The spring bar is a very small piece of accessory parts, it has been hidden inside the strap, and fewer people care, but in the critical moment, if the strength is not enough, the spring bar falls or breaks, your watch will fall down, sometimes damage the glasses or inside movement. It may be a very serious problem.
We, laymen, if you look at the spring bar, you will think every spring bar is strong, no difference. it is very cheap but very thin on some online platforms, and when you use it, it also shakes, “I really do not know where to buy really reliable, quality can be the same as the original spring bar”, That’s the confusion of many watches wears.
Let’s see how to solve this problem. this article will explore the different types of spring bars available, the materials used, the manufacturing process, and how to determine their quality.
The Introduction of the Spring Bar
Watch spring bar as an accessory plays a significant role in the overall aesthetics and functionality of a timepiece. One such essential accessory is the spring bar, also known as the watch ear.
What is Watch Spring Bar?
It is a small, but critical component that holds the watch strap or bracelet in place. Some as screw lock, and Some are as elastic as springs。
Spring bars are steel rods that hold the link between the strap and the watch dial. Ninety percent of all watches are held in place by raw lugs. Raw lug is a term used in the watch professional world.
Specifically, it is the steel rod between the watch band and the case, or the steel rod that adjusts the length position in the middle of the watch band.
Structure of the Spring bars
The lug is generally made up of four parts: a two-headed top hollow lug head, a round straight-through, and a spring in the middle. Pressing the two heads by hand will make the whole ear shorter, so it is easy to install in the case lug ear hole.
Types of Spring Bars
There are two types of spring bars: single-shoulder and double-shoulder.
Single-shoulder spring bars have only one shoulder that attaches to the watch case, while double-shoulder spring bars have two shoulders that attach to the case. Double-shoulder spring bars are more secure and less likely to fall out, making them the preferred choice for luxury watches.
According to the material, There are half stainless steel spring bars, Full stainless steel spring bars, and Alloy spring bars.
The difference between all-steel and half-steel is that all-steel is whole stainless steel, while half-steel tube body is steel, and the other is copper.
The steel material is divided into 316L or 304L. the 316 stainless steel material has better performance than 304 stainless steel.
Also, there has quick-release spring bars, normal spring bars, Quick-release spring bars, and Quick-release spring bars are further divided into single-open and double-open quick-release spring bars.
Materials Used in Spring Bars
The Spring bars are made from different materials, including Aluminium, stainless steel, titanium, and gold. Stainless steel is the most commonly used material due to its durability, corrosion resistance, and affordability. Titanium is lightweight and strong, making it an ideal choice for high-end watches. Gold is also used but is reserved for luxury watches due to its high cost.
Manufacturing Process
The manufacturing process of spring bars depends on the material used. Stainless steel and titanium spring bars are usually machined from a solid metal block, while gold spring bars are cast. The manufacturing process involves cutting, shaping, and polishing the spring bars to ensure a precise fit.
The Quality of The Spring Bars
The quality of spring bars is critical, as they are responsible for holding the watch strap or bracelet securely in place. A low-quality spring bar can cause the watch strap to come loose, resulting in damage or loss of the watch. The quality of spring bars depends on various factors, including the material used, manufacturing process, and design.
A high-quality spring bar should be made from durable materials and have a precise fit. The shoulders of the spring bar should be uniform and free from defects or scratches. The ends of the spring bar should be well-polished and fit snugly into the watch case.
About the quality of spring bars:
1. the material and thickness of the spring bar rod/T-bars with studs;
2. the internal spring elasticity;
3. the details of the spring bar head
Most of the spring bars in the domestic market are made of alloy, and the spring bar head and the spring bar rod are crooked and there is obvious shaking when you shake the spring bar head by hand, and the elasticity is relatively small when you squeeze it by hand. There is no treatment on the head, so this kind of spring bar is worse. If used for a long time it is easy to damage
What’s the good Spring bar:
First, The material required is 316L,
Second, The elasticity required is 0.5kg or more,
Third, the spring bar head is chamfered with no sharpness. Most of the Swiss standard spring bars have this requirement
All watch lovers can look at the quality of your watches
When talking about the spring bar, We will mention the screws on the Watches band, Some of them are made with screw locks. If it is a screw lock watch band, You can check the quality below,
The Quality of the Watch Band Screw
The watch strap screws are also crucial, if the screws fall off, the watch is also easy to break, so how to see the quality of the watch strap screws?
- screw material;
- screw clams teeth neatness;
- screw teeth and threads with poor work;
- screw structure
As the screws which are used in watches are relatively small, the material is too soft and easy to slip the thread;
So you can check:
The screw tooth finish and thread fit, if the teeth are not neat or too tight, it is easy to slip the thread,
If it is loose, the screw will also easy to fall off;
The structure of the two sides of the screw, there is a 2 side screw, If it is 2 side screws spring bar, the one with smaller screw is relatively easy to fall off.
This one screw is fixed tight, But it is hard to dispatch.
For those watches straps with screw locks, I suggest you add some glue on the screws, it is blue glue(I use the 243, and the effect is pretty good, If your screw is not tight, you can buy some)
Some Personal Suggestions of the Spring Bar and Watch Band Screws
Remind all watchmakers to check the various screws on their watches when they have time.
Note: Some are inherently crooked, with curved belts that are closer to the case and have no seams. Usually, the formal casual style will match like this
Finally.
If the strap is a screw link, You should really often look at the screws, and feel them with your hands. When maintenance let the repair master screw it, if it loose, add some screw glue. especially in the summer to wear more sweaty watchmakers pay special attention.
One day, my citizen watch loosened the lug screws, My hand flung, and the watches flew. The watch glass is broken, and the three watch hands are all bent
One screw protruding a lot did not find, I was shocked when taking off the watch after arriving home, fortunately, the screws did not fall out, or cause serious consequences, when you buy the spring bar or watch band screws, buy according to my standard requirements above.
Išvada
In conclusion, the spring bar and watch band screws is a small but vital components of a watch. It holds the watch strap or bracelet in place and ensures that the timepiece remains secure on the wrist.
Spring bars are made from different materials and undergo various manufacturing processes, which can affect their quality. When purchasing a watch, it is essential to pay attention to the quality of the spring bars and bracelet screws to ensure that they are durable and reliable
