How to change the watch battery yourself

The moment has come. Your faithful watch has stopped , leaving you with an "uncovered wrist" in the middle of the most festive and lively month of the year. What to do? If you can't go to your trusted watchmaker, one solution is to do it yourself . Changing the watch battery yourself is not difficult, but lack of experience and inadequate tools could cause visible damage to your timepiece. Do you want to know how to change a watch battery without causing damage? The answer is in today's guide!

The 5 steps of DIY: useful tips

If you can't go to your trusted watchmaker, you need to know the 5 steps of DIY. These are 5 useful tips to avoid unwanted complications during the procedure of replacing the battery of your watch. Before starting, it is good to know that inadequate tools and poor manual skills could cause external scratches or even damage to the internal mechanism. Haste is the enemy of this procedure which, although simple, requires calm and attention .

Step 1. Buy the right battery

It may seem obvious, but it isn't! To choose the right battery, you need to check the model code on the watch's instruction booklet, if present, or directly on the back of the button cell battery currently inserted. Forcing the introduction of an unsuitable battery and then realizing the wrong choice can cause economic loss as well as damage.

Step 2. Identify the type of closure

Placing your watch on a soft and functional surface to facilitate your movements is a fundamental step to ensure the best performance and protect the surface of your accessory. Do you already know how to take care of your watch? Find out in this article! At this point it is necessary to identify the type of closure and understand how it works. Is it a pressure caseback , a screw caseback, a lateral screw closure or is the battery positioned behind a dedicated cap ? In the latter case the procedure will be not only simpler, but also less risky.

Step 3. Open the case back

Once you have established the method of fixing the case, it is good to know that each case is different and that each of them requires a procedure commensurate with factors such as the age of the watch , the state of wear , the characteristics of the model and last but not least, the value and price range in which it is placed. This last factor can have a significant impact on the difficulty of opening, proportional to the risk and severity of a possible incorrect maneuver. In any case, to open the case back , special tools are necessary. In the absence of a professional watch repair kit, it is good to be aware of the danger that can arise from the use of improper tools. Do you have everything ready to hand? Good. Carefully memorize the opening procedure in order to be able to correctly replicate it in reverse.

Step 4. Replace the dead battery

Remove the old battery using a pair of small pliers and set it aside to dispose of in the appropriate container. Gently and taking care not to hit any exposed mechanical parts, insert the new button battery. Do you use your watch on no more than one or two special occasions a year? Be careful not to let the battery change fall into oblivion: leaving a dead battery in place for a long time could damage your accessory.

Step 5. Closing and cleaning

Clean the inside of the case with a special microfiber cloth, place the case back and close it. It is not uncommon to encounter difficulties even at this stage, especially when the battery change is performed on less modern watches. Avoid forcing or overloading your timepiece: you could break it. Go to your trusted watchmaker and think about the fact that preventing damage is always better than repairing it.

How to Change a Watch Battery (Without Damage)

In conclusion, we can say that changing the battery of a watch without causing damage is possible, but nothing can ever replace the tools, expertise and precision of a professional. Owners of quartz watches know very well that replacing the battery is a fixed appointment. However, it is good to know that going to the watchmaker for this type of operation requires minimal financial effort and very little time .

Ferro Gioielli is also open during the Holidays! The expert watchmakers are waiting for you, welcoming any emergency related to your timepiece.