A Collector’s Guide to Changing Rolex Bracelets and Straps (Safely)

Changing a Rolex bracelet or strap doesn’t have to be complicated, but it can be intimidating. Most new owners hesitate for the same reason: one wrong move could leave scratches on the lugs or a stripped screw head. The truth is, with the right setup and a bit of patience, these adjustments are very doable. Today I’d like to share some of the methods I’ve learned over years of swapping straps and bracelets.

How Rolex and Tudor Bracelets Attach

Rolex and Tudor bracelets use spring bars to secure the bracelet to the case. They’re small steel rods under tension, with shoulders that let a tool compress the bar. Tolerances are tight, especially on modern cases, which is why tools can slip out if you’re not fully engaged on the shoulder.

Bracelet sizing is handled with screw links. Both Rolex and Tudor use small screws that sometimes ship with a dab of thread compound (Loctite) from the factory. That’s why some links fight back the first time you turn them. It’s not you, it’s not a defect — it’s the compound.

Preparing Your Workspace

The best way to avoid mistakes is to set yourself up properly. Work on a clean, flat surface: a desk, countertop, or wood table. Even better, use a leather watch pad designed for strap changes. Good lighting is just as important. Overhead light plus a directional desk lamp gives you control over shadows so you can see exactly where your tool meets the spring bar or screw.

Don’t work with the watch floating in your hands. Stabilize it on the surface or in a case cushion. A steady base keeps your movements controlled, which is half the battle.

Removing a Bracelet Safely

This is where Everest’s spring bar tweezers shine. The technique is simple: keep the tweezers engaged on both spring-bar shoulders and hold the bracelet steady. Instead of pulling the bracelet away from the watch, move the watch head toward or away from the bracelet. That stability removes much of the headache. If you’re nervous, put a strip of low-tack tape on the underside of the lugs to protect them.

As soon as the bracelet is removed, slowly decompress the tweezers and put your spring bar somewhere safe. If you keep squeezing or quickly disengage, the spring bar may go flying and you’ll spend 30 minutes trying to find it.

If you only have a single-prong spring bar tool, you'll probably have trouble removing a modern Rolex bracelet. The traditional tool works fine on most straps, allowing some wiggle/maneuvering as you remove one side at a time, but are no match for the tight tolerances of a modern Rolex.

Installing a Strap

Once you’ve got the bracelet off, installing a strap is straightforward. Make sure the spring bars are the correct size and diameter for your watch. If you’re installing a new Everest strap, we’ve already installed the correct spring bars for you. Again, you can use tweezers to compress the spring bar and slowly bring the watch toward the bracelet until the strap is flush with the lugs. Slowly decompress the tweezers and carefully maneuver the strap until you feel it secured on the lugs. You’ll likely hear a click or feel it snap into place.

Everest Universal Curved End Rubber Strap With Quick Release Spring Bars (no tools necessary)

If you don’t have tweezers, seat one end of the springbar into the lug hole, compress the other side (either with a spring bar tool or with your fingernail, depending on if it’s a quick-release strap), make sure everything is aligned properly, and listen for the click. Give the strap a tug to confirm it’s locked.

Curved-end straps, like Everest’s, are designed to sit flush against the case, which not only looks better but also stabilizes the fit.

Adjusting a Rolex or Tudor Bracelet

Image Source: Bob's Watches

If the bracelet itself needs sizing, first get a rough estimate of how may links you need to add/remove. You can usually do this by putting the watch on your wrist and eyeballing how many links are needed.

When it's time to unscrew the links, using a screwdriver that fits properly reduces the chance of slipping and damaging the slot. The most common you'll find are 2.0mm and 1.8mm; Rolex Oyster bracelets use 2.0mm screws while Jubilee and Tudor bracelets use 1.8mm (this is the difference between the tool kit variants we offer). Loctite, as previously mentioned, can make a first turn feel impossible. Don’t force it. A touch of controlled heat from a watchmaker can loosen the compound if needed. For most owners, patience and steady downward pressure are enough.

When reassembling, don’t overtighten. A snug fit is sufficient. Overtorque can strip threads or crack a screw. Always check that screws are aligned, then re-check after wearing to make sure nothing has worked loose.

And if you’re missing a link altogether, Everest makes replacement Oyster-style links machined from 904L steel and finished to match Rolex bracelets. They’re a clean solution when a watch feels just a little too tight or too loose.

If Things Go Wrong

Even careful hands sometimes leave faint marks under the lugs. They’re invisible when the watch is on your wrist, and most collectors accept them as part of regular use. If a screw won’t budge or your patience runs thin, it’s better to pause and take the watch to a jeweler. There’s no prize for powering through frustration.

Confidence Through Care

Swapping a bracelet, installing a strap, or sizing links isn’t a mystery. With a clean surface, good lighting, the right tools, and a bit of patience, it’s work any collector can do safely at home. Everest’s spring bar tweezers and replacement links take some of the hassle out of the process, but the real key is care. Don’t rush it, set yourself up properly, and you’ll be confident every time you reach for a strap change.