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Most watches out there have standard springbars holding the straps on. There are a few that are a little weird, and some cheap ones that you really can not change out, but for the most part this will handle anything you run into.
Watches have two lugs that hold the springbars. These lugs have holes in them for the springbar to insert into like this:
That hole lets the springbar slip in and hold the strap. The springbar is called a springbar because it has a spring in it. It looks like this:
Note the lands on the ends. These are what your springbar tool grabs onto so that you can compress and release them. The end of a typical springbar tool looks like this:
Springbar tools are available at any watch house, Amazon, or eBay. The recess in the end of the tool is made to go between the land on the springbar and the hold in the watch lug so you can pry the bar down and compress the spring. First you need to insert the tool like this:
Note that the recess in the end of the tool is around the end of the springbar. I always do this from the back of the watch in case something happens and I scratch or dent the lug the damage will not be visible when the watch is being worn. Now move the end of the tool away from you prying down between the lug and the strap, the springbar should compress and slip out like this:
Now simply reverse the procedure to install a new strap, it's that easy! Sometimes a springbar that has been in a strap for a long time is hard to get out, use the springbar tool to push it through the strap. Never use pliers or something similar to pull the springbar out as this will invariably damage the springbar and render it unusable or worse, cause it to release while you are wearing the watch!
Good luck!
Copyright 2012 Allan Hall, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED