Recommendations for getting watch batteries replaced?

Forums › Off topic › Recommendations for getting watch batteries replaced?

sidefx

3775 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 1295

Trusted

#173226 15-May-2015 14:06

Does anybody have any recommendations for somewhere to get a watch battery replaced in Auckland (actually 2 watch batteries) that won't cost the earth but also take good care of it, ensure it stays water proof, etc? One is a men's Tissot, the other women's jewelry watch, I forget the brand. Neither hugely expensive or anything.

"I was born not knowing and have had only a little time to change that here and there." | Octopus Energy | Sharesies
- Richard Feynman

Handsomedan

7769 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 7402

ID Verified

Trusted

Subscriber

#1305846 15-May-2015 14:12

If you want the water resistance to be tested and confirmed, then I'd recommend the Swiss Watch repair place in Queen's Arcade.

A simple watch battery replacement will set you back around $20 but a pressure test will cost more. Significantly more.

http://www.nairns.co.nz/

Your other option is the place tucked in the arcade behind TSB at the other end of Queen Street (cnr of Wellesley, behind Wendy's).

They're also very good.
http://www.aucklandwatch.co.nz/

Handsome Dan Has Spoken.
Handsome Dan needs to stop adding three dots to every sentence...

Handsome Dan does not currently have a side hustle as the mascot for Yale

*Gladly accepting donations...

xpd

Geek of Coastguard
14116 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 4578

Retired Mod

ID Verified

Trusted

Lifetime subscriber

#1305847 15-May-2015 14:14

Theres a guy out in Howick who deals with Tissot watches at reasonable price etc - even Pascoes staff recommend him over their own services.
I'll have to ring my father for the name of the guy tho, cant remember it off top of my head.

Will get back asap.

XPD / Gavin

LinkTree

xpd

Geek of Coastguard
14116 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 4578

Retired Mod

ID Verified

Trusted

Lifetime subscriber

#1305851 15-May-2015 14:17

http://www.jeffhoneybunjewellers.co.nz/ apparently - dosent list Tissot on the site but wont hurt to call.

XPD / Gavin

LinkTree

sidefx

3775 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 1295

Trusted

#1305856 15-May-2015 14:31

Thanks chaps, those sound reasonable.

It does lead to a second question though - do you bother with and\or recommend a pressure test when getting watch batteries replaced?

"I was born not knowing and have had only a little time to change that here and there." | Octopus Energy | Sharesies
- Richard Feynman

xpd

Geek of Coastguard
14116 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 4578

Retired Mod

ID Verified

Trusted

Lifetime subscriber

#1305871 15-May-2015 14:49

Ive never asked for it, but will be next time I take my watch in - Im determined to start wearing mine again.

XPD / Gavin

LinkTree

DravidDavid

1907 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 305

#1305890 15-May-2015 15:24

I've never bothered with the pressure test. I wouldn't bother if the watch wasn't of any particularly high value.

Quic Broadband

Move to New Zealand's best fibre broadband service (affiliate link). Free setup code: R587125ERQ6VE. Note that to use Quic Broadband you must be comfortable with configuring your own router.

xpd

Geek of Coastguard
14116 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 4578

Retired Mod

ID Verified

Trusted

Lifetime subscriber

#1305894 15-May-2015 15:34

Mine was a $400 Seiko given as a 21st gift - so value , monetary wise, no probably not a lot... but sentimental value - priceless :)

XPD / Gavin

LinkTree

nakedmolerat

4631 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 874

Trusted

Lifetime subscriber

#1305963 15-May-2015 16:45

sidefx: Thanks chaps, those sound reasonable.

It does lead to a second question though - do you bother with and\or recommend a pressure test when getting watch batteries replaced?

Tissot quartz watch does not really have unique casing. I would just go to Mr Minit and get the battery and pressure tested there.

In fact most Quartz watches are simple. Unless you have one of those Sinn Watch with oil in it, then you must send to Germany to get the battery replaced.

jpoc

1043 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 289

#1306138 15-May-2015 21:16

I always do this myself and I have never had a problem.

The watches have always retained their waterproof characteristics.

My wife normally takes her's in to the nearest kiosk. ("I didn't want to trouble you.")

A few days later, she brings her watch to me and tells me that she had the battery changed and now there is water inside.

Inevitably, the back has not gone back on squarely.

I prise the back off. Sometimes it falls of without me doing anything other than looking at it.

I check that the rubber ring is correctly seated and that all is clean. Then, I dry it off by placing it on top of something like a busy hard drive.

Finally, I pop the back on, make sure that it is lined up just so and then squeeze the back into place in a soft jawed vice.

The lesson is that most folks who do this as a job are much worse at it than I am. You should either learn to do it yourself or go to a proper pro and not use the bloke at the kiosk.

blackjack17

1713 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 865

#1306143 15-May-2015 21:24

xpd: http://www.jeffhoneybunjewellers.co.nz/ apparently - dosent list Tissot on the site but wont hurt to call.

Jeff has been my families jeweler for over 30 years, had a number of watch batteries replaced and pressure tested.

He has always been fairly priced.

Electric kiwi signup credit Sharesies credit

stevenz

2802 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 125

#1306581 17-May-2015 12:41

Odds of the watch retaining its water resistancy when the battery is changed by someone competent (so, not Mr Minit who generally don't bother using sealant, you take your chances) is high. However, resistancy won't be guaranteed unless you pay the premium for the testing. It's basically an insurance policy.

Also, please don't take anything unusual or actually valuable to the same guys that do a crappy job of copying keys and/or gluing shoes back together. The horrible mistakes that I've had to fix as a result of cowboys over the years because someone thought a key bar should be able to do the battery on their $1000+ Gucci.

Jeff Honeybun, Auckland Watch Co. and Nairns are all very competent and have the know-how and equipment to do the job properly. You might pay a bit of a premium at Nairns however as they are high-end specialists.

@KnightNZ

Lego

Shop now for Lego sets and other gifts (affiliate link).

nakedmolerat

4631 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 874

Trusted

Lifetime subscriber

#1306618 17-May-2015 13:47

stevenz: Odds of the watch retaining its water resistancy when the battery is changed by someone competent (so, not Mr Minit who generally don't bother using sealant, you take your chances) is high. However, resistancy won't be guaranteed unless you pay the premium for the testing. It's basically an insurance policy.

Also, please don't take anything unusual or actually valuable to the same guys that do a crappy job of copying keys and/or gluing shoes back together. The horrible mistakes that I've had to fix as a result of cowboys over the years because someone thought a key bar should be able to do the battery on their $1000+ Gucci.

Jeff Honeybun, Auckland Watch Co. and Nairns are all very competent and have the know-how and equipment to do the job properly. You might pay a bit of a premium at Nairns however as they are high-end specialists.

I completely disagree.

Mr Minit comes with warranty and they will not touch it if they can't deal with it. They also do pressure tested. They also replace seal.

Like I said, Quartz watches are not rocket science complicated.

The thing is if your watch is $5k+, you surely knows who can service it.

stevenz

2802 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 125

#1306765 17-May-2015 19:26

Feel free to disagree, but I've seen the physical evidence of some of their attempts.

It's possible they've gotten wise more recently of course.

And they won't be replacing the seals on watches that don't use generic seals (e.g. G-Shocks which use shaped seals unique to specific models).

They're not complicated at all, but as with any job, there are some models that have gotcha's.

@KnightNZ