In-store Services
Watch Batteries
WATCH BATTERIES by Graeme Hall
A customer comes into our shop,
“can I have a battery fitted to my watch please?”
“certainly, it will be ready in 10 minutes or so”
“how much will it cost?”
“it will be $7.50”
“but at xyz jewellers they’ll fit a battery for only $4.50”
Now what is your reply?
Are you prepared to explain the difference between the battery we fit, and the “el cheapo” battery? You need to confidently explain the difference between our quality battery and the “el cheapo”. Your real knowledge should convince the customer that they are the one to benefit from the better quality battery that we are prepared to fit. Here are some facts to help you.
What is a battery?
It is a small button like thing that generates electricity through chemical action.
How many types of watch batteries are there?
There are four watch batteries.
What are they?
1.Silver oxide high drain 1.55 volts
2.Silver oxide low drain 1.55 volts
3.Lithium high drain 3.00 volts
4.Lithium low drain 3.00 volts
Does this mean there are high and low drain batteries?
Yes, the high drain gives more power for alarms, a light or other uses, but has a shorter life. The low drain lasts longer in low use watches that do not have any extras.
What happens if you use the wrong type of battery?
Using a high drain battery instead of a low drain is not too serious, a slightly shorter life from the battery, but the watch will function with no problems. Using a low drain instead of a high drain is far more serious and SHOULD NOT BE DONE. Although the watch will go O.K. for a while, often after a month or so, then it will misbehave by starting and stopping.
Why does this happen?
The low drain battery will function for a short period only as a high drain battery, then it becomes unstable and becomes unreliable and the watch will often stop and start.
How do I know the high drain from the low drain?
1.With the batteries we use here, the “sw” series (blue packets) are all Low drain, and the “w” series (purple packets) are all High drain.
2.There are charts provided by our battery supplier, these can be found in the filing cabinet, under Rose Bros.
Is there any other common problem?
Yes there is….it’s called a shelf life. This is the time from when a battery is made until it fails to work even when it is not fitted into a watch.
How do I know how old the batteries are that we are buying/fitting?
1.we check with our supplier when buying
2.we keep a low stock level that is turned over regularly
3.we try and ensure when we do get new stock in that we but these to the back of the hooks, therefore using the older stock first.
But why not buy the cheaper battery and replace them more often?
Ever seen a watch where the casing of the cheap battery has leaked and let battery acid into the watch? It is not a pretty sight and it can mean either an expensive circuit or a watch ruined completely. Not a saving for the customer.
Do the more expensive batteries leak?
No battery should be left for too long in the watch, but the safety factor is much greater with the quality product, because of the thicker casing and seal in the quality battery. It will not leak for some time while the “el cheapo” can leak almost as soon as they stop working.
