a bracelet and 2n+1 links
I haven't had a watch bracelet since the days the Vikings were defended by purple people eaters (I had allergy issues), but I recently [well, this month] got myself one.
Unsurprisingly it was bigger than my wrist and I needed to take some endlinks out. After eventually figuring out how to do this (i.e. one destroyed bracelet adjustment tool and several painful applications of a screwdriver to the opposing thumb later) I faced the dilemma that I really needed to remove 3 links. It didn't look good, it looked uneven (sic!).
Is there a particular side you generally take out the extra link? On the side of the clasp cover, or the other half? Or does it depend on the bracelet? Or do you come hell or high water never take out an odd number of links and do the remaining adjustments with the micro-adjust function?
UK-based German expat. Likes cheap watches. Not bothered about brands.
Yes, I try to take out the links as symmetrically as possible, and then use the microadjustments. I find that it doesn't matter all that much which side that uneven link has been taken out from. What matters more, at least from my own personal experience, is to use the microadjustments as much as possible to get the fit just right, even if that means re-inserting a small link.
I try to avoid bracelets that are hard to adjust, such as those with butterfly clasps.
Generally take out more links on the 6 o’clock side. Your wrist is thinner on that side.
How many more depends on the size of the links and the shape of your wrist. The goal is to balance out the links so that the clasp is centered in the middle of your wrist rather than have it off to one side or the other.
By the way, I also have a nickel allergy so the only bracelets I can wear are 316L stainless steel or titanium. I guess gold could be a potential option but that‘s not how I roll. :)
I favor oyster style bracelets which normally I remove more links at the 6 o'clock position and have more links at the 12 o'clock position. For me this balances the clasp in the middle of my wrist.
The advice i was given differs a bit from those above. On the whole, take out even links equally per side. If odd, check where the clasp lands after removing even links and choose the last link on the side which best centers it. But i believe the overarching goal is to center the clasp properly on your wrist, so maybe one process doesnt fit all.