How to change the battery in a wristwatch?

Nowadays, wristwatches often act as a stylish accessory. But for those who are used to orienting themselves in time by them, it is already difficult to leave the house without fastening the wristwatch bracelet. Most devices are equipped with a battery that loses power over time. It needs to be changed periodically.

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

The battery is easy to find and it is inexpensive, so many decide to replace the element on their own. Before interfering with the mechanism of a wristwatch, you should familiarize yourself with some recommendations:

1. Check if the product is out of warranty. If not, then even to replace the battery, you must go to an authorized workshop. As soon as the integrity of the product is violated by an unauthorized person, the warranty will expire. If a breakdown occurs with them, you will have to spend a lot of money on repairs.
2. Check if the device has become abnormal or has stopped due to a dead battery. Other reasons related to the operation of the electronic mechanism can lead to malfunction. If, according to calculations, the battery is too early to change, then it is better to immediately contact a qualified technician. Some models of quartz watches are equipped with the END OF LIFE indication system.If the back cover of the accessory has the abbreviation EOL, with a dead battery, the second hand will jump over four positions.
3. Try to replace the battery before the watch has completely stopped. Otherwise, the battery will leak and ruin the entire mechanism.

The new battery should be the same size as the old one. If it turns out to be less, then the contact will constantly leave, which will lead to malfunctions. If it is more, then the case cover may not close, and the mechanism and the dial are deformed.

The battery must be of good quality. Ideally, it should work from two to five years, depending on the capacity, but the danger is not that it will fade away quickly. Zinc and salts interact inside the element, and if the case is deformed or corroded, a poor-quality product may 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 that the same capacity of the batteries will not give any guarantees that the new battery will last as long as the previous one. If it lay in the warehouse for a long time, then the battery could well self-discharge. Unfortunately, there is no way to know how long she has left to work.

The positive side of the battery is marked with the type of nutrient:

• Salt. Suitable for any watch model, it is inexpensive, but also does not last long. When buying such a battery, you should pay special attention to the date of manufacture, since it can self-discharge by 10% in a year. 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 and lasts up to one and a half years. 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, and does not self-discharge significantly. The SR-MD battery is the most versatile of them all. Suitable for any watch movement.
• Lithium. Also an expensive battery, but it will last at least three years. There are cases when such a battery was discharged only after seven years of excellent work.

The workflow is not a hassle if you have special tools. But not every home has a set of watch screwdrivers. Then the means at hand will come to the rescue. For example, a knife or blade will come in handy to remove the cover.

The clamp should not be too strong to damage the ears. Place a piece of soft cloth between the watch and the vise.

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

Before disassembling the device, it is necessary to prepare the working environment. The movement is made up of the smallest details.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 scratched all over after replacing the battery. Cover the table with white paper or a tablecloth. This way you can protect the jewelry from scratches, besides, it is easy to find small parts that have fallen out 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, a new battery has been correctly selected and the workplace has been prepared, you can start working. The most difficult thing is to open the lid without damaging the accessory and not getting hurt yourself.

If there are recesses on the lid around the circumference, then it is unscrewed. For work, the easiest way is to adapt a caliper. Spread it across the width of two opposite grooves and secure the tool. Rotate it gently counterclockwise several times. However, not everyone has such a device at home, and even more so a special key. Then you can try to unscrew the lid using tweezers, whose ends are bent in the form of paws.

Also, the back wall of the watch can be screwed on with separate screws. A special watch screwdriver is suitable for working with such a device. First of all, it is necessary to unscrew the diametrically opposite screws, and then remove the rest in any sequence.

If the back panel is smooth, then it is embossed. Take a close look - there should be a slight indentation on the lid. Use a small knife or thin screwdriver to pry on the cover. Movements should be firm, but neat. Hold the watch firmly 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 strips, one of which is movable. It is secured with a screw. To turn the bar, this screw must first be unscrewed slightly. After that, the bar can be easily unscrewed with a sharp object. As soon as the battery is not clamped by the bar, it will bounce due to the springy "minus" contact.

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 "plus" and "minus".

A detailed process for replacing the watch battery is described in the following video.

Before replacing the back wall of the watch, it is worth checking the gasket on the lid. If it has deteriorated, then it must be treated with silicone to improve its tightness.

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

1. Place the watch face down on a table, while placing a paper napkin folded in several layers.
2. There is a groove on the lid, which is aligned with the axis of the shift wheel. Make sure that all the elements are neatly aligned, and that the lid is as flat as possible.
3. To press down on the cover, take a flat piece of wood and hold it against the back. The clock should close without much difficulty. If you feel like you need to apply a little more force, it's best to re-check that the battery and cover are properly seated.

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

1. Do not use the sharp tip of a knife. It will slip off and hurt your hand. Also, the tip may break or bend. Then the knife will become unusable. It is best to use a blade.
2. The same safety precautions should be followed with the knife as with the chisel. Do not use force on the knife if the other hand is opposite it. The hands should be in such a position that when the tool slides, they do not end up on the path.
3. Don't try to open the lid of expensive accessories. One careless act - and the decoration is ruined. In this case, you should contact your jeweler.
4. The device does not allow moisture to pass through due to seals and lubricants. Therefore, remove the back wall carefully so as not to damage the seals.