How to Change a Watch Battery
Changing a watch battery is a meticulous process. But it is easy if you like working with small tools and have an eye for details. Here is a simplified way that you can follow if you want to change a watch battery on your own.
Materials
- A hand towel and a lint-free cloth
- Small screw drivers, one with a Phillips head and one with a flat head
- A good work light
- A magnifying glass to help you see what you are doing more closely
Getting Started
The first thing you need to do before you begin changing your watch battery is to prepare your work area. It should be clean and well lighted so you would not have trouble seeing what you are working on. A magnifying glass will help you see the details more closely if you want. Also, spread a hand towel over your work surface to prevent scratches or any damages to the crystal face of your watch.
Changing the Watch Battery
- Turn the watch on its face on the towel you have spread out on your work surface.
- Check the type of back cover that the watch has. Some back covers are fastened with screws. For this type of back cover, you just need to remove the screws to get the cover off the watch. Some back covers, on the other hand, can be pried loose. These back covers would have a small slot or depression to one side, where you could fit in the blade of a flathead screw driver and pry the cover off. If the edges are slightly raised, then the back cover is the type that needs to be twisted off.
- When you remove the cover, remove the gasket as well. Take care when you do so you would not tear the gasket.
- Removing the cover of the watch exposes the battery. The battery looks like a small metal pill with a round shape. Take note which side of the battery is up, and then carefully pry it out. If there is a lid that is keeping the battery in place, unscrew it first before you take the battery out.
- Take your old battery to jewelry store or an electronic store so you could use it in identifying your replacement battery. Replacement batteries are identified using the numbers marked on the battery itself.
- Put your new battery into the slot where the old battery was. It should go in the exact same position that the old battery was in. If the battery is enclosed in a lid, screw the lid back on.
- Check out if the watch is working. Carefully turn the watch over and see if the second hand dial or the second hand display is running.
- If the watch is working, replace the gasket and screw the cover back on. Be careful not to tear the gasket because once you tear it, your watch is gone and you void the warranty on your watch.
Tips
If your watch is covered by a warranty, it is often best to take the watch to its accredited service dealer instead of changing the battery by yourself. The warranty becomes void when you tamper with the gasket or seal of your watch. Also, there are times when it is more cost-effective to buy a new watch than to buy a new battery.