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Battery Change, DIY or "Authorized Service Center"

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Team. These are the only two “nice” watches that I have that require batteries. They are both out of warranty. Once, in the past, I sent my Victorinox to the “authorized service provider” for battery change and it came back with the chrono sweep hand registering to the 8 o’clock position on reset. For you watch guys. Should I just replace the batteries myself? Local jeweler? Or send to and Authorized Service center?
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G-Deuce
308
Jun 18, 2018
UPDATE: Changed battery in the Luminox without incident. I purchased a tool kit from amazon that had a three point case wrench and it worked like a charm. Most challenging bit was the battery retention clip which had a tiny screw that really wanted to be flung away by the spring pressure of the retainer. Screw slot was too small for any of the drivers included in the kit, but I had another around that worked. Re-lubed o-ring and cleaned the crud off the case at the seam where the case screwed in. Used a Renata replacement battery in case I ever do have to send it to a service center (although the two year warranty has expired) Also the desk magnifier that I use for painting D&D minis was a great help.
Keth
760
Jun 14, 2018
If you've ever changed the battery in a garage door opener or key fob, you can change the battery in a quartz watch. Unlike those other two items you need the proper tool for the job, a watch back opener, which can generally be had for $20 or less.
Cloaca
1906
Jun 15, 2018
KethMy wife took a watch to a jack of all trades shop (shoe resoling, spare key making, watch batteries). The guy destroyed the movement. The stem was bent into a Z shape. It would literally run backwards for a while then run forwards and then stop. I had to end up buying a working version of the same 20-year-old watch model and have a watch shop swap out the movement, what the guy called a donor watch.
Somehow the movement was not fixed in the case in such a way that he rotated the movement in removing and replacing the batter with the stem of course fixed to the crown, and he bent it all out of shape. It was stuck in an unknown state inside the movment. It wasn't clear that the watch wasn't otherwised damaged in the process. A new stem was quoted at $100 since it would have to be manufacured from scratch by a specialist by measuring the old stem. The watch shop said it could look for an old watch with the same movement, but I lucked out and found the donor watch myself.
I have this watch shop change all my wife's batteries now, an extra $5 maybe, but worth it.
BF_Hammer
717
Jun 13, 2018
I don't know what tools or experience you have for opening things up and doing repair and maintenance. If you are the type who takes the car to somebody to change your oil, calls a plumber to replace a garbage disposal, or takes your lawn mower to a service center for it's annual tune-up, then I recommend you also let a local jeweler handle changing the battery.
I'm a person that repairs things for a living, and I DIY most home jobs. I also have a handle on what type of jobs are over my experience level. I do my own battery changes. But I have all the right tools to do it, and feel perfectly at ease removing a watch case back. So really it is a matter of what you believe you can do.
As for that Victorinox resetting to 8 after the battery change, that is what may happen again on a DIY battery change. The service center person did a rush job without fully checking function. But quartz chronos have a simple procedure for aligning that second hand (Google it, there are videos) so it is no big deal at all to fix it. No opening the back, all done with the chrono buttons.
BF_Hammer
717
Jun 13, 2018
If the watch getting the battery is 18 years old, perhaps look to buy an assortment of o-rings to replace the original on the case back. I bought one mixed-size bag several years ago and replace them at least every other battery change. It won't hurt to be ready.
For backs that unscrew, the better wrench to use is the type that has 3 points of contact rather than the 2-point spanners. Also many people recommend putting scotch tape or clear shipping tape over the back before wrenching just in case you slip with the tool. Other ways that can work: there is a rubber bouncing ball method (I usually try to do that first before going to a wrench if I possible), and there is a similar method involving balling-up duct tape sticky-side-out, and using that to grip the case back and twist open. The bigger the ball or wad of tape, the more torque you can apply to turning. Look at getting a small assortment of watchmaker screwdrivers also. Sometimes it is required to loosen a screw to get a battery contact out of the way, mostly not though. But the micro-screwdrivers also are invaluable for prying out a tiny battery that is securely clamped in.
G-Deuce
308
Jun 14, 2018
BF_HammerThank you for your sound advice.
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