A failing watch battery may not only get a person lost track of time. It may also have led to situations that may have a drastic impact on our lives.
For some people, it can also take away a person’s peace of mind that may lead to slight panic attacks thinking they won’t make it in time for something important. And cases like these will only require one thing, getting the watch battery replaced.
How to change a watch battery? If you want to change your watch’s battery, you will only have two options to choose from. One is to bring to an expert and pay the specialist to do it for you.
Your second option is to put a little effort into it and change your watch battery yourself. However, if you decide to do it yourself, you will have to be very careful and to acquire some essential tools.
In this guide, I will help you change your watch’s battery by providing you everything you need to complete it successfully.
First, I will provide you with a complete step-by-step guide to replacing a watch battery; then, I will list all the tools that you need to get the job done. I will also provide you additional insights with regards to changing the battery of a timepiece.
The Right Tools Needed in Changing a Watch Battery
If you want to change the battery of your timepiece successfully, the first thing you have to do is to procure the right tools for it. Doing it without the proper tools may lead to failure and may even damage your watch for the worse.
So, if you decide to change your watch’s battery, here are the things you are going to need:
● Small Flathead and Phillips Screwdrivers – You will need this pair of screwdrivers to unscrew whatever kind of screws hold the back cover of the watch. They will also come in handy for the watch models that don’t have the screw-less back panels.
● Watch Case Openers – Used for prying off the back cover of the watch. Whether the watch has the snap-off or the screw-back watch cover, these are the proper tools.
● Tweezers – This tool is used for removing the rubber or plastic ring cover after removing the gasket to expose the battery of the watch, used for carefully lifting sensitive components, and then putting it all back together.
● Watch Battery Sizer – This is used for identifying the right size of the watch battery. It can also be an optional tool if you already know the size of the battery of your watch, or you can bring your watch to an expert and consult for its battery size.
● Magazine or Newspaper – You may also need an old magazine or newspaper that you can use as a protection for the front glass of the watch. You can use it as the backdraft of your work table, preventing it from being scratched.
Those are the proper tools that you need to change the battery of your timepiece. Once you have them, you are now ready for the actual operation.
7 Steps to Replace Your Old Watch Battery Yourself
To successfully change a watch battery yourself, you also have to take the proper steps aside from having the proper tools.
In this part, I will walk you through my step by step guide on how to do the task properly.
Here are the steps that you have to do, make sure to read them carefully and slowly but surely get them done, one step at a time.
Step1: Place the Watch on Top of the Newspaper Facing Down
When changing the battery of your timepiece, the first thing you have to do is to protect its front side by placing it on the top of the magazine or newspaper facing down.
This is to prevent the glass on the front side from being scratched or scraped every time it moves during the process.
Step2: Remove the Back Cover of the Timepiece
After you made sure that the front side of your watch is protected from scratch, the next step you have to take is to remove the back cover of the watch.
Keep in mind that watch back covers come in different kinds. The ones that are screwed, the ones that have to be pried off, and those designed to unscrew themselves.
In any case, you will have to use the right tools at your disposal to avoid any watch damage.
Step3: Gently Pull Out the Gasket to Expose the Battery
Now that you took care of the back cover of the watch, you will have to gently take out the gasket that protects the interior components of the watch.
Here, you will be using the tweezers to gently pull out the gasket and then put it aside to be replaced after changing the battery.
You have to make sure that you have to carefully take it out without disturbing the interior components of the watch.
Step4: Locate the Battery of the Watch and Gently Extract It
After taking out the gasket of the watch, its interior components are exposed, including the battery.
All you have to do is locate it, carefully extract it using the tweezers, and then identify its size and model.
You can use the battery sizer to identify the right size of the battery and then purchase the right replacement. (Then you can assemble the watch back and take it apart after you get the right battery replacement).
If you already have it, then you can place the replacement watch battery in place.
Step5: Check If the Watch is Working After Placing the Battery
The next step you have to take after replacing your watch’s battery is to make sure the watch is working.
In this step, you have to carefully flip the timepiece over and check if it is working. You have to check if the hands of the watch are moving and, if not, double-check if the battery is properly placed.
If you are certain that the battery is placed properly, then you can bring it to an expert to be sure.
Step6: Carefully Replace the Gasket at the Back of the Watch
Once the new watch battery is installed and it is working, you will then have to assemble the timepiece together carefully.
Start by placing the gasket back to ensure the battery is securely placed and won’t have the risk of being detached in the future. Use the tweezers to do this and do it very carefully.
Step7: Carefully Replace Back Cover of the Timepiece
Finally, once you get the gasket perfectly placed, the last step you have to take is to replace the back cover of your timepiece. Depending on your watch, the approach to the steps will vary.
If the back cover is screwed, then you have to use the right tool for it, and if the watch has a snap-off cover, you can easily snap it back. Make sure the cover is securely placed.
Congratulations! You have successfully replaced the battery of your timepiece. If you followed the rights steps I listed above and utilized the proper tools, then I am sure you now have a working watch that will keep you track of time.
I understand that it should have taken you a lot of time, but I also think that it is worth it.
The Total Cost of Replacing A Watch Battery
As I mentioned earlier, there are two ways to change the battery of your timepiece.
One is to pay a professional to do it for you, which is probably the best option, and the other is the “Do It Yourself” option, which requires effort and time.
Paying a professional to change your watch’s battery will normally cost you about ten bucks minimum.
It depends on the brand of the watch and how hard it is to get a battery replacement. Depending on the watch, the amount of time the process will take may also vary. Some of them may take just a few minutes, and some may take several days or even weeks.
However, both options will have their advantages and disadvantages, and it will be up to you to decide which option to pick.
How Long Can a Watch Battery Replacement Last?
In reality, a watch’s replacement battery can last from one to two years, and it is also possible that it may last longer than expected. However, the average battery life of a watch battery is expected to last for a maximum of two years.
Although you can stretch the battery life of your watch up to two, it is advisable that you replace it once a year to avoid the risk of having potential leakage that will damage the watch.
The Telltale Signs that a Watch Battery Needs Replacement
Are you familiar with the saying that goes, “prevention is better than cure,” then it sort of the same when it comes to watches. Preventing the issues that a failing watch battery from happening is much better than replacing it once the damage has been done.
Here are the telltale signs to watch out for help you determine if your watch battery needs to be replaced.
1. The Timepiece Stops Working
The obvious sign that the watch battery is not working and needs replacement is if your watch stops working. This will only mean that there is not enough power to keep its interior components working.
If you discovered that your timepiece isn’t working, it is a definite sign that you have to replace its battery.
2. If the Watch Refuse to Keep the Correct Time
Another common sign that the watch needs a replacement battery it’s not keeping the correct time anymore. Although it keeps on ticking, you noticed that it doesn’t tell you the right time of the day.
It is a sign of a crucial battery issue that may need to be looked into, and you may have to consider changing its battery.
3. Moisture is Building Within the Case of the Watch
If there is a moisture buildup within the watch casing, it is a sign of a dying battery. It normally starts with small condensations that may grow to a severe moisture buildup generated by a dead battery.
In a case like this, it is advisable to get a battery replacement as soon as you can before it can lead to more severe issues.
Once you noticed some of these telltale signs, the best thing you have to do is first to consult an expert and ask for an opinion.
You may also attempt to change the battery of your timepiece since they more or less tell you that your watch’s battery needs to be replaced.
