If a screw is missing from your bracelet clasp, stop wearing the bracelet, save every remaining part and contact the maker or original retailer with the exact model details. Ask for the correct replacement and an inspection of the fastening. A screw that looks similar won’t necessarily fit your clasp.
Key facts
- Ask the maker or original retailer whether a new screw alone will do or whether other parts of the clasp need attention too.
- Some models have a screw that stays attached when the clasp opens, so a clasp that looks unfamiliar may not be missing anything.
- Useful details for the maker include the model reference, bracelet size, material or finish, when you bought it, order details and any previous repair.
- Keep the bracelet off even if the screw is found, and do not bridge the gap with wire, a pin, tape or another improvised fastener.
- Don’t try a screw from another source or another bracelet, and don’t add glue, threadlocker or oil to the fastening.
First check whether a part is actually missing
Set the bracelet on a soft cloth inside a tray, away from a sink or floor gap. Compare what you can see with its own instructions or clear photographs from before the problem. Do not dismantle the other side to find out what the missing side should contain.
Some models have a screw that stays attached when the clasp opens. If the instructions describe one, leave it in place. If the clasp is unfamiliar, get it identified before you decide a part is missing.
Show the maker the whole closure, not just the screw. A hinged bracelet and a two-part bracelet may need different parts, and an older version may not work the way it looks.
If all parts are present but the screw has loosened, see how to handle a loose screw clasp. If you have never successfully opened it, or it will not release normally, use the guide to a clasp that will not open or close. In neither case should you buy a screw before the fault is clear.
Keep the bracelet and loose pieces together
If a component has fallen out, put it in a small closed container and keep it with the bracelet. Keep both halves, any detached bar or fitting and the original tool if you have it. Don’t take out another screw, straighten an attachment or clean out the empty screw hole before the maker has seen it.
Take clear photographs of the whole bracelet, the affected fastening and any recovered parts as they are. Photograph any markings you can see; don’t pry anything open to find a number. Photos help the maker understand the problem, but they may still need to see the bracelet.
If you lost the screw indoors, search carefully around where it happened. Keep the bracelet off even if you find the part: the fastening still needs checking before you rely on it again. Do not bridge the gap with wire, a pin or another improvised fastener, or wear it held together by tape.
Give the maker enough information to identify the part
Send the model or product reference, bracelet size, material or finish, approximate purchase date and order details if available. Mention whether it was bought second-hand or has previously been repaired. Say what happened, for example “the fastening opened and this part fell out.” Don’t guess that the threads are stripped.
You could write:
A part has come out of my bracelet’s clasp and I can’t find it. Could you tell me which model and clasp version this is and which replacement it needs, and whether you need the whole bracelet to fit it and check the clasp? I’ve attached photos and the purchase details I have.
Ask for an estimate and how sending and return work before you post anything, and use the contact details on the maker’s or retailer’s own website.
Ask about service and spare parts
Ask whether the maker can supply the part and whether they need the whole bracelet to fit it. Being able to send it in for a check doesn’t mean they’ll sell you a loose spare.
Ask what the part and fitting will cost before you buy a substitute or send the bracelet elsewhere, and keep their reply with your notes.
If the maker can’t help, take the whole bracelet to a jeweler who works on that kind of clasp, and pass on what the maker told you about parts. Our guide to choosing a bracelet repairer covers that next decision.
Before wearing it again
Have the repairer check that the new screw fits and that the threads and alignment are sound, then show you how to close it properly. Don’t try a marketplace screw or one from another bracelet. Leave thread sizes, tightening and any damaged parts to the repairer, and don’t add glue, threadlocker or oil.
If no repair is available, store the bracelet and its parts together while you decide. Keeping it off your wrist means you won’t lose the rest of it. The bracelet problems hub covers other fastening and wear issues.