When is a battery change not only a change of battery? When it’s performed by a horologist who cares about your watch. I’m usually requested why a battery change can’t be performed in 5 minutes ‘just like the man on the shoe restore store’ and the quick reply is that if a job is value doing, it’s value doing correctly.
In addition to altering the battery in your watch, I’ll run some assessments to the motion to make sure that the battery is the rationale the watch has stopped, then clear the case and bracelet, and at last change the seals that maintain mud, filth and moisture out of your watch case to assist ensure that your watch lives on for as a few years as attainable.
Opening the watch and analysis
After opening the watch I can do a fast visible evaluation of the motion. I’m on the lookout for any indicators of moisture ingress, battery leakage or another harm. Additionally, you will see within the image to the correct that there’s various filth and lifeless pores and skin current across the black gasket. This has labored its approach underneath the case again, and if the motion will not be eliminated and the watch case cleaned correctly, it might find yourself within the motion and trigger harm or just trigger the watch to cease.
Subsequent up is a chunk of diagnostic gear that helps me verify a number of issues – firstly if the previous battery is definitely lifeless. If the previous battery is working effective than a fast battery change gained’t clear up something. Subsequent, I’m able to verify the consumption of the motion: that is the quantity of energy the motion pulls from the battery every time it ticks. If that is too excessive, the motion requires an excessive amount of energy and can drain the battery rapidly. Typically, excessive consumption is an indication {that a} service is required. Lastly I’m additionally in a position to verify the situation of coils for the motors if required, and the accuracy of the module, which is a verify generally required on older quartz actions.
Case cleansing
As soon as I’m pleased that the battery is the issue and there are not any additional points which is able to should be addressed, I match a brand new battery to start the motion testing whereas I concentrate on the watch case. As talked about above, mud and filth working its approach into the case could cause issues for the motion. Water or moisture ingress is worse and can even smash the dial and palms. Because of this it is very important completely clear all components of the watch, and alter all of the gaskets and seals which maintain the filth and moisture out.
In addition to defending the motion, this normally means the watch appears approach higher, and might usually imply issues like jammed bezels normally work nicely once more. It’s usually the case that these are jammed by filth and lifeless pores and skin.
One remaining half I alter each time I restore a watch is to vary the spring bars. Over time these put on out and if left unchecked can ultimately break – they’re a weak spot and never value overlooking. You’ll be able to see beneath how out of practice they are often, in addition to how soiled and worn the previous ones are in comparison with the brand new.
Lastly with the case cleaned and reassembled, the motion may be fitted and the watch is placed on a 48-hour check interval. That is to catch any points which can not have develop into obvious in the course of the diagnostic testing and ensures that the majority watches which have their batteries changed by me run precisely as they need to for a number of years earlier than needing consideration as soon as once more.
