Seasonal Bracelet Adjustments?
And so it is... that time of the year when all of my watches on bracelets feel a little tight when I go to put them on.
I adjust one, then another and another to compensate for the seasonal wrist swell. It is perfectly fine except for that one watch that is in-between links and you have to add or remove a link to resize, that is a pain in the butt. The reverse process is of course completed when the cooler weather sets in.
The micro adjustment clasps help somewhat, but those aren't a panacea either and they aren't available on every watch.
I used to be annoyed with it but now I just adjust the bracelets, with the utmost efficiency and move on, until now of course.
I wonder if this affects other people; I can't remember us talking about before. Seasonal wrist swelling; does it affect everybody or is it relatively rare?
I'm thinking it is more like why some people get bothered by bugs and other don't. As for me the bugs treat me like their luxury buffet, which is why I love SoCal- zero biting bugs.
What say you on the question, wrist sweller yay or nay?
W.I.S. - "Throw it on a mesh!"
It's real. But if a watch has micro adjustments I try to set them in the middle so I have some up and down sizing intervals available.
During the Summer I tend to switch bracelets with silicone or tropic straps mostly for weight but also for the swelling that occurs
Yes! It’s a thing! Whenever I travel to sunny destinations, my wrist size goes up!
Not too long ago, I had to adjust my bracelet after eating Chinese food. I don't even wear my bracelets that tight to begin with. 😳😂
Not too long ago, I had to adjust my bracelet after eating Chinese food. I don't even wear my bracelets that tight to begin with. 😳😂
Oh yes, the dread sodium/msg swell.....lol
During the Summer I tend to switch bracelets with silicone or tropic straps mostly for weight but also for the swelling that occurs
Changing to rubber or silicone is a good idea, but I like the breathability of the bracelet, more specifically the shark mesh bracelet.
Oh yes, the dread sodium/msg swell.....lol
Coming soon: Sodium rating on a watch.
Mrs. Dash
A little table salt
Alot of table salt
McD's Value meal
Uncle Roger approved
Yeah I think all of mine are too tight at the moment and they're all fully extended on the adjustments. I've never had this problem before but maybe I've put on a few lbs over the last few years working from home. I'm probably going to add a link back into all of them.
Of course that's a real pain because all the links are in the original boxes in the loft. 😕
The swell is real. As others have said I size my bracelets with micro adjust in the middle, switch to NATO and these days I just wear my Seamaster on omega mesh😎. Infinitely adjustable.
I live in south Florida. We have daily wrist swell
I deal with it all the time, One more check for Mesh bracelets with the sliding clasp... So Comfy!
I always wear my bracelets a little loose anyway, however some of my favorite watches have incorporated a spring loaded adjust that allows a mm or two in adjustment that really makes a difference. My Ranger that I wear at work (outside) has this feature.
Yeah I think all of mine are too tight at the moment and they're all fully extended on the adjustments. I've never had this problem before but maybe I've put on a few lbs over the last few years working from home. I'm probably going to add a link back into all of them.
Of course that's a real pain because all the links are in the original boxes in the loft. 😕
I can't stand it if my watch is too tight, its like a tourniquet cutting off circulation.
My Seiko SZSB has no micro adjustment. It has full links and half links though. I recently just swapped a half link out, put a full in and perfect as can be.
I deal with it all the time, One more check for Mesh bracelets with the sliding clasp... So Comfy!
Those are so easy to adjust on the fly. Yet, I never quite… mesh… with them.
Its a thing. In my case swelling is caused either by eating too much carbs, which cause water retention and swelling of the tissues, or when it's hot and the blood vessels expand to help cool the body.
So eating a pizza in the summer is something that I have to consider and it definitively eliminates the butterfly clasps.
It’s a thing. For sure. Quick tool-free micro adjustment is such a great feature in a bracelet.
I don't have the know-how or finesse to do a very good job of this, but I could imagine some variation of a simple shim might help out those inbetweeners..
Perhaps a slip of leather, rubber or metal than you could add to the inside of your clasp to help reduce the overall size by a mm or so..
Obviously it has to be super comfortable, and might need a little adhesive. But it might just work..
My Pelagos bracelet surprised me. I'd read a lot about how fantastic the clasp was - with the sprung adjustment "flexing to any sized wrist".. What I'd not realised is that there are actually 4 settings; 3 locked positions, and the fancy sprung one.. Guess which settings my wrist sits in between.. 😭
I have it too, I set up the micro adjustment in the middle so I can easily switch it without worrying about the links.
I know your pain. I’m really appreciative of the micro adjust on the Pelagos 39 to keep it feeling comfy.
I’ve had to remove the bracelet from my Tag F1 as I can’t get it comfy at all 🙁
For sure! My wrist swells with the seasons and also throughout the day. I go outside and my watch gets tighter. I come back inside to the a/c and it’ll loosen up once I cool down. Annoying!
Definitely a ‘thing’. I’ve been pretty lucky, what with half links, on the fly adjustments and micro adjusts. The other factor I’ve found is if a watch is bigger (than optimal for me). or top-heavy, then it can tend to get uncomfortable as the day goes on
The key is whether or not the watch fits when you put it on first thing in the morning. Is it tight? You've gained a few pounds. Looser? You've lost a few. This is different than our activity-dependent daily shrink/swell.
My weight can vary by as much as 10 lbs. - particularly when vacations are involved and I'm eating and drinking without concern - and I do notice that a watch that previously fit me perfectly now is tight.
Or perhaps now it's looser, because I've been more active or maybe drinking less beer and lost a few pounds.
Just my two cents.
Happens to me 💯
I’m just at the point where I’m having to slightly tighten ‘em because the weather is cooler now. Can’t be doing with my watch hanging off the back of my hand either 😜
Can you suggest some aftermarket upgrades, I haven't had much luck in that area. I have to have the bracelet loose enough that I can easily slide my index finger between my wrist on the underside of the clasp. Otherwise, I loose my mind if it is tighter than that.
Depends on the watch. For watches from Tudor before the T-Fit clasp a brand named Steel Reef made basically an Easy Link on the fly adjustment link. I have one on both of my Tudors and it’s great. They have some for Rolex models and are coming out with some for Zenith, Grand Seiko and Omega models.
I'm getting better and better at sizing bracelets and just as importantly storing the extra links properly. Having decent tools helps.
I'm also useful as the guy you want to go camping with as I'm nailing being the bug bait that sacrifices my comfort for the good of the group.
Honestly I prefer leather/fabric in the winter. So the bracelet is sized for the summer swell
Honestly I prefer leather/fabric in the winter. So the bracelet is sized for the summer swell
Agreed leather in the winter is best but I wear my bracelet watches year round too.
Rolex Glidelock. Clasp is a bit long, but plenty of quick adjustment.
Yay Sir