Shortening an old Speidel watchband. Can it be done?

Factual Questions
1

I inherited a cheap old quartz watch which I intend to use as a utility timepiece when I’m doing chores, sports, camping, etc.

The thing has got one of those old, spring-loaded Speidel watchbands – the kind that looks like a miniature tank tread and painfully tries to pull out your wrist hairs. (What were they called? Twist-o-flex or something? Anyway…)

The band is too big. I want to lose a few links. Can it be done? If so, how?

Thanks all in advance.

2

Any jeweler (possibly even the watch counter at Wal-Mart) should be able to adjust it for you.

3

I second the above. It’s at best extremely difficult without special tools.

4

Is this the kind with 2 u-shaped clips side-by-side on the end of each link?
Two clips go into the top of a link. The bottom part of the clips go to the link on the left and right, respectively.

I used to mess with mine all the time in school and could take links out with my geometry compass.

Use a pair of small needlenose pliers and/or a tiny screwdriver (like the ones for eyeglasses).
Looking at the band sideways, pry/pull out one clip where it’s going into the right side of a top clip and the left of a bottom clip.
Slide the other end of the bottom link out from its clip, leaving the other end of the clip in the top link.
Look down the end of one of the links from which you removed a clip. You’ll see a flat piece of spring metal in the clip slot. The clip still in its side of the link will be on top of the flat spring metal. When you replace a clip, you want it to be in the same position.
Looking at the band from the same side, count out how many links to remove. Pry/pull that clip from the right side of a top link (and it’s bottom “partner”).
Remove the clip on the other end of the same pair of links.
The two ends of the band should now “line up”. That is, if you orient the band as it was when you started, you should have a top link on the left and a bottom on the right. The top/left link will have a clip in it.
Slide the bottom/right link onto the free end of the clip in the top/left.
Insert one of the clips you removed into the remaining slots in the links. Push it in until it clicks.