Wristwatches today are becoming more of a status accessory than an item for telling time. They can tell about the financial situation of their owner, his taste and style. Watches with metal bracelets, which look simple and at the same time stylish, are still in fashion. If for some reason this strap is too big for your hand, you can easily make it smaller.
Reduce bracelet on watch
Many watch shops today have workshops where, for a small fee, you can change the bracelet on your watch to the size you need. Most watchmakers provide this service. If you can’t turn to a professional, try doing it yourself using available tools.
Removing links from a watch bracelet
The all-metal bracelet on a watch is the easiest to make smaller. Each link of such a bracelet has two pins (bushings) - the first resembles a screw, and the second is made in the form of a bulge. To get rid of excess links, simply unscrew their pins. You can do this using the following items:
- clock screwdriver
- nail scissors
- sharpened nail file
Then connect the bracelet by inserting one link into the other and securing the pins in them. Try to work with maximum care so that there are no scratches on the bracelet from sharp objects, otherwise the accessory may be irrevocably damaged.
You should also not shrink the bracelet too much as your hands will often swell in hot weather and you may not be able to wear the watch. Remember that this accessory should not squeeze your wrist too much or slide freely along your arm.
Before you begin to reduce the bracelet, try on the watch and determine how many links need to be removed. This will significantly save work time
In some models, the pins cannot be unscrewed. As a rule, such bracelets have arrows drawn on the inside. In this case, the bushings will have to be pushed out using a needle or a straightened paper clip. To do this, place the watch on the table so that the strap has a stop, and on the contrary, nothing interferes with the pin. Place the paperclip on the pin and gently tap it with any hard object. As soon as the pin starts to come out, pry it and carefully remove it. Remove all unnecessary links in this way, connect the bracelet and secure it with pins.
When purchasing a new watch bracelet, a situation almost always arises in which a metal accessory needs to be adjusted to fit your wrist. Of course, the most ideal option is to seek help from the nearest watch repair service center. Carrying out such a procedure does not require much time, and for a relatively small monetary payment, a qualified specialist will carry out the necessary manipulations with the bracelet in your presence. In our article we will look at how to remove links on a watch if you want to try it yourself.
Preparatory work - taking the correct measurements
Before shortening the strap, you need to measure its length to understand how many elements need to be removed. In order not to make a mistake in performing this procedure, you have to carry out the preparatory work:
- You need to put the watch you bought on your wrist the way you intend to wear it.
- When you have chosen the most convenient placement, you need to turn your wrist so that the bracelet clasp is at the top.
- When the metal bracelet on your wrist is in a fastened state, you need to assemble its parts together to simulate the desired length.
- When the metal strap fits your hand perfectly, you have achieved the desired result.
- It is necessary to look at where the parts are assembled on the wrist, since sometimes there is a wristwatch design in which the links do not always touch each other.
- Excess dangling elements of a metal bracelet tell you that these parts need to be removed first.
Important! If you doubt the exact number of bracelet links to be shifted, then in this case it is better to shorten one less segment. It is much easier to subsequently remove another element of the product than to add it back if the arm circumference was measured incorrectly.
- Now you can start removing unnecessary parts.
Tools for work
How to remove unnecessary links from a watch? To properly shorten the bracelet, you need to prepare the following tools in advance:
- a thin object with a pointed end - for example, a spring remover, a thin awl;
- pliers that have a long nose;
- small hammer;
- screwdriver;
- small tray for parts.
Important! Before you begin the process of shortening the links of a metal bracelet, you must:
- Prepare your work area and make sure your desk is free of clutter.
- Cover the surface of the table on which we will manipulate the bracelet with a white tablecloth or paper.
- It is also advisable to cover the floor with paper.
This preliminary procedure will allow you to quickly find small parts, and they will not get lost or roll somewhere.
Removal using a spring puller or a thin awl
Before removing excess parts, it is necessary to separate the bracelet from the watch, and only after that you can begin to remove the segments.
Let's look at the step-by-step process of how to remove links on a watch:
- Decide which element of the product you are going to remove.
- Remove the pin from the metal bracelet clasp.
- Using a thin awl or spring puller, press the pin out of the bracelet clasp.
Important! This procedure must be carried out extremely carefully, since with the slightest carelessness the rod can bounce somewhere in the room and get lost.
- To extrude the rod that holds a particular link together, follow the direction of the printed arrows. They are located at the bottom of the link.
- Press out the rod by 3-4 mm, after which it can be removed with pliers or by hand.
- It is better to put all the rods in a prepared tray for parts, since you will need them in the future so that you can reassemble the bracelet.
Important! Also watch out for the small metal tips. Some wristwatch models have small metal tips at the central point where the links connect, which are removed along with the axis. One wrong move and they could end up on the work surface of the table, or even worse, on the floor.
- Remove the second pin from the segment. To do this, repeat the same procedure that you performed with the first rod. You should end up with two tips and two pins.
- Then remove the second piece to remove any excess links from the watch.
Important! If the need arises, you need to move the next element to the other side of the bracelet.
- When the required number of segments have been removed, the bracelet must be reconnected.
- In order to assemble the watch strap, you need to reinsert the removed rods.
Important! The studs must be inserted in the direction opposite to that indicated by the arrows.
- If your model has tips, then they must be placed in the center of the link.
- Next, press the rod back into the hole and secure it on top with the tip.
Important! If necessary, you need to carefully drive the rod in with a small hammer.
- Now you have to reattach the clasp. To do this, perform actions that are the exact opposite of the previous steps.
- After this, we connect the clasp to the dial and insert the rods back.
Trying on a watch with a shortened strap:
- When you have removed the correct number of elements, the strap will fit perfectly on your hand.
- If a bracelet with a watch hangs on your hand, most likely you incorrectly calculated the number of components to remove. If a similar situation arises, you can remove another segment.
- If the strap is slightly tight, it is necessary to adjust its length. To do this, you need to insert fastener pins into the spare holes.
Important! It is advisable to leave the excess tips and rods and not throw them away, since they can be used in the future.
Removing the links using a screwdriver
To remove links from a watch using a screwdriver:
- Select the segment to be deleted. To do this, turn the watch on its side, select the element of the product that you are going to remove, find the screw holding this segment together.
- After that, unscrew this screw. For this procedure you need to use a screwdriver with a 1 mm hole. Insert the screwdriver into the screw and turn it counterclockwise. Turn the screwdriver until the screw is completely unscrewed.
- To prevent the screw from falling, you need to grab it with pliers or tweezers.
- After this, choose a safe place for it, since in the near future you will need this screw when assembling your watch.
- Remove the remaining components in exactly the same way.
- When the screws are loosened, it is not difficult to remove the selected segment.
- After you have managed to get all the extra segments, you need to reassemble the bracelet, fastening the links with screws and a screwdriver.
Remove the links from the stretch strap
How to remove extra links on a watch:
- First you need to measure the length of the strap. To do this, connect one end of the bracelet and its body.
- Then wrap it around your wrist.
- Next you need to count the number of parts that overlap each other.
- Add one more to this number - this calculates the number of elements to be removed.
Important! With this watch model, it is possible to remove excess segments from any part of the bracelet.
- We lay out the clock on the desktop so that the dial is at the bottom.
- At the end of the bracelet, bend the section of the upper torsion brackets, which will later be removed.
- Open the lower torsion brackets.
- After this, we turn the watch over and unclip the lower torsion bar brackets.
Important! They are located on the left side of the upper torsion brackets, which were previously bent.
- Remove excess segments. To do this, you need to move the selected element to the side. This procedure will allow automatic release of the bracket, which is used to fasten all the links together.
- After this, you need to reassemble the metal strap. To do this, fasten the staples on both sides of the bracelet at the same time, and this procedure must be carried out before you are about to snap the torque tubes back.
Removing the snap links
To remove extra links from a watch bracelet with this strap model:
- First you need to get the pin. To do this, pull out the pin from the segment that is to be removed.
- After this, you need to gently press on the product. To do this, with one hand you need to firmly hold the bracelet in the place where the pin was just removed. Then you need to lightly press up from the side of the segment that is located near the body. At the same time, you need to gently press down from the side of the segment located next to the fastener.
Important! If everything was done correctly, you will feel the mechanism disengage.
- Continue to apply gentle pressure so that the gradual “loosening” of the bracelet causes the mechanism to finally disengage.
- When the mechanism is completely disconnected, you can safely get the desired element - to do this, you need to move the bracelet clasp towards the case.
- Then carefully move the parts. Once the elements are separated, they can be pulled out very easily.
In this article, we told you how to remove links on watches for different models of straps. We hope you were able to do this job carefully, and now your accessory is conveniently and beautifully located on your hand!
When installing accessories on the watch yourself, the risk of accidental breakage lies with the buyer and is not a reason for replacement!
The bracelet has two types of adjustment - using a buckle (lock) and removing links.
To adjust the bracelet in small sizes, use a lock buckle.
We remove the pin by pressing on its visible area and move it to another hole (closer to the latch). It is not recommended to move the pin from the opening side of the lock (latch), this will lead to the fact that the buckle will constantly cling to clothing and the bracelet will come unfastened.
In cases where adjustment using a buckle does not help, you have to remove the links. Before you start removing links, it is best to remove the bracelet from your watch to avoid accidental scratches.
There are several types of fastening of removable links - pins that need to be knocked out or squeezed out, screws that are unscrewed, and studs that are also squeezed out. If you look at the inside of the bracelet, you can see the arrows.
These arrows indicate the direction in which the pins or studs will be pressed out. Another way to determine the direction of extrusion is to look at the end of the bracelet; the pin has the shape of a plate folded in half. On one side the plane is flat or has a rounded shape, on the other side a cut is visible (you might think that this is a screw slot). The pins are squeezed out exactly in the direction where this incision is located. In watch shops, special devices are used to press out pins, and on our website you can purchase kits for shortening bracelets (section of the website Tools)
One such tool is a bracelet link puller. It allows you to carefully shorten the bracelet, avoiding accidental scratches and damage.
Position the bracelet so that the needle of the puller hits the pin, the arrow of which indicates the direction of extrusion. Rotate the handle until the pin is pressed out. Remove the required number of links in this way. You can insert the pin back using a rubber mallet.
How to remove links without using special tools?.
You can use a screwdriver or other tool to remove the links. We squeeze the pin out of the link in the direction indicated by the arrow - carefully, trying not to cause accidental scratches.
Now we remove the extra link. It is necessary to remove links from the bracelet symmetrically, an equal number on each side of the lock. Otherwise, the lock will not be located in the center of the wrist, but shifted to one side, which will lead to discomfort when wearing the watch. There are only a few links that can be removed. Usually these are 5-6 pieces on each side of the lock (depending on the size of the link, the smaller the link size, the greater the number provided).
Now we assemble the bracelet in the reverse order, only without the extra links. It is necessary that the pins enter the links with the same side as before disassembly. The pins can be tapped with a small rubber hammer.
Now all that remains is to attach the bracelet to the watch and try it on. For comfortable wearing, there should be a distance of two fingers between the watch and the wrist.
How to shorten an elastic bracelet?
1. Consider how many links you want to remove. The links on the elastic watch bracelet are attached to each other using thin U-shaped metal brackets. To shorten such a bracelet, you need to pull the bracket out of the link. The easiest way to do this is with small, narrow-nose pliers. You need to pull out the bracket carefully, avoiding its rotation (it can break if it is bent).
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There are two ways how to make a watch bracelet smaller.
The first is to go to a workshop, where in literally 10-15 minutes a master will reduce the length of your bracelet to the required size. The price will probably be different everywhere. I don’t know what it will depend on. But for example, in my city the bracelet on the Iron Samurai watch was reduced for 50 rubles that year.
The second way is to reduce the watch bracelet yourself. For this you will need: pliers, a hammer, and something sharp (an awl).
And now I’ll give you a little instructions on how to shorten the bracelet. The Fashion Star watch will serve as an experimental sample (I’ve had it for a long time, it came with a shabby bracelet).
Put the watch on your hand and determine how many links need to be removed from each side of the clasp!
Knock out the pin that connects the two links of the bracelet.
Before doing this, you need to decide on which side you need to apply the effort. The hairpin is somewhat similar to a nail, that is, it has a “head” and a sharp part. See photo:
It is worth knocking out from the side where the sharp part is located. Visually you can understand where the cap is.
In addition, on some bracelets, the direction is indicated by arrows on the inside.
So, we decided on the direction. Next comes the question of how to knock out the stud. Some articles recommend using an awl. I personally used a compass with a needle, or the device shown in the photo below (I don’t know what it is):
Again, in one article that tells how to shorten a watch bracelet, I read that the watch bracelet must be placed on a nut, and then the pin must be knocked out. I would not recommend using a nut, because... It is metal and the bracelet can be scratched on it. I simply put the watch on a soft rug. You can come up with something else.
Tap more carefully with a hammer; when the pin appears, you can pull it out with pliers.
Thus, we remove the required number of links from each side.
Connect the bracelet and insert the pins.
After all the manipulations with removing the extra links, connect the bracelet and insert the pins. And the work will be finished.
Don't throw away the remaining parts.
In a similar way, you can shorten the bracelet on many watches. I personally reduced the bracelet this way on the led watch Iron Samurai, Fashion Star and . This method is also suitable for other watches with a similar bracelet.
Reduce watch bracelet It’s not difficult, but be careful – don’t damage the watch itself or your hands!
By the way, on Taobao I saw special tools with which you can shorten the bracelet on your watch. This tool is cheap.
The most reliable way is to go to a watch shop, where your bracelet will be shortened in 5 minutes and for a price of no more than 150 rubles.
But for people whose hands are trying to grow from the right place, this article was written.
So, new ones came to our table led wristwatch (they are more often called both binary and LED clocks) Zero Kelvin . They have a metal bracelet with standard adjustment. We'll tryshorten the bracelet of this watchinto several segments to fit a 17cm wrist.
Firstly, if the watch is new, do not forget to remove it from bracelet protective film (the film can be temporarily left on the screen and body - it will protect them from accidental contact with the tool).
To shorten the bracelet on our watch, we will need the following tools: an awl, a nut (or bushing or other object with a cavity), and pliers. It is recommended to carry out all work on a comfortable table with a sheet of paper on it.
So, the watch bracelet consists of fragments (links) connected by pins. To shorten the bracelet, you need to remove several fragments from it. To do this, select the fragment that we will remove. Please note that not all bracelet parts are the same! The first and second segments differ from the rest in shape and we leave them in their places.
We remove the third segment of the bracelet.
Please note that on the inside of the bracelet an arrow indicates the direction in which the fasteners must be removed. We place our bushing under the hole. You can place any hard object with a cavity. Insert an awl into the hole to press out the pin. You can squeeze it out by lightly tapping the awl with a hammer.
Be sure to do this in accordance with the arrow on the bracelet. The pin can be easily removed without the use of a heavy tool. You just have to put pressure on it and it will move from its position.
After the pin has partially emerged from the hole, it can be removed with pliers.
The first stage has been completed.
Now let's do the same with the second pin of the part being removed.
We shortened the watch bracelet by one piece.
How find out how many links shorten the bracelet on the clock?
Here you just need to try. To begin, shorten your bracelet by a piece and try on the watch. If this is not enough, then shorten the bracelet by one more, etc. But remove the fragments of the bracelet evenly, on each side. If you shorten the bracelet by several segments on only one side, the watch latch will move relative to the bracelet and may cause discomfort to your hand.
We remove one link on the other side of the fastener.
In this example, initially two links were removed, but in the end, for my wrist, I had to remove the third link. How many links and how to shorten the bracelet of your watch- depends on the type of watch you have and your wrist size.
After the extra links are removed, we begin assembling the bracelet.
Assembling the bracelet is easier: insert one link into the groove of the other and secure them with a pin. It is inserted with the sharper end, opposite the direction of the arrow on the bracelet.
To prevent the pin from falling out, lightly tap it with a hammer or pliers until it reaches the edge of the bracelet. Don't forget to follow the arrow!
Everything is ready. As a result, we have a watch, spare links and pins. We definitely check the watch for functionality).
We watch bracelet shortened and made them fit the wrist.
There is never anything “extra” - so save the disconnected links - they will be spare. For convenience, naturally put them together.
Please note that this scheme can be used to shorten the bracelet of most watch models. We hope this article will help you shorten the bracelet on your watch yourself.. But in any case, there are watch workshops that will always help you with this.
P.S. During the reduction of the bracelet on the watch, not a single animal was harmed...)
Good luck! Value your time...
