Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.

Hillshock

macrumors member
Original poster
May 1, 2015
39
4
Hello everyone, I really need some advice. There is not an Apple Store here in my city, so yesterday I drove 2 hours to another city with an Apple Store to try on and then buy the link bracelet. I was so excited about getting my dream band. I get it home and start trying to remove the links to resize it and I just wasn't able to remove them after 10-15 mins of pushing the button and pulling as per the directions. I finally got one or two apart, but not the ones I needed to remove! I looked at YouTube videos, tried to find posts from others with this same issue, etc. but still nothing told me I was doing it incorrectly. My thumbs and fingernails are extremely sore after trying for over an hour to resize my dream band. I have three other Apple bands and can change them out very easily, so I feel that I understand how the whole button mechanism works. Do you think I got a dud and just need to drive back 2 hours to exchange it? Has anyone else had this problem? Thanks in advance for any help!
 

Hillshock

macrumors member
Original poster
May 1, 2015
39
4
Hello everyone, I really need some advice. There is not an Apple Store here in my city, so yesterday I drove 2 hours to another city with an Apple Store to try on and then buy the link bracelet. I was so excited about getting my dream band. I get it home and start trying to remove the links to resize it and I just wasn't able to remove them after 10-15 mins of pushing the button and pulling as per the directions. I finally got one or two apart, but not the ones I needed to remove! I looked at YouTube videos, tried to find posts from others with this same issue, etc. but still nothing told me I was doing it incorrectly. My thumbs and fingernails are extremely sore after trying for over an hour to resize my dream band. I have three other Apple bands and can change them out very easily, so I feel that I understand how the whole button mechanism works. Do you think I got a dud and just need to drive back 2 hours to exchange it? Has anyone else had this problem? Thanks in advance for any help!
Finally got it to work after about 2 hours and 2 very sore thumbs!
 

batristain

macrumors 6502a
Sep 15, 2014
841
798
Richmond,VA
Finally got it to work after about 2 hours and 2 very sore thumbs!
I'm glad you got it to work - I had the same issue when I finally received mine - I had to look at youtube and then realize I had to push and pull really hard to get it to come apart. I hope you enjoy your new link band. It is beautiful. I just wish I could remove even more links - it still slides on my arm.
Cheers!
 

Hillshock

macrumors member
Original poster
May 1, 2015
39
4
I'm glad you got it to work - I had the same issue when I finally received mine - I had to look at youtube and then realize I had to push and pull really hard to get it to come apart. I hope you enjoy your new link band. It is beautiful. I just wish I could remove even more links - it still slides on my arm.
Cheers!
Thanks batristain! It is beautiful now that it fits me correctly :). I actually just read a couple of hours ago about your experience with the the links on the "Ladies Only" thread. I have been following that thread and didn't remember your post for some reason. I'm glad I wasn't the only one who struggled with resizing! I was afraid I would pull too hard and break it. That was a big purchase for me to splurge on the link bracelet, but I know it will serve me well. I was also worried about it not looking feminine enough, but it really is just beautiful. I'm sorry it slides on your arm. Mine is almost too tight when my arm swells, but most of the time it is fine. I've thought about adding a link to let it slide around some, but I'm afraid I'll never get the extra link back off if I do that :D
 
  • Like
Reactions: batristain

batristain

macrumors 6502a
Sep 15, 2014
841
798
Richmond,VA
Thanks batristain! It is beautiful now that it fits me correctly :). I actually just read a couple of hours ago about your experience with the the links on the "Ladies Only" thread. I have been following that thread and didn't remember your post for some reason. I'm glad I wasn't the only one who struggled with resizing! I was afraid I would pull too hard and break it. That was a big purchase for me to splurge on the link bracelet, but I know it will serve me well. I was also worried about it not looking feminine enough, but it really is just beautiful. I'm sorry it slides on your arm. Mine is almost too tight when my arm swells, but most of the time it is fine. I've thought about adding a link to let it slide around some, but I'm afraid I'll never get the extra link back off if I do that :D
Thanks Hillshock! I actually just dropped off my link bracelet to my local jeweler - they are Apple enthusiast and stockholders - they are going to cut it down for me so it will fit properly. I told them I had 8 spare links so not to worry about it being too small. After looking at it on my arm they are going to remove four more links. Now I hope to be able to wear it more without fear it will lock on me (it slides but always seems to lock when I'm not with my phone and away from my phone).

I will post pics once I get it back - hopefully this week.

Cheers,
Bobbie
 

Hillshock

macrumors member
Original poster
May 1, 2015
39
4
Thanks Hillshock! I actually just dropped off my link bracelet to my local jeweler - they are Apple enthusiast and stockholders - they are going to cut it down for me so it will fit properly. I told them I had 8 spare links so not to worry about it being too small. After looking at it on my arm they are going to remove four more links. Now I hope to be able to wear it more without fear it will lock on me (it slides but always seems to lock when I'm not with my phone and away from my phone).

I will post pics once I get it back - hopefully this week.

Cheers,
Bobbie
That's fantatastic news! Even better that your jeweler is an Apple enthusiast because you know it will be treated with care. When you pay so much for something, and it is so beautiful, it's heartbreaking to not be able to wear it with confidence and ease.
Please do post pics when you get it back, which I hope is soon. I want to see how it looks! Now, I have to confess, I'm already thinking about my next band, which I hope will be a red sports band announced tomorrow Thanks again for sharing your experience and responding to my question!
 

ivandr

macrumors regular
Jul 1, 2010
246
61
Thanks Hillshock! I actually just dropped off my link bracelet to my local jeweler - they are Apple enthusiast and stockholders - they are going to cut it down for me so it will fit properly. I told them I had 8 spare links so not to worry about it being too small. After looking at it on my arm they are going to remove four more links. Now I hope to be able to wear it more without fear it will lock on me (it slides but always seems to lock when I'm not with my phone and away from my phone).

I will post pics once I get it back - hopefully this week.

Cheers,
Bobbie

Can you explain what the jeweler is doing to your bracelet a little more? Are they removing links that have the button to allow self adjustment or are they removing some of the links further up the band (without a button on the inside to remove them)? Also when you say 'cut it down' do you mean actually cutting part of the band to change the size? If so I'm curious to know a little more about how/what this is... please do post pics once you get it back too!
 

batristain

macrumors 6502a
Sep 15, 2014
841
798
Richmond,VA
Can you explain what the jeweler is doing to your bracelet a little more? Are they removing links that have the button to allow self adjustment or are they removing some of the links further up the band (without a button on the inside to remove them)? Also when you say 'cut it down' do you mean actually cutting part of the band to change the size? If so I'm curious to know a little more about how/what this is... please do post pics once you get it back too!
Greetings Ivandr - they had to do the same thing to a previous metal watch band I had - they basically have to cut the band to remove links that can't be removed (I've already taken out the 8 Apple let's you remove on your own). Once they have cut the band they will put it back together - I will inquire on the exact technique when I go to pick it up. ON my previous bracelet you couldn't detect where they had cut and reattached it on the band. At this point the band moves so much it's uncomfortable and I'm rarely wearing it - instead opting for a cheap knock off sports band I ordered from Amazon. They are going to remove 4 additional links. I still have 8 links to add back in if my wrist size ever increases for any reason. I believe my wrist maybe closer to 125 MM - I had measured (obviously incorrectly) before and thought my wrist was 140 MM. However the sports band on small fits best on the last hole so guess my wrists are extra tiny. I will definitely post pics. I'm hoping they call me this afternoon or tomorrow at the latest.

Cheers!
 

Karnicopia

macrumors 6502
Mar 27, 2015
483
507
I actually do the link separation when I switch out the band so I've gotten used to it I guess I do it every other day or so when I switch to a sport band. The hard part is just pushing down the button. It's really hard if you don't have long nails (I don't). You shouldn't have to pull the links apart hard it's just the buttons are narrow so you probably aren't pushing them in. That's the part I've struggled with at least.

I kind of got the hang of it using just the corner of my thumb nail even though it's pretty short but you may be able to use a q tip or something similar so it's easier and you don't scratch it if you are just sizing it once. I guess you already got it but figured I'd put this here in case it helps anyone else.
 

Hillshock

macrumors member
Original poster
May 1, 2015
39
4
I actually do the link separation when I switch out the band so I've gotten used to it I guess I do it every other day or so when I switch to a sport band. The hard part is just pushing down the button. It's really hard if you don't have long nails (I don't). You shouldn't have to pull the links apart hard it's just the buttons are narrow so you probably aren't pushing them in. That's the part I've struggled with at least.

I kind of got the hang of it using just the corner of my thumb nail even though it's pretty short but you may be able to use a q tip or something similar so it's easier and you don't scratch it if you are just sizing it once. I guess you already got it but figured I'd put this here in case it helps anyone else.
Thanks for the tips, Karnicopia!
 
Register on MacRumors! This sidebar will go away, and you'll see fewer ads.