Many customers have asked us for instructions to shorten the steel bracelet of their quartz bracelet watches themselves. Normally we recommend that the bracelets be cut by an experienced watchmaker, but it is true that whoever is skilled and careful can also get it yourself.
To shorten a steel bracelet of the quartz bracelet watches one should make a good observation of the state and the characteristics of it. On the back, the vast majority of adaptable bracelets, we find some arrows, always indicating the direction in which we must push the pin.
Never try to push the pin in the opposite direction to the arrows as this could damage the pin. The pin can be removed in several ways, one, the most appropriate is to do with the help of the watch tools used by watchmakers.
You can usually get the same result by gently hammering a thick needle with a small rubber hammer. You must be careful not to scratch the bracelet by mistake if you slip while you are hammering.
The pin is a kind of clip with an opening only on one side. The pin must always be removed from the opening side. If it were a bracelet that does not have the arrows that we said before, you can guide yourself through the opening and always hammer where you do not appreciate opening so that the pin always comes out on the right side.
In this way, you can shorten the bracelet with the watch repair tool kit to the ideal length. The watchmakers have a sixth sense to know how many links have to be removed but if you are not sure ... you just have to do the test! :)When the bracelet has the desired length, you must insert the pin again between the links. Important is that we logically enter the end where we do not see an opening. The pin must disappear completely in the hole.
If you are shortening a bracelet that has the famous arrows at the back, do not forget to insert the pin in the opposite direction to avoid damaging them.
If you find it very expensive you can always let a professional do it, the price usually varies between 5, - and 10, - €!