How To Replace Watch Battery

Knowing how to replace a watch battery can save money, time and landfills. The number one reason most people replace a watch is because the battery has died.  Many people don’t know how easy it is to change the battery on most common watches and how they have the tools and the skills to do it themselves.

To change a watch battery, you will need:

• A jewelry screwdriver (tiny heads, usually used on jewelry and glasses)
• The corresponding replacement battery
• A light cloth (a jewelry or sunglass cloth is preferred, but not necessary)
• A small or lightweight hammer

1. Turn the watch over. The backside is usually a metal plate. Somewhere along the outer rim of the plate there will be a small divot about the size and shape of a flathead jewelry screwdriver.
2. With the watch on a flat surface (table or countertop), place the head of the screwdriver in the divot. Pry the metal plate off the back, being careful not to dislodge any of the moving parts that will now be exposed.
3. Remove the existing battery. Sometimes, the battery will be partially underneath another metal tab that secures it in place. Simply pop up one end of the battery and slide it out from under the tab.
4. Make note of the exact brand and size of the battery, as well as the battery’s position. Different brands of batteries use different sizes and you need to replace the battery with the exact size to keep it ticking. Take the dead battery with you to the nearest store with an electronics or jewelry department and a clerk will be able to help you match the size.
5. Replace the new battery in the old slot, making sure to match the position of the old battery. Check to see if the hands are ticking once the new battery is in place.
   
6. Secure the metal backing by matching the position and snapping it partially into place. Cover the back of the watch with the cloth and gently tap the back of the watch with the hammer until the metal plate clicks and is securely in place.

Tips & Warnings:

• Most common watches have the same backing, making it universally simple to replace the battery; however, for high-end watches like Rolex, Citizen, Tag Heuer or Tissot, a jeweler or watchmaker will need to make any changes for you.
• Do not attempt to use the same procedure listed here on high-end watches. The watchmaker or the brand’s boutique is the only place certified to change these types of watch batteries.
• Sometimes a magnifying glass can help make sure the battery and metal plate are placed correctly and that no parts are missing when the backing is reattached.