Shorten the watch strap yourself for the right size (in 5 steps)

It is a frequently asked question: how can I shorten a watch strap myself? In this article, we will discuss two methods to shorten a watch strap yourself! In this blog you will learn how you can easily shorten a stainless steel watch strap yourself to the right size. You will also learn how to find the correct watch strap size. And you can do all of this with household items that almost everyone has!

 

 

You have just bought a beautiful watch through a watch First copy watches . This wristwatch has a metal strap with links. Now you just have to shorten the watch strap yourself. You do this by removing one or more links. But how do you get started? That is actually very simple and we will demonstrate it in this article about shortening your watch strap. Go through the following steps with us and you will quickly and easily shorten your watch strap to the right size.

 

 

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Shorten the watch strap yourself: instructions in 5 steps

Step 1: collect the necessary items for shortening the watch strap 

To make a watch strap the right size, you have to remove a number of links. This is a simple process if you have the right resources. You don't have to buy anything for this. With a number of standard household items you can very cheaply shorten a watch strap yourself. To remove links you will need the following items: 

1. A simple object to hit, such as pliers or hammer.
2. A handkerchief, towel or Styrofoam
3. Pliers
4. An inexpensive tool to loosen the pins (see image) 

Now the first three items will not be a problem for most households to collect. However, the last thing you also need, namely the blue tool tool, will not be available to everyone. As an alternative to this you can buy special screwdrivers, but a one-time purchase of our tool tool will save you a lot of effort and money.  Visit tag heuer first copy watches.

special screwdrivers for shortening a watch strap 

 

Why should you get this tool now? Simple, it only costs € 1.14! This article is not about promotion of this tool. In fact, we don't even sell the device. For those interested, we have a link where you can buy this tool from an independent supplier. This is much cheaper than the alternative in the form of a special screwdriver for watchmakers (see image). And also cheaper than in Dutch web shops where they offer the same tool for 7 to 10 euros. A golden tip. You can find the tool through Aliexpress.

Step 2: determine how many links you need to remove for the correct size

 

 

Photo 2: we see that we have to remove four links to make the watch strap to size. Do you want the watch strap a little looser? Then remove three links. You can find rado first copy watches in mumbai

In the photo above we see that we have to remove four links. You can also start by removing three links and if necessary you can remove extra links from that point until the desired size is found, this is entirely up to you.
If you have removed one link too much now, or if you prefer a watch that is slightly looser on the wrist, then that is of course no problem. You can easily reattach another link to extend the watch strap or loosen a link to shorten the strap (see step 4).

Step 3: determine which links must be removed

1. Look at the back of the watch and look at the arrows printed on the links. The arrow indicates in which direction the pin should be pushed.

 

back link watch strap with pin

Photo 3: the arrows indicate in which direction the pins should come out.  

To remove the pin between the links, use the handy tool, with which you can easily and quickly loosen the pins. When removing the links, it is important that you reattach the first link on both sides, which are attached to the opening mechanism, in the same identical way at the end of the process. These links have a special attachment, as you can see in the photo below.

  

Do not remove the first links of a watch strap

  

first links of watch strap

 
Photo 4/5: the first links on both sides have a special attachment to the folding clasp and should therefore be attached to the original location when attaching the watch strap.
 

The other links can be removed, as shown in the photos. But before you do this, you will have to release the first link. So make sure that at the end of this process, when attaching the watch strap, you securely fasten the first link in its original condition (so not that the pressure clasp is suddenly upside down). 

Important: if you are going to remove two or more links, do not remove all links on one side, but dose the number of links on both sides. So, for example, you delete one link on the right and one link on the left. This is important, because otherwise one side of the watch strap will be much shorter than the other and your watch will be crooked on the wrist.

 

In photo 4/5 above we see that we first have to release the folding clasp. You can easily do this by pressing the pin that connects the first link to the folding clasp with a thumbtack. Make sure the pin does not slip. When this has happened you can loosen the first link as shown in photo 6. It is not always necessary to remove the pin, because as we see in photo 5 there are different types of snap closures for a metal watch strap. Now we are all set to shorten the watch strap! Note: keep the pin from the first link, because you will need it again in step 5. You can buy luxury watches first copy in Mumbai

 

loosen the first link from the folding clasp

 

Photo 6: remove the pin between the first link and the (folding clasp). Keep this pin because you will need it later. 

 

Step 4: Remove metal links from watch strap

In the previous step, we loosened the first link using the tool. Now it is time to loosen the necessary links as we determined during step 3. We do this with the help of the tool. How we do this is easy to see in the video as well as in the image below.

 

1. Make sure you place the bracelet correctly on the tool. The watch strap is well positioned when the arrows point to the left, because you are going to push the pins to the left (in the direction indicated by the arrow).

 

 

loosen watch strap with handy tool tool 
Photo 7: put the watch strap on the handy tool tool

2. Now turn the pin of the tool in the watch strap and keep turning until the pin comes out on the other side.

 

remove the pin from the link with a tool tool

  

Remove the pin from the switch watch strap


Photo 8: use the tool tool to unscrew the fourth link. Keep twisting until the pin sticks out on the other side.

3. Remove the pin from the watch strap by hand or with pliers (if stiff)

 

remove the pin from the stainless steel watch strap
Photo 9: you have now loosened five links. The first link must be reattached to the watch strap, eventually removing four links in total.

4. Repeat the above process and also loosen the first link from the five links that you have just loosened, as you will need this to reattach the watch strap correctly.

 

remove the pin from the first link of the stainless steel watch strap

  

Remove first link from stainless steel metal watch strap


Photo 10/11: you are now going to detach the first link from the other detached four links. In the end you see in photo 11 that the first link is loose and you are left with a total of four loose links. The first link must be reattached to the watch strap. You can keep the other four links in case you ever want to make the watch strap longer (for convenience, or because your wrist is getting a bit thicker).

Now that the watch strap has been shortened with four links, we can reattach the first link to the remaining watch strap.

Note:  it is important that the same number of links are removed on both sides. So basically in this case we should remove two links on the left and two links on the right so that the watch strap remains balanced. For the sake of simplicity, we have left this aside for a while.

Step 5: Attach the watch strap yourself

This is the last step in which we reattach the first link to the watch strap. You can easily do this by reinserting the pin (that you removed earlier) between the first link and the rest of the watch strap. Make sure you reattach the link as it was in its original state, so with the arrow on the inside of the watch.

 

attach the first link to the stainless steel watch strap


Photo 12: you just reattached the first link to the watch strap by pushing the pin between the two links. Now you have to push the pin deep into the watch strap. To do this, follow the instructions below.

 

You probably won't be able to push the pin in further by hand as shown in the photo above. No problem. Now press in the pin with for example a thumbtack, or hit the pin very carefully with a blunt object. If you choose the latter option, use a tissue to prevent any damage.
As the very last step, attach the first link back to the folding clasp. You do this with the pin that you removed earlier in step 3.

  

IP gold watch strap shortened by removing links

 
Photo 13: the first link has now been successfully attached to the folding clasp

 

Congratulations! The watch is now custom made and you can enjoy it. From this moment on, shortening the watch strap yourself is no longer a problem!

 

Custom stainless steel watch strap


Photo 14/15: watch strap successfully shortened and perfectly tailored

Simple method for shortening the watch strap yourself

 

There are also articles that show that you can only remove your links with a pushpin and a hammer. You simply put the pushpin in the hole of the link and hit it with a hammer. However, this method does not work with every watch, as some pins within the links of a watch strap are very firmly attached. In addition, this method can also damage your watch, for example if you miss out or if the strap scrapes with the surface. This is of course the last thing you want, but it is certainly a method that can work in some cases and with caution. How you do this is also very simple and we illustrate this in the photo below:

 

Shorten the watch strap with a pushpin


Photo 16: Shorten the watch strap yourself using a thumbtack

Method: shorten the watch strap yourself with a thumbtack 

1. Look at the back of the watch and look at the arrows printed on the links. The arrow indicates in which direction the pin should be pushed.
2. Place the pushpin in the notch near the arrow and make sure to push the pin out in the direction of the arrow.
3. Now carefully hit the thumbtack with a hammer / pliers until the pin comes out on the other side.
4. The pin should now partially protrude, now use the pliers to pull the pin out completely.

If you use this method, make sure that the watch strap is on a towel or something similar and put a handkerchief on the thumbtack when you hit it, to prevent as much damage as possible. 

As indicated earlier, this method does not always work and it is not super safe. With many watch straps, the pins are firmly attached and you cannot get them loose according to the above method. We know from experience that this can be a very frustrating method that can make you quite grumpy.
If you prefer to work faster and safer, we advise you to follow our method and use the tool you see in our video. It is easy to order through Aliexpress. 

Different types of metal link watch straps (stainless steel) 


Photo 17: different types of metal link watch straps

 

As you can see from the picture above, there are different types of metal link watch straps. One is thin, the other is wide. Nevertheless, the principle works the same for each band. Remove the pins from the links and reattach the first links with a special fastener in the correct position. For more information about different types of watch straps or about cleaning watch straps made of leather, rubber, silicone or stainless steel / metal, click on this link.

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