How many Links should your watch come with?
If you’ve seen listings for watches that are “complete minus 1 link,” “watch only with 10 screws,” labeled as “full links,” “20 plus end links,” etc. What does all that mean? How many links is the bracelet on your watch supposed to come with?
Unfortunately, it is common practice among SOME dealers and wholesalers to keep links, then sell them separately for extra profits. Every once in awhile, even an AD might short you a link! This is far less common though.
This has led to conflicting information across sites, dealers, etc, on how many links are supposed to come with a watch, and even how to count the number of links.
Below is a guide to how many links a watch is supposed to come with. I’ve started with what I know, and will add anything I’m missing as the information comes my way!
Some terminology to know:
End links: The part of the bracelet that attaches to the watch, in between the lugs (Pic 1). Integrated bracelets (Pic 2) do not have end links.
Pic 1. The End Link of an Oyster Bracelet
Pic 2. The integrated bracelet of an AP Offshore
Clasp Links: The links of the bracelet that are part of the clasp (pic 3). These are not removable links for sizing; if they are removed, so is the clasp! Pic 4 shows a vintage Rolex Submariner clasp with an attached (non-removeable) link. Generally, these are not included in the link count, but some confusion arises when some people count them, and others do not.
Screws: How many screw heads do you see on the side of the bracelet? This is a bit easier to determine bracelet length, since you don’t need to know if people are or are not counting end links or clasp links.
Pic 3. A Clasp Link of an Oyster Bracelet
Pic 5. A Rolex Daytona showing a full bracelet of 12 Oyster links.
Pic 4. A vintage Rolex clasp, with a non-removeable Oyster link.
Rolex Link Counts
Airking
116900
Links: 12
Screws: 8
Removable: 6
Airking
126900
Links: 12
Screws: 7
Removable: 5
Daytona Zenith era
16520, 16523, 16528
Links: 12 Including 2 clasp links
Screws: 4
Removable: 2
Daytona
116500, 116503, 116505, 116506, 116508, 116509
126500, 126503, 126505, 126506, 126508, 126509
Links: 12
Screws: 8
Removable: 6
Datejust 31mm
278271, 278273, 278274
Oyster:
Links: 12
Screws: 7
Removable: 5
Jubilee:
Links: 27 including 3 clasp links
Screws: 11
Removable: 9
Datejust 36mm
126200, 126201, 126203, 126231, 126233, 126234
Oyster:
Links: 12
Screws: 7
Removable: 5
Jubilee:
Links: 21
Screws: 11
Removable: 9
Datejust 41mm
126300, 126301, 126303, 126331, 126333, 126334
Oyster:
Links: 12
Screws: 7
Removable: 5
Jubilee:
Links: 21
Screws: 12
Removable: 10
Day Date President 36mm, 40mm
(Note: 41mm 218XXX models are 1 less)
128235, 128236, 128238, 128239, 228235,
228236, 228238, 228239
Links: 23
Screws: 11
Removable: 9
Explorer 1 36mm, 39mm
124270, 124273, 224270
Links: 12
Screws: 7
Removable: 5
Explorer 1 39mm
214270
Links: 12
Screws: 8
Removable: 6
Explorer II
216570, 226570
Links: 12
Screws: 8
Removable: 6
GMT-Master II Jubilee
116710LN, 116710BLNR, 116719, 116718
126710BLNR, 126710BLRO, 126710GRNR,
126711CHNR, 126715CHNR, 126720VTNR
Links: 19 not counting 5mm adjustable clasp link
Screws: 11
Removable: 9
GMT-Master II
116710LN, 116710BLNR, 116719, 116718
126710BLNR, 126710BLRO, 126710GRNR
126711CHNR, 126715CHNR, 126720VTNR
Links: 12
Screws: 7
Removable: 5
Oyster Perpetual 28mm
276200
Links: 11
Screws: 6
Removable: 4
Oyster Perpetual 31, 34, 36, 41mm
277200, 124200, 126000, 124300
Links: 12
Screws: 7
Removable: 5
Seadweller 43mm
126600, 126603. has NO Diver extension. 11.5 Links
Links: 10.5 + Diver Extension
Screws: 8
Removable: 6
Seadweller Deepsea
116660, 126660, 126067, 136660
136668 has NO Diver extension. 11.5 Links
Links: 10.5 + Diver Extension
Screws: 7
Removable: 5
Seadweller Deepsea Gold
136668 has NO Diver extension
11.5 Links
Screws: 6
Removable: 4
Skydweller Oyster
326933, 326934, 326935, 326938, 326939,
336933, 336934, 336935, 336938, 336939
Links: 12
Screws: 7
Removable: 5
Skydweller Jubilee
326933, 326934, 336933, 336934, 336935, 336938
Links: 17
Screws: 9
Removable: 7
Submariner Metal Bezel 40mm
14060, 16610, 16613, 16618
Links: 12 Including 2 clasp links + Diver’s Extension
Screws: 5
Removable: 5
Submariner Ceramic 40mm
114060, 116610LN, 116610LV, 116613LN,
116613LB, 116618LN, 116619LB, 116618LB
Links: 11.5 or 12
Screws: 7
Removable: 5
Submariner Ceramic 41mm
124060, 126610LN, 126610LV, 126613LN,
126613LB, 126618LN, 126618LB, 126619LB
Links: 11.5
Screws: 7
Removable: 5
Yachtmaster 35
168622, 168623, 168628
Links: 13 Including 2 clasp links
Screws: 7
Removable: 5
Yachtmaster 37
268621, 268622
Links: 11
Screws: 6
Removable: 4
Yachtmaster I, 42
126621, 126622, 226627
Links: 12
Screws: 7
Removable: 5
Yachtmaster II
116680, 116681, 116688, 116689
Links: 11
Screws: 7
Removable: 5
Audemars Piguet Link Counts
Royal Oak Offshore
25721BA, 25721ST, 25721TI
Links: 19
Screws: 8
Removable: 5
Royal Oak Offshore
26170BA, 26170ST, 26170TI,
26470BA, 26470ST, 26470TI
Links: 19
Screws: 8
Removable: 5
Royal Oak Offshore
26237ST, 26237TI, 26237BA, 26237OR,
Links: 19
Screws: 10
Removable: 5
Royal Oak 41mm
15500ST, 15500BA, 15500OR,15500PT
Links: 23 (including clasp)
Screws: 11
Removable: 7
Royal Oak 41mm
15510ST, 15510BA, 15510OR,
Links: 21 (including clasp)
Screws: 9
Removable: 5
Royal Oak Jumbo
15202ST, 16202ST, 15202BA,
16202BA, 15202PT, 16202PT
Links: 22 (including clasp)
Screws: 11
Removable: 6
Royal Oak Chronograph 41
26331ST, 26331BA, 26331OR, 26586IP,
Links: 22 (including clasp)
Screws: 11
Removable: 6