Bandini EX260 | Expansion Watch Band, Metal Stretch Strap, Comes in Black, Silver, Gold and Two-Tone

Great custom fit stretch watch band! DIYers check this review for sizing tips/tutorial. I’ll start this off by saying this is my first day using this watch band/strap and I’ll have to update down the line with some info on how it holds up to daily wear and tear. It looks great and wears on the wrist fantastically once fitted properly. The materials feel sturdy, the elasticity (it isn’t actually elastic but entirely made of metal components for those new to this style of watch band) keeps a snug yet comfortable fit when sized correctly and the anodized finish seems well made to stand up to some reasonable wear and tear. The band can be washed gently with soap and water too, so long as you take care to stretch it over a dry cloth to remove entrapped water (this isn’t entirely necessary but will likely keep bacteria from growing inside over time). The main issue is fitting and actually getting it onto a watch. I fitted mine to a Galaxy Watch Active 2 and not only was it difficult to get on but it’ll be quite hard to remove due to the included pins not having a quick release tab (and other pins with quick release tabs I had on hand wouldn’t fit the pin housing). Removing this band, once you get it on, may be difficult but should be doable by using the same tweezers you’ll be using to size it properly. There are small grooves on the pin that you can grip with the tweezers to push the pin down and pop the band off. Tedious for sure but the band is so nice that I probably won’t be removing it so long as the anodized finish holds up well.Below are instructions for those who want to try this on their own (a jeweler should be able to do this for you for a reasonable fee):I’ve included a few pictures that should help visually explain how this process works if you plan on doing this yourself. Chances are, you’ll probably need to remove a few (or if you have thin wrists like myself, many) links from the band. They must be removed in pairs, though what i mean by this may not be obvious until you get them apart. Each outter link is interlocked into another inner link. So however many you remove must be even so that when you go to link them back up, an inner link on one end is being connected to an outer link on the other or they won’t be able to be linked by the pins.When removing the pins, use tweezers like those in the picture to grab onto the area of the pin I marked with the arrow (or right where they are held in the picture of the pin itself). 1/3 or so from either the end of the pin is the best area to try to get the tweezers into as it will be difficult to wedge the tweezers into the middle of the pin. Even at this spot, you’ll probably have to pull the links outstretched to get underneath the pin and wiggle the tweezers in. Just be careful and the pins won’t bend too much. Once firmly underneath the pin, pull away from the link perpendicular to the band and it should pop out. Repeat on the other side as there are two pins for each pair of links.You’ll have to remove two more pins further down the band in the same way to tank a group of links out. The number of links you go for is up to your estimate on sizing. I did this process 3 times, taking a large chunk of them out the first time then 2 before settling on another 2 for a slightly more snug fit. If your first estimate is good enough, you may only need to do this once but its better to remove less and repeat than try to add links back on since you may damage links during this process. If you do, they’ll be ones you’re removing and this won’t matter. Removing too many while damaging them will require you to piece the band together by salvaging good links from the part you took off the first time.When combining links, you’ll want to adjust the pin (it’ll probably get slightly bent when removing) back to the shape it was. It should be shaped like a U with 90° angles. Too obtuse/wide and the pin won’t fit, too acute/closed and the pin may not hold well. The picture shows roughly how it should be shaped. Once both pins are back in place, they’ll most likely be jutting out a little. To finish things off and get them into place as they were originally, just place the pin facing downward onto a flat surface (like near the edge of a table so the wider parts of the band’s ends can hang off and out of the way) and press the opposite side into the surface. The final image can give an idea on how to position and do this. Flip the band over and repeat for the other pin to get a smooth and finished edge all the way along your new watch band!Good luck ahead of time! After you’ve done the process, you’ll probably be capable and confident to do it again but the first time is quite tedious. Just be sure to work on a clean surface and, if possible not over any thick carpeting or anywhere these retainer pins could be difficult to find as they definitely can go flying when removing them!