Are the links on this Seiko bracelet removeable

[GuyMontag]

It looks like the 3 links near the clasp are different when viewed from the side.  Instead of one solid inner piece like most of the links, there looks like one round piece (removable pin?) and one rectangular piece. I am considering buying the bracelet but only if the links are removable and this is what the seller has sent me when I asked if they are removable. Does anyone have experience with this style of bracelet?

 

 

 

[AndyGSi]

Yes they're removable as per arrows but it doesn't look the quality for a genuine Seiko strap.

What's it being sold as and do you have a photo of the clasp?

[GuyMontag]

I totally missed the arrows, and I even looked for them.

This is the clasp. I'm OK with it not being genuine. I want it to replace the bracelet on the Seiko 6309-5281 shown below which came with a bracelet that doesn't have any removable links as it doesn't fit me at all. The one I posted looks somewhat close, it has a brushed finish, straight endlinks, and is 3 pieces wide.

[AndyGSi]

That a 6309-523A but if the strap works for you then OK, although it doesn't look the easiest to get the pins out.

[GuyMontag]

3 minutes ago, AndyGSi said:

That a 6309-523A but if the strap works for you then OK, although it doesn't look the easiest to get the pins out.

Would you happen to know of another Seiko bracelet that looks like the original but has removable links?

[AndyGSi]

Sorry but i can't find any reference to the 6309-523A ever having a metal strap, only a leather one.

[GuyMontag]

Thanks for checking

[GPrideaux]

On 10/19/2024 at 12:54 AM, GuyMontag said:

a bracelet that doesn't have any removable links

In my admittedly limited experience, that sounds strange. Are you sure none of the links of the existing bracelet can be removed? What do the edges and interior look like near the clasp?

[GuyMontag]

Just now, GPrideaux said:

In my admittedly limited experience, that sounds strange. Are you sure none of the links of the existing bracelet can be removed? What do the edges and interior look like near the clasp?

AndyGSi pointed out arrows that I didn't see (even under my microscope!). I was then able to remove the links. Having said that, I do have a number of other watches with bracelets that do not have removable links. I'm guessing it is a cost saving measure.

[GPrideaux]

Perhaps I misunderstood. I thought the arrows were pointed out on the photo of a bracelet you were considering buying, but I was questioning whether the links on the bracelet you already have were really not removable. It seems strange to me that a watch bracelet would not have removable links, since that means the manufacturer would need to make different sized bracelets to suit different people instead of one size to fit all. I've probably only dealt with a dozen or so different types of metal bracelet, but every one had some way to remove links.

[tomh207]

40 minutes ago, GPrideaux said:

Perhaps I misunderstood. I thought the arrows were pointed out on the photo of a bracelet you were considering buying, but I was questioning whether the links on the bracelet you already have were really not removable. It seems strange to me that a watch bracelet would not have removable links, since that means the manufacturer would need to make different sized bracelets to suit different people instead of one size to fit all. I've probably only dealt with a dozen or so different types of metal bracelet, but every one had some way to remove links.

Not all links in a bracelet are removable in my experience. I have definitely come across bracelets where the wearer must have had very small wrists and all the removable links had been and of course over the years they have been tossed or lost.

 

Tom

[GPrideaux]

1 minute ago, tomh207 said:

Not all links in a bracelet are removable in my experience. I have definitely come across bracelets where the wearer must have had very small wrists and all the removable links had been and of course over the years they have been tossed or lost.

 

Tom

Right, but that would leave a small bracelet that did once have removable links. What I thought Guy was saying was that he had a too-large bracelet that had no removable links. I'm querying that because it's outside my experience and either (a) I want it confirmed before I add "some bracelets are not designed to have any links removed" to my knowledge bank, or (b) if Guy is mistaken about links not being removable and someone here can point out how they might actually be removed then it might save him some bother.

[AndyGSi]

@GPrideaux & @tomh207 some straps appear not to have removable links, i.e. now holes for bars,  in which case you need these type of tools.

[tomh207]

1 hour ago, AndyGSi said:

@GPrideaux & @tomh207 some straps appear not to have removable links, i.e. now holes for bars,  in which case you need these type of tools.

Those are for repairs of the part of the bracelet that does not have removable links Andy. Have a look for “Rolex jubilee bracelet repair” on YouTube for examples of its use.

 

Tom

[AndyGSi]

3 hours ago, tomh207 said:

Those are for repairs of the part of the bracelet that does not have removable links Andy. Have a look for “Rolex jubilee bracelet repair” on YouTube for examples of its use.

 

Tom

They're also used for other non Rolex straps that don't have removeable links to start with which I've done many times.

[GuyMontag]

12 hours ago, GPrideaux said:

Perhaps I misunderstood. I thought the arrows were pointed out on the photo of a bracelet you were considering buying, but I was questioning whether the links on the bracelet you already have were really not removable. It seems strange to me that a watch bracelet would not have removable links, since that means the manufacturer would need to make different sized bracelets to suit different people instead of one size to fit all. I've probably only dealt with a dozen or so different types of metal bracelet, but every one had some way to remove links.

That will teach me to post after a few ales, I was thinking of another watch and bracelet. Yes, the original Seiko bracelet does not have any removable links, I have not yet received the other Seiko bracelet I posted above, but it looks like it does have removable links. This is the original Seiko bracelet:

 

Here is another bracelet without removable links, an original Bulova bracelet from the '70's:

 

5 hours ago, AndyGSi said:

They're also used for other non Rolex straps that don't have removeable links to start with which I've done many times.

I almost ordered these tools a few months ago on Aliexpress but wasn't sure how usable they are for a non-Rolex watch. Do they work on a broad type of bracelets?

[AndyGSi]

24 minutes ago, GuyMontag said:

I almost ordered these tools a few months ago on Aliexpress but wasn't sure how usable they are for a non-Rolex watch. Do they work on a broad type of bracelets?

The straps I've used them on in the past have been solid and use knurled pins to hold them together.

I don't see why they wouldn't work on this type of strap but mine are currently with a friend so can't test it for you.