To drill or not to drill

Drilled is always better

Doesn't bother me, other than when modern watchmakers drill lugs. Historically, it was difficult to machine concealed pin holes inside lugs - it was do-able, but only with patience and refined skills. Nowadays, it's an easy operation on CNC mills, so there's no excuse for through-drilling. 

Drilled lugs on a modern watch are in the same bucket as faux rivets on bracelets (I'm looking at you Tudor and Cartier) - if they fit a vintage aesthetic or design tradition, fair enough, but otherwise it's just lazy.  

Drilled lugs is always better when you love to swap the straps.

Now if you are not into this AND the design of your timepiece is the priority, probably not. To me, the holes in watch case are small enough to don't be a "design breaker"

Also, I think the less watches you have in your collection, the more you might want to swap straps, so you have different feelings on your wrist.

Drilled makes life so much easier. Drilled for me.

I agree with @Nolanketty 😀

i like to change the straps to get a new look, so i prefere drilled lugs

Drilled certainly.  

I agree! I have nothing else to add.. 🤝

Drilled ligs are more elegant. 

Drilled. It's a pain in the keister to change my Mido Commander from it's cloth and leather strap (what do they call those anyway?) 

A set of drilled lugs would've been much easier. 

Springs bars can get stuck after many years. Drilled lugs help.

I like the way they look, I also like the way it looks when they aren’t there. It’s a design choice like any other at this point really. I don’t actually have any with drilled lugs (unless you count the casio f91w… which I’ve lost the original bars for, which is a sod) but can see how it would suits some watches. Especially ones that lean more utilitarian (don’t like the word ‘tool’ in the watch context) or industrial in design style. Drilled lugs are not elegant — but nor is every watch.

I call cloth and leather straps "hybrid straps".

Drill, baby, drill!

Thank you. 

I completely disagree. They make changing straps easier, so they serve a purpose. And watchmaking is very much about purpose. 

It’s something I don’t really care about or notice. I rarely change straps anymore. I couldn’t even tell you which of my watches have drilled lugs or not without looking. 

...is an absolutely fair point...

drilled but not on a dress watch

I don’t think it makes it easier to change straps in my experience, nor increases the chance of unnecessary scratching. Never had an issue with non-drilled lugs, but I know people see it as a “feature” almost in some watches, and make a big deal about it. As long as your springbar tool is sharp, you should be fine. 
 

Maybe better for people with decreased mobility in their hands? Always two sides to consider when thinking of people with different needs though.  

Now this discussion got spicier than I had anticipated 🧐 The poll is quite clear though

For changing most straps, I don't think drilled lugs make much difference. If I want to put a NATO, rubber, or leather strap on; it doesn't really save me any time if the lugs are drilled.

However, dealing with bracelets is a different story. It doesn't help put the bracelet on, and that can still be a pain, but it makes taking the bracelet off a whole lot easier. I don't switch straps on my Tudor 1926 as often as I'd like because of this. Now if people would just make quick release bracelets, this would become a moot point.

Drilled lugs are fine on genuine tool watch. If not, No thanks 😊

At the end of the day, I don't care that much. But, given a choice, why not? The only time I ever notice the holes is when I use them. 

Drilled and threaded please! 

Well, a band not a strap. You can push the spring bar end in from the outside instead of having to make room between band and lug and find the spring bar shoulder.

C. Fixed

I like drilled lugs. When you have a good leather strap you don´t want to squeeze it to release the springbar. I don´t think it ruins or changes the look of a watch. My GS SBGA373G has drilled lugs, but keeps the dressy lug. 

General speaking I prefer undrilled lugs. I think it just looks better and there are many straps with some kind of quick change system out there. So changing straps more easily isn't  an argument anymore, at least for me. But I can understand why many prefer drilled lugs on a simple 3 hand tool watch.

Nevertheless it wouldn't be a real no go for me if a watch has drilled lugs. Would you don't buy a watch just because it has drilled/undrilled lugs?