How to adjust steel linked watch band (Wenger Swiss Military waterproof)

How do we adjust a too-large stainless steel watch band? (It's not
obvious.)

I bought, at CostCo, the Wenger Swiss Military 200m water proof watch
for my teen-age son's birthday for about 30 dollars (as he wants to
learn how to scuba dive in Monterey Bay).

His thin wrist in no way fits this Wenger watch band, even wearing his
wetsuit, in so much as at least two links need to be removed from the
stainless steel watch band, one on each side. Instructions supplied
with the blister pack do not explain how to adjust the band (presumably
it's so simple that we should be able to figure it out by ourselves
using a butter knife)???

His new Wenger Swiss Military watch band has six links on each side,
with two (I'll guess they're called) pins holding them together. The
three lower links on each side each have a 2 mm arrow embossed into the
center of the backside of the plates (for whatever reason, I don't
know). My son suspects that arrow is telling us the direction in which
to remove the pins holding the links to the watch band.

Further evidence these six links are the remove-me links are the fact
that a pin of some sort can be seen on a side view of the Wenger watch
band for these "arrowed" links only.

Problem is - how do we remove those 'pins'? If we punch them out with
an incredibly small punch (the pins seem to be about a half millimeter
in diameter), won't we ruin them? I mean, what holds them in? Friction?
If it's friction, won't we need new pins when we punch out the old ones
(presumably stripping the heads)?

The other thing is these arrows are not symetrical in that they are
only lined up with one of the two pins per link (that is, there is only
one arrow per link and that arrow is under only one of the pins per the
link).

Am I missing something fundamental here?
What's the trick to removing and replacing two links in a steel watch
band?

Vanessa <stancinni@yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:1119000024.264387.211770@g47g2000cwa.googlegr oups.com...

> How do we adjust a too-large stainless steel watch band?
> (It's not obvious.)

Yeah, I basically removed a couple of the links.

> I bought, at CostCo, the Wenger Swiss Military 200m water
> proof watch for my teen-age son's birthday for about 30 dollars
> (as he wants to learn how to scuba dive in Monterey Bay).

> His thin wrist in no way fits this Wenger watch band,

Yeah, I had the same problem.

> even wearing his wetsuit, in so much as at least two links need
> to be removed from the stainless steel watch band, one on each
> side. Instructions supplied with the blister pack do not explain
> how to adjust the band (presumably it's so simple that we should
> be able to figure it out by ourselves using a butter knife)???

Not really, but it isnt rocket science.

> His new Wenger Swiss Military watch band has six links on each
> side, with two (I'll guess they're called) pins holding them together.

Mine had fold over metal bits with each link.

> The three lower links on each side each have a 2 mm arrow embossed
> into the center of the backside of the plates (for whatever reason, I don't
> know). My son suspects that arrow is telling us the direction in which
> to remove the pins holding the links to the watch band.

> Further evidence these six links are the remove-me links are
> the fact that a pin of some sort can be seen on a side view
> of the Wenger watch band for these "arrowed" links only.

Sounds plausible.

> Problem is - how do we remove those 'pins'? If we punch them out with
> an incredibly small punch (the pins seem to be about a half millimeter
> in diameter), won't we ruin them? I mean, what holds them in? Friction?

Some have a spring loaded inner pin at each end.

> If it's friction, won't we need new pins when we punch
> out the old ones (presumably stripping the heads)?

> The other thing is these arrows are not symetrical in
> that they are only lined up with one of the two pins per
> link (that is, there is only one arrow per link and that
> arrow is under only one of the pins per the link).

> Am I missing something fundamental here?

Yes, http://www.wengerna.com/faq.jsp?cat_id=1#add_links

> What's the trick to removing and replacing
> two links in a steel watch band?

Looks like there is a special tool that does it.

"Vanessa" wrote

> How do we adjust a too-large stainless steel watch band? (It's not
> obvious.)

It's not real hard, but may be more than you want to take on. Your son is
on the right track, but you don't use a butter knife. More likely, you use
a small paperclip of safety pin. Regardless, your best bet, given the fact
that this is clearly not your specialty, is to take the watch to a jeweler.
At worst, he won't charge much. At best, if you catch him when he's not
busy, he'll do it for free, just for the good will.

Lee

"Vanessa" <stancinni@yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:1119000024.264387.211770@g47g2000cwa.googlegr oups.com...
> How do we adjust a too-large stainless steel watch band? (It's not
> obvious.)
>
> I bought, at CostCo, the Wenger Swiss Military 200m water proof watch
> for my teen-age son's birthday for about 30 dollars (as he wants to
> learn how to scuba dive in Monterey Bay).
>
> His thin wrist in no way fits this Wenger watch band, even wearing his
> wetsuit, in so much as at least two links need to be removed from the
> stainless steel watch band, one on each side. Instructions supplied
> with the blister pack do not explain how to adjust the band (presumably
> it's so simple that we should be able to figure it out by ourselves
> using a butter knife)???
>
> His new Wenger Swiss Military watch band has six links on each side,
> with two (I'll guess they're called) pins holding them together. The
> three lower links on each side each have a 2 mm arrow embossed into the
> center of the backside of the plates (for whatever reason, I don't
> know). My son suspects that arrow is telling us the direction in which
> to remove the pins holding the links to the watch band.
>
> Further evidence these six links are the remove-me links are the fact
> that a pin of some sort can be seen on a side view of the Wenger watch
> band for these "arrowed" links only.
> Problem is - how do we remove those 'pins'? If we punch them out with
> an incredibly small punch (the pins seem to be about a half millimeter
> in diameter), won't we ruin them? I mean, what holds them in? Friction?
> If it's friction, won't we need new pins when we punch out the old ones
> (presumably stripping the heads)?
>
> The other thing is these arrows are not symetrical in that they are
> only lined up with one of the two pins per link (that is, there is only
> one arrow per link and that arrow is under only one of the pins per the
> link).
>
> Am I missing something fundamental here?
> What's the trick to removing and replacing two links in a steel watch
> band?

I've adjusted quite a few watch bands over the years and each time was
different.

Have a jeweler do it. He want charge much and he has the tools and know how
to do it right.

On 17-Jun-2005, "Vanessa" <stancinni@yahoo.com> wrote:

> I bought, at CostCo, the Wenger Swiss Military 200m water proof watch
> for my teen-age son's birthday for about 30 dollars (as he wants to
> learn how to scuba dive in Monterey Bay).

Don't be too surprised if the watch doesn't work well under water.
200m water resistance sounds like is should be ok (since the
sport diving limit is 40m). However, if it has any push buttons
and they are not specifically designed for constant pressure, they
may depress under water pressure. What happens to the watch if
the button(s) are constantly held down may be unpredictable. DAMHIKT.

Mike

"Lee Bell" <leebell@ix.remove.netcom.com> wrote in message
news:tcyse.6609$VK4.3943@newsread1.news.atl.earthl ink.net...
> "Vanessa" wrote
>
> > How do we adjust a too-large stainless steel watch band? (It's not
> > obvious.)
>
> It's not real hard, but may be more than you want to take on. Your son is
> on the right track, but you don't use a butter knife. More likely, you
use
> a small paperclip of safety pin. Regardless, your best bet, given the
fact
> that this is clearly not your specialty, is to take the watch to a
jeweler.
> At worst, he won't charge much. At best, if you catch him when he's not
> busy, he'll do it for free, just for the good will.

I gotta say;

For a conservative democrat, you sure are a decent human.

<grin>

Rod Speed wrote:
> > Am I missing something fundamental here?
>
> Yes, http://www.wengerna.com/faq.jsp?cat_id=1#add_links
>
> > What's the trick to removing and replacing
> > two links in a steel watch band?
>
> Looks like there is a special tool that does it.

I should have mentioned I had been to the Wenger web site previously.
http://www.wengerasi.com
which happens to have a photo of my son's Wenger Swiss Military Watch
(70016) on the home page - but my searches came up blank.

However, unless I'm more of an idiot than I thought (which is always
possible :), there are absolutely no instructions for removing links in
that steel watch band on the entire Wenger web site.

While there are detailed instructions for measuring arcane things like
the simple width of the watch
(http://www.wengerna.com/browse/tutorial.jsp) I'm surprised there are
no common adjustment instructions for the band. Given the CostCo Wenger
Swiss Military 200m date watch band ships in XXL elephant size, I can't
imagine that everyone on the planet won't have to remove links in the
bracelet band.

I very much appreciate your link to the Wenger Swiss Army Watch FAQ.
http://www.wengerna.com/faq.jsp
But all it says for adjusting the band is take it to someone who knows
how to adjust the band already (that's why I'm asking this message
board). :)

The two PDFs at that FAQ site are for the booklet that comes with the
watch (which says ask someone who knows how to adjust the band) and for
ordering new bands.

Why would it be so exasperating to do something so simple as a watch
band adjustment - especially since the band comes in such a huge size
to start with that every human other than Mike Tyson will have to
adjust the band. Where's the usability in that? :)

By the way, I seriously doubt the pin is spring loaded like it is for
the clasp adjustment on the band because in the u-shaped clasp, there's
a place for the pin to come out - but in the closed-off band, there is
NOWHERE for a spring-loaded pin to exit. It seems that the link pins
can ONLY come out one end or the other which means it must be a
friction fit or some other trick - but not simple springs like in the
clasp (am I totally off base here?)???

Here is my best-guess procedure for all those CostCo watch buyers out
there.
1. Find a very small (1/2 mm) punch (probably a very tiny brad or nail)
2. Find a block of wood with a very small hole (about 1mm or so)
3. Find the arrow on the underside of the Wenger Swiss Military Watch
70016
4. Place the watch band on its side on the block of wood
5. Place the point of the punch on the pin in the direction of the --->
arrow
6. Make sure there is a closed hole (a ditch if you will) below the pin
7. That way you won't lose the pin if it suddenly pops out on you
8. Punch two pins per link out
9. Remove the link and replace only one of the pins
10. If we're lucky - the pins won't have been destroyed in the process

Does this sound anywhere near like a usable procedure for the new
owners of the Costco 70016 Wenger Swiss Military 200m date watch?

Vanessa wrote:
> Why would it be so exasperating to do something so simple as a watch
> band adjustment - especially since the band comes in such a huge size
> to start with that every human other than Mike Tyson will have to
> adjust the band. Where's the usability in that? :)

the bigger the band size, the more people can potentially wear it.

"Scott" wrote

> I gotta say;
>
> For a conservative democrat, you sure are a decent human.

You didn't have to say, but I'm glad you did. Thanks.

Lee

-snip-
> Here is my best-guess procedure for all those CostCo watch buyers out
> there.
> 1. Find a very small (1/2 mm) punch (probably a very tiny brad or nail)
> 2. Find a block of wood with a very small hole (about 1mm or so)
> 3. Find the arrow on the underside of the Wenger Swiss Military Watch
> 70016
> 4. Place the watch band on its side on the block of wood
> 5. Place the point of the punch on the pin in the direction of the --->
> arrow
> 6. Make sure there is a closed hole (a ditch if you will) below the pin
> 7. That way you won't lose the pin if it suddenly pops out on you
> 8. Punch two pins per link out
> 9. Remove the link and replace only one of the pins
> 10. If we're lucky - the pins won't have been destroyed in the process
>
> Does this sound anywhere near like a usable procedure for the new
> owners of the Costco 70016 Wenger Swiss Military 200m date watch?


I suggest the following alternate instructions:
1. Go to jeweler.
2. Say to jeweler, "Please remove X links from this watch."
3. Leave and return later, perhaps after coffee, beer, or a dive.
4. Pick up watch and pay jeweler.
5. Wear watch.

Those worked great when I got a too-big watch as a gift. They did the
resize while I waited and didn't charge me anything.

Oh, someone mentioned something about the buttons misbehaving
underwater. I've had a watch break when I realized I'd forgotten to
start it once I got to the bottom. I pressed the button, it blinked
once, then died. So don't do that.

--
Magnus McElroy
Electrical Engineer (EIT)
HABIT Research
(250) 381-9425