I Have A Confession to Make

Kintarō Hattori

So despite being somewhat of an enthusiast, I've never actually changed a strap or a battery on any of my watches. I know I know- the shame of it all. So I guess the time to change that is now as I have a Timex Expedition T44642 that I got a long long time ago. Years ago I went into a jewelers and got a new strap for it which I hated the moment I saw it and so it's been unworn for many years. It's an ideal beater watch so I'd like to get something suited to it and am looking for suggestions.

First off, what tools would I need and do you have any strap recommendations. I quite like the contrast the original brown strap gave so I'd go with a brown/tan leather or perhaps a NATO strap of some sort.

Eoin

You will want a springbar tool - plenty on fleabay for a few quid.

Personally I think NATOs are great, especially as once they're so easy to change. That watch appears to take a 20mm strap - again, cheapo nylon ones on eBay will do the trick.

A brown leather one would also work; I'd probably spend a little bit more on a leather one - I've found that the cheap ones are often uncomfortable and look like PU. Maybe look for an aged thin one.

Kintarō Hattori

https://www.amazon.com/Timex-T44642-Metal-Analog-Digital/dp/B000B545DW/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_product_top?ie=UTF8

Looking there Eoin the strap is listed as 19mm which seems an in between size. I could go for something like the below:

https://www.ebay.ie/itm/Suede-Genuine-Leather-Watch-Strap-Band-Malaga-12mm-14mm-16mm-18mm-20mm-22mm/291954228698?hash=item43f9d3fdda:m:mdzxOoEVcFg5WwNWTtr4GUQ:rk:3:pf:0 - The Coyote brown or on an orange strap.... wonder how it'd look on orange.

https://www.ebay.ie/itm/Nylon-Nato-Watch-Strap-Band-Military-Army-Diver-G10-MoD-SS-Buckle-Spring-Bars/271282242650?hash=item3f29ae845a:m:miVzl6RR-SPcxQRxTlF06hQ:rk:9:pf:0 - There's a good few colour choices here.

Again though- 18mm or 20mm?

Alanstrainor

You can use a small flat-head screw driver to remove the lugs, maybe some might not want to but I've never had an issue. As for nato stye straps, I've had lots of the cheaper ebay straps and although they are fine, there is a significant difference between them and straps from the following site:

https://www.watchgecko.com/nato-zulu-watch-straps?custom_strap_size_watch=2148

They do more than just nato, and offer some in 19mm. I did order a 20mm strap recently (green nato) in 20mm for a 19mm watch and the strap is great quality. I do wish I had ordered the 18mm instead, but it's not bad.

Eoin

huh, some site saying it's 18mm, so a range of measurements being given!

njburke

Just ordered that springbar tool, I have a cheap Chinese one that came in a kit and it's junk

peasant

On a soft leather/rubber strap a long-ish fingernail on your thumb is all you need really, especially so on fitting...removing needs a bit more practice.

Cienciano

OmegaGene wrote: »

https://rover.ebay.com/rover/0/0/0?mpre=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.ebay.co.uk%2Fulk%2Fitm%2F263281763792

That actually looks bent in the photo