after letting go of the odd scratch he and there.
 
R
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I have scratches like this , but my problem is the damage I see near the hole . The hole doesn’t look normal anymore. Does that mean the hole could get bigger with wear and tear and potentially stop holding the endlinks in place, resulting in a failed bracelet?
 
Canuck
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STANDY STANDY
You do know you can buy plastic spring bar tools that don’t scratch your watch lug's for a few dollars 😗

👍

Yes! Except I suspect it is the SPRING BARS that are scratching the lugs!
 
EuroDriver
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If you can't use a spring bar and avoid inducing scratches, try this:

Get some dental floss. Loop it around one end of the spring bar, tighten it and pull inwards. Voila!
 
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