Don’t Throw It Away! This Odd-Looking Thing Is a Hidden Gem
May 13, 2025
Source: Reddit
Transition in Time:Origin Story Of The Watch Link Removal Tool
You never know what you might find in that old dresser drawer. In this scenario: nestled between a pair of AA batteries in Grandma’s drawer, you stumbled upon a small, alien-looking device — roughly the size of a pinky finger, complete with a screw mechanism and a vaguely U-shaped opening on one end. It might sound weird at first, but there’s a lot of purpose in this guy. What you stumbled upon is a watch link removal tool, a little accessory that sounds like it would have been the word on the street a long time ago, back when people size their own watchbands at home as opposed to stopping by the jeweler.
What is a watch link removal tool?
A watch link removal tool is pretty much exactly what it sounds like — it removes (and reattaches) links in metal watchbands, so the wearer can fit it to his wrist. Unlike stretchable or adjustable fabric or leather straps, metal bands consist of connected segments that often need adjusting—especially when people share the watch.
This tool makes the job easy. The bulged U-shaped slot at the end holds the watch band securely, while turning the knob drives the internal pin forward. As you screw it in, the pin pushes out the tiny metal rods that hold the links together. You can swap links without straining your hands. It’s precise, deliberate, and oddly satisfying once you get the hang of it.
A Tool Whose Time, in More Than One Sense, Has Come
That such a tool was in a dresser suggests that it was used regularly — even loved. Once upon a time, watches weren’t just accessories; they were a rite of passage and, in many cases, cherished heirlooms that were handed down after graduations, anniversaries and retirements. And they were well taken care of. If you owned a watch link removal tool, it was an indication of someone who was handy, who enjoyed doing things themselves, perhaps someone who had several watches or lent them out to family members.
Perhaps Grandma had a watch collection. Or, perhaps, she purchased the most lovely wristwatch in the ‘60s or ‘70s and updated it herself over the years. In either case, this object is silent proof of a time when craft and care were embedded in the fabric of daily life.
Why Would You Need One Today?
Traditional wristwatches still haven’t vanished — even with the success of smartwatches and digital wearables. In reality, collecting old watches is booming. Whether you’re modifying a decades old Seiko or a modern metal Apple Watch band, the watch link removal tool still comes in handy today.
Whether you’re a DIYer, collector or someone who’s inherited a vintage timepiece, having a tool like this at hand makes for huge savings in time and money. You do not have to go to a jeweler and pay for an adjustment that might take days. With a bit of patience and some YouTube tutorials, most people can do it themselves.
How to Use It (in Case You’re Wondering)
If your find has you intrigued, here’s a basic breakdown of how it operates:
- Insert the watch band into the slot of the tool with the pin of the tool aligned with the link pin you wish to remove.
- Turn the knob gently and the pin inside will reach the link pin of the metal.
- When the pin comes out, you can add or remove links as desired.
- Put the band back together in reverse order.
- Just be gentle — those small pins can be fragile.
Small Tool With Large Nostalgia
Isn’t it funny how something so small can be an opening into so many memories. Whether it was Grandmother tightening her wristwatch before heading to church or Grandfather painstakingly resizing his heirloom to pass down, these are instruments that stand as silent reminders of a hands-on past.
So, if you found one in a drawer, don’t discard it. Appreciate, instead, the elegance and purpose of a thing that for generations helped other generations wear their beloved timepieces just so. After all, back in the good old days, even your smallest tools had a tendency of being built to last.