Bracelet resizing?

bananapants · Post by **bananapants** » Fri Jan 13, 2023 3:56 pm

Perhaps it's my impatience over wanting to wear a new watch as soon as it arrives vs. waiting to visit a local watchmaker, but after the first time I had to make that trip, I acquired the appropriate, budget-oriented tools to do my own bracelet resizing - both pin/collar and screws. I'm moderately mechanically inclined, and I find it to be a super-simple process. I'd suggest that is't a fairly low cost experiment for yourself, to acquire the simple tools, and give it a go yourself.

jcnassoc · Post by **jcnassoc** » Fri Jan 13, 2023 4:01 pm

Indeed, the double screw system leaves something to be desired (and from a technical perspective not sure I understand the benefit v. single screw systems).

fwiw, single screw systems are really easy to resize on your own, and as others have posted here there are benefits, especially if you are picky about getting the bracelet sized *exactly* right for your wrist (this guy is guilty as charged on that count!).

birdfeeder · Post by **birdfeeder** » Fri Jan 13, 2023 5:12 pm

Has wrote:
birdfeeder wrote: ↑Fri Jan 13, 2023 12:36 pm Do it yourself if you can. There aren't many different ways of doing it. I have my first CW coming tomorrow and the bracelet coming Mon/Tue so will resize for myself then.

Bergeon make good tools and the standard which most people buy is called 6767-F.

The one tip above all else however is to make sure you resize the bracelet within something like an iPad or MacBook box if you have one. Things will fall out and bounce on wood or burrow in carpet.
If you have the new screwed pins then you better have a second screwdriver … and a third hand !
Unscrewing them isn’t as simple as it sounds..
You have to lock the screw on one side with of the bracelet with one screwdriver while unscrewing with the second one on the other side! And the screws are tiny! TINY!

I am not a fan of this new system!

Ouch. A bit like Blancpain then with their hex keys.

Will find out how fun it is on Monday when the bracelet arrives.

birdfeeder · Post by **birdfeeder** » Fri Jan 13, 2023 5:13 pm

OllyW wrote:
birdfeeder wrote: ↑Fri Jan 13, 2023 12:36 pmBergeon make good tools and the standard which most people buy is called 6767-F.
CW bracelets have quick release pins so you won't need a spring bar tool to remove the bracelet.

I know but the other side of the 6767 is usually good for dismantling pin and collar links.

bananapants · Post by **bananapants** » Tue Jan 17, 2023 1:43 am

jcnassoc wrote: ↑Fri Jan 13, 2023 4:01 pm Indeed, the double screw system leaves something to be desired (and from a technical perspective not sure I understand the benefit v. single screw systems).

fwiw, single screw systems are really easy to resize on your own, and as others have posted here there are benefits, especially if you are picky about getting the bracelet sized *exactly* right for your wrist (this guy is guilty as charged on that count!).

I think an advantage of double screw vs. single, if I understand how they work correctly, would be that if you manage to mis-thread the screw, you only stand to damage the threads on the screw, vs. the threads on the bracelet link. I managed to damage a link on a Smiths bracelet due to a screw having bodged threads - not sure if I damaged the threads or it came that way.

... I also just sized my first Ward bracelet with single screws, having only previously managed their pins/collars, and I didn't love the single screws. In the process of removing two of the three links I removed, two were very tight, and I managed to slightly mar the head of the screw - not a huge deal, and probably easy to fix by running the screw head across a bit of fine sandpaper, but it bugged me a bit.

Post by **Bahnstormer_vRS** » Tue Jan 17, 2023 1:51 am

^^^^ As some of the screws were very tight, did you warm the bracelet before trying to unscrew them, to soften and release the loctite thread locker?

Guy

Sent from my XPERIA 5 III using Tapatalk

TheBeatles · Post by **TheBeatles** » Tue Jan 17, 2023 8:04 am

Bahnstormer_vRS wrote: ↑Tue Jan 17, 2023 1:51 am ^^^^ As some of the screws were very tight, did you warm the bracelet before trying to unscrew them, to soften and release the loctite thread locker?

Guy

Sent from my XPERIA 5 III using Tapatalk

2 bracelets to resize later this morning.

Pin/collar, not a problem. (C60 Trident Ombré)

Screw links, not looking forward to that one. (C60 Trident 300)

TheBeatles · Post by **TheBeatles** » Tue Jan 17, 2023 11:46 am

Bracelets resized, good job out of the way.

Pin/collar as expected, easy and straightforward.

Screw links, what a pain. I removed bracelet and put in hot water. (Thanks, Guy) Much easier afterwards but still a worry about scratching screw head or edge of link. Safely negotiated.

It’s safe to say I won’t be adjusting this one anytime soon. I removed links with micro adjustment fully in, gives me room to play with in the hotter weather.

Very pleased with my “Nearly New” watches, pristine as usual.

jcnassoc · Post by **jcnassoc** » Tue Jan 17, 2023 1:49 pm

bananapants wrote: ↑Tue Jan 17, 2023 1:43 am
jcnassoc wrote: ↑Fri Jan 13, 2023 4:01 pm Indeed, the double screw system leaves something to be desired (and from a technical perspective not sure I understand the benefit v. single screw systems).

fwiw, single screw systems are really easy to resize on your own, and as others have posted here there are benefits, especially if you are picky about getting the bracelet sized *exactly* right for your wrist (this guy is guilty as charged on that count!).
I think an advantage of double screw vs. single, if I understand how they work correctly, would be that if you manage to mis-thread the screw, you only stand to damage the threads on the screw, vs. the threads on the bracelet link. I managed to damage a link on a Smiths bracelet due to a screw having bodged threads - not sure if I damaged the threads or it came that way.

... I also just sized my first Ward bracelet with single screws, having only previously managed their pins/collars, and I didn't love the single screws. In the process of removing two of the three links I removed, two were very tight, and I managed to slightly mar the head of the screw - not a huge deal, and probably easy to fix by running the screw head across a bit of fine sandpaper, but it bugged me a bit.

Thanks for the info / insight @bananapants. I guess I'm just surprised / frustrated that with all the watch tools I have (for resizing bracelets) I only have one screwdriver--never thought I'd need two! To add insult to injury the second screwdriver set I ordered / received from Amazon had blades too thick to fit into the C63 screwhead slot. Ugh! Next set arriving today so hopefully this delay in getting my C63 some wrist time will be short lived.

birdfeeder · Post by **birdfeeder** » Tue Jan 17, 2023 4:08 pm

Had some fun and games with the C60 Graphite bracelet last week.

Pins and collars, so very similar to Seiko, but the collar is thankfully much, much bigger taking up the entire centre link. Quite a relief if/when you drop one. But it is much tougher to remove and seat.

I would strongly suggest something like this for pins and collars on CW. I usually just use a 6767 and an old bank card to push back in and finish off with the 6767 again but the CW is so tough you'll need to use this to be happy with the pin position at the end.

Post by **rkovars** » Tue Jan 17, 2023 4:20 pm

I bought one of these after seeing it at a local watch meetup. Works like a dream.

https://www.esslinger.com/watch-bracele ... tch-bands/

bananapants · Post by **bananapants** » Tue Jan 17, 2023 5:42 pm

jcnassoc wrote: ↑Tue Jan 17, 2023 1:49 pm
bananapants wrote: ↑Tue Jan 17, 2023 1:43 am
jcnassoc wrote: ↑Fri Jan 13, 2023 4:01 pm Indeed, the double screw system leaves something to be desired (and from a technical perspective not sure I understand the benefit v. single screw systems).

fwiw, single screw systems are really easy to resize on your own, and as others have posted here there are benefits, especially if you are picky about getting the bracelet sized *exactly* right for your wrist (this guy is guilty as charged on that count!).
I think an advantage of double screw vs. single, if I understand how they work correctly, would be that if you manage to mis-thread the screw, you only stand to damage the threads on the screw, vs. the threads on the bracelet link. I managed to damage a link on a Smiths bracelet due to a screw having bodged threads - not sure if I damaged the threads or it came that way.

... I also just sized my first Ward bracelet with single screws, having only previously managed their pins/collars, and I didn't love the single screws. In the process of removing two of the three links I removed, two were very tight, and I managed to slightly mar the head of the screw - not a huge deal, and probably easy to fix by running the screw head across a bit of fine sandpaper, but it bugged me a bit.
Thanks for the info / insight @bananapants. I guess I'm just surprised / frustrated that with all the watch tools I have (for resizing bracelets) I only have one screwdriver--never thought I'd need two! To add insult to injury the second screwdriver set I ordered / received from Amazon had blades too thick to fit into the C63 screwhead slot. Ugh! Next set arriving today so hopefully this delay in getting my C63 some wrist time will be short lived.

I have some nice-ish small screwdrivers and some cheap budget-oriented ones. The cheaper have become a bit bodged up here and there, slightly bent or chipped, and I've taken to just running the tips over a piece of sandpaper and have successfully restored or resized the tips. Maybe you could do the same if you have any ill-fitting ones.

Has · Post by **Has** » Tue Jan 17, 2023 5:43 pm

jcnassoc wrote: ↑Tue Jan 17, 2023 1:49 pm
bananapants wrote: ↑Tue Jan 17, 2023 1:43 am
jcnassoc wrote: ↑Fri Jan 13, 2023 4:01 pm Indeed, the double screw system leaves something to be desired (and from a technical perspective not sure I understand the benefit v. single screw systems).

fwiw, single screw systems are really easy to resize on your own, and as others have posted here there are benefits, especially if you are picky about getting the bracelet sized *exactly* right for your wrist (this guy is guilty as charged on that count!).
I think an advantage of double screw vs. single, if I understand how they work correctly, would be that if you manage to mis-thread the screw, you only stand to damage the threads on the screw, vs. the threads on the bracelet link. I managed to damage a link on a Smiths bracelet due to a screw having bodged threads - not sure if I damaged the threads or it came that way.

... I also just sized my first Ward bracelet with single screws, having only previously managed their pins/collars, and I didn't love the single screws. In the process of removing two of the three links I removed, two were very tight, and I managed to slightly mar the head of the screw - not a huge deal, and probably easy to fix by running the screw head across a bit of fine sandpaper, but it bugged me a bit.
Thanks for the info / insight @bananapants. I guess I'm just surprised / frustrated that with all the watch tools I have (for resizing bracelets) I only have one screwdriver--never thought I'd need two! To add insult to injury the second screwdriver set I ordered / received from Amazon had blades too thick to fit into the C63 screwhead slot. Ugh! Next set arriving today so hopefully this delay in getting my C63 some wrist time will be short lived.

Have you ordered a third hand too?

Post by **Amor Vincit Omnia** » Tue Jan 17, 2023 6:11 pm

^^^ Perhaps he has another appendage that does tricks?

jcnassoc · Post by **jcnassoc** » Fri Jan 20, 2023 7:23 pm

Bahnstormer_vRS wrote: ↑Tue Jan 17, 2023 1:51 am ^^^^ As some of the screws were very tight, did you warm the bracelet before trying to unscrew them, to soften and release the loctite thread locker?

Guy

Sent from my XPERIA 5 III using Tapatalk

Dumb question: How do you warm it up? Soak the bracelet in warm water before unscrewing?

Thanks.

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