Other than the O-stores where would one have a GMT battery replaced. My Ion Plated GMT (I have never worn) I need to have the battery replaced before I hope to snag a Cisse Hijinx with it as trade bait. I've replaced may digital watch batteries but not an analog. Suggestions?

Thanks,

K.

For watches, I usually go to dealers that sell mid-range quartz luxury watches such as Omega and Breitling. They usually put on a sealant that's pretty good for waterproofness, though they won't guarantee water resistance unless you pay for the testing. A little more expensive, but it's a good idea to do something like that if you're around water a lot.

For what it costs, you may want to consider just picking up your own caseback opener...they run for about $15 off Ebay, a battery change will cost as much easily if not more. I'm very hesitant myself to let any jeweler touch my watches as most of the monkeys treat watches very poorly when sizing bracelets or changing batteries. They'll happily scratch to hell a brand new watch you may have even just bought from them and chalk it up as a "sorry, can't help it". I have a complete set of watch tools myself now and can deal bracelet sizing or battery changes quite easily.

Hey Vertigo, you really seem to know a lot about watches. How about running a step by step pictorial about bracelet sizing and battery changing for the rest of us? I'm sure that many of us would find that very helpful.

All TimeBombs = No need for batteries!

Um, I have been looking at getting my D2 battery replaced and just haven't done it. I know we dont carry the tools or batteries at the o-stores, and we always suggest sending it to corp. to keep the warranty on the internals and such, but I figure any decent mall jewler should be able to do it. I have done a few jury batteries at the helzbergs in my old mall since I knew the jewler and got it for cost.

Ha i replaced my D-1 battery easily. there is actually a jeweler I used near thats good i just have no time before my move down south.

Hey Vertigo, you really seem to know a lot about watches. How about running a step by step pictorial about bracelet sizing and battery changing for the rest of us? I'm sure that many of us would find that very helpful.

I think a step by step tutorial isn't quite necessary, as if you can't figure out how to use the tools...welllll...but I can point you to the right quality tools. For bracelet sizing, you can find them here: http://www.mywatchmaker.net/watchmakertools.htm . The Bergeon Spring Bar tool and the Bracelet Sizing tool are the ones I have. They're not cheap and may not be worth it if you only own one watch, but I've tried the made in China variations of those tools and they're terrible (i.e. the cheaper sizing tools have a lot of play at the tip, making it hard to aim it right into the bracelet's holes; the Bergeon one is much tighter and more precise, this is especially important when you're trying to drive pins back in), so it's worth paying the extra. For the caseback opener, that I just got a cheap one $15 one off Ebay, as there's a considerable price difference for a good one (~$45 for a good one). You'll also need a small hammer, the smaller the better, you'll need it to hammer pins back in before finalizing it with the bracelet tool, as well as a plier with teeth to pull pins out. I'm a watch guy and own multiple watches and am always buying/selling watches, so these tools are easily worth it for me. It's nice getting a new watch and just being able to adjust the bracelet VERY CAREFULLY at my own leisure until it fits. My friends all like to come to me nowdays to fit their bracelets as well.

Thanks for the link Vertigo. From the pictures on that site it does seem quite self explanatory. Not to expensive either (compared to a scuffed watch).

Some of the O watches, GMT, Judge, and the D1 also, are vaccum sealed. So popping off the backing yourself and replacing the battery will actually make the water leak resistance next to nothing, at least that is what my local rep told me when i asked him about changing the battery in my GMT and D1.

That's pretty much the case with just about any watch really, you immediately compromise the factory WR ratings if you open the caseback. Most jewelers that replace batteries will usually have a disclaimer that they don't guarantee water resistance. If you manage to find one that can also test for WR resistance, expect to pay about $30 to get the test done on special equipment.