How to open a watch to change the battery?

By Vincent Bergerat, Creative and Design Director at Kelton.

Reading time: 5 minutes.

Disclaimer: This topic is primarily for owners of quartz watches. 

A common scene: you look at your watch, and the time hasn't moved since you last checked. Another clue: the second hand is still. It's unlikely that time has stopped. It's more likely that your battery needs to be replaced. Change the battery, yes. Open the watch, really?

Two possibilities:

1) You can do it.

2) You can do it – but we don't recommend it – at your own risk.

Here we will address this crucial topic: the tools, the steps, water resistance issues, (always)... and if you want to call in a professional: which one.

Basic tools*: what do you need?

Case back opener, watchmaker's knife, or a thin blade for a snap-on case back.

For screw-down case backs, you will need a wrench whose opening you will adjust according to the diameter of your watch's case back and the visible notches on it.

• Watch cushion

• Tweezers

Just as important: a soft cloth. Be careful, some screw-down case backs require an even more specific tool than the adjustable wrench described above, and which varies depending on the model. This is where the idea of calling in a professional may seem logical.

• You will find everything you need on your favorite platform, in a pharmacy, or at a watchmaker's for less than €15.

The steps (the two types of case back).

Pressure-fit case back

Before inserting the opener into the notch you have previously located, think of one thing: a fragile sealing gasket is hidden here, which must not be damaged. Apply slight pressure and gently lift the case back.

Screw-down case back

Once again, and this is the rule in watchmaking, the greatest meticulousness and gentleness are required (risk of scratches). Use the appropriate opener, most often an adjustable wrench, and gently turn counter-clockwise.

Next step: which battery? You have, of course, already purchased the correct battery, and how did you know?

1. You consulted the instructions. Yes.

2. You found the reference on the Kelton website, on the battery itself – in short, you have the information.

It would undoubtedly be an insult to your intelligence to specify that the polarity of the battery must be observed (it's written on it). The last step is to close the watch, making sure the gasket is correctly positioned.

And if none of the above steps inspire you, how much does it cost?

Expect between €5 and €25 depending on the complexity of the operation.

What about water-resistant watches?

You have read our article (here) regarding your watch's water resistance, and therefore know how thorny the subject is and how delicate the operation. It will preferably be carried out in a workshop and followed by a water resistance check.

Let's be frank: changing the battery of a water-resistant watch is a bit like trying to reseal an aquarium yourself without making waves. On the Kelton Racing 1975 Gold Black, the gasket that ensures water resistance doesn't like dust, hurried fingers, or approximate screwdrivers found at the bottom of a drawer. Once the case is reopened, even with the best intentions in the world, this gasket loses its splendor: it compresses, fatigues, and never quite regains its original shape.

As a result, a watch that proudly dove to 100 meters can, after a DIY job, dread simple Parisian rain. This is precisely why Kelton after-sales service systematically checks water resistance after each battery change: because a Racing 1975 that takes on water makes a great story, but a bad memory.

In summary: for the most cautious among you: do not change the battery of your water-resistant watch yourself. Here is a list of alternatives; there are many, and each offers specific advantages that we leave to your appreciation.

You may already know your local watchmaker and have established a trusting relationship. A jewelry store can also do the job very well, whether in the city center or a shopping mall, in a neighboring town, there is no wrong solution.

However, we recommend, more than any other solution for your battery change, that you contact Kelton after-sales service (link).

Located in Lectoure, France, it consists of a team of watchmakers equipped with every conceivable tool, waiting for your watch, its battery to be changed, and its water resistance to be checked, according to the strictest watchmaking rules. This solution, in addition to giving you a clear view of the intervention time, will offer an additional guarantee and optimal follow-up, measures that, as you can imagine, have a significant influence on the lifespan of your Kelton.

This article has been reviewed and validated by the Kelton technical team.

P.S. If you have read this article carefully, you know which tool to use to change the battery of the Kelton Racing 1975 Gold Black in the photo. 1, 2, 3, or 4?