How to change the battery in a watch?

Nowadays, wristwatches most often act as a stylish accessory. But for those who are accustomed to navigate in time according to them, it is already difficult to leave the house without fastening the wristwatch bracelet. Most devices are equipped with a battery that gradually loses its charge. It must be changed periodically.

Mechanical watches require only a regular platoon. Electronic devices are more convenient in this regard. With the new battery, they work correctly for quite a long time. When a watch starts to lag, this is the main signal that the charge is dying out.

It is not difficult to find a battery and it is inexpensive, so many decide to replace an element on their own. Before interfering in the mechanism of watches, you should familiarize yourself with some recommendations:

1. Check if the product warranty has expired. If not, then even to replace the battery, you must contact an authorized workshop. As soon as the integrity of the product is violated by an unauthorized person, the warranty expires. If a breakdown occurs with them, you will have to spend a lot of money on repairs.
2. Verify that the device does not work properly or stops due to a dead battery. Other reasons related to the operation of the electronic mechanism can lead to a malfunction. If it is estimated that the battery is too early to change, it is best to immediately contact a qualified technician. Some quartz watch models are equipped with an END OF LIFE (End of Life) display system.If the back cover of the accessory is abbreviated EOL, with a dead battery, the second hand will skip over four positions.
3. Try replacing the battery before the watch stops completely. Otherwise, the battery will leak and ruin the entire mechanism.

The new battery should ideally match the size of the previous one. If it turns out to be smaller, then the contact will constantly recede, which will lead to malfunctions. If it’s more, then the case cover may not close, but the mechanism and dial are deformed.

The battery must be of good quality. Ideally, it should work from two to five years depending on capacity, but the danger is not that it will quickly fade away. Zinc and salts interact inside the element, and with a deformed or corroded case, a poor-quality product can leak. Most often, this leads to the need for a complete replacement of the mechanism.

Batteries must match not only in size, but also in charge capacity. It is indicated on the case. But it should be remembered - the same battery capacity will not give any guarantees that the new battery will last as long as the previous one. If it lay for a long time in the warehouse, then the battery could well self-discharge. Unfortunately, there is no way to find out how long she has to work.

On the side of the battery, which corresponds to the “plus”, is marked with the type of nutrient element:

• Saline. Suitable for any watch model, is inexpensive, but also does not last long. When buying such a battery, special attention should be paid to the date of manufacture, since in a year it can self-discharge by 10%. The most significant disadvantage of this battery is that it is prone to leakage. Masters do not recommend using it for expensive watches.
• Alkaline. The optimal combination of price and quality. It is inexpensive, it serves up to a year and a half. But not as dangerous as salt.
• Silver-zinc. One of the most expensive batteries. It has all the necessary advantages: it does not flow, it works for a long time, it discharges slightly. The SR-MD battery is the most versatile of them. Suitable for any watch movement.
• Lithium. Also an expensive battery, however, it will last at least three years. There are cases when such a battery was discharged only after seven years of excellent operation.

The workflow does not cause any trouble if there are special tools. But not in every house there is a set of screwdrivers. Then available means will come to the rescue. For example, a knife or blade is useful to remove the cover.

The clamp should not be too strong so as not to damage the ears. Between the clock and the vice you need to put a piece of soft tissue.

When replacing the battery yourself, never use metal tweezers. Such a tool shorts the poles, which leads to a loss in the capacity of the element and significantly degrades the quality of its work. The tweezers must be plastic or with an insulated working part.

Before disassembling the device, it is necessary to prepare the working environment. The clockwork consists of the smallest details.Contact with even an imperceptible particle (dust, hair, dandruff, crumbs) can damage the device.

The surface of the table should not be too hard, otherwise the accessory will be completely scratched after replacing the battery. Cover the table with white paper or a tablecloth. This way you can protect the jewelry from scratches, and it’s easy to find small details on a light surface.

Based on this, you can pay attention to the conditions in which specialists work in repair shops. It is hardly possible to entrust an expensive accessory to an untidy person who works at a dirty table.

After you are convinced of the need to replace the battery, the new battery was correctly selected and the workplace prepared, you can get to work. The most difficult thing is to open the cover without damaging the accessory and not get hurt yourself.

If there are recesses on the lid around the circumference, then it is unscrewed. The easiest way to adjust the caliper is to work. Spread it across the width of two opposite recesses and lock the tool. Gently turn it several times counterclockwise. However, not everyone has such a device at home and especially a special key. Then you can try to unscrew the lid with tweezers, in which the ends are bent in the form of paws.

Also, the back of the watch can be screwed with individual screws. To work with such a device, a special clock screwdriver is suitable. First of all, it is necessary to unscrew the diametrically opposite screws, and then remove the others in any sequence.

If the back panel is smooth, then it is pressed. Take a close look - there should be a slight indentation on the lid. Hook the cover with a small knife or a thin screwdriver. The movements should be firm, but accurate. Hold the watch tight so as not to break it.

After the cover is removed, you should study and remember how the battery is attached. Most often, it is clamped between two slats, one of which is movable. It is fixed with a screw. To rotate the bar, this screw must first be loosened a little. After that, the bar can be easily turned off with a sharp object. As soon as the battery is not clamped by the bar, it will jump due to the springy contact of the "minus".

After that, using plastic tweezers, you need to carefully remove the old battery and insert a new one in the same way. It is important not to confuse the plus and minus signs.

The detailed process of replacing the battery in the watch is described in the following video:

Before you put the back wall of the watch in place, it is worth checking the gasket on the cover. If it has deteriorated, then it must be treated with silicone to improve tightness.

If the back panel is pressed, then it must be returned to its place, following some recommendations:

1. Put the watch on the table with the dial facing down, while putting a paper towel folded in several layers.
2. There is a groove on the lid that aligns with the axis of the arrow wheel. Make sure that all the elements are neatly aligned and the lid fits as flat as possible.
3. To press down on the lid, grab a flat wooden object and attach it to the rear panel. The clock should close without much difficulty. If there is a feeling that you need to use a little more force, it is better to make sure once again that the battery and cover are properly seated.

Changing the battery of a watch at home is not difficult at all.The main thing is to adhere to all recommendations and be extremely careful. Then even the one who faces this problem for the first time will cope with this task:

1. Do not use the sharp tip of a knife. He will slip and hurt his arm. Also, the tip may break or bend. Then the knife will become worthless. It is best to use a blade.
2. With a knife, you must follow the same safety measures as when working with a chisel. Do not use force on the knife if the other hand is opposite it. Hands should be in such a position that when they slide off the tool, they will not be on the path.
3. Do not try to open the cover of expensive accessories. One careless action - and the decoration is spoiled. In this case, contact a jeweler.
4. The device does not let moisture through seals and lubricant. Therefore, remove the back wall carefully so as not to damage the seals.