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Showing posts from December, 2020

Aftermarket Tolmia Watch Clasps and Buckles

There are a few others in the watch community besides me who are clamouring for more tolmia watch bracelets (watch bracelets that allow for a micro-adjustment without the need of a separate tool).  I have a running list of tolmia watches, but I thought it would be helpful to let you know about where you can find aftermarket tolmia watch clasps and buckles.  Here is what I have found so far: Amazon Ratchet buckle diver extension clasp Carlywet Solid Curved End Stainless Steel Screw Links Wrist Watch Band Bracelet Glide Flip Lock Clasp Esslinger? Formex Deployant Clasp with Fine Adjustment Butterfly Clasp with Fine Adjustment Jaffy 20mm Wetsuit Ratchet Buckle for various Seikos  Search website for " Ratchet " and about 15=-20 results come up Long Island Watch Wetsuit ratchet buckle diver extension clasp  Formex Essence Clasp with fine adjustment (No Formex logo)  San Martin Rubber Diving Strap Strapcode Listed under Diver's clasps and described as a ratchet buckle button

Definition of "tolmia"

It occurred to me that it would be helpful to have a definition for the word "tolmia".  So here is my first crack at it.   Tolmia is an adjective used to describe any watch band, strap, or bracelet that can be adjusted, on a repeatable basis, through the use of a built in mechanism, in increments of 5mm or less.  A tolmia band, strap, or bracelet may not utilize a traditional tang and pin buckle, velcro, or a milanese sliding buckle. A tolmia band, strap, or bracelet may adjust on the clasp or the buckle.  While most common and useful on a metal bracelet, a tolmia watch and include watches that utilize other material to attach the watch to a person's wrist.  The derivation of tolmia comes from a combination of the words "tool-less" and "micro-adjustable". Tolmia should be pronounced: Tōl mē-ə I will attempt to maintain a running list of watches with tolmia bracelets .

Goal for the Tolmia Blog

My goal for the Tolmia Blog is to: Have a separate post to identify each watch that utilizes a tolmia bracelet; Keep a running list of all watches that use a tolmia bracelet; Encourage the watch community to create a common word to describe any watch that utilizes a tool-less micro-adjustment (a feature that many watch enthusiasts love); Encourage watch makers to produce more watches that have tolmia bracelets; and Encourage watch makers, aftermarket suppliers, and online stores to better identify watches that have tolmia bracelets.  I look forward to any help that you can give me.  Thank you.

Introduction to Tolmia

During this past year, while isolating during the pandemic, I needed to do something to keep sane.  I began to peruse numerous videos about a hobby that I have always enjoyed... watch collecting.  To be clear, I have always enjoyed watch collecting in the abstract and had never owned a fine timepiece.  After doing a fair amount of research, I discovered a few watches that I would like to buy. I took the plunge and purchased three watches (one dive watch and two dressier watches).  I purchased them on stainless steel bracelets as I don't like leather.  After resizing them to my 7 inch (177mm) wrist, I quickly discovered a few things I never knew.  First, it is really hard to get the proper size on a watch bracelet unless it has micro-adjustments.  Second, my wrist expands and contracts considerably throughout the day, particularly when going in and out of air conditioned settings during the heat of the summer.  Even when I was able to size a watch bracelet correctly, it became too t