A watch battery needs to be
changed: What next?
The first
step is to get a tool kit to
replace batteries.
A
good one to start with is the
Deluxe Battery Change Kit.
Also get a battery tester. A
favorite for size and ease of
use
is
Battery Tester
Item Number:
110.039.
Use
Silicone 7
to ensure the integrity
of the gasket REGARDLESS of
whether the watch is water
resistant or not.
The next step is to recognize
whether the watch is mechanical
or battery operated. Most
watches have an inscription on
the dial. A mechanical watch
would probably be inscribed
Automatic, 17/21 Jewels or
Incabloc.
To determine if the watch is
battery operated (quartz watch) there will be the word "quartz"
on the watch face. If not, open
the back of the watch and there
will be more information on the
watch case back.
After finding the word quartz, determine the
type of metal the watch is: Gold? Stainless steel? Plastic?
For watches that are made of
anything other than gold,
follow the instructions
below. If the watch is
made of gold, skip to
Gold Watch Cases.
Determine
what type of back the watch has: Is
it a screw back? Is it a pop out
“friction”
back?
Does it have screws?
Screw Back Case:
If it is a screw back, use the
wrench from
Deluxe Battery Change Kit and
Case Holder F/ L-G Case Wrench.
Every time a screw back watch is
opened, there is a
watch gasket that will need to be
replaced if it is damaged.
To replace a gasket use
Waterproof 510-Piece Master
O-Ring Assortment.
When the watch is open, look at
how the battery rests in the
watch: Is the battery exposed or
is it simply held by its sides?
If the battery is held by its
sides, remove it with a
screwdriver. It should pop out
easily. The
watch battery should have a number
such as 377, 371, 395, 927,
1116, 43, etc. If no number is
visible, check it against a
battery size checker before you
place your battery order.
Check the old battery with a
battery tester.
Before closing the watch, make sure that it
is now in working condition. Use
silicone to grease the gasket,
make sure the gasket is in good
condition, otherwise replace it.
Friction or Snap-On Case:
The second type of case back,
the friction or snap on case, is
probably the most popular. If
the back case has a place to put
a knife, use a leather fabric
cloth for hand protection, put
the knife between the case and
the back and apply gentle
pressure.
The watch should open. Take a
look inside to see how the
battery is set: Does it have a
bridge going over? Does it have
some kind of secure system or a
flap in one corner? If it has a
bridge going over be very
careful. Remove the screw on one
side carefully making sure the
screw does not fly across the
room never to
be found again. The
Spare Parts Kit
- Battery Replacement provides most of the
parts that are usually needed.
Once the battery is removed from the watch, make a habit of always testing each battery. It may not be a battery problem. After determining that the battery is dead, find a replacement. Place the battery in the watch movement, make sure the plus signal of the battery goes up or down, replace the bridge and gently set the screw back. Check if the watch is working, if it is, close the watch. Friction backs sometimes cannot be closed by hand and a press is needed such as Case Press w/ Nylon Dies.
The nylon dies make it easy on the watch crystal, however, always check if the crystal is not flat, check for calendars magnifiers or if the crystal is domed. Many watch battery replacements finish up in a crystal replacement. After you find the correct dies close the watch, remember to use silicone in the gasket.
Sport watches often have 4 screw in the back. Make sure the right screwdriver is used because it is easy to damage the screw heads. Once the screws are removed, the watch should have one or more batteries or a big lithium battery (ex. 1216 to 2032). Make sure to notice how the battery fits in this type of watch, there is normally a bridge but it is sometimes more complicated. After a ”lithium” type battery is replaced, look for a spot marked with the letters "ac". Use a tweezers and connect (ac) to the plus symbol in the battery. Some more complicated watches will have instruction on the back of the watch.
Repeat the closing ritual, grease the ring or gasket, make sure it fits correctly and does not have any kinks in it. If it does, replace it. Set the 4 screws back. If the watch has more than 4 screws in the back, it is most probably an expensive time piece. If in doubt, do not open the watch, seek advise.
Gold Case
Watches
Gold case watches always require
great care and a delicate touch
even when replacing a battery. A gold case is
easily damaged. Do not
use a knife to open a gold case
unless it is absolutely
necessary.
A razor blade works well because
it leaves less marks in the
soft gold metal. If using a case
opener, be extra careful as the
steel in the opener can cause
dents and other damage.
Some gold watches have
screws in the back and these
screws are made of gold. As the
number of screws increases so
does the value of the watch. The
screwdriver must be at least in
perfect condition if not new.
Many gold watches have gold
screws securing the bezel
and/or the crystal. These screws go from the back to the
front of the watch. If a gold
screw is lost, it would be very costly to
replace assuming one could
be found.
A watch with screws going from the
back to the front is usually
very expensive. Some of the
movements are custom made for
the brand of the watch. Be very aware of the type
of battery needed and how
it sits in the movement. Some of
these movements are extremely thin.
The wrong battery could
damage the face of the watch and
damage a very costly movement.
Sometimes the
battery can only be accessed by
removing the crown (“split
crown”). A novice should avoid these.
For every case is there is always an
exception to the rule. The key
is to use common sense and keep
an open mind.
