How to replace a watch battery

Here are some answers to some frequently asked questions about replacing and fitting watch batteries.

How do I remove the watch back, and do I need a special tool?

First you need to determine if the watch is a snap back type or a screw back. If the watch back has a series of equally spaced slots, then it's most likely to be a screw back and you will need a special tool. In some cases, watch backs appears to be screw backs but are actually snap backs. You can sometimes remove a screw back using a pair of snipe nose pliers in two of the slots, and twist to screw the back off.

The back from snap back watches can be removed with an ordinary stanley knife. If you look carefully around the edge of the watch casing you should see a small indent in the cover, this is where you should put the knife blade (not the point) under and lift. The watch back will snap out of the watch casing.

I have replaced the battery, but the watch isn't working.

(1) Is the winder / Crown fully pushed in?

(2) Has the watch been standing with an old battery inside it for a long period of time? If so, it is likely that the watch has seized up. If the watch has been left idle for a long period, then it may never work again.

(3) If the mechanism isn't working, with a pin try to nudge the cogs to start the mechanism again.

It is always best to replace a battery in a watch as soon as the watch stops working.

I have replaced the battery in a LCD watch, but the display is all funny.

If this happens, remove the back of the watch, and with a pair of metal tweezers, place one leg of the tweezers into the AC hole and the other leg on top of the battery. This should reset the watch, and correct the fault.

I have a snap back case and I am having trouble getting the back on.

Some case backs are tight to remove and to put back on.
When placing the case back be sure that the indent on the inside of the cover lines with the winder. The best way to put the cover back on is to place the watch face down on a flat protected surface. Then with the case lined up with the back, push down with both thumbs, applying even pressure to the case edge, making sure that one side doesn't get pushed further in than the other.

The cover should snap back into place.

If you fail to get the back on, then a jeweller would use press like we use.

My watch is waterproof, how can this be guaranteed after changing the battery?

No, but replacing the seal (If there is one) will be adaquate enough unless the watch will be submurged into water.
If you want your watch 100% waterproof, you can take it to your local Jeweller, who will have it sent away where it will be checked to see if it's water tight. If it isn't water tight, the seal will have to be changed by the maunfacturer.

It seems that I need to remove a screw in order to get the old battery out.

In some watches it is a case of loosening (Not removing) a screw which will allow a clip to be moved to the side, enough to allow the battery to be levered out and replaced. If the screw is removed, they are very difficult to get back in.

In some cases, there isn't a scew at all, just a clip which when prised back slightly will allow the old battery to be levered out.

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