Q&A for How to Change a Watch Band

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Question

Can I fit a watch band tightly without removing the links?

Bill Green
Jewelry & Watch Expert
Bill Green is an Expert Jeweler and Appraiser. He is also the Founder & Creative Director of Jewelry & Timepiece Mechanix, and the Founder and Designer of Amaroo Handmade Opal Jewelry, based in Haddonfield, New Jersey. With over 40 years of industry knowledge, he and his team are known for restoring everything from new watches to vintage jewels and being one of the few shops that still design and make jewelry and watches. Jewelry & Timepiece Mechanix is part of the American Society of Jewelers and Gemologists and Ethical Metalsmiths. Bill studied at the Miami Jewelry Institute and the Gemological Institute of America as well as apprenticed with many accomplished craftspeople.

Bill Green

Jewelry & Watch Expert

Expert Answer

To snugly fit a watch band without removing links, inspect the snap-down deployment buckle. On some watches, you'll notice small holes or dots along the side of the buckle, near the edge. These dots indicate the attachment points for the internal spring bar. To tighten the band, press the spring bar and shift the buckle inward toward the center. This action effectively reduces the length of the bracelet by the distance between the dots. Depending on the watch model, there may be some room for adjustment in this manner. However, the degree of adjustability varies depending on the specific watch design, and some may not even have this at all. In this case, I suggest bringing your watch to a watchmaker or a jewelry store for proper adjustments and maybe a new watch band that will fit you.

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Question

I tore my watch band. Can I tear off the rest of the band to turn it into a pocket watch?

Community Answer

You can if you want to. It all comes down to personal preference.

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Question

What do I do if the adjustable bar won't stay in on my watch?

Community Answer

Try to get a longer spring bar to fit it in. If the spring bar hole has been damaged, you can keep it in place after putting in the spring bar with a bit of hot glue.

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Question

Can a jewelry store fix the watch band on my smart watch?

Community Answer

Yes, they can fix any type of watch band. You just need to bring in the smart watch device.

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