Not really “half links”on a GS bracelet
I’ll start with some good news. I‘ve FINALLY attained a good fit on my GS bracelets. Like, I’m actually happy with it, not just okay with it. I’d still like some microadjustment options, but I do feel a lot better now. How did I get here?
Out of curiosity, and desperation, I decided to actually measure the different link sizes that come with the factory bracelet. Much to my surprise, the “half links” were not actually 50% the size, or half the size, of the full links. See below.
Full Link:
The full links seem to be around 8.5cm each, give or take a fraction of a centimeter.
“Half Link”:
The “half link” comes in just over 6cm (possibly a touch more, clearly my lighting is crap).
Why am I sharing this? Maybe I’m the last one to the party, but this was news to me. And it’s good news. The fact that the half link is more like a 2/3 link means I have more options to get a better fit that I thought. I’ve resized my GS bracelets a ton of times, like too many times. But I had always swapped a half for a full, or just added a half link to make adjustments. I did this because I took the “half” link description at face value. Since I’ve had my GS watches, the bracelets have always been too tight or too loose. And it was annoying AF. Especially at this price point.
So, I took some measurements because I am obsessive and still somewhat hopeful by nature. You all know the feeling 😘 Glad I did, cause now I know the links are not as advertised. Armed with this new information, I took my bracelet that was too loose (which for me is the better of the “too” options), removed a full link and added another “half” link, and boom, the best fit I‘ve ever had with a GS bracelet. And likely the best it will ever be.
I can’t tell you how happy this makes me. I also made some adjustments to the bracelet I bought for my SBGA407. It too fits SOOOO much better.
Buy seriously, why don’t they say “2/3 link” instead of half link?!?! It would have been very useful to know that I had more options by using two “half” links in place of a full link to get just a little more breathing room for my wrist. I thought my only option was to add or remove a “half” link for a more precise fit.
Also, the screws that hold the pins for the bracelet links are possibly the smallest things I have ever seen.
Should I have know this? Are most half links actually 2/3 links and I just missed the memo?
Somewhat new to the collecting community, but pretty far down the rabbit hole already…
Seiko has always had difficulty getting the bracelets perfect, the GS line is no exception. All they need to do is provide a clasp with a few millimeters of user adjustment. Is that really too much to ask for, really? I just keep my GS sized a little loose and deal with it, I don't like my wrist to get strangled when it swells up.
Seiko has always had difficulty getting the bracelets perfect, the GS line is no exception. All they need to do is provide a clasp with a few millimeters of user adjustment. Is that really too much to ask for, really? I just keep my GS sized a little loose and deal with it, I don't like my wrist to get strangled when it swells up.
Agreed. I just think it would be useful if they would have called out that the smaller links are just that, smaller, not half. I do think if you pay $11k for a watch it should be super comfortable and have good adjustment options. The fit could still be better, but it is night and day now that I have figured this out.
Honestly, this makes me less impressed with my AD. They should have told me this and worked to get me the best fit when I bought it. I feel like they just rushed me out the door. I am less and less impressed with them after each visit.
This is valuable information.
This is valuable information.
Right?!?!
Wow! I never knew!
I feel like this now...
Wow! I never knew!
I feel like this now...
Right?!?! This is life changing for me, no matter how sad that sounds. Pretty sure this will be the topic of @Max's next video.
Right?!?! This is life changing for me, no matter how sad that sounds. Pretty sure this will be the topic of @Max's next video.
Dude, I think I may need to resize a couple of my watch bracelets now!
Dude, I think I may need to resize a couple of my watch bracelets now!
Life. Changing.
Any watch more than $100 should just have tool-less microadjust already.
I can’t stress enough the value of micro adjustment for me. I have a winter wrist, a summer wrist and a hottest day of all time wrist. On my Christopher Ward bracelet this has proved invaluable. If I buy a Seiko watch, it could either be on a strap or at least because someone like Strapcode makes an alternate bracelet.
I can’t stress enough the value of micro adjustment for me. I have a winter wrist, a summer wrist and a hottest day of all time wrist. On my Christopher Ward bracelet this has proved invaluable. If I buy a Seiko watch, it could either be on a strap or at least because someone like Strapcode makes an alternate bracelet.
My Tudor Ranger has ruined me for other watches. The t-fit clasp is perfect.
Same boat here with my GS putting the two 2/3 links in place of a full link gave me the perfect fit.
I can’t stress enough the value of micro adjustment for me. I have a winter wrist, a summer wrist and a hottest day of all time wrist. On my Christopher Ward bracelet this has proved invaluable. If I buy a Seiko watch, it could either be on a strap or at least because someone like Strapcode makes an alternate bracelet.
Yeah, my wrist seems to be constantly changing size. A watch that fits perfectly in the morning might be too tight at lunch and loose after dinner, or some variation. Tool-less microadjust easily solves this.
I get you! I basically mix matched the links on my SBGA429 until I got a comfortable fit. It was incredibly annoying but then...never again!
Thanks for sharing man. Finding fit on the bracelet is a bump !!
I’m surprise the after market hasn’t designed a clasp that looks the similar but has micro adjustment.
I was just sitting down for the morning ritual of resizing my bracelet when I read this (today was going to be a "just too loose" day). Amazing info. Perfect fit achieved by replacing one full link with two 2/3's. Thank you!
I am so happy for you! A great fitting bracelet is a thing of beauty and I can only imagine how you felt when it went back on your wrist...
I'm surprised the AD didn't make sure it was fitting perfectly before you left though 🙁
Thank you for sharing will everyone. My AD and I basically worked this out as we worked to find a best fit. Didn’t think to measure though! I still wish there was some micro adjustment
I’m surprise the after market hasn’t designed a clasp that looks the similar but has micro adjustment.
For real. That would be so nice.
I am so happy for you! A great fitting bracelet is a thing of beauty and I can only imagine how you felt when it went back on your wrist...
I'm surprised the AD didn't make sure it was fitting perfectly before you left though 🙁
I’m realizing more and more that my GS AD does not provide very good customer service. They are lucky I love the brand as much as I do.
Thank you for sharing will everyone. My AD and I basically worked this out as we worked to find a best fit. Didn’t think to measure though! I still wish there was some micro adjustment
I think my woodworking brain kicked in and felt taking measurements was warranted.
Any watch more than $100 should just have tool-less microadjust already.
Glad you have found the right fit after so much effort and thanks for sharing. I'm lucky I guess, as it's only taken the removal of four full links to size all my GS bracelets and to get the perfect fit. I would love to see a micro adjustment on their bracelets, but then again, how do you improve on what is perfection?! (Yep, GS fanboy right here 😍)
I am for sure a novice in the world of watches, so this was a very pleasant discovery for me. And you are right, that is a sensible design for a watch maker to use. I’m sure many already knew this, but for those of us like me I felt it was my WatchCrunch duty to share!
this is the guide i follow when I got my first GS.
Credit: found on google