Reply With QuoteHave had quite a few qr spring bars over the years and never had a problem with any. Did have a normal spring bar fail on me last week, first one ever. Luckily I was sitting on the sofa so watch just rolled off my wrist onto my lap.
I've never trusted 'QR' anything, so tend to avoid where possible.
My theory being......... 'That which can come undone, will come undone'.
But lately many straps seem to only come with 'QR' bars.
I've just bought four straps, all with 'QR' bars and was considering replacing them with conventional spring bars.
'What say ye'
Have had quite a few qr spring bars over the years and never had a problem with any. Did have a normal spring bar fail on me last week, first one ever. Luckily I was sitting on the sofa so watch just rolled off my wrist onto my lap.
Only one watch with a QR strap, no issues and feels solid as a rock.
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Same as above, no issue with them whatsoever, now prefer straps with them.
I tend to be against QR springbars for two reasons:
- It happened to me that the "head" that you pull to take off the spring bars just fell and got lost (some are screwed on the springbar, some are just friction fitted).
It can be quite a pain then to take off the springbar, as you don't have shoulders on it to grab it with a tool, so tricky...
- It implies to have a cut out in the leather to accomodate the "head". On the long run, you can consider that it is weakening a bit the leather where the cut out is
* and I don't mind taking 5 more seconds to use a spring bar tool
Last edited by Wandril; 14th June 2021 at 11:16.
Originally Posted by Wandril
Thank you,
Point 1.......The watches for the four new straps all have 'through' holes in lugs.
Point 2.......In all my watch wearing years....about 70, I have never ever suffered from a strap failure in SB area.
I’ve got two QR straps and live them. Feel safe and love the quick changeover without scratching up the watch.
Not had a problem in 18 months.
Never had a problem with them, having tested them around the house for months. Took one watch on holiday last week with QR strap and a few others for variety. No issues at all.
My only caveat is with drilled lugs. I am still wearing my watch with QR straps, but so far, no issues. Whether I'll wear it outside with these straps remains to be seen. In theory, there shouldn't be an issue, so its a me thing.
The fact you can swap them without a tool is great. Take loads with one watch on holiday, of all materials, and it adds considerable variety.
Can I ask what is the 'me thing' you mention with drilled lugs?
Is that through drilled lugs?
Yes drilled through. I guess it makes me a bit nervous when the end pin isn't sitting against the solid metal case inside the lug.
It just seems to me more secure when using the straps without drilled lugs. But I think there is no basis in fact for my thoughts. At the end of the day the strap is locked tight by the spring bars between the lugs, whether the lugs are drilled or not.
I gave my daughter one of my cheaper divers with QR straps, when she went swimming, knowing full well that kids don't give a rats *&^%&% about watches when they plunge down slides etc. No issues.
I don't trust them. Always remove them and use traditional ones. Imagine losing a coveted watch. Why take the risk? Why? Tell me why?
"The whole purpose of mechanical watches is to be impertinent." ~ Lionel a Marca, CEO of Breguet
I am amazed springbars work so well, a tiny bit of metal holding your pride and joy!
I agree with the QR bars though, they never seem to sit deep enough in the lug holes and I too think they are just introducing an additional failure point in the strap.
+1. Too many risk factors. Could never buy a QR strap when strap changing (with decent tool and a bit of practice) takes about 5 seconds longer. I also don't like the fact that the strap has a hole in it. Perfect breeding ground for nasties!
QR straps are a god send. I don’t buy the potential negatives. Patek use them as standard on Calatravas etc.
I think there is some over-worrying going on in this thread, and I’m a natural worrier :)
As somebody who wears vintage more often than not, they don't work in watches set up for female spring bars. I have one strap (a Joseph Bonnie tropic) with QR bars and probably won't be expanding the collection much beyond that.
In the Sotadic Zone, apparently.
All of CW watches come with QR bracelets or straps. So, that’s thousands and thousands of watches. Never heard of a problem and not seen any issue on the CW forum.
Use with confidence.
I use QR spring bar straps on most of my watches. I have a MM300 on a quick release strap today and the watch head is pretty heavy as most of you know.
I've never ever has an issue with the QR strap and bar combination.
I do know that at least one strap seller on Amazon supplies thicker variants of the spring bars as I've tried them. The standard QR bars are as good as the upgraded variant.
Last edited by j111dja; 14th June 2021 at 21:58.
This is a good read, I bought a strap with QR in a bundle and I've wondered about using it. I feel more confident now.
Having never used QR straps before, I deliberately went down that route with three different QR straps for my Offshore Professional Field Engineer- a watch I value very highly.
My rationale is that I could regularly and easily change the look, making it much more versatile.
I’ve been delighted with the results and the fit is solid and secure. I may well invest in more.
Simon
Confirmed about the Calatrava. I think this topic has been discussed before and I posted my 5146J picture. I have no issue at all and make it far easier to change straps.
here is the picture again - OEM strap
“ Ford... you're turning into a penguin. Stop it.” HHGTTG
I have been chatting to several forum members recently about the quick release spring bar straps. They lacked confidence in buying them. I had never had an issue so all I could do was to recommend them.
How many watches have you bought or seen on Sales Corner with the dreaded strap changing marks on the top and bottom of lugs? Too many. These spring bars are the perfect solution for people who don't have a clue when it comes to strap and bracelet changing. :-)
To be fair that does look a little delicate - surely the strap should be sealed up nearer the lug too? Has it torn?Confirmed about the Calatrava. I think this topic has been discussed before and I posted my 5146J picture. I have no issue at all and make it far easier to change straps.
here is the picture again - OEM strap
I personally quite like them but it's never a deciding factor when it comes to buying. It has however put me off a few canvas straps because the hole for the adjustment bar isn't very often sealed so they can fray from that point really quickly.
Good point well made
___________________________________
As well as watch manufacturers like Christopher Ward, most smartwatches have QR (springbars or thumb-clips) - with millions more sold than conventional watches. Some major high-end strap-makers like Hirsch also use them extensively.
Nothing's foolproof, but it's an unlikely scenario where just the right shaped object can slip between wrist and strap and release it accidentally, so the only failure mode is the same as for any springbar - apply enough pressure and the springbar could fail, but you're talking about the kind of pressure that could cause you injury if there wasn't some kind of failsafe, and here again it's going to be a rare scenario.
I use them, I don't worry about them. The one exception is the occasional cheap, Chinese strap that comes with flimsy, shoddily-made springbars - they always get replaced with Hirsch springbars.
Never had a problem with them. That being said I tend to stick to good quality straps. I wouldn't put a watch I care about damaging on a cheap strap / springbar regardless of whether its QR or not. Only ever had a springbar fail once and it was completely my fault as the watch got caught on something with quite a force. Happens it was a very affordable watch too
It’s not delicate, no need to worry :) That is how Patek supply them, open to the end.
The Patek strap is OEM supplied with the last service. Not torn that I can see. The previous one(s) - original in 2006 - did not have such spaces - maybe it’s a new feature.
“ Ford... you're turning into a penguin. Stop it.” HHGTTG
I see! How strange - does the strap not 'lift up' in that corner?
no - here is the top view - the leather has been cut (not torn) to a small V shape, to allow easier access.
Last edited by MartynJC (UK); 15th June 2021 at 16:43.
“ Ford... you're turning into a penguin. Stop it.” HHGTTG
I recently bought 2 straps with quick release bars - a leather Hirsch jobbie where the little handles stick out so far you can see them between the lug gaps when the watch is on the wrist if you look carefully. The other is a watchgecko tropic and they are excellent. Allows me to swap straps on my Newmark 52 without risking the back of the lugs if I can’t be bothered to tape them over!
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By means of illustration…..
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I've had various QR springbars on watches for about three years now and never had a problem... and for me at least they make strap changes 100x easier. I am a total convert.
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