If your metal watch band is too small, you can this guide from Esslinger-dot-com to add
links that are held in place with screw links.
How will you know if your watch band is held together with screw pins?
Turn the band on its side and if the links are solid on one side with a hole on the other
side with a screw head facing up you are dealing with a screw pin.
The tools you will need are: A watchmaker's flat head screwdriver
A non-magnetic tweezers A parts tray
A watchband holder And extra links with pins
If you have previously removed links from your watch band, find the extra links and
pins that you removed.
You can use them to add links to your band without having to purchase new parts or links.
If you don't have extra links, you will need to order additional links.
It is difficult to determine how many links you need to add to your watch band, so it
is best to start by adding one link at a time.
Start by adding your extra links to the shorter side of the watch band.
If you end up adding more than one link, be sure to add links to both sides of the clasp
so it will stay centered on your wrist.
Choose which side of the watch band you want to start removing links from and position
the watch band in the holder to keep it steady.
Make sure the screw heads in the links are facing up.
Take your flat head screwdrivers and test the various blades you have until you find
the screwdriver that fits the screw pin just right.
Insert the right size screwdriver blade into the screw head in the link.
Turn the screwdriver counter-clockwise to loosen the screw.
Continue turning it until it feels like the screw is just sitting loose in the link.
Use your non-magnetic tweezers to lift the screw pin out of the link and place it in
your parts tray.
Remove the band from the holder and let it fall open.
Take one link from your collection of extra links and prepare to add it to the band in
this new opening.
Match up the link with the band and use one of the screw pins from your extra parts to
hold the loose link to the band by inserting it into the hole.
Be sure that the threaded end goes in first.
Place the watch band back in the holder to keep it steady and push the pin down to make
sure you have reached the threaded portion of the link.
Next, take your flat head screwdriver and turn it clockwise to put the pin the rest
of the way into place.
When you cannot turn the screwdriver anymore, you will know that the first loose link is
attached to the band and you can wrap the watch band around your wrist to see how it
is fitting.
Be sure that the metal clasp is closed, and then judge the distance of the opening in
the band.
If the gap is larger than one link, you will need to add at least two more links to the
band.
Remember you can add two links to this side of the watch band before you need to add a
link to the other side.
Add another link to this side if you need to.
Once the loose links have been added to the band, there should only be one opening in
the band.
Line up the two loose ends of the band and connect them by sliding a loose screw pin
into place.
Return the watch band to the holder and push the pin down to make sure you have reached
the threaded portion of the link.
Turn your flat head screwdriver clockwise to put the pin the rest of the way into place.
When the screw pin is flush with the watch band, you can remove the band from the holder
and try it on again.
If you can comfortably close the clasp on your wrist, you are done.
If not, you can add or remove additional links until it does.
To learn how to remove links, check out this video.
Now that you have completed one repair, you can learn more about simple watch repair at
Esslinger-dot-com learning center.