Do you need a Swiss Army battery change? You know it's time when your Swiss Army timepiece stops ticking! Here at WatchGnome, we often get questions about what it takes to change one of these batteries before customers order our Swiss Army Watch Battery Replacement. We have changed hundreds of Swiss Army watches over the past few years and wanted to share our insights.
Swiss Army Battery Change Process
Swiss Army watches are high quality inside and out, finely constructed watches with tight tolerances. This means it's best to have a professional handle Swiss Army Battery change for a number of reasons:
- Press or screw off casebacks. Most Swiss Army watches have screw backs. This usually helps create a tighter, water resistant seal. Removing these casebacks cleanly without scratching or damaging the Swiss Army watch requires the proper tools (between $15 and $30) and training. Improperly removing a case back can result in scratching or even breaking small pieces inside the watch - and we would never want that to happen!
- Fine, battery restraint arm. Most of these watches have a small moveable arm that holds the battery in place and completes the electrical circuit. This small metal arm is rather delicate and sometimes requires the loosening of a small screw to move it out of the way. It's critical to do this carefully to prevent stripping the screw or slipping and damaging the watch coil. Additionally, these screws are tiny and can easily disappear if your not careful. Finally, you want to be careful not to bend this arm or it may interrupt the current.
- Top quality battery. Swiss Army watches use a number of different batteries ranging from 364 to 394 or 395's depending on the size, but it's always critical to double check. Here at WatchGnome, we always make sure to use a top quality battery like Energizer, Renata or Sony. It's also critical to change the battery without touching it with your hands. It's best to avoid getting the oils from your hands on it to reduce corrosion risk. This will keep your watch running accurately for many more years.
- Proper case resealing and screw tensioning. Once the battery has been changed, the next step is to replace the battery arm and gently tighten the retaining screw. Replace the face retainer clip and then snap on the caseback. Putting the caseback on correctly requires care. If done wrong, it can bend or break pieces inside the watch.
Invest in a Swiss Army Watch, invest in it's care!
If you have invested the money in a high quality Swiss Army and taken the time to find just the one you want, we recommend getting the battery changed by a reputable professional. While we 100% think that WatchGnome is the best choice, we just care that it's done right! Don't cut corners with a fine timepiece when you a looking to change a Swiss Army Watch Battery.