Tools for changing and resizing watch bracelets

Painter's tape or sandwich bags for protecting the case when changing straps. Cheap springbar tools work, but you're better off just getting a good set if you change straps often.

A simple spring bar tool is all I've ever used for bracelets and straps. Probably worth putting a little tape on the watch if you're worried about scratches. Resizing depends on how the bracelet is connected. Pins or screws. A cheap pin pusher of small screwdriver is required. A perfectly serviceable tool kit can be bought off Amazon for very little money.

If you have solid end links on bracelets, the spring bar tweezers is so helpful. You'll still struggle, but at least it eventually goes on.

Also a pad or cloth to put the watch on while changing.

And a pin pusher, wee mallet and bracelet holder.

Let's face it, it's a goddamm nightmare for some of us!!

https://longislandwatch.com/bergeon-spring-bar-tool-6767f-6767f/ I mean Amazon works too…

The longer length ones work for tricky end links. Don’t get the plastic ones as they will bend/snap.

And decent small flathead screwdriver (for screw links).

With how many scratches on my watch cases, I sure appreciate when a watch came with a drilled lugs

Get one of these cheap all-in-one kits, thats how I do mine. Its around $30. 【Combination Version】Eventronic... https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08SRFZSBT?ref=ppx_pop_mob_ap_share

Or this stuff too.

Salmue 8cm Anti-Static... https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07VT6R7V5?ref=ppx_pop_mob_ap_share

A decent springbar tool and all the powers of Earth's Sorcerer Supreme.

Your best bet is looking up some YouTube videos that relate to what you actually want to do. For example, do you have a bracelet with a pin set-up, pin and collar, or screws?

You'll obviously need this video to see the technique that relates to your set-up, so you should start there. And then base what you need to buy off what's used in the video.

It really depends on the model. You can change bracelets all day on many watches without any trouble, then suddenly hit a very high tolerance end link (e.g. GS, Rolex) and suddenly stare at all the scratches wishing you had springbar tweezers before you started.

For example, depending on the tolerance and lugs, the spring bar itself can scratch the lugs on its way coming out no matter how you have taped the lugs, if you don’t have spring bar tweezers that can compress both sides at the same time.

None of this matters of course if you don’t care about scratches.

I invested in the Bergeron tweezer tool and never looked back.

Its satisfying doing your own simple work, like resizing bands and swapping batteries. When it get difficult is when u damage things internally- very delicate stuff at times. Speak to an expert when u can afford it.

Oh And when it comes to band adjusting, I wont mention Pin and Collar then to keep u positive.

Got the same one about 3 years ago!! Great starter kit🍻

I change straps all the time. I lay the watch face-down on a cloth and have accepted that the case will sometimes get scratched on the back next to the lugs. So what? Nobody sees but me, and the scratches prove that I make the most of my watches.

As a low budget newbie, the $17 Amazon kit really helped me.

I do need better screwdrivers for battery changes. For the moment this works pretty good 👍🏾

To be honest I have bracelet watches and I have strap watches.

If I need a bracelet resized I go to my local shop. It costs 5 dollars, I don’t have to worry, I don’t have to own a bunch of tools, and I get to look at all the watches in the case while I’m waiting.

Bergeon 7825 Spring Bar Tweezers are magical! I can’t believe I waited so long to get them.

I've seen it in videos but never knew what it was called. Thanks for the link!

I have the Bergeon 7825.

But some people recommend this one to do a similar job. I haven't tried, but it's less expensive by a margin:

https://delugs.com/products/bracelet-removal-tool

Brilliant answer

Never cared enough about the inside of lugs to use anything but an inexpensive tool. Keep in mind there will be cheap bracelets without cut-outs where dental floss may be the last resort.

cool, thank you!

oh boy, look at this rabbit hole

Thats half of it. People think they are handy until they realize some things are hard. I ruined many watches just tinkering around.

U are lucky where u live. Where I live (LA, California area) its $20 to resize a bracelet (any style, the easiest, if more intricate it goes higher) so this pays for itself quickly.

Get a Bergeon 6767 springbar tool. Not cheap but I’ve broken so many cheap ones that it’s worth it to me.