How to Remove Links from a Watch (Pins, Screws and Clasps)

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To remove links from a watch, find the removable links (usually marked with small arrows on the inside), push the pin out in the direction of the arrow, take out the same number of links on each side of the clasp, then rejoin the bracelet by pushing the pin back in against the arrow. Screwed bracelets work the same way, except you unscrew the link instead of pushing a pin. With a basic tool, it takes about ten minutes.

Before you start, check whether the clasp has micro-adjustment holes. If you only need a few millimeters, moving the spring bar in the clasp may be enough, and you will not need to remove a link at all.

What you need

• A link-removal tool or pin pusher, ideally with a bracelet holder.
• A small hammer or mallet with a soft face, for stubborn pins (optional).
• A precision flat-head screwdriver of the right width, for screwed links.
• A spring bar tool, for clasp micro-adjustment.
• A soft cloth or mat, so the case and bracelet cannot scratch.
• A small bag or tray for pins, collars and spare links.
• Good light, and ideally a magnifier.

A basic kit covers most of this list. SE's JT6218 kit, for example, includes a band holder, three pin punches (0.8, 0.9 and 1.0 mm) and a hammer with a metal and a nylon head; it suits push-pin bracelets, not screwed links.

Step 1: Identify your bracelet type

Look at the inside of the bracelet before you touch anything.

The arrows matter. Most push-pin bracelets have arrows stamped on the inside of each removable link showing which way the pin should come out. Links without arrows next to the clasp are often fixed.

Step 2: Work out how many links to remove

1. Put the watch on and pinch the excess bracelet together under your wrist.
2. Count the links you can pinch out while the watch still sits comfortably.
3. Plan to remove half from each side of the clasp. That keeps the clasp centered under your wrist and the watch centered on top.
4. If you need an odd number, take the extra link from the 6 o'clock side, which sits below the clasp.

Aim for a fit that is snug but not tight. Grand Seiko's instructions say to leave enough room to insert a finger between the band and your wrist, to allow airflow. Your wrist also swells a little in heat and during exercise, so err on the loose side and use the clasp for fine-tuning.

Step 3: Remove push pins

1. Lay the watch on a soft cloth, dial down, with the bracelet open.
2. Find the first link to remove on one side of the clasp, and note the arrow direction.
3. Seat the bracelet in the holder with the arrow pointing down, so the pin will exit downward through the hole in the holder.
4. Line up the pusher with the pin hole on the side opposite the arrow tip.
5. Turn the handle slowly (or press firmly) until the pin starts to move. If it sticks, tap the pusher lightly with a soft hammer.
6. Pull the pin out with your fingers once it protrudes. Keep it; you will reuse it.
7. Repeat on the other side of the link you are removing, so the link comes free.
8. Repeat on the other side of the clasp for the matching number of links.

Pin-and-collar bracelets

Many bracelets use a pin and a tiny tube called a collar inside the middle part of the link. When the pin comes out, the collar may drop out too. Work over a tray, and do not lose it: the pin will not hold without it. When you reassemble, put the collar back into the center link first, then push the pin through.

Step 4: Remove screw links

Screwed links are common on higher-end bracelets.

1. Choose a screwdriver whose blade fills the slot exactly. A blade that is too narrow or too thin will slip and chew the screw head.
2. Hold the bracelet firmly on a soft surface.
3. Turn counter-clockwise with steady downward pressure. If it will not move, stop. Some makers use thread-locking compound, and forcing it can snap the screw.
4. Remove the link, and keep the screw with the link.
5. When you reassemble, turn the screw clockwise until snug. Do not over-tighten.

If the screws are both sides of the link (a screw and a tube), hold one side still while you turn the other.

Step 5: Rejoin the bracelet

1. Bring the two ends together so the holes line up.
2. Insert the pin against the arrow direction, split end last on split pins.
3. Press it in with the pusher or by tapping gently until it sits flush on both sides.
4. Flex the joint to check it moves freely and the pin does not protrude.
5. Try the watch on. If it is still loose, remove another pair of links. If it is tight, put one back.

Step 6: Fine-tune with the clasp

Most folding clasps have two or three holes for the spring bar that holds the bracelet. Moving the bar one hole changes the length by a few millimeters.

1. Use a spring bar tool to compress the bar at the clasp end.
2. Move it to the next hole and let it spring into place.
3. Tug the bracelet to make sure the bar has seated.

Many dive watches also have an extension or quick-adjust system in the clasp, which our automatic dive watches guide covers model by model.

Can you remove watch links without tools?

You can, but carefully. People use an unfolded paperclip, a thumbtack or a small nail to push the pin, with the bracelet laid across a gap such as a slightly open drawer. The risks are real: the object slips and scratches the bracelet, the pin bends, or a collar flies off and is lost. A basic link-removal kit costs little and makes the job much safer. For an expensive watch, or a bracelet with screws you cannot shift, a jeweler or watch shop will often adjust it while you wait.

Common mistakes

• Pushing against the arrow. The split end of the pin jams and can bend or damage the link.
• Removing links from one side only. The clasp ends up off-center and the watch sits crooked.
• Losing the collar. Without it, a pin-and-collar bracelet will not hold.
• Using a worn or undersized screwdriver. It strips the screw head.
• Making it too tight. The bracelet should allow a finger underneath.
• Throwing the spare links away. You will want them later.

Look after the bracelet once it fits

While the bracelet is apart, it is a good time to clean it. Grand Seiko's instructions suggest brushing dirt from the joints with a soft toothbrush and water and wiping off moisture afterward; our guide on how to clean a watch covers the safe way to do it. Store the spare links in a labeled bag in your watch box drawer, like those in our watch box with drawer guide.

Grand Seiko also says that if a pin is poking out of a metal band, you should stop using the watch and have it repaired. A pin that works loose can let the bracelet open and the watch fall.

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