Quartz Watch Repair Explained
A “quartz watch” is, generally speaking, any battery-powered watch, with a few quirky vintage exceptions. Battery powered watches are common for a lot of reasons. They’re reliable, not needing to be wound or kept in motion to power the movement. You can be almost always be sure that as long as the battery is good, the time will be correct. They’re available in every price point and quality– from a few dollars in a discount store to the hundreds of thousands for elaborately jeweled gold and platinum masterpiece jewelry designs, and just about everything in between. Many higher-end Swiss watch makers produce quartz models in addition to their traditional mechanical and automatic collections for their relative affordability and small, slim movement. Furthermore, they’re typically able to be more precise than their mechanical counterparts. When it comes to telling time, a Timex functions better than a Rolex.
The combination of their more accessible price points and the fact that they’re generally low-maintenance makes them great for people who like to wear different watches as accessories to coordinate with the colors and styles of different outfits without having to shell out a small fortune for a large collection of traditional watches.
While quartz watches are typically lower maintenance than mechanical watches, there are some basic tips that will help you keep your quartz watches running smoothly for as long as possible.
Batteries
A battery-powered movement does prevent the day-to-day need to wind a mechanical watch or keep an automatic watch on a winder, but it comes with the cost of an annual or biannual chore. Batteries do run out, which requires a trip to a local jeweler to have it changed.
Here are some tips about having a watch battery changed:
- Go to a professional with a good reputation to have your watch battery changed. It’s a good idea to seek out a jeweler who offers watch repair services, because a dead battery is just one reason a quartz watch might stop working. If it’s not the battery, you’ll be happy to be in the right place to have other repair options investigated. A jeweler will also replace worn-out gaskets and check the overall condition of the timepiece to increase the longevity of your watch.
- Get your battery changed promptly after the watch dies. When a dead battery sits in a watch for too long, the acid inside can leach out and damage the connectors, the coil, or other parts of the watch. Even if you don’t wear the watch often, it’s not a good idea to let it sit with a dead battery for too long.
- Tell your professional if you use the watch for diving. While most quartz watches are water-resistant to some degree, a watch that you use for diving should be pressure-tested every time the battery is changed. This process normally takes a few days, but it’s well worth preserving your favorite timepiece the next time you go on a SCUBA trip.
- Notice how often your battery needs to be replaced. The expected battery life will differ from watch to watch. Some watches house large batteries in efficient well-made movements, but others may be smaller to accommodate a delicate design or even for the ease of mass-production. In addition to battery size, over time, the connectors inside the watch will become dirty or slightly corroded, lessening the efficiency of the movement. In general, however, you should expect a single battery to power your watch for about a year or two. If your batteries aren’t lasting at least a year, it’s a sign that there’s probably another issue with the watch that should be addressed.
Some mechanically savvy people do change their own watch batteries at home, but it’s an undertaking that may be more trouble than it’s worth. Special tools are required for changing a battery– depending on the watch, you may need small sets of screwdrivers, replacement battery strap screws, gaskets, lug wrenches, or a bench-mounted toggle press with a set of interchangeable dies. It could cost up to hundreds of dollars to purchase the tools needed to change your watch battery. Batteries themselves are also an issue for the individual consumer– they’re typically only available in multi-packs and they have limited shelf-lives, so the chances are that even if you bought ten batteries, you’d only be able to use one or two before the rest went bad.
Skill is also an issue– too many times, our customers have tried to change their batteries themselves, but with no training and the wrong tools, they’ve ended up severely damaging or even ruining their watches in their effort to save time and money. Sometimes the DIY methods are successful, but our word to the wise is to avoid taking the gamble.
Routine Service
If you’re noticing that your watch batteries aren’t lasting as long as they used to (especially if you’re not getting a year’s power from a single battery), or if a new battery fails to power the watch at all, it may be time for a routine servicing of the timepiece. Sometimes, you might experience issues like the watch slowing down or working only intermittently; symptoms like these indicate that the battery alone is not the issue.
In most cases, a cleaning and overhaul of the watch provides the service needed to solve these types of problems. During an overhaul, your watch is completely disassembled and every part is meticulously cleaned of corrosion and debris, checked and repaired/replaced when necessary. The watch is demagnetized and all functions of the watch are tested and repaired. All components are cleaned and lubricated, the gaskets, when present, are checked and replaced, and the watch is reassembled. There are multiple parts that keep a quartz watch functioning beyond the simple battery. Sometimes these other parts may need to be repaired or replaced to keep the timepiece accurate.
These services, performed by a skilled watchmaker, are usually affordable, but it varies case by case. A reputable watchmaker will need to assess the watch in-person before giving a quote.
Other Service
Accidents happen. Your beloved watch may find itself at the bottom of a swimming pool and filled with water. You may catch the crown on something and pull it all the way out. The crystal might smash as the watch drops to a tile floor. And sometimes, you don’t know what happened– it was working one day, and the next, it stops; pieces inside can get dislodged, break, or simply stop working like they used to. Electronics are not eternal entities, after all.
When these things happen, there are professionals to help! Here are some tips for getting a watch repair:
- Find a local shop with a good reputation. Years ago, there was a bad watchmaker in our neighborhood, and when his former customers would come to us in desperation holding plastic bags containing the skeletal remains of their watches, they all said the same thing, “I should have read the reviews!” We pride ourselves in our skilled services and are happy to show customers our 4.5+ stars on Yelp and Google Reviews. While nobody can avoid the occasional unhappy review, a business’s overall reputation can tell you a lot. A bad watchmaker can do more harm than good.
- Expect to wait for a quote specific to your watch. You wouldn’t trust a mechanic who gave you a price before looking under the hood, and the same is true with your watchmaker. A good watchmaker will take a few days to examine, diagnose, and source and price parts, before calling you with the price for your repairs and giving you the opportunity to accept the plan or cancel. At Secrete Fine Jewelry, we offer free estimates, giving our customers the opportunity to consider an educated diagnosis of the watch before committing to payment.
- Feel comfortable weighing your options. Sometimes, whether for sentimental or monetary reasons, it’s worth repairing and servicing a timepiece. Other times, it may be more reasonable to cut your losses and start again– no matter what you decide, you should feel comfortable asking your repair professionals for advice and guidance along the way.
Hygiene
As with anything you wear against your skin, a watch should be cleaned. Our hands are exposed to so many germs, it’s important for your own well-being and for the longevity of your possessions to keep your watches clean.
Most watches are water-resistant, not water-proof. So don’t run them through the dishwasher! Even a watch with a high pressure test is not impervious to steam, so care should be taken not to damage your watch when you clean it.
The caseback (the underside of the round part of the watch) is often a trap for dirt and grime. Dead skin cells and sweat can accumulate in engravings, screw-heads, designs, or other indentations to form a gross grayish paste in the crevices on the back of a watch. Use a paper towel dampened with rubbing alcohol to gently clean the back of your watches regularly. For those stubborn little areas (or if dirt has already started to build up), you can use an old soft toothbrush slightly dampened with soapy water to scrub away the grime. Take care for soft-metal watches or watches that have been plated in gold or gold-tone finishes or other PVD colors like blackened metals or ceramics that you don’t scratch the finish!
Metal bracelets can also trap lots of dirt, dead skin, germs, and pollutants in between the links. Scrub with a toothbrush to remove the dirt and oils. If your watch bracelet is really dirty, you can take it to a jeweler who can usually, for a small fee, remove the bracelet and soak it in an ultrasonic cleaning machine.
Nylon and cloth straps are often easy to remove and clean with some gentle detergent when they start to get funky, and when a leather strap starts to smell a little ripe, it’s simply time to replace it.
You’ll be grateful to see your watch looking shiny and new, and feel good knowing that you’re taking good care of it.
Interested in learning more about making your favorite quartz watches last? Contact us today to chat with one of our watch experts for all the tips you need. Our expert team can assist you with battery changes, routine service, repairs, and cleaning tips!
