How to remove a link on a watch bracelet

Watch bracelets are almost always made to a standard length, which creates difficulties for people with wide or narrow wrists. It is clear that a person with a large hand will have no choice but to buy a new strap. For people with thin bones, you can try changing the size of the product.

Why should you shorten your watch bracelet? Firstly, it is convenient; the walkers do not run up and down the arm. Secondly, the device is more secure. Agree, it would be a pity if an expensive (not only in price, but also in your heart) product slips off your wrist and breaks. Or you may simply not notice how you lose something that is significant to you. Finally, a loose strap is also dangerous; it can accidentally get caught on anything, and there is a risk of seriously injuring your hand.

Ways to shorten a watch bracelet

Today, leather and textile straps are especially popular, but accessories made of metal links remain unchanged classics. If in the first and second options you just need to pierce a hole in a suitable place, then not everyone can cope with the task of how to shorten a watch bracelet. There are two ways to correct the size of a product: seek help from a specialist or do everything without outside intervention, that is, on your own.

Contact the workshop

The size of a ceramic or steel belt can easily be converted to a millimeter in the hands of a watchmaker - he will solve the problem in a matter of minutes. The work will be done carefully, and the result will not be long in coming. However, the process of extracting an extra segment is not so complicated that you need to run to the first workshop you come across. How to shorten the strap? You need to learn possible ways to remove a link on a watch bracelet, because if you love this kind of accessories, you will often encounter this issue.

Shorten your watch strap yourself

Metal links with a clasp or stretch strap can be adjusted to fit without the help of a professional. You just need to acquire working tools. It is worth considering that any metal bracelets are designed for the widest wrists. Even branded Seiko or Kasio wrist products can be easily reduced to the desired size. There are a lot of photos and videos on the Internet, thanks to which you can familiarize yourself in detail with the conversion process.

Useful tips

Many people are interested in the question of how to choose the right strap for a wristwatch . An accessory with a good watch mechanism can serve its owner for many decades, but the strap may lose its original appearance over time. You don't have to buy a new watch; you can replace the old strap with a new one.

Tips for choosing a new strap

Decide on the material. It can be leather or metal, textile or ceramic.
The strap should not squeeze your wrist. The optimal girth is one that fits one finger between the watch strap and the wrist.
The width of the new strap should fit your watch, that is, match the width of the old strap.
Choose the color and texture of the strap to your liking, but the watch will look much more harmonious on your hand if the new strap matches the design of the dial.

Crochet men's socks
How to sew a button to a mink coat?

How to make a watch bracelet smaller with your own hands

So, you bought a watch, but the strap turned out to be too big for your wrist. There is no opportunity or desire to go to a master, but how to shorten a watch bracelet? Take the simple repair into your own hands. To remove extra links or change the lock buckle, you should acquire the necessary tools and patience. Before shortening your watch strap, you should clear your workspace on the table and cover it with white paper so that all the parts and small nuts are clearly visible. You will also need:

a pointed object or an ordinary awl;
small hammer;
box for small parts;
screwdriver.

You can reduce the belt yourself in several ways. You should choose a repair option based not only on your desires, but also taking into account the model and even the brand of the accessory. For example, for Casio some changes in the buckle locks are suitable, but in Orient products only removal of the links is possible. What steps need to be taken to make a men's or women's wristwatch fit?

With buckle lock

The metal watch bracelet can be easily modified to allow the accessory to fit perfectly on your wrist. For adjustment in small sizes, a lock buckle is made:

Remove the eyelet or locking font by pressing on the visible area.
Move it to the hole that is closer to the latch.
The font does not need to be moved from the side where it was, because when worn, the ear will cling to clothing and cause inconvenience.

Removing extra links

How to shorten a watch bracelet if adjustment using a buckle is not possible? The number of links should be reduced:

Press out the pin on the links according to the arrows - they are marked on the inside of the belt. Find a narrow hole in the segments you want to remove and use an awl to press down on the rod. If that doesn't work, tap the milk gently.
When the rod appears, grab it with pliers and remove it completely. Repeat with the second pin of the selected link. The initial stage of how to remove links from a watch bracelet is complete.
Check the correct removal by placing the accessory on your wrist and connecting its ends. The product should not squeeze your hand. Shorten the length symmetrically on both sides so that the latch is in the middle.
We assemble the bracelet by placing the hole at the same level and securing it with a hairpin.
This method is suitable for most models of men's and women's accessories. There is nothing complicated about how to shorten a watch bracelet.

Step-by-step instruction

Before starting work, we recommend preparing your workplace. To do this, it will be enough to provide good lighting and a little space on the table, which should be covered with a light tablecloth/paper. This will help you control all the small details that are important not to lose if you want to assemble everything into the original structure, but with reduced dimensions. So, let's move on directly to the workflow itself, which will give us the answer to the question of how to shorten the bracelet on a Casio watch.

First, we need to decide how much smaller we want the bracelet to be. Everyone takes measurements on their own wrist. If we need to shorten it quite a bit in order to slightly adjust its fit on the wrist, then for this it will be enough to use the additional mounting holes that can be found on the buckle of the clasp itself. If you move closer to the latch, for which there are several free positions, you can adjust the size downward, but this will help when you need to gain a distance measured in millimeters.

If the first method did not help achieve the desired result, then you need to begin more complex work - removing the extra links of the bracelet. To do this, you first need to disconnect the bracelet itself from the clasp. This is done by pressing the springbar, when working with which you need to be as careful as possible, since its internal spring can “shoot”, and as you already understand, we cannot lose it.

Go ahead. Links that can be removed are specially marked by the manufacturer on the inside with small arrows. It is these arrows that indicate in which direction the connecting pins need to be pushed out. Depending on the design of the bracelet, in place of the pins there may be L-shaped pins or retractable spring bars.

Here you need to stop and tell us in more detail about the actions with each type of fastening:

1) Pins (pins of straight design) . With this type of connection, you need to look at the direction of the arrow, which will show in which direction you need to push the pin.

For this work we will need some kind of pusher, the tip of which will be smaller than the diameter of the hole in the link. It is recommended to carry out this procedure by pressing one side of the bracelet tightly to the table. First of all, we push the pin out from the link that we are leaving, and only then from the one we are removing. If the pins do not come out well, carefully use pliers to quickly remove them from the seat. Once the required number of links has been disconnected, it is necessary to reassemble the bracelet structure using a connecting pin. Let's see how this is done using the artisanal method:

2) L-pins . Here we also look at the direction of the arrow, which will indicate in which direction the pins are pushed out. To work, we need an awl or a screwdriver with a thin tip. Don't forget to press the bracelet against the table for support. First, we take out the plate pin from the link that we are leaving, then from the link to remove. Again, for convenience, you can use pliers if the pins come out too tightly from the mounting sockets. Having removed the required number of links, the structure is re-closed using any removed pin. Here's a video for a better understanding:

3) Springbars . This type of connection is the least hassle. It is not for nothing that it is used in G-Shock watches, where it is quite easy to adjust the bracelet to the size of your wrist. Before starting work, please note that in this bracelet the links adjacent to the case have a non-removable structure. All other links can be easily disassembled, allowing you to freely play with the size. We only need a screwdriver with a thin blade and a little time. And remember that there are springs inside the springbars, which are important not to lose, as well as the direction of the arrows indicating the direction of movement of the connecting elements.

Be sure to check after assembly that all connecting links (studs, pins, etc.) do not protrude beyond the body. It is better to save the removed elements of the bracelet, since they may be useful in the future if the reduced size suddenly turns out to be inconvenient, and in the event that the watch finds a new owner.

When shooting links from one side of the bracelet, remember symmetry. Remove the links evenly on both sides of the bracelet relative to the clasp so that it is on the other side of the wrist, just opposite the case. Also make sure that the bracelet does not pinch your hand. The little finger should fit comfortably between the wrist and the bracelet, which will allow it not to interfere with blood circulation and eliminate chafing during movements.

This is interesting: What is blues?

At the end we traditionally give advice. If at some stage of your work something goes wrong, it’s better to stop, put everything away carefully, and take this entire “unfinished story” to a watchmaker or service center. They certainly know how to shorten the bracelet on a Casio watch without consequences and exactly to the right size.

How to remove links from a watch strap

Almost always, a new metal watch bracelet needs to be adjusted to fit your wrist. The easiest way is to ask for help at your nearest watch repair shop. The work does not take much time and for a small fee, in the presence of the client, they will carry out all the necessary manipulations for the bracelet.

This is interesting: Flowers that should not be kept at home

But if the owner of a new watch has time and the desire to carry out all the simple work himself, this will not cause big problems.

Removing unnecessary links

As a rule, such an operation is performed on a new watch. Therefore, there is no need to rush and remove the protective film from the watch case. It's better to leave the film.

Then we put the watch with the bracelet on the wrist and count how many links need to be removed.

Important! In order not to move the clasp to one side, it is better to remove the links in pairs on one and the other side of the bracelet latch.

After we have decided on the length of the bracelet, we will prepare the necessary tools for the job:

A thin awl or a large needle;
Needle nose pliers, pliers;
Something like a nut or bushing.

Upon careful inspection of the bracelet, it is clearly visible that the links are connected to each other by pins and the direction in which these pins need to be pulled out is indicated on the back side in the form of index arrows.

Knowing which link needs to be removed, place the part of the bracelet on the sleeve on which the necessary manipulations need to be done, with the arrow pointing down.

Using a thin awl, press the fastening pin down from the link until the opposite end appears on the back side.

Use pliers to rotate the pin and pull it out of the bracelet.

They do the same on the other side of the link. The link and pin are set aside, and the bracelet is connected again with a pin.

The entire bracelet is shortened by one link. The segment on the opposite side of the clasp on the watch is removed in the same way.

As an example, the procedure for two links is described. The length of the bracelet depends both on the circumference of the wearer’s wrist and on the type of watch case. It may be necessary to remove more links. The main thing is to maintain symmetry of the clasp relative to the wrist and body.

Assembly is carried out in reverse order. The links are inserted into each other's grooves and secured with a pin. The pin is inserted into the hole with its sharper end on the opposite side of the bracelet and driven lightly with a hammer to the edge. Don't forget that the arrow shows the direction of disassembling the strap.

After completing the work, connect the extra links and studs together and save them just in case.

We put the watch on the wrist again and check how comfortably the bracelet fits on the hand.

This way you can fit a metal link bracelet to your hand for most watch models.

Putting it back together

When the excess links are removed, the fastenings will need to be restored. Don't forget about the arrows. We stick the pins in the opposite direction. The rods can be hammered in with gentle hammer blows. Once they are in place, you will need to secure them with tips.

Then bring the clasp to the dial and connect them. The watch should now sit comfortably. This can be corrected by inserting rods into the spare holes. It is better to tidy up the extra pins - they may be useful in the future.

You can also remove the links using a screwdriver if they were secured with miniature screws. The main thing in this matter is not to overdo it, otherwise you will have to insert the links again.

Back Next

Stretchable metal bracelet

Before work you need to prepare the tool:

Thin awl;
Thin flathead screwdriver;
Needle nose pliers;
Small hammer;
Measuring tape (better for sewing work);
Container for parts;
Magnifying glass (loupe).

You need to wrap a flexible tape measure around your wrist to find out how much the wrist circumference differs from the actual length of the bracelet. This way you can avoid mistakes when removing links.

The length of the strap can be determined in another way. To do this, one end of the strap is disconnected from the watch. The watch strap is applied to the wrist, and the free end is wrapped around it. We count how many links overlap each other. To the resulting number of extra links we add one more. As a result, we get the required number of extra segments.

Further work is carried out in the following sequence:

Separate the metal strap from the watch case. This will make it easier to shoot the segments.
Turn the bracelet so that it faces you. At the end, the selected section of torsion bars is bent.
Open the torsion clamps located below. Finding them is very easy. They are located to the left of those staples that have already been bent.
Segments are easily removed by sliding the desired part to the side. This action also releases the connecting brackets of the links.
Let's put everything back together. Before snapping the torsion clamps, we secure the connecting brackets on both sides of the bracelet. Do not rush when working so as not to scratch the polished metal surface of the watch.

Which metal straps can be shortened in length and with what tools?

The title of this paragraph is somewhat abstracted from reality. Most watch companies include the ability to shorten and adjust the length of a metal strap as a matter of course. Thus, it is more difficult to find watch straps that are not adjustable than to find adjustable ones. Simply put, almost all metal straps on branded watches such as Orient, Casio, Citizen, etc. can be shortened or adjusted. It is also important to note that there are two fundamentally different types of straps. Those that are assembled on rods, and those that are assembled on plates. In our review we will talk about these two most popular options. To adjust and change the length of a metal watch strap, we need tweezers and a thin awl. In our case, a simple Chinese set of tools was used for these procedures.

If the strap or bracelet is too big

When the bracelet dangles on the hand, the watch owner experiences a feeling of discomfort. If the fixation is poor, the watch can quickly fail. The first thought that arises in such a situation is to go to a workshop and completely change the strap on your watch. There is no need to rush: if the belt is leather, carefully pierce a hole in it with an awl heated over a fire. You must act carefully so as not to burn the skin. The red-hot tip of an awl or knitting needle pierces the skin in the right place. After the puncture, the instrument is quickly removed so that the material does not melt.

Advice!

Before piercing, mark the desired location so that you do not have to make another hole.

A watch with a strap made of soft material can be adjusted to fit your wrist at home, but if you get a model with a cast bracelet, you can’t do it without the help of a specialist. Manufacturers provide for “adjustment” of metal models with links to the size of the owner. Removing a link from a watch bracelet is not difficult: it does not require special skills. You will need accuracy and a few simple tools.

This is interesting: Anna Yaroslavna Queen of France

What is a Milanese bracelet?

The Milanese bracelet consists of rows of wires twisted together, woven together by special machines that look like automatic lathes.

Interesting materials:

How to post photos and videos on Facebook? How to publish text on Instagram? How to organize storage of things in a small apartment? How to organize your kitchen cabinets? How to trim tench? How do I dispute a Content ID claim? How to leave messages unread in VK on iPhone? How is a Safe Transaction carried out on Yula? How to refresh a loaf in the oven? How to free up space in Google storage?

Tools for work

Before starting work, cover the table with a white sheet of paper so as not to lose small elements: nuts, links, pins. To remove links from a watch bracelet, you will need:

awl;
small hammer;
screwdriver with medium bit.

Collect all small parts in a separate container. They will be clearly visible on white paper. To collect them, select a small box and place it in front of you. Also make sure there is good lighting and clear your workplace of unnecessary items.

Bracelets that cannot be shortened

The following types of bracelets cannot be shortened:

leather straps with fixation, like trouser belts;
stretchable models made of leather or leatherette. During donning, they are stretched, and then mechanically compressed, covering the wrist;
cast models made of metal alloys, ceramics, artificial or natural stone.

Nowadays these models are rare, so lovers of “vintage things” especially value them. If the size is right, people wear such watches with pleasure, but, unfortunately, it is impossible to shorten or increase the strap on them. Cast bracelets look beautiful and stylish, but it is also impossible to adjust them to size, and even a workshop will not help here. Therefore, when choosing, you need to take into account the wrist circumference of the future owner, so as not to make a mistake.

Selecting a watch based on your wrist size so you don’t have to adjust the bracelet

The main parameter when choosing a watch strap is the width. This is the size of the place where the bracelet is attached to the watch. Width is measured in millimeters and can be an even number ranging from 6 to 32 mm. In some models, the designation of this parameter consists of two numbers, by which you can determine the shape of the bracelet (straight or tapered). Often the width of the strap depends on the size of the dial and is equal to half its diameter. For example, if the case is 39 mm or 42 mm, the bracelet is 20 mm, respectively. The length should be chosen depending on the size of the wrist circumference. The strap should fit freely to your hand so that it does not leave marks on the skin. Below is a table showing the parameters of the straps depending on the circumference of the wrist.

Standard bracelets are produced without any markings. For sizes L or XL, watch straps are marked.

Jewelry stores or watch salons provide a service for selecting the optimal watch size. In addition, our experienced staff will help you find the most suitable models for your look and style. Therefore, do not refuse professional service.

Author 316.watch

We remove the link ourselves

It's easy to make a metal bracelet on your watch smaller. Its links are fastened to one another using ordinary pins. First, select the fragment to delete. The first two links have significant differences from the others. There is no need to remove them: it is better to use the third or fourth one.

Place a small nut or other metal object under the selected segment. Carefully insert the awl into the hole and press down on the pin holding the links together. You can pull out the pin using a hammer: lightly tap it on the awl. Inside you will see directional arrows. They show the direction in which to remove the fasteners. If you don't have a hammer, try to remove the fastener from the bracelet by pressing on the tip of the pin.

A rod will appear from the groove, which must be grabbed with pliers and pulled out. In the same way we remove the other pin. If you manage to remove one link, but the watch continues to dangle on your hand, you will have to reduce the belt by another fragment.

How to set up a smart watch from China?

Most Chinese watches are produced with support for the Android system. In the application on your smartphone, you need to select “Find devices”, and from the list of found ones, select your watch, press the “connect” button, confirm the action on the watch by touching the screen.

Interesting materials:

How to reverse crop in Lightroom? How to transfer Avito to a company? How to convert word format to fb2? How to convert XPS format to PDF? How to translate YouTube into English? How to convert from 100 to 1000 scale? How to transfer from Word to Power Point? How to translate Microsoft Word into Russian? How to convert billions of tons to millions? How to translate approval into management?

Removing multiple fragments and reassembling

When removing several fragments, make sure that the remaining parts of the bracelet are symmetrical. The main thing is that the item does not lose its beauty, looks symmetrical and does not cause discomfort when worn. If you removed a link from the left side, then remove the fragment from the right side of the clasp. It is advisable to remove an even number of links. After successfully completing the fitting, reassemble the bracelet:

connect the links by inserting them into each other (you need to get into the grooves);
secure the elements with a hairpin, following the instructions stamped on the bracelet;
if you disassembled clockwise, reassemble counterclockwise;
Gently tap the pin with a hammer.

On a note!

The removed segment can be used as a spare one in the future, so do not throw away the remaining elements.

Working with the lock and strap of the clip

To reduce the bracelet by 1-2 cm, you can use its lock. The spring-loaded rod inside the lock must be handled carefully so that it does not bounce off, get lost or fall apart.

We shorten the strap by working with its lock:

unfasten the bracelet;
press the pin onto the stop pin;
move the first pin into the hole that is located close to the next one. The second pin is on the other side of the lock.

The sliding lock with a clip is easy to use. If you need to reduce the size of a bracelet with a clip, move the clasp along one of the strap segments. So, you will adjust the diameter exactly to your wrist. Take a screwdriver with a flat bat and use it to lift the tab that holds the lock. Move the bracelet away, move the lock to the desired length and lower the locking petal again.

In order to shorten your watch bracelet yourself, you will need patience and accuracy. If you do everything correctly, this will save you from having to contact a specialist.

Adjusting the length of watch straps with a sliding lock

Another option for adjusting the strap, or rather not even the watch strap itself, but changing the diameter to suit your hand is carried out using a “sliding” lock. This lock can be moved along one of the watch straps, thereby adjusting the diameter of the hand circumference.

This is the simplest option when adjustment does not require a special tool, except a flat-blade screwdriver. The locking petal of the lock on the strap is moved to the side and then, after adjustment, falls down again.

This is by far the easiest option in terms of adjusting the length of the strap you will encounter on a watch. Please note that using this technology, manufacturers have combined a stylish leather strap with the ease of use of a metal strap. When the belt is fastened in one movement, there is no need to “catch” holes and waste time and nerves.

As a result, having released one of the links on the watch strap, we simply put it back together. Due to the operations performed to dismantle the link, the strap becomes shorter by this link. If removing one link from the strap does not help, then you can similarly remove other links where there is an arrow. If you need to remove several links, try to remove links on symmetrical sections of the strap, on one side of the lock and on the other. As you understood and saw, the procedure is not particularly troublesome, but requires more attention and patience. Now you can not only adjust, but also change the length of the metal strap on your watch.

What should I do if my watch strap or bracelet is too big?

To avoid discomfort, it is often necessary to adjust the size of the bracelet to your hand so that the watch is securely fixed, but the bracelet does not squeeze your hand. If the strap or bracelet is too big for you, do not rush to replace it.

Adjusting a leather watch strap to its length is as easy as shelling pears; you just need to pierce another hole in the right place so that it does not dangle on your wrist. If the bracelet is ceramic, then you cannot do without a visit to the workshop, but you can reduce the iron strap yourself.

Reduce watch strap

Typically, a metal bracelet is designed to fit the widest wrist, allowing the wearer to adjust it to the desired size.

You can do this either by contacting a workshop or by yourself.

No supernatural skills are required , and you can easily remove the links and shorten the bracelet using available tools.

This is interesting: Kitchen with built-in refrigerator

What tools will you need?

To reduce the strap of a metal watch, it is most convenient to work with tweezers, a thin awl, a small screwdriver, pliers, a pin and a small hammer. If you have a regular Chinese tool kit , then you will find everything you need there.

Tools for changing the length of a watch bracelet

It is necessary to carefully prepare the workplace : remove everything unnecessary from it and cover it with a large sheet of light-colored paper so that all the details are clearly visible. It is advisable to place the same sheet in front of the table in case some small part falls. Place a small container on the side of the table for small parts.

What bracelet models cannot be shortened?

But first, it’s worth warning that although most manufacturers produce watch bracelets whose length can be adjusted, there are models that cannot be adjusted :

leather straps with a locking mechanism the same as on a trouser belt;
stretchable straps consisting of links with a spring; When put on, they first stretch and then compress according to the volume of the hand.

Today, these types of straps have become a rarity , however, they also have their fans who believe that they are very convenient and also look very stylish.

Everyone knows watches with a leather strap; it is precisely these watch models that cannot reduce the length of the strap:

Women's watch on a leather strap, SL (price on the link)

Tips for shortening a fabric or leather bracelet

Leather straps

If you have a leather mount, adjusting its size is quite simple. You just need to punch another hole where you need it. But before you start work, you need to determine exactly how much to shorten the watch bracelet. To do this, you should perform a test fitting of the strap. The length of the product should allow it to fit the wrist freely, but not dangle and not squeeze the hand too much. If the measurements are accurate, you can make a puncture with an awl.

Fabric accessories

Textile straps have a representative, stylish and impressive look. Such bracelets are shortened in the same way as leather bracelets: a hole is made in them where necessary. It must be said that in a number of models the clasp involves adjusting the bracelet by tightening it. In these products you do not have to specially pierce a hole to adjust the size of the strap - you can simply tighten it.

ParmigianiPFC128-1003200-X01441 Read more

How to reduce the bracelet on a watch with your own hands?

And now everything you need to know about how to adjust the size of the bracelet with your own hands Before doing so, you need to carefully examine the case itself; a typical representative of a watch with an iron strap is this model:

Women's watch, SL (price on the link)

Shortening the length of an iron bracelet can be done in two ways:

change the location of the retaining pin in the lock buckle;
remove unnecessary links.

Removing unnecessary links

First you need to find out how many extra links need to be removed. Sometimes it is enough to remove one extra link, and sometimes you have to reduce the bracelet by several links. In any case, in order to disassemble it, you will have to remove one of the locking rods, which will allow you to disassemble the bracelet.

Please note: you can only remove those links that are indicated by an arrow on the inside of the bracelet

If there is no arrow, then these links are made cast and cannot be disassembled. One link can be connected to another by rods or plates. The sequence of actions is as follows :

To remove the links, these rods or plates will have to be pulled out using a thin tool, and this should be done in the direction of the arrows.
Then remove the link (or links) that are superfluous and reconnect the bracelet.
The rods look like little screws, but they are actually the same length as the link, and sometimes they are not that easy to push out. Then you can use a piece of paper clip 5-7 mm long: insert it into the hole and, lightly hitting it, push the rod out. To avoid damaging the bracelet, do not use a metal object; a plastic screwdriver handle is best.
If you need to remove more than one link, do it symmetrically, on both sides of the bracelet, so that the lock does not end up somewhere on the side.

How to reduce the size of a bracelet using a lock?

In this way, you can shorten the bracelet by no more than 2 cm, but sometimes this is enough for its size to fit .

The operation should be performed extremely carefully, since the rod is spring-loaded in the lock and can not only bounce off, but also fall apart into tiny parts

The sequence of actions is as follows:

Unfasten the bracelet and use a thin tool to press the locking pin, which holds the lock closed.
Then move the locking pin into the hole located closer to the second pin, which is installed on the lock (on the other side).

Moving the lock on the bracelet

There are many types of clasps on watch movements. Classic clasp - most often used on leather straps. The butterfly clasp is opened by pressing special side buttons. The folding mechanism is most often used on metal bracelets and consists of several parts. These locks have special holes to make the bracelet smaller. The clasp and strap are fastened with special pins, pressing on which with a sharp object activates the spring. She pushes this pin out. Having taken out the lock, you need to secure it in the selected hole.