I bought a watch which died on me three times in the 10 months that I had it. Annoying. The issue? Poor batteries provided to me by the retailer who kept replacing the battery for me (never going there again!).
I finally got fed up and figured out how to open the darn thing myself (from the Almighty Master Internet, of course).
Now this will only really apply if you have a screw-on watch back like mine (see below). The others I believe need to be popped open, which can also likely easily be done with a slim screwdriver -- like one for a pair of glasses.
The battery itself costs about $3 and the other materials you likely have at home. Compare this to spending $10-$20 on a battery replacement service. Feel tempted, yet?
I finally got fed up and figured out how to open the darn thing myself (from the Almighty Master Internet, of course).
Now this will only really apply if you have a screw-on watch back like mine (see below). The others I believe need to be popped open, which can also likely easily be done with a slim screwdriver -- like one for a pair of glasses.
The battery itself costs about $3 and the other materials you likely have at home. Compare this to spending $10-$20 on a battery replacement service. Feel tempted, yet?
** Due note, though. If you have an expensive and delicate watch, it is always better to let professionals handle the sensitive components of the inside of the watch. You may also have a warranty on such watches and can only have them 'treated' by certain individuals. For those with less expensive watches, sale watches, or simply a watch that you use to tell time and don't obsess over -- may as well do it yourself! **
Here's how to do it:
Materials
* You won't know what type of battery to buy until you've actually opened up your watch and checked what type it is currently using. My watch uses a 364 battery, so once I found out I grabbed two batteries on sale -- just in case! *
Method
1. Grab your watch and flip it over. Does the back look similar to my watch (i.e. it would need a watch wrench to screw open?). Perfect!
Here's how to do it:
Materials
- Watch
- Sticky Tape (packing tape or masking tape work well)
- Replacement Battery*
* You won't know what type of battery to buy until you've actually opened up your watch and checked what type it is currently using. My watch uses a 364 battery, so once I found out I grabbed two batteries on sale -- just in case! *
Method
1. Grab your watch and flip it over. Does the back look similar to my watch (i.e. it would need a watch wrench to screw open?). Perfect!
2. Grab your tape and start to ball it up, sticky-side-up, until you have a nice little balled up sticky mess of tape.
3. Stick your tape-clump against the back of your watch, Press it down, as flat as you can get the side touching the watch to be.
4. Hold the remaining 'clump' and gently begin to twist. My watch back followed the "righty tighty, lefty loosey" rule, so try turning Left. It may take a bit of effort at first, but it should screw open.
* If you feel the tape slipping, your tape isn't sticky enough. I used both masking tape and packing tape (the type that movers or inventory workers use) but found that the packing tape worked best. It just seemed to 'cling' better. *
4. Hold the remaining 'clump' and gently begin to twist. My watch back followed the "righty tighty, lefty loosey" rule, so try turning Left. It may take a bit of effort at first, but it should screw open.
* If you feel the tape slipping, your tape isn't sticky enough. I used both masking tape and packing tape (the type that movers or inventory workers use) but found that the packing tape worked best. It just seemed to 'cling' better. *
5. If you have a watch from Fossil, like mine, you will likely find this plastic protective covering inside your watch. Simply use the tab that covers the battery to lift the plastic piece out. I like to hold each side of the tab and life it out -- feels less like I'll break it over time.
6. Take note of your battery type. As I mentioned previously, mine was a 364 type battery. Put your exposed watch in a safe place (or screw the back on again), then go out and buy your replacement battery, come back, and replace your old battery.
7. Reverse the steps above (return the plastic covering, put the watch backing on, place the tape on the watch backing, screw in the opposite direction to tighten the backing back on) to re-assemble your watch.
Now don't you just feel so self-sufficient?
7. Reverse the steps above (return the plastic covering, put the watch backing on, place the tape on the watch backing, screw in the opposite direction to tighten the backing back on) to re-assemble your watch.
Now don't you just feel so self-sufficient?