Sizing 1940s Gold Filled Kreisler Basketweave Bracelet

Good day, all.

I recently picked up a couple of these Kreisler Basketweave bracelets from the 1940s. I'm planning to combine them into a longer bracelet for wear, but it seems they aren't built for easy sizing. I'm guessing the original instruction was to cut rivet heads to remove links until achieving the desired length. I can't seem to find how to remove rivets or links without damaging one or the other. I have some extra length, so I could potentially go that route, but I'm hoping someone might have another idea as to how to size this.



I took the pics below after removing the clasp from one side. The links look at though they have a seam along one edge, but the seam doesn't run through the link; you can't spread the link to remove it.



Later I removed the end link from the other end, to see if I could more easily coax out a rivet from the end with outside links. After reshaping the rivet head on one side, and pulling at the outside link, I was able to drive the rivet past the outside link.

I had hoped that by getting the rivet this far, I would be able to separate it in the fashion I've seen done with Gay Frères style rivet bracelets, but to no avail. With the rivet free to slide side to side, it's apparent these rivets are truly riveted; there's no seam for removing a head.

It looks like I'll need to reshape the head until a rivet will freely slide past the links, then recreate the rivet head to reassemble. I'm reluctant to cut links, but if I sacrifice a few, it'll be easier to reshape rivets as above once outside the weave.

Anyone have experience adding length to a bracelet with this type of rivet? Have another method I haven't thought of?

Thanks in advance!

Edit: Kreisler instructions from https://omegaforums.net/threads/need-advice-to-adjust-bracelet.122046/

Thank you Canuck, this is what I was trying to describe above when I referenced Gay Frères style rivet bracelets.

Know of a source offhand for Rose Gold tone rivet pins?

Edit: Deployant is in the mail to replace the dress buckle.

I believe that to be silver tarnish. Once I have the bracelet set up, I'll polish the spare links to see how they look.

I'll consider steel pins, thanks.

This bracelet came on a US-made watch with a 1944 birthday. In 1944, the US was rationing for the war effort, and steel was diverted to military production. Consequently, some jewelry made during WWII in the US was made with silver in place of steel.

My apologies if I've taught you something today 😉

Thanks again for your help, @Canuck , I was able to splice the bracelets with a single rivet pin. The steel color pin is visible in the middle of the long side but it's not that noticable IMHO.

Here it is with a polish following a baking soda bath.