You have just received your brand new watch and are very happy… except for one detail: the strap of your timepiece is too big for you! Don’t panic, Swiss Made Watch Magazine is here to help you easily adjust the size of any bracelet for men, women or children.
We know that you now can’t wait to wear your new tocante, so let’s get to work without further delay.
How to adjust a metal bracelet?
Here is how to size any type of metal bracelet…
Before seeing how to go about drastically reducing the size of a metal bracelet, here is a tip that may save some of you time. If your bracelet is slightly too big, please note that it may be possible to adjust it without removing any links. To be sure, look at the sides of the clasp and see if they reveal small perforations.
If this is the case, you will be able to adjust the length of your bracelet on the fly by adjusting the clasp as follows:
To do this, you can use a pump flush tool, or a metal paper clip. Once the adjustment is complete, pull lightly on the bracelet to ensure that the telescopic pump is securely in place. It only takes a few seconds and can save you a lot of damage!
Setting a pin bracelet
The pin bracelet is certainly the most common style on the market, so much so that it is now found on both entry-level watches and ultra-luxury models.
How to identify it? – To find out if your watch strap is equipped with a system of this type, look at its edges and see if there are small perforations.
How to fix it? – To adjust it, you will need to have a tool called “ pin chase “. This is a very inexpensive watch accessory, specifically designed for this task.
To know which way to remove the pins, simply look at the back of your watch strap. Indeed, there is a good chance that it will be engraved with small arrows indicating the direction of exit of the pins.
Your bracelet does not have any markings on its back? Don’t worry, it can happen. To determine how to remove a pin, take a closer look at the perforations located on its edges (using a magnifying glass, for example). You will then notice that, on one side, the pins are solid while on the other, they appear to have been scored in the center. To adjust a bracelet of this type, you push from the solid part of the pin to bring out the grooved part.
Once the unnecessary links have been removed, reassemble your bracelet by linking the two separated parts using a pin and carry out the operation in the opposite direction. First, insert the solid part of the pin into the hole by hand and then gently push the grooved part with your pin punch tool. Now you have a perfectly adjusted bracelet!
Adjusting a bent steel bracelet
Often found on entry-level watches, this system is very easy to use.
How to identify it? – To find out if your watch strap was made from folded sheets of metal, look at how its sides have been worked. If you notice that the metal appears to have been pressed, chances are your bracelet is of this type.
How to fix it? – To adjust it, use a metal object with a fine point. Do not use a scissor or, worse, a knife, you risk injuring yourself!
Then turn your bracelet over and trust the direction of the arrows which appear engraved on the reverse. Then insert the previously selected metal object into the small observable space and push it using it. Normally, a small strip of metal should come out. Simply dislodge it by pinching its end.
Once you have found the right length, reassemble your bracelet by reattaching the two separate links using a small metal plate.
Adjusting a screw bracelet
Featuring a more modern and solid construction, the screw bracelet is today mainly found on mid-range and high-end watches.
How to identify it? – To find out if your watch strap is adjustable using a screw system, look at its edges.
If you notice the presence of perforations on only one side of the sides and distinguish what appear to be screw heads, your bracelet probably belongs to this family.
How to fix it? – To adjust its length, use a small flat screwdriver and turn counterclockwise to undo one or more links. Once you find the right size, repeat the operation in the opposite direction and that’s it!
Metal bracelets whose links are held by screws are among the easiest models to adjust.
Adjust a Casio bracelet / a Milanese mesh bracelet
The metal bracelets present on Casio watches as well as the Milanese mesh bracelets share one thing in common: their adjustment system.
How to identify it? – To find out if your watch strap falls into this category, look and see if it is equipped with an adjustment lug as follows.
How to fix it? – To adjust a bracelet of this style, take a small object with a fine tip, insert it into the notch and lever it. To enlarge the bracelet, slide the tab down. To tighten it, slide the tab upwards.
Once you have found the right size, lock the adjustment tab by pressing on the slat and that’s it!
Adjusting a stretch bracelet / Fixo-Flex
Once very fashionable, stretch metal bracelets have since somewhat disappeared from circulation. Although it is rare to come across them on modern timepieces, these bracelets still remain a popular choice for vintage watches today.
How to identify it? – A stretch bracelet is, you guessed it… stretchy! In addition, it is generally composed of a series of rectangular links taking the form of small plates, sometimes textured.
The edge of the expandable bracelets is made up of a succession of clasps visible or hidden behind thin metal covers folded at 90 degrees.
How to fix it? – To remove the links from a stretch bracelet, you will need to have a splinter remover. This small tool, easily found in your bathroom, will allow you to remove staples with relative ease.
The idea is to remove the small staples by pinching them using your splinter remover.
If covers block access to the staples, it will be necessary to gently bend them with a flat, thin metal object such as a butter knife.
Note that to adjust a stretch bracelet, you will need a good dose of patience and a lot of skill. A word of advice: use a small container to place each of the elements that you will remove from the bracelet. In fact, these are really very small and losing one of them can happen quickly!
How to adjust a silicone/rubber strap?
Silicone bracelets as well as models made from rubber can be fitted with a simple pin buckle. In this case, the adjustment will be made simply by selecting the perforation which will allow the most comfortable adjustment for your wrist.
If your rubber/silicone strap is equipped with a folding clasp and its sides have been perforated, the adjustment is a little more difficult. But don’t stress, it’s not rocket science!
How to fix it? – Start by opening the clasp (step 1) and separate the rubber/silicone part.
To do this, use a pump removal tool, or failing that a paperclip, and put pressure on one of the holes to eject the pump (step 2).
You will then need to cut the bracelet using a good scissor or a sharp, toothless knife (step 3). To cut straight, you can draw a line on the surface of the bracelet using a pencil and a ruler. But be careful, this action is simply irreversible, so some advice… cut your bracelet as little as possible and adjust, if necessary, its length by adjusting the micro-adjustments of the clasp.
To reassemble your bracelet, replace the telescopic clasp pump and fit it back into the notches (step 4).
How to adjust a leather strap?
If your leather strap is equipped with a pin bucklethe adjustment is done exactly as for a trouser belt. To find the right setting, you just have to feel your way.
But it happens that a leather bracelet is equipped with a single or double folding clasp. Don’t panic, we’ll see together how to adjust it.
How to fix it? – The single and double folding clasps are actually adjusted the same way. Start by opening the folding clasp and releasing its top by applying light pressure. Then slide your bracelet inside the space and select the hole of your choice. Once the setting is found, gently close the buckle clamp.
If the adjustment is still not suitable for your wrist, repeat the operation by choosing another perforation until you find the one that will provide you with maximum comfort.
There you go, you now know how to adjust a women’s, men’s or children’s watch strap!
If you don’t feel like sizing your bracelet yourself, follow your instinct and instead ask someone with experience for help. Moreover, any local watchmaker will be able to help you without the slightest problem.
Is your bracelet too small? In this case, do not hesitate to request additional links in the store where you purchased your watch, or to contact the brand directly.
