SOURCE: how to shorten the watch band without breaking it
You may or may not have arrows inside bracelet. Arrows are pointing the way the pins must come out.
First you have to find out what sort of pins or even screws are used to keep links together.
Examine both bracelet sides and find the side where pin ends have a groove.
Start
with a tiny screwdriver and unscrew one of the screws. If it turns, but
doesn't come out, that means you have a pins instead.
For removing pins the best would be pin removing tool (approx.5GBP on ebay), but it's possible to do the job without it.
Take
a hardened steel needle and blunt the sharp end to the approx. size of
pin end diameter using any sharpening stone or sandpaper. Get an old
towel and fold it to make a soft base for work (like small cusion). As
you don't have a special bracelet holder you will need a pair of
helping hands to hold the bracelet steady upright. You will need small
hammer and pair of flat nose pliers as well.
NOTE: The pins MUST be
driven split end out first, not vice versa. Make sure that the grooved
pin ends are facing towel, not the needle and hammer!!!
Now place
the watch on the folded towel, take that needle and smallest hammer you
have and start driving the pin out using light blows. Do Not hit hard,
as you will brake the needle, scratch your watch or even injure
yourself. Watchmakers are using 45 gram hammer, so, calculate your
strength of blows.
After a few blows check if the split end is
coming out and when you see that the end is long enough to grab it with
pliers, pull the pin out with pliers. When pulling, do NOT turn pliers,
as pins tend to brake when twisted. Use firm grip and your strength to
pull the pin without twisting.
After shortening the bracelet or
adding extra link(s) make sure that the pins go back EXACTLY the same
way as they came out- the blunt end first in the hole and the split
(grooved) end last. Before doing that check remaining pins in bracelet
to make sure that you put them back from the right side of bracelet.
It
is recommended to use plastic hammer to drive pins back in or you will
scratch or damage bracelet. If plastic hammer is not available use an
old toothbrush handle (or some plastic item) as an absorber. Simply put
pin into the hole as deep as you can with your fingers, put the
toothbrush handle on split pin end and hit handle, not the pin.
Make sure that pin ends are flush with bracelet. If needed- hit few more times.
Job done!
If you do not want to do it yourself, any jeweler will do it in a matter of few minutes.
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