rose gold uniform wares watch

How To Remove Watch Links At Home & Professionally

How to remove watch links: When you first start to build your watch collection, you may not be thinking about how to add links to a watch or how to remove links from a watch.

However, learning how to do this for yourself will save you time and money in the future. Keep reading to find out how to adjust watch links without tools and with tools.

Tools For Removing Watch Links

uniform wares smile line strap changing tool

If you are able to acquire a tool to remove watch links, the process of removing and adding links will be much easier. Fortunately, you don’t have to spend money on expensive tools. All you need is:

A Watch Bracelet Holder

With this useful tool, your watch bracelet will be secured as you work on it, preventing it from falling off the table.

Push-Pin Tool

You will need this item to press the holes on the side of the watch band in order to detach each link from the bracelet.

Small Hammer

This is used to tap the push-pin tool into the holes.

If you need to purchase all three of these items, it may be easier to buy a watch repair kit. This will include all the essential tools you need to add and remove watch links.

How To Remove Watch Links: A Step By Step Guide

Michael Kors white dial watch with metal bracelet

How do you remove links from a watch without knowing what size you would like to achieve? Before you begin working on your timepiece, you need to try on your watch and make a note of how many excess links there are. This will ensure you don’t remove too many or too few links.

Next, gather your tools (your watch bracelet, watch band holder, push-pin tool, and small hammer) and place them on a flat surface. Put your watch into the watch bracelet into the holder with the arrows on the back of the bracelet pointing down. Then, using your small hammer, gently tap the cotter pins with the push-pin tool until the pin comes through the other side, and pull the pin out with your hands. Repeat this process until you have removed all the links.

To put the bracelet back together, you need to place it in the watch holder with the arrows pointing up this time. Insert the cotter pin into the hole on the side of the bracelet and gently tap it into place with the small hammer. Do this with both sides of the clasp.

How To Remove Watch Links Without Tool

sim card with sim ejector

For those of you who don’t own any watch tools, you may be wondering how to remove links from a watch without pins. To begin with, follow the same steps of measuring the links, gathering your tools, and placing them on a flat surface.

Next, all you will need is a small piece of metal and a sim ejector. Place the sim ejector into one of the holes on the side of the bracelet and push firmly until the pin emerges on the other side. Take the pin and pull it out, making sure it doesn’t fall off the table. To rejoin the bracelet, place the pin into a hole in the side and use the piece of metal to push it back into place.

Where To Have Watch Links Removed & How Much Is It To Remove Links From Watch?

Shinola watch

If you would rather leave the adjustment to the professionals, you have a couple of options. You could either go to a watch repair shop such as Timpson or head to a jewellery shop such as H.Samuel.

 Both shops offer watch bracelet adjustment services at a low cost. Usually, you can have links removed or added for under £10.

Removing Watch Links Yourself vs Paying For A Service

black dial watch and strap changing tool

When it comes to taking links out of a watch band, doing it yourself means that the process may be cheaper. What’s more, the tools that you purchase may come handy in the future.

On the other hand, if it takes you a long time to learn how to adjust your watch, it may be worth it to pay for the service. Not only will it be a stress-free process, but it is often an affordable service.

Our Final Thoughts On How To Remove Watch Links

womens jewellery including watch with dual-toned metal bracelet

We hope our handy guide has taught you all you need to know about how to remove links from watch band and how to add extra links. Alternatively, if DIY isn’t for you, you now know where to go for this useful service.

While you’re purchasing our recommended watch repair kit, why not treat yourself to one of our timepieces too? Our collection of men’s and women’s watches is the stuff of every watch enthusiast’s dreams, but soon it could be your reality. Browse our watches for sale today.

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