Hey all,
Just wanted to know where you normally get your watch battery replaced and how much you normally pay.
Trying to decide whether it's cheaper to do it yourself or get a professional to do it.
Is it really worth the hassle to order the battery yourself and do it yourself?
Thanks!
I got a variety of watches from $100-200 so not the end of the world if it breaks but prefer it doesn't. Most of my watches are fossil. I was going to just learn to replace the battery myself but read a lot of online comments that you can break the pressure of the watch if you don't know what you're doing.
Get yourself some basic watch repair kit from ebay, about $20 and then the batteries.
Works for most watches.
Pays for itself after 1-2 battery changes.
It will end up with a watch that is NOT pressure proof, wouldn't take it into water afterwards.
It may work, but wouldn't bet on it , but no biggy for me.
If it's just a normal watch, yes you can do it yourself. It'll be cheaper because you won't be paying for the labour. Make sure you get a brand-name battery though, not the $2 shop type.
My watch is waterproof (not just water resistant), so I always take it to a place that can pressure test it as well as replace the battery. Most of the places at shopping centres can do it, though.
if it's a cheapy, I'd just replace it myself. for screw casebacks you can buy this rubber ball off eBay to open it. Bob Shao on Russell street in Melbourne has really reasonable prices for watch service if it's something more expensive.
Around $20 for a jeweller plus pressure testing if required
Like others have said, if it is an expensive watch, you would probably want to get it done properly. I have an "ordinary" watch and got it done at the Kiosk in a shopping centre! Took a couple of minutes and came with 2 year warranty and cost all up $12!
A place I took my watch to get the battery changed, charged $20 but wanted another $40 or $60 (can't remember) just to do the pressure testing. I passed on that…I don't swim/dive with it anyway.
I see all relevant comments had already been brought up.
For what ever it's worth,
- I read a button cell comparison sometime back; they ranked Renata- a swiss brand- as the best (sorry can't find the link to it now…)
- The way you treat the rubber sealing ring under the back plate of the watch once you open it, can make or break it's water resistance. Ideally on expensive watches, it's sealing ring is changed along with the battery. However, for DIY purposes, you could be extra vigilant to ensure the ring is seated in it's groove properly before closing the plate. Also better if the ring is very slightly lubed with an approved quality watch lube, for an extra snug seal and corrosion resistance.
- in some watches, an extra step would be needed to reset and start the watch on the new battery. You will have to shortcut the battery with "AC contact". This tiny contact can be found on the side of watch movement. You can use pointed tweezers for this: one end on battery +, another on AC contact for three secs. Not as difficult as it sounds.
All in, DIY watch battery change is easy, and can save a few bucks, especially if you have a large collection.
When I worked at wallace bishop it was $19 including the battery but they couldn't guarantee water resistance
From the watch shop in the shopping centre that pressure tested them it was $40-$60
These are watches where you wouldn't send them to a service centre like tag etc so probably watches under $500
To me, it's not so much about the price but whether it's waterproof (and if you intend to use it under water).
If it's waterproof, I don't dare touch it myself.
But otherwise, I'm happy to just DIY. A brand name battery costs about $1-2 on eBay (from sellers in Asia). That's a lot cheaper than the $20 that is usually charged to have a battery replaced in a shop.
or just get a Citizen Eco-Drive. No battery replacements :)
buy watch battery on ebay you'll be able to get like 10 for the prices of one fitted in a shop
Thanks for the suggestions! I'm leaning towards just doing it myself since I have a number of watches and none of them are overly expensive. My initial concern was that it could break the watch but it seems it's more relevant to water proof watches anyway (most my watches are just normal casual/dress watches that are water resistent).
what kind of watch? If it is a cheap casio I would do it myself and buy the battery from ebay, otherwise I take it to a watch repair.