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Author Topic: Resizing bracelets - to DIY or bring to a shop?  (Read 5681 times)

Offline sanguoich

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Resizing bracelets - to DIY or bring to a shop?
« on: March 09, 2011, 06:28:28 PM »
I had a bad experience last weekend when I went to resize the bracelet for my new Seiko watch.  :-[
The bracelet is using collar + link pins which I've never done before, so I decided to go to my nearest watch shop.

I ended up with a damaged collar, small scratches on bracelet AND the bracelet wasn't even assembled back.
After seeing the way she mishandled my watch I quickly told her to stop and took the parts home.    :Scolding:

With the help of the almighty internet, I managed to refit the links myself.
Eventhough I had to make my own tools by filing down an unused precision screwdriver, I did a pretty good job (No scratches and properly fitting collar)    8)
Not only that, but I ended up resizing another watch I had at home, just because I could.

So, the lesson learned is:
1. When possible, do it yourself. Hardly any watch shop owner will bother to take his/her time to make sure your watch will emerge unharmed.
Its good practice and it saves you time and money.
2. If not, bring it to a well established watch shop. Warning signs are when they don't have any specialized watch tools like proper pliers, spring bar tool , link pin remover etc)

There are plenty of tutorials out there on the net, go ahead and give it a shot!




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Offline danny

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Re: Resizing bracelets - to DIY or bring to a shop?
« Reply #1 on: March 10, 2011, 08:07:49 AM »
Another alternative is to bring the watch back to the service center for assistance.
I'm pretty sure they'll do it FOC.

My personal experience:
I once swapped the bracelet on my Seadweller to a rubber strap.
That was the easy part. I had problems when I wanted to switch back to the bracelet.
So I brought it to RSC and they changed it for me in a jiffy, FOC.

 :Cheers:
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Offline G.MAC

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Re: Resizing bracelets - to DIY or bring to a shop?
« Reply #2 on: March 10, 2011, 03:05:46 PM »
Hey sanguoich..understand how you feel. I had my Sea Touch's steel case being gouged out by the watch repairer. Apparently he was trying to hammer out the pin but end up hammering my watch case. What was once a new watch has been defiled :Scolding:
« Last Edit: March 10, 2011, 03:08:55 PM by GMAC88 »
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Offline Cloud7

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Re: Resizing bracelets - to DIY or bring to a shop?
« Reply #3 on: March 10, 2011, 09:39:03 PM »
I usually DIY if possible... only taking it to the shop if I don't have the right tools...
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Offline GlennTanChiaChiah

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Re: Resizing bracelets - to DIY or bring to a shop?
« Reply #4 on: March 11, 2011, 11:21:40 PM »
Sent my old Air-King to Wxtxtime for a bracelet adjustment (link removal) and got a blunt no from the watchmaker on staff. Caught up on some reading online and did the job myself. Mind you the aforementioned bracelet is the permanent folded link type which dates all the way back to the 70's.
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Offline mnazri.tan

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Re: Resizing bracelets - to DIY or bring to a shop?
« Reply #5 on: March 12, 2011, 10:30:06 AM »
invest a bit and get your tool
DIY always thebest if you know how...at least you take extra measure to avoid scratches....
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