What Size Screwdriver to use to Remove Bracelet Links?

What Size Screwdriver to use to Remove Bracelet Links?

This is a common question we get asked a lot.

The answer to that question is that not all watches and bracelets are created equal, and therefore, they need different screwdrivers.

Many watch bracelets use screws for holding the links together but have in mind that other bracelets use pins and friction to hold them in place. This article, however, will focus on watch bracelets, and help you find what screwdriver size you need to remove bracelet links for your watch.

What Size Screwdriver do you need to use to Remove Bracelet Links?

As mentioned, the answer is that it depends on which watch you have. But many watch bracelets have screws for which you need a screwdriver with a size of 1.4-1.8mm. Worth adding is that the vast majority of watch bracelets use T-screws.

In addition, it is worth having in mind that generally, you can technically use a screwdriver that is smaller than your screw head. Whilst this will generally work, it is not ideal as it can cause damage to the screw, or even make it difficult to unscrew if it sits tightly. It is usually not possible to unscrew watch bracelet screws if you have a screwdriver that is wider than the screw’s size.

For best results, there should be no play when the screwdriver is moved left or right. This ensures a perfect fit and gives maximum friction within the screw slot to make it as easy as possible to unscrew the screw.

Lastly, it is also important to keep in mind that not all screwdrivers are created equal. In fact, there is a huge difference in quality between affordable and premium screwdrivers, so depending on how much value you put in your watch, it may be wise to invest in higher quality screwdrivers.

Get a set of screwdrivers

A good solution to this issue is to buy a screwdriver set that contains a number of different screwdrivers so you can remove or add links on most bracelets you come across. There are plenty of good watch screwdriver kits out there that you can choose from, and we have gone through them in detail in this article.

But if you only need one screwdriver and do not plan to screw on other watches in the near future, it may feel a bit superfluous to get a whole set. Below, we go through the ideal screwdriver size to use for some common watches.

Watch screwdriver sizes for common watches

Screwdriver size for Rolex Submariner 40mm 116610LN/114060 (and gold/ gold and steel variants) bracelet

The screwdriver size used for the Rolex Submariner is 1.6mm. The standard Rolex screw size is 1.6mm, so this is the correct size for most Rolex bracelets.