Considering the price I've bought previous nickel free belts at I doubted this belt would cause an allergic reaction but I've had it for a few weeks and am happy to report I have not been able to do that until now, there was a rash! For those of you who aren't cursed with a nickel allergy, you'll still find this a very valuable everyday belt. Downsizing: I lost some weight. recently and I had to resize this belt. The process is quite simple and I have attached some photos. Simply loosen a screw, being careful not to lose the receiving end (socket rivet). Then cut off as much as you need from the side that was previously attached to the buckle. Use this replacement part as a template to mark the new assembly that the rivet/screw will pass through. After marking the spot I just used the drill to make a nice clean hole and then reassembled it as before. Voila! No extra belt length with messy extra holes!