Bracelet resizing?

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Kip
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Re: Bracelet resizing?

Post by Kip »

Loctite 221 or 222 is a low strength and is usually recommended for bracelet screws. I have used this for years and had no failures. You can also use a 242 (medium strength) but will likely need to heat to remove.
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Re: Bracelet resizing?

Post by Has »

Kip wrote: Mon Feb 06, 2023 2:53 pm Loctite 221 or 222 is a low strength and is usually recommended for bracelet screws. I have used this for years and had no failures. You can also use a 242 (medium strength) but will likely need to heat to remove.
Seriously… is this the idea?
I should use loctite after resizing my bracelet?
I remember hearing mike France praising the new bracelet when the Aquitaine was launched…
„We finally figured it out with our new bracelet… the question most asked by the CW costumers is answered!

With two screws and loctite? Come on…
Happy owner of a c65 Aquitaine

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Re: Bracelet resizing?

Post by Kip »

^^^^I am afraid I do not understand the attitude. :?

The bracelet screws are initially installed using Loctite or something similar. If you remove the (any) screws that seal is broken. When you replace the screws you use a tiny drop of Loctite (numbers as above) so the screws will remain tight (as new) when replaced in the bracelet.

If this is not done, I can guarantee that the screws will eventually loosen and, if not noticed, you will lose one or more. I base this on my 15 years of watch service experience.
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Re: Bracelet resizing?

Post by rkovars »

Has wrote: Mon Feb 06, 2023 9:36 pm
Kip wrote: Mon Feb 06, 2023 2:53 pm Loctite 221 or 222 is a low strength and is usually recommended for bracelet screws. I have used this for years and had no failures. You can also use a 242 (medium strength) but will likely need to heat to remove.
Seriously… is this the idea?
I should use loctite after resizing my bracelet?
I remember hearing mike France praising the new bracelet when the Aquitaine was launched…
„We finally figured it out with our new bracelet… the question most asked by the CW costumers is answered!

With two screws and loctite? Come on…
Everyone does it this way from Rolex to AP.
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Re: Bracelet resizing?

Post by jcnassoc »

Has wrote: Mon Feb 06, 2023 6:13 am The double screws are hideous,.. we already now that… and CW wasn’t the only brand going that rabbit hole…
Anyway.. to tell your customers: „here I come with a solution for you, you now can resize the new bracelet by yourself! Just order: one hand, two screwdrivers and loctite… !“

Who came up with this?? :shock: :lol: :lol: :lol:
LOL I had only one of the three. End results: Got the job done but stabbed myself quite painfully twice working those screws.
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Re: Bracelet resizing?

Post by Has »

rkovars wrote: Mon Feb 06, 2023 11:12 pm
Has wrote: Mon Feb 06, 2023 9:36 pm
Kip wrote: Mon Feb 06, 2023 2:53 pm Loctite 221 or 222 is a low strength and is usually recommended for bracelet screws. I have used this for years and had no failures. You can also use a 242 (medium strength) but will likely need to heat to remove.
Seriously… is this the idea?
I should use loctite after resizing my bracelet?
I remember hearing mike France praising the new bracelet when the Aquitaine was launched…
„We finally figured it out with our new bracelet… the question most asked by the CW costumers is answered!

With two screws and loctite? Come on…
Everyone does it this way from Rolex to AP.
Okay… my 58 had a Pin that screwed in the bracelet.
Very simple..

The rest is marketing I guess..
Happy owner of a c65 Aquitaine

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Re: Bracelet resizing?

Post by gbbird »

i’d also echo those who do resizing themselves. I’m no horologist, but at the very beginning of my watch journey i purchased the necessary tools (quite inexpensive) and have resized all of my watch bracelets. Due to different case and bracelet designs, i fail to see how it can be done accurately without it being on the wrist with the ability to experiment which sections to remove. Weirdly, it can make a difference to sizing and comfort which side of the bracelet you remove sections from.
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Re: Bracelet resizing?

Post by Kip »

Has wrote: Tue Feb 07, 2023 8:20 pm
Okay… my 58 had a Pin that screwed in the bracelet.
Very simple..

The rest is marketing I guess..
If it screws in then Loctite is still recommended.
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Re: Bracelet resizing?

Post by Kip »

gbbird wrote: Tue Feb 07, 2023 9:47 pm Weirdly, it can make a difference to sizing and comfort which side of the bracelet you remove sections from.
General rule of thumb.... If you must remove an odd amount of links, remove the odd one from the 6 o'clock side if you wear your watch, as most do on the top side of your wrist. Reverse if you wear it on the underside of your wrist.
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Re: Bracelet resizing?

Post by rkovars »

Has wrote: Tue Feb 07, 2023 8:20 pm
rkovars wrote: Mon Feb 06, 2023 11:12 pm
Has wrote: Mon Feb 06, 2023 9:36 pm

Seriously… is this the idea?
I should use loctite after resizing my bracelet?
I remember hearing mike France praising the new bracelet when the Aquitaine was launched…
„We finally figured it out with our new bracelet… the question most asked by the CW costumers is answered!

With two screws and loctite? Come on…
Everyone does it this way from Rolex to AP.
Okay… my 58 had a Pin that screwed in the bracelet.
Very simple..

The rest is marketing I guess..
What Mike France was referring to was getting the screws to be flush with the edge of the bracelet every time. This is difficult to do with a single screw but easier/cheaper with a dual screw system. To get a single screw flush every time takes a lot of precision. That is why only luxury brands were doing it until recently.

Loctite is used to keep the screw from backing out. Rolex calls out loctite in the service manual.

What they figured out is how to do it at the price point that they want and at the precision that is required.
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Re: Bracelet resizing?

Post by Yoobaldy »

Just received my trident pro 300 and went straight here to read up on how to resize the bracelet.

Asking for advice on what size of the flathead screwdriver should I be using?

I attempted with a generic flathead screwdriver that was a bit too small...
My wife thinks I have a watch problem. I'm a glass half-full guy, I think of it as a healthy interest in horology ;)

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Re: Bracelet resizing?

Post by JAFO »

Probably 1.6mm, but maybe smaller than that. Decent screwdrivers for watchmakers have very narrow tips. Ordinary small screwdrivers are often too thick to fit in the slots.
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Re: Bracelet resizing?

Post by Yoobaldy »

Thanks JAFO, I'm just trawling through eBay now for a set which ranges from 0.6mm all the way to 2.0mm so that should cover all bases *fingers crossed*
My wife thinks I have a watch problem. I'm a glass half-full guy, I think of it as a healthy interest in horology ;)

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Re: Bracelet resizing?

Post by JAFO »

It's sad to say that good screwdrivers can be expensive.

I bought a small set of screwdrivers for about £8 which have proved very poor. The ends twisted very easily. I nought a single Bergeon (1.4mm as it happens), and the tip still looks like new but it cost around £16 for just one tool. I currently have a set of screwdrivers for £18.99 in my eBay basket, but I keep holding off as they might prove to be a waste of money as well.

People say much the same about the standard spring bar tools. Bergeon's cost more, but are definitely worth it in my experience, although some of the tools can be hard to justify for occasional use. The 7767 is the standard tool.
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Re: Bracelet resizing?

Post by jkbarnes »

JAFO wrote: Wed Feb 08, 2023 12:27 pm People say much the same about the standard spring bar tools. Bergeon's cost more, but are definitely worth it in my experience, although some of the tools can be hard to justify for occasional use. The 7767 is the standard tool.
What’s wax recommended to me was an inexpensive spring bar tool but spring (pun intended) for Bergeon tips.

As I read all this, it’s clear to me there’s an inverse relationship between bracelet quality and ease of sizing. That makes total sense to me and is to be expected.
Drew
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