Removing adding links to Rolex oyster bracelet at home

[Deep]

Does anybody know if this is difficult to do and which tools are required?

My wife wants to share one of my watches (!) and I don't want to have to go to the shop everytime to add/remove links.

Thanks

[don logan]

Hi

It’s REALLY easy but the most important thing is to use the PERFECT sized screwdriver and apply enough pressure that it defifintely won’t slip out when you start twisting, use a good quality screwdriver with perfect edges!

It’s exactly as it looks

I remove the last screw of the bracelet on the 6 o’clock side, then the 2nd screw and re attach the 2nd screw hole to the clasp

People use a tiny bit of the right strength Loctite to stop tte screw coming out but I actually don’t

Edited by don logan on Saturday 15th October 16:18

[gregs656]

Can you do it on the micro adjust holes?

It’s not hard but easily enough hassle that you will never or rarely bother.

[don logan]

gregs656 said:

It’s not hard but easily enough hassle that you will never or rarely bother.

That’s for sure!!

(Hmmmm…….Santos)

[Deep]

Ok, a bit confused by your answers lol.

Either it's easy or too much hassle such that I wouldn't bother.....which one is it?
Local shop would charge me £10 for the swap each time.

Thanks

[Wallace12R]

Deep said:

Ok, a bit confused by your answers lol.

Either it's easy or too much hassle such that I wouldn't bother.....which one is it?
Local shop would charge me £10 for the swap each time.

Thanks

It’s easy. You need a small screwdriver and 5 mins. That’s it. Save yourself the tenner each time.

[bristolbaron]

A set of high quality screwdrivers costs a fair few quid, but cheap stuff is more likely to twist/sheer and cause damage.

https://www.cousinsuk.com/product/bergeon-screwdri...

You can buy them individually, for £15ish which is probably the best option if you can narrow down which one you need.

[don logan]

Deep said:

Ok, a bit confused by your answers lol.

Either it's easy or too much hassle such that I wouldn't bother.....which one is it?
Local shop would charge me £10 for the swap each time.

Thanks

Sorry, I know I know!

It IS simple, you are unscrewing 2 screws and putting them back in but doing it carefully does seem like a bit of a pain on MINT watches, on older, scratched watches it’s stress free

[gregs656]

Deep said:

Ok, a bit confused by your answers lol.

Either it's easy or too much hassle such that I wouldn't bother.....which one is it?
Local shop would charge me £10 for the swap each time.

Thanks

It is easy but if you own multiple watches you just won’t bother doing it IMO. Some people don’t even put watches on where they have to set the time, date AND day if they’re in a rush (the horror).

Finger in the air guess that if she likes it you will change it perhaps every 6 months.

[don logan]

gregs656 said:

if she likes it.

He won’t be wearing it much again so adjusting it isn’t a problem :-)

[NDA]

don logan said:

Hi

It’s REALLY easy but the most important thing is to use the PERFECT sized screwdriver and apply enough pressure that it defifintely won’t slip out when you start twisting, use a good quality screwdriver with perfect edges!

It’s exactly as it looks

This.

It's really not difficult. It's quite often the case that the better the make of watch, the easier it is to do - and that's the case with Rolex - I took a link out of a friend's Rolex the other day as it happens - took me about a minute.

The key thing, as Don says, is a properly made screwdriver - not something out of a cracker. The screws in a Rolex are well engineered and are very easy to do.

[Tabs]

Yes, a good fitting screw driver is a must. Better still, purchase a kit from Amazon for about £15.
Should contain a decent screw driver and a plastic box thing (!) to hold the bracelet vertical.
If screws have not been previously removed, play over the thread end with a cigarette lighter to soften any thread lock. Should easily undo then.

[Deep]

Thanks. Can somebody be kind enough to tell me exactly which screwdriver kit I should buy?

Cheers

[the-norseman]

Really easy, I purchased a cheap watch repair kit off Amazon a few years ago, comes with all the tools you need.

Takes about 5 minutes.

[blingybongy]

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Wera-Kraftform-Micro-Scre...

A good screwdriver doesn't need to cost a fortune.
Linked one is 2mm but there are plenty of other sizes.

[NDA]

Deep said:

Thanks. Can somebody be kind enough to tell me exactly which screwdriver kit I should buy?

Cheers

It's worth buying one of the small selection of drivers to ensure you have the right size - the driver head should only be fractionally smaller than the screw head.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Screwdriver-Watchmakers-S...

[DE1975]

Eventronic Watch Repair Tool Kit,Professional Watch Back Removal Tool, Watch Link Removal Kit, Watch Battery Replacement Kit with Storage Bag https://amzn.eu/d/gRxbv62

I got a kit like this a few years ago. It's been useful for adding/removing links, taking the back off to replace batteries, and popping the bezel off to replace a ratchet spring on my Tag

[Tabs]

DE1975 said:

Eventronic Watch Repair Tool Kit,Professional Watch Back Removal Tool, Watch Link Removal Kit, Watch Battery Replacement Kit with Storage Bag https://amzn.eu/d/gRxbv62

I got a kit like this a few years ago. It's been useful for adding/removing links, taking the back off to replace batteries, and popping the bezel off to replace a ratchet spring on my Tag

That's the kit I have. There's also another bracelet adjusting tool for removing press fit style rivets etc.
It's not a professional quality kit, but it is good value.

[Deep]

blingybongy said:

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Wera-Kraftform-Micro-Scre...

A good screwdriver doesn't need to cost a fortune.
Linked one is 2mm but there are plenty of other sizes.

Thanks, will order those.

[Wallace12R]

DE1975 said:

Eventronic Watch Repair Tool Kit,Professional Watch Back Removal Tool, Watch Link Removal Kit, Watch Battery Replacement Kit with Storage Bag https://amzn.eu/d/gRxbv62

I got a kit like this a few years ago. It's been useful for adding/removing links, taking the back off to replace batteries, and popping the bezel off to replace a ratchet spring on my Tag

Exactly the same kit that I have too, great value and has everything you need really if you’re just starting out.