how can i shorten a casio metal watch band

john, March 2008

so i took tack and put it in the hole where the arrow points. i pushed in to the 2nd hole you see and pushed using a prying motion thus pushing the l shaped pin out. no need to push on the ball. just pry with a tack and it pushes right out.

Ryan, December 2013

I have the Casio "Illuminator" with metal link band that has a hinge type mechanism that opens up to enlarge the band so you can take it off your wrist. To remove one of the links to shorten the band do the following:1.Detach one end of the hinge mechanism by removing one of the typical watch band, spring-loaded pins at one end, so the band will lie flat (a small finishing nail or skewer works).Be careful, it is spring-loaded and will fly away to be lost on the floor.2. Once the band is lying flat with the underside up, notice several links with arrows stamped into them. The links are held together by a small "L Shaped" piece of metal with a dimple pressed into the base of the "L". This dimple is visible in an opening near the arrow. The dimple holds the "L-Shaped" piece in place and the links together. 3. To separate the links, insert a small flat bladed jeweler's screw driver into one of the openings and push the metal "L" with the dimple in the direction of the arrow and out one side of the link. 4. Remove the required number of links and reassemble. A small tap with a hammer may be needed to return the "L" piece to its original position in the link with the dimple holding it in place.

Roger Smeland, December 2010

Thanks for the advice mark, was very helpful and to anyone else needing help I managed to accomplish the feat using nothing but a fork and a kitchen knife, although be very careful because I came pretty close to skewering off a couple of fingers in the process.

Francis Hagyard, October 2010

In Northampton I went to a market stall, which sold watches, cut keys etc; and they shorten my strap for £4, in about ten minutes.

Check your local market, or any small watch repair shop

John Carter, April 2010

Also applies to Casio 3793.
I found fine tipped long nosed pliers a better solution.
Place one tip right into the inner slot and angle the pliers so so the other tip provides leverage against the outer edge such that it does not inhibit the link removal from the side.
Squeezing the pliers will then force the link out from the side of the band.

Colin May, January 2009

There is more than one casio metal watch band. I was hoping someone would answer this to help me also. Since there was no answer, I gave it a go and was able to do it.
My watch is an e-data bank data memory 350.
There are several "adjustment" segments at both ends of the band. Each one has a sliding, removable piece with an arrow in the middle and a hole and a bump at one end. You need a tiny screwdriver or something with a strong, tiny, blunt end. Hold the watch firmly and carefully and push the screwdriver tip into the hole at a slight angle away from the bump, then, keep pushing while you try to angle the screwdriver tip towards the bump, like you're trying to get some leverage. You may have to try several times. Be careful not to stick yourself. Make some space for this work so you don't lose any pieces like I did.
Once the sliding adjustment piece moves up, you can push the bottom edge until it goes all the way out. Then pull back the segments toward each other on the inside of the band until you can unhook the clasp (the metal piece holding the segments together) from one section.
You will remove a slider, unhook the segment and remove the segment at least twice. I had to do it four times. Keep checking for fit. After the last time, you'll need to take off a clasp on one end and hook the other end with the clasp to that end, then replace the sliding piece to put it together.
You can do some fine adjustment on the end of the band with the spring pin that is in one of four sets of holes. It works to have a sharp knife to poke the end of the pin out of the hole, then reposition the pin to the holes for the best fit and push with your knife tip on the end of the pin to get it back in the holes.
I'm not a jeweler, so they might have a good tool and a better way, but that's how I did it.

Mark Tereau, May 2008