Watch strap has made my existing watch unusable - can I claim for a new watch?

andy230uk

The summary:
I bought a watch strap in June, that has rendered the actual watch unusable for me. The new watch strap can't be removed. Am I right in requesting the strap-seller to pay for a new watch?

Slightly longer story:
I've had my waterproof watch (what is now known as a Withings Scanwatch Light) since 2019. During this time, I've probably had 5 straps (all silicone because I like to swim). I replace the strap when the silicone has degraded. Although practical, I prefer the appearance of a leather strap.

After some research, I found a waterproof leather strap. I ordered it through an online watch strap selling website.

After a few weeks, using my watch as normal, I noticed that the strap was starting to smell. In addition, I developed a painful skin rash. I decided to cut my losses (the strap was £25) and go back to my old straps, when I discovered that the spring bars have completely fused to the watch face itself.

I took it to a couple of watch repair places who were unable to remove the strap as the bars have fused so solidly to the watch itself. The only option they gave me is to snap the bars, and hope to remove the excess from the lug holes with pliers, of which there is no guarantee.  I've also tried WD40, to no avail.

The 'waterproofness' is a bit a moot point. I cannot wear the watch due to my sensitivity to the strap, nor can I remove it.

There has not been an occasion since owning this new strap, that I have done anything remotely differently to normal. I have had the same routine, continued to shower and swim with it, and not at any point put any other chemicals in contact with the watch.

The seller is defensive and saying that the issue does not relate to the strap or spring bars. He's been in touch with the strap manufacturer (Di Modell) who of course, when they do finally reply (nearly 2 weeks and counting) are going to say the issue is not down to their strap. 

I'm happy to cut my losses with the strap. What are my consumer rights regarding getting a replacement watch. As far as I see it, I had a perfectly good watch that I was happy with, which has been rendered unusable for me because of the strap I bought.

Thanks in advance

Arunmor

A leather strap was always going to smell if continuously exposed to water.

Cut the leather off the bars and then cut the bars in half and then pull them out.  You won't be getting a new watch for a minor inconvenience unrelated to the strap.  I suspect the spring bars are just difficult to get to.

andy230uk

I'm quite happy with the watch and certainly don't particularly want a new one. It's not that the spring bars are difficult to get to, they have what I can only assume is a manufacturing defect (see images) meaning they potentially can't be removed.

swingaloo

Is it not corrosion caused b being in water too much? Something classed as waterproof is not always suitable for continued use in water.

Aylesbury_Duck

It seems pretty clear that the pins have corroded and fused into the watch body.  Without knowing the composition of the two materials, there is a phenomenon called bimetallic corrosion, which may account for the pins being stuck in place.

I'm not convinced the strap retailer has a liability here, unless the strap was described as being compatible with your particular watch.  Clearly, a strap sold as being waterproof should come with waterproof bars and bins, but if the corrosion was caused by a reaction between the metal of your watch and the metal of the pin, assisted by water as an electrolyte, then the strap retailer is possibly off the hook.  They're not to know the composition of your watch body.

If the bar or pins corrode anyway, in isolation, then they're clearly not fit for the purpose for which they're being sold.

As for the solution, I think the best bet is to get the repairer to do as they suggest.  Break the bars and try to remove the corroded pins.  A decent repairer should be able to drill them out if necessary and fit new, oversized bars, or install some axle-holders for a regular pin to sit in.

Ayr_Rage

I've never seen waterproof and leather used in the definition of a watch strap!

Looks like plain old rust or dissimilar metal corrosion so you'll have to bite the bullet, cut it and pull or drill out the pins.

born_again

Ayr_Rage said:

I've never seen waterproof and leather used in the definition of a watch strap!

Looks like plain old rust or dissimilar metal corrosion so you'll have to bite the bullet, cut it and pull or drill out the pins.

https://condorstraps.com/materials/leather/waterproof-leather

DullGreyGuy

I've had spring bars corrode, was therefore difficult to remove them as you should but using clippers to remove a chunk of the bar it wasnt difficult to the pins out the lugs once there was a gap to play with.

powerful_Rogue

andy230uk said:

The summary:
I bought a watch strap in June, that has rendered the actual watch unusable for me. The new watch strap can't be removed. Am I right in requesting the strap-seller to pay for a new watch?

Slightly longer story:
I've had my waterproof watch (what is now known as a Withings Scanwatch Light) since 2019. During this time, I've probably had 5 straps (all silicone because I like to swim). I replace the strap when the silicone has degraded. Although practical, I prefer the appearance of a leather strap.

After some research, I found a waterproof leather strap. I ordered it through an online watch strap selling website.

After a few weeks, using my watch as normal, I noticed that the strap was starting to smell. In addition, I developed a painful skin rash. I decided to cut my losses (the strap was £25) and go back to my old straps, when I discovered that the spring bars have completely fused to the watch face itself.

I took it to a couple of watch repair places who were unable to remove the strap as the bars have fused so solidly to the watch itself. The only option they gave me is to snap the bars, and hope to remove the excess from the lug holes with pliers, of which there is no guarantee.  I've also tried WD40, to no avail.

The 'waterproofness' is a bit a moot point. I cannot wear the watch due to my sensitivity to the strap, nor can I remove it.

There has not been an occasion since owning this new strap, that I have done anything remotely differently to normal. I have had the same routine, continued to shower and swim with it, and not at any point put any other chemicals in contact with the watch.

The seller is defensive and saying that the issue does not relate to the strap or spring bars. He's been in touch with the strap manufacturer (Di Modell) who of course, when they do finally reply (nearly 2 weeks and counting) are going to say the issue is not down to their strap. 

I'm happy to cut my losses with the strap. What are my consumer rights regarding getting a replacement watch. As far as I see it, I had a perfectly good watch that I was happy with, which has been rendered unusable for me because of the strap I bought.

Thanks in advance

If the strap seller was liable, you'd not be getting a new watch. You'd be getting the cost of a five year old Withings Scanwatch Light.

Okell

andy230uk said:

I'm quite happy with the watch and certainly don't particularly want a new one. It's not that the spring bars are difficult to get to, they have what I can only assume is a manufacturing defect (see images) meaning they potentially can't be removed.

If you think it's a manufacturing defect on the retaining bars then surely that's a watch problem - not a strap problem - and you need to go back to whoever sold you the watch, not the strap.  (I presume you've simply used the original bars?  Whenever I've changed a watchstrap I've never had to change the bars.  I've always used the original ones).

And are you sure that it's not water damage?  I'd have thought a watch like that was only water resistant and not waterproof.  I wouldn't have thought it was suitable for swimming or full water immersion

PHK

The watch isn't waterproof its water resistant. So cam be used for showering, in the rain or a brief swim but not for actual swimming.