Seriously, f**k folded links
A rant, from me.
Decided to jump on the Casio 'Royale' hype train, my first jangly cheap folded 'steel' Casio bracelet, everything I've had from them previously was resin.
Ah you sweet summer child, little did you know what you were in for.
Watch turns up like most do, sized for Andre the f**king giant, it needs plenty of links out for my skinny wrist, no problem, even Invicta pin system is easy and takes five minutes, it should be fine, I thought.
For clarity, as part of my job and my life as a whole, I work with a lot of classic and vintage vehicles; cars, tractors, heavy machinery etc. So I'm used to stuck bolts, outdated technology, obscure sizes, rusty seized mechanisms, bent and missing parts, all that jazz. Daily.
Getting these end links to loosen off and spit out the flimsy bits of metal that join them together was hard. Specifically the end links, you know, the ones you absolutely have to do.
I invented so many new swear words this evening but most of them were just growls full of rage and spittle as this poor Casio was being dragged around the bench like a victim of a crocodile doing the death roll.
I grappled and gripped, at one point I was concerned that the metal was so soft I'd end up destroying the entire watch just trying to size the f**king bracelet.
Tried using my cheap watch tools, snapped the end off one, learnt that lesson, so I watched a YouTube video to confirm that what I was doing was correct; the video depicted a nice Scandinavian man who wanted to demonstrate that it was so simple, you didn't need the proper tools to do it. He tried to use a kitchen fork and promptly broke it.
I got there in the end, I've never had to use a hammer on a watch strap before, honestly there were frustrating moments where I felt like smashing the whole thing to oblivion.
There was so much noise coming from my work bench, the wife came to check that I hadn't decided to knock a wall down and start an impromptu extension to the house.
Now it's finished, what is my review of the watch, still warm out of the postman's hands, still on the journey to the honeymoon period, eh... it's alright, it's everything I expected it would be.
Search for an aftermarket strap starts tomorrow!
Am I being pathetic? Perhaps a little over dramatic?
Moi??!
Is there some secret method to adjusting these end links? Or are they always a massive pain in the arse?
Tool watches and watches that can take a bit of punishment are my thing! Current collection: G Shock 5610, 6900, GA900, G-LIDE, Victorinox INOX, Luminox ICE SAR 1001, Christopher Ward Trident 65, Paga...
Great watch!
I used to struggle with those bracelets. Maybe it’s just me, but I find this tool is thin enough to get in there, and tough enough to pop them right out.
I hope you do enjoy that cool little Casio.
I've never tried the end links. But for the main bracelet there's no easy way, I've had to do it with a couple of vintage Poljot bracelets. Someone told me to make sure you leave them slightly larger rather than too tight, because once you've opened and reclosed a link you've made it too brittle to go through the process again.
Small hardened flathead screwdriver will push them out. Rounded end of a screwdriver handle pushes them back.
Small hardened flathead screwdriver will push them out. Rounded end of a screwdriver handle pushes them back.
Yeah I ended up getting out some hardened screwdrivers in the end which made things easier, still not straightforward.
https://vario.sg/collections/watch-straps-for-casio-ae1200wh-world-time
I have a Vario bund strap on a different watch, and love their quality.
https://vario.sg/collections/watch-straps-for-casio-ae1200wh-world-time
I have a Vario bund strap on a different watch, and love their quality.
Yeah I've got a Vario on my 6900 so I'll probably go that way, or mod it to full case and solid links
I had the same issue with one of the links. Just moved on and removed another link.
Forstner Komfit, Klip, Bonklip or ebay/Amazon, aka China variant?
Forstner Komfit, Klip, Bonklip or ebay/Amazon, aka China variant?
All under careful consideration
Happy to play with bands, but most bracelets defeat me. Good watch tools or not, I had a Ball watch with a not great titanium bracelet. Two trips to my local watch shop, one to help adjust the bracelet, the other to get the d$%m thing off so I could put on a good strap. That’s OK, because I’m always happy to give business to the very serving couple that runs the shop, and they never charge enough anyway!!
These are a PITA. But once you find the right leverage point they do come off easy. I actually used a cheap spring bar removal tool (fork side) on mine and worked with little issue. The first one I ever did I wrecked properly though haha.
The SKXMOD full metal kits are great. I did the mod on mine and it looks as good but feels way sturdier.
Eventronic Watch Repair Kit, Professional Watch Battery Replacement Tool, Watch Link & Back Removal Tool, Spring Bar Tool Set with Carrying Case https://a.co/d/j0KLYF4
For a cheap $20usd kit it's a headache saver
Eventronic Watch Repair Kit, Professional Watch Battery Replacement Tool, Watch Link & Back Removal Tool, Spring Bar Tool Set with Carrying Case https://a.co/d/j0KLYF4
For a cheap $20usd kit it's a headache saver
I've got plenty of watch tools albeit none of them of industrial quality, I just could find anything in there that was good enough, ended up using some hardened flat head screwdrivers
These are a PITA. But once you find the right leverage point they do come off easy. I actually used a cheap spring bar removal tool (fork side) on mine and worked with little issue. The first one I ever did I wrecked properly though haha.
The SKXMOD full metal kits are great. I did the mod on mine and it looks as good but feels way sturdier.
That was something I was planning on doing at some point, good to know the kits are worth it 👍🏻
I second the Vario strap as a replacement. The leather quality is excellent. My only complaint is the strap is a bit long for a slender wrist.
I found to use a mini flathead, put downward pressure to the raised ‘bump’ in the steel pin until about 1mm of the pin is forced from the side of the link. From there, secure the link at the protrusion using a pair of needle nose pliers…and yank it out like a sliver. Works every time. Any future frustrations will dwindle from the scourge of infamy.
All under careful consideration
Yea I'm hoping the Komfit fits a Timex Q GMT.
Or I'm gonna spend some time with a Dremel, a case or endlinks 😂.
Thankyou…. I am not the only one to get extremely frustrated adjusting watch bands . Removing the bracelet from my Smiths left me in disgust, despair , frustration and apoplectic rage to separate the bloody thing from the watch ( it has bloody drilled end links too !! Needless to say I did scratch the case near the end link hole , fortunately not badly but I know it’s there … I will never ever put the bloody thing back on the watch , I am happy with it on an Artem strap til doomsday arrives:)
I had mine for a week and then scratched it against a brick and totally ruined the “crystal” (plastic)…
I had the same Casio a few years ago and had the same trouble, I ended up selling it to a friend and had to go through it all again so it would fit him 😭
I completely understand your frustration ToolWatchTom. I had to re-size the folded link bracelet on a Seiko SNKK45 years ago and you know what? I ain’t getting re-sized again!
Haha, confirm on that struggle, such a pain removing the links. Cheap chinese factories and manufacturing and materials is the culprit. I ruined some cheap link removers before using some screwdriver, hammer and then pliers to pull out (more like twist and yank) the remaining pins....
I go to my jeweler nearby. He charges me 10 $. No mess no damage. It takes 2 minutes and voilà! Seriously that's a cool watch! Enjoy it and have fun!
I feel your pain. Casio has ruined more than one NWD for me with their terrible metal bracelet system.
The best way to describe it is chintzy with tinny as a close runner up. It sure does rattle on top of it. But I still think this is the superior version of this watch and once it's did, it's did.
There's a wide variety of modding for the world time so you are in luck.
Vario makes straps just for it.
Casios and Seiko Pin & collar type kills me everytime.
Having said that, I always first try doing it myself but whenever there are 2 failed attempts, i'd stop and take it to a watchmaker/ repairguy. A few bucks is well worth the pain of ruining the watch, bracelet and joy of a new watch.
Really Great watch btw.
You should toss that beast on a brown leather strap. If you're feeling adventurous, take it apart and throw on a yellow filter on the screen. I love mine.
There are plenty of inexpensive aftermarket straps and 16mm adaptors on Aliexpress for your Royale.
That's my go to for any sort of mods for my increasing Casio collection.
I feel your pain having gone through the same process last night on two similar watch watches. Lousy system.
T-bar link removal pliers on eBay. $18. Go for it. I wish I had known about these a week ago.