[ratty]

Originally Posted by AEC

Just a point of clarification, in case this matters: both bracelets actually use pins, with the older style pins held in place by friction, and the newer pins held in place by threaded caps at in the sides of the links. Those threaded caps are a real pain in the @$$ to handle, by the way. Both bracelets also have removable bearing sleeves that slide into the center link and through which the pin is inserted. The newer bracelet does not use screws that span the width of the bracelet in place of pins, like Rolex does.

Sizing the old bracelet means using a tool to press the friction-fit pin out in order to separate the links, and then making sure the bearing sleeve is inserted properly before pressing the friction-fit pin into place in order to join the links. Pretty simple.

Sizing the new bracelet means soaking it in hot water to soften the loc-tite holding the little threaded caps in place, using a screwdriver of a very specific size and shape to loosen the very tightly secured threaded caps on both sides of the link, and then finally pressing the pin out in order to separate the links. With a little luck, you might remove the threaded cap from one side of the link and see if the pin will fall out without being pressed out from one side. Joining the links requires making sure the bearing sleeve is properly inserted, then sliding the pin into place, then applying new loc-tite to the tiny threaded caps, and then finally screwing them into place on either side of the link (you'll want tweezers for this).

my opinion: the old, friction-fit system was easier.

Thanks very much for this answer, I had no idea things were / are so complicated. I had just assumed that it was a long screw.

Thanks again.