Watch Batteries

This page contains general hints about watch batteries. Please see the BATTERY INFO page for more specific information, and useful links.

Never leave a battery in a watch that has stopped, for more than about 12 months. If you do, you run the risk of the battery chemicals leaking out, when the cell gets completely depleted. This will corrode the battery contacts, and/or affect the watch dial. This can mean that when you DO decide to replace the battery, then watch will NOT WORK. DON’T LEAVE IT TOO LATE.
If you decide to replace the battery yourself, it is usually fairly easy. The most difficult part is getting the back off to get at the battery. Some are a screwed back, most are “snap back”. Look for a small groove or bevel either opposite the winder part, or near where the spring-bars go in. A small thin knife can be used to prise it off. Take care when doing this, use a LINT-FREE CLOTH (not a duster) to hold the watch, so that you do not cut your fingers if you slip.
If you find that the expander strap gets in the way, some just unclip, others will need the telescopic “SPRING-BAR” removed (be careful it does not spring out on the floor!), with the end of a medium jewellers screwdriver. There is also a specialist watchmakers tool for this. See HERE
The screw-backed cases are recognised by a series of square indentations around the back. A special tool is used to unscrew these. You can purchase one for around £6.50 from the site mentioned at the end of this page.
DO NOT be tempted to get the back off any of the more specialzied watches, like Rolex, Tag Heuer, Tissot, Gucci, Omega Seamaster or any divers watch that may be pressurized, and have special seals. Also, if you have a valuable GOLD WATCH, unless you have the proper back-removing tools, it is very easy to scratch, and damage gold,as it is a very soft metal. Having said that, I have replaced the battery on my wifes expensive gold Raymond Weil watch. It was an easy case to get into though, but I was quoted £35, to replace a £2 battery.
If you DO take the back off a watch, be prepared for it NOT to be dust proof, or even water-resistant anymore. This is because quite often, the very thin “O” ring seal becomes split or damaged, or it does not go back in exactly the same place. You often find that most jewellers do not replace these either. The average DIY/hobbyist would not want to stock up on the 100 or 200 assorted seals that can be purchased from watchmakers suppliers, at about £20-30 or so.
It is best to handle the new watch battery with PLASTIC tweezers, but if you have not got a pair, just ensure you do not get greasy fingermarks on the battery whilst installing it. Some sites overemphasize the handling by fingers, but a bit of OHMS LAW on an average of 10K between fingers, across a 1.55 volt battery, equates to a drain of about 150 microamps, about the same as the load from your running watch!
DON’T USE METAL TWEEZERS ACROSS THE BATTERY OF COURSE, ELSE IT ACTS AS A SHORT!

SITES FOR CASE TOOLS:

http://www.watchbattery.co.uk

http://www.agthomas.co.uk/CaseOpeners_Standard.htm

WESTFALIA

SITES FOR WATCH BATTERIES:

http://www.watchbattery.co.uk

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