Toy watch - new strap

Malari

I'm hoping someone can point me in the right direction

I bought a Toy watch about 5 or 6 years ago. The strap is plastic and it's broken twice now. I managed eventually to get a replacement from Toy direct in the UK, but they actually sent the incorrect one for my model. With a little adjustment I got it to fit.

At this stage I just want to get any kind of strap that will let me wear it. I took it into Keane's in Cork and they said they don't like to deal with Toy as the case can easily break, and to attempt to fit a leather strap for example would be at my own risk. Even them sending it to Toy for repair has been difficult apparently!

I love this watch, and I'm leaning towards just risking them fixing it, because I can't wear it at all at the moment. Anyone have any other suggestions or jewellers who may be able to help? Many thanks!

CarltonBrowne

You're probably not going to find too many people either knowledgeable or, indeed, enthusiastic about Toywatches here. However, if you post pictures and give some basic measurements we might be able to help you with some suggestions. Concentrate on a picture of the back of the watch where the strap attaches to the lugs.

Malari

Hah, ok I see

I'll try to get some pics up tomorrow. Thanks.

Malari

Well, here are some pics. I'm not looking for specific advice for Toy watches, just wondering if someone more knowledgeable about repairs thinks it's worth trying to get another strap on this, considering the casing is plastic and cracked, or is it essentially a write-off :-/
Thanks again.

peasant

Going by the thick white lines either side of the watch in the last picture, the lugs seem to be badly cracked and it's only a matter of time before they fall off altogether. Putting on a new strap is probably a waste of time really

Malari

Fair enough, thanks for that.

Oh well, xmas is coming :rolleyes::)

Amalgam

I googled the brand when the thread first appeared..

Here's the main site in english: http://www.toy-watch.com/gb_en/

I had never heard of them before, but, judging by the amount of UK stockists, the brand seems to be popular.

CarltonBrowne

If you are thinking of asking Santa for a new watch for Christmas it might be an idea to get some better advice first .

If you are going to continue wearing this (before the lugs fall off) then you may be able to put it on a NATO which would mean that you wouldn't lose the watch if a lug or spring bar fails. I suspect, however, that fitting a NATO may well be the straw on the camels back and the lug will finally fail - maybe that's not such a bad thing. A google image search of Toywatch and NATO seems to indicate this is possible.

Malari

Well I can't wear it at all at the moment as the straps are broken, so I'll have a look at the NATO thing. Thanks.

I do have other watches, but I'll be buying my next one from a jeweller. Keanes used to do Toy watches though, I'm sure so I didn't think they would be that bad.

Eoin

CarltonBrowne wrote: »

If you are going to continue wearing this (before the lugs fall off) then you may be able to put it on a NATO which would mean that you wouldn't lose the watch if a lug or spring bar fails

+1

I lost a springbar on my Steinhart a few weeks ago while on an escalator. Had it have been a normal strap, it would have fallen and hit a marble floor two stories down.

fret_wimp2

Eoin wrote: »

+1

I lost a springbar on my Steinhart a few weeks ago while on an escalator. Had it have been a normal strap, it would have fallen and hit a marble floor two stories down.

I both hate and love to hear things like this! All but 2 are on NATO's now.

Malari

Guys thanks so much for the Nato watch strap suggestion! I ordered a lovely leather one and handed both it and the watch remnants to my boyfriend last night for fixing. This will definitely see me through another while!

CarltonBrowne

Well done and I'm glad it worked out. Just be careful not to over-tighten that strap.