How to Remove a Rolex Watch Band

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You may want to remove your Rolex watch band, also called a bracelet, to replace it with a different bracelet or to clean your Rolex. Once you remove your Rolex bracelet, you can find the serial number at the 12-o'clock setting, where the bracelet meets the case, or the reference number at the 9-o'clock setting, where the bracelet meets the case. Serial and reference numbers indicate the approximate date the watch was manufactured.

On the watch case lugs, located where the watch bracelet is attached, you should see two small holes on both sides where the springbar is located. This is called the pierced lug style. The springbar attaches the bracelet to the watch case. If you do not see two holes on the lugs, turn the watch over and look for the long springbar where the bracelet meets the watch case. There is a slightly different way to remove the watch bracelet on the two watch styles mentioned above, but the concept is the same.

Press down on the link with your thumb, where the bracelet meets the watch case, if you have the pierced lug style. If you have the second style, you will also press down on the first link, but you will press down on its bottom side, because you will be performing all steps with the watch turned over. Keep slight pressure on the link when completing Step 3.

Insert the tip of your springbar tool into the hole on the lug, if you have the pierced lug style. Press the springbar inward on one side of the watch, then repeat on the other side. You will feel the springbar drop into the case when this step is correctly performed.

If you have the second style, put the tip of your tool on one side of the springbar and push it inward while applying downward pressure on the springbar. You will feel the springbar drop into the case. Do the same thing on the other side of the springbar.

Pull the watch bracelet away from the watch case when you have released the springbars on the right and left sides of the bracelet. Now you have removed one side of the bracelet. Repeat Steps 2 and 3 on the other side of the watch to fully remove the bracelet.