Reversed clasp on Sub works well for small wrists

[Eric88]

Hey folks,

I am a new poster on this forum after spending a lot of time using the search feature and reading many great threads. I wanted to share one of my own that does not get too much mention around here. It seems that most people in my situation will take the daring plunge to remove one of the permanent links.

I'm the proud owner of a like new 16610LV Sub. I have small wrists at just over 6.5" and so while I could size the Sub bracelet for a snug fit, the clasp was not centered under my wrist. I did some searching and am familiar with folks having one of the permanent links removed on the 6:00 side to help center the clasp. I'm not much into doing that right now in case I don't keep this watch indefinitely.

There was some vague mention of reversing the clasp in one thread. At first, I thought this meant taking the bracelet apart and so forth. I simply took the bracelet off the watch head and remounted it facing the opposite way. This solved the centering issue beautifully with an added benefit: no longer is the flip lock end visible to my eyes. I'm not a huge fan of how it sticks out from the bracelet and now all I see is the flush opposite end of the clasp. Also, instead of seeing the small 1/2 link, I now see the full link with the bracelet flipped around.

Very satisfying and easy modification.





Regards,
Eric

[darthmouse]

Very nice, and useful information. I may have to do this as well.

[sleddog]

Welcome to TRF Eric!!
There are a few members here who have done the same thing.....Glad it worked out for you!!!! Better than pulling a permanent link IMO.....

Oh,congrat's on the LV!!

[walds11]

My wrists are about 6 3/4". I thought about reversing the clasp, but I can get away with keeping it normal.

[Pashmolean]

I too have this problem with my Explorer II. I did swap the bracelet round to centre the clasp but ended up putting it back the right way, after all, it may not be centred but it's still comfortable:





Ash

[2th Dr]

Um...

http://************/showthread.php?t=126863

[cdweller]

Maybe I am not picturing this correctly in my head, but isn't the clasp the same size whether it is facing towards you or away from you? I don't understand how flipping it around would make any difference with centering the watch on the wrist...

[2th Dr]

Originally Posted by cdweller

Maybe I am not picturing this correctly in my head, but isn't the clasp the same size whether it is facing towards you or away from you? I don't understand how flipping it around would make any difference with centering the watch on the wrist...

Yes, the outside of the clasp is the same, whether you flip it or not, but the deployment underneath it is NOT centered with the outside of the clasp so it changes how the clasp as a whole rests on your wrist. How the clasp sits determines how the watch sits.

[matt.wu]

I used to have the clasp flipped around too, because I thought it looked better with the clasp centered, but I have since just worn it the correct way and off-center. Still very comfortable, and I prefer it to having the clasp backwards.

[2th Dr]

Originally Posted by matt.wu

I used to have the clasp flipped around too, because I thought it looked better with the clasp centered, but I have since just worn it the correct way and off-center. Still very comfortable, and I prefer it to having the clasp backwards.

The idea is to flip the clasp so the watch sits on the wrist more centered, NOT the clasp. This is for those of us with small wrists. Those of you with Hulk wrists need not worry about it, since you don't have to take many, if any, links off the 6 o'clock side of the bracelet.

[matt.wu]

Originally Posted by 2th DR

The idea is to flip the clasp so the watch sits on the wrist more centered, NOT the clasp. This is for those of us with small wrists. Those of you with Hulk wrists need not worry about it, since you don't have to take many, if any, links off the 6 o'clock side of the bracelet.

I have 6.5" wrists, so I'm in the same camp. I wear the watch with the clasp in the correct orientation, and I have no problem with the watch head coming off center - however the clasp is off-center to the outside of my wrist.

As usual, personal anatomy plays a big part into this, I guess. Watch head centers fine for me no matter how I wear the clasp.

[2th Dr]

Originally Posted by matt.wu

I have 6.5" wrists, so I'm in the same camp. I wear the watch with the clasp in the correct orientation, and I have no problem with the watch head coming off center - however the clasp is off-center to the outside of my wrist.

As usual, personal anatomy plays a big part into this, I guess. Watch head centers fine for me no matter how I wear the clasp.

Yep, wrist anatomy is basically the same, but with infinite variations, so some lucky people with small wrists also have no worries. I am not one of the lucky ones.

[Safetrends]

That is the problem with small wrists, in the old days they had different kinds of bands from small wrists to large wrists.

[Johny]

Originally Posted by 2th DR

Um...

http://************/showthread.php?t=126863

um...x2. i remember reading yours mark

[2th Dr]

Originally Posted by Safetrends

That is the problem with small wrists, in the old days they had different kinds of bands from small wrists to large wrists.

You're right Crackerman. If Rolex would allow more links to be taken off the 6 o'clock side, there would be no problem.

[cdweller]

Originally Posted by 2th DR

The idea is to flip the clasp so the watch sits on the wrist more centered, NOT the clasp. This is for those of us with small wrists. Those of you with Hulk wrists need not worry about it, since you don't have to take many, if any, links off the 6 o'clock side of the bracelet.

Ohhhhh, I get it now! Thanks!

And this may be a loaded-comment, but a simple solution would be to join NATO NATION!!!

[Safetrends]

Originally Posted by 2th DR

You're right Crackerman. If Rolex would allow more links to be taken off the 6 o'clock side, there would be no problem.

See mouthwash I still can remember s**t.

[2th Dr]

Originally Posted by Safetrends

See mouthwash I still can remember s**t.

[2th Dr]

Originally Posted by cdweller

Ohhhhh, I get it now! Thanks!

And this may be a loaded-comment, but a simple solution would be to join NATO NATION!!!

True, but I prefer to belong to the Steelinox nation!

[watchyou]

Originally Posted by 2th DR

You're right Crackerman. If Rolex would allow more links to be taken off the 6 o'clock side, there would be no problem.

or Rolex should design a Professional or sports line for smaller wrists such as 36mm Daytona, Milgauss or GMT.

[chris russell]

Now maybe I can stop waking up screaming in the middle of the night, bathed in cold, clammy sweat after dreaming about people destroying permanent links on their Rolex bracelets!

[chris russell]

Originally Posted by cdweller

Maybe I am not picturing this correctly in my head, but isn't the clasp the same size whether it is facing towards you or away from you? I don't understand how flipping it around would make any difference with centering the watch on the wrist...

goes on the 12:00 side. Brilliant. Rolex should give him a free watch for thinking of this.

[JJ Irani]

Guys, guys...............

You can still get a good centralization of the clasp WITHOUT having to reverse the bracelet and make the whole ensemble look silly, unaesthetic and uncomfortable as well.

Those with Exp-II watches, all you need to do is leave just FIVE links on the '6' side...........the remaining 8 links should go on the '12' side.

However, given that you have smaller wrists, you could have just 7 links on the '12' side and the fit should be fine.

Those with Sub-dates, I do know that there are only 4½ links on the '6' side, so there's not much you can do there. However, the '12' side has NINE links. Take off the 2 links above the link marked with the small 'o' and you should be fine.

DO NOT take off the 'o' link as you will then have problems with the fliplock extension - i.e. unfolding and folding.

JJ

[2th Dr]

Originally Posted by JJ Irani

Guys, guys...............

You can still get a good centralization of the clasp WITHOUT having to reverse the bracelet and make the whole ensemble look silly, unaesthetic and uncomfortable as well.

Those with Exp-II watches, all you need to do is leave just FIVE links on the '6' side...........the remaining 8 links should go on the '12' side.

However, given that you have smaller wrists, you could have just 7 links on the '12' side and the fit should be fine.

Those with Sub-dates, I do know that there are only 4½ links on the '6' side, so there's not much you can do there. However, the '12' side has NINE links. Take off the 2 links above the link marked with the small 'o' and you should be fine.

DO NOT take off the 'o' link as you will then have problems with the fliplock extension - i.e. unfolding and folding.

JJ

JJ, we're not talking about centralizing the clasp. We're talking about getting the watch to sit perfectly. I for one couldn't care less where the clasp sits, as long as the watch sits correctly.
The trick is to get the clasp to rest where the watch will be centered on the other side of the wrist. Difficult for people like me with small wrists when you can only remove so many links on the 6 o'clock side.

[Safetrends]

Originally Posted by chris russell

Now maybe I can stop waking up screaming in the middle of the night, bathed in cold, clammy sweat after dreaming about people destroying permanent links on their Rolex bracelets!

From what I hear, you can remove a permanent link without destroying it, a special tool is used.

[watchyou]

Originally Posted by Safetrends

From what I hear, you can remove a permanent link without destroying it, a special tool is used.

Too late now, I had my AD's watchmaker remove the permanent link of my SD and Pepsi and the link is now gone. Next time I buy a watch with the older style band and clasp, I'll just switch the band to the other side of the case.

[MortgageGuy]

Originally Posted by matt.wu

I have 6.5" wrists, so I'm in the same camp. I wear the watch with the clasp in the correct orientation, and I have no problem with the watch head coming off center - however the clasp is off-center to the outside of my wrist.

As usual, personal anatomy plays a big part into this, I guess. Watch head centers fine for me no matter how I wear the clasp.

My exact situation, same wrist, wearing the watch as it is supposed to but the clasp is off centered... this is on my GMT and I have just learned to love with it. On my sub the clasp is perfect as it is larger...

[JJ Irani]

Originally Posted by 2th DR

JJ, we're not talking about centralizing the clasp. We're talking about getting the watch to sit perfectly. I for one couldn't care less where the clasp sits, as long as the watch sits correctly.
The trick is to get the clasp to rest where the watch will be centered on the other side of the wrist. Difficult for people like me with small wrists when you can only remove so many links on the 6 o'clock side.

Mark,

No matter what the size of your wrist, I can bet you there's a solution to any sized wrist, no matter how small.

No need to reverse the bracelet. It all depends on the number of links on each side of the watchcase.

If you could actually post some pics, perhaps I can help you out on this one.

JJ

[JJ Irani]

Originally Posted by Pashmolean

I too have this problem with my Explorer II. I did swap the bracelet round to centre the clasp but ended up putting it back the right way, after all, it may not be centred but it's still comfortable:





Ash

Ash,

In your case, you've got way too many links on the '6' side. You should have only FIVE links on this side - no more.

Remaining links go on the '12' side............and you should get a much better centralization of your clasp. Trust me on this one, buddy.........been there, done that!!

JJ

[Pashmolean]

Originally Posted by JJ Irani

Ash,

In your case, you've got way too many links on the '6' side. You should have only FIVE links on this side - no more.

Remaining links go on the '12' side............and you should get a much better centralization of your clasp. Trust me on this one, buddy.........been there, done that!!

JJ

Hi JJ,

It may not be clear on the pics I posted but I do only have five links on the '6 o'clock' side, the 4 permanent links and the one that attaches to the clasp.



Regards,

Ash