Rolex Riveted Expansion Bracelet

[vlydog]

Planning ahead, but looking to resize a newly acquired Rolex vintage riveted expansion bracelet.

Are there special tools required to resize?

Thank you, vlydog

[dluddy]

If it is aftermarket, most have screws that resemble rivets to remove links.

[vlydog]

Yes D, aftermarket.

Thank you.

[ubiquitous]

Depending on the bracelet you have, some of those faux rivet screw pins are actually double sided- Like the Pre-V lug bars. Basically a screw head on each side. You'll need two screwdrivers in that case- One to hold one side steady and the other to turn the other screw. Such was the case with the old ones- New ones might be more like the standard screw pins (one sided).

Those double sided ones are a major pain in the arse.

[vlydog]

Yes D, aftermarket.

Thank you.

...and if it doesn't have the screws?

[ubiquitous]

Then you'll likely have to fold the links out to resize (if it's the one I'm thinking of).

[Justasgood]

Then they are bars with caps that need to be removed. Once removed......they are useless.

I had my watchmaker size mine(Pins/rivets not screws) and he made new ones out of steel rod and rolled the ends to look like rivets.

Good luck.

[dluddy]

The few I have or had (Homer) all have screws and some are double side as Ubi described

[Chronus]

How do you adjust the gen bracelet ?

[freddy333]

How do you adjust the gen bracelet ?

You need to unfold the links, remove or add new links as needed & then refold the original links. There is a special tool that Rolex & some watchmakers have that performs this task in a way that deformation of the unfolded links is kept to a minimum. But I do not know anyone who has the tool, so the only options are to use a pair of screwdrivers to carefully pry the links apart or take the bracelet to a watchmaker & let him handle the work (most older professional watchmakers have done this enough times that they are able to resize the bracelet without mangling the links too much).

[vlydog]

A big thank you to all who have responded with help and recommendations.

I have found out that, due to the size of the bracelet and the size of my wrists, I can make the appropriate adjustments with the clasp alone to achieve a proper fit.

I also found out that this particular bracelet is made just like the gen.

[Chronus]

(most older professional watchmakers have done this enough times that they are able to resize the bracelet without mangling the links too much).

thanks for the advice