Gold Watch Battery Replacement?

Frank99

Old Sovereign Watch worth about 450 pound says Hallmarked 9ct Gold on dial.
I used to get the battery changed whilst i waited but all stores now want to send it away in case they scratch it.
I have used the market but the batteries only last a few months.
How difficult is it to change a battery myself, the watch does not have a lip or indent to open at the back.
I was quoted £49 at my local market the other day and it used to be about £10, i am reluctant to pay but worry about leaving a dud battery in the watch in case of leaks etc.

lisyloo

I have a Gucci which a lot of stores (like goldsmiths) just won’t deal with.
I have found timpsons do it.
Also the “shack” places you find at tube stations.
Also any old school watch shop may help.

I’ve paid between 12 and 17.

Frank99

lisyloo wrote: »

I have a Gucci which a lot of stores (like goldsmiths) just won’t deal with.
I have found timpsons do it.
Also the “shack” places you find at tube stations.
Also any old school watch shop may help.

I’ve paid between 12 and 17.

Great advice, thanks!
Never realised about Timpsons!::)

Chrishazle

Timpsons did one of my wife's watches a week or so ago, cost £11 while I watched and waited (in the big shopping centre in Ashford), however if I'd taken it to one of their smaller places in Tesco's car park I suspect they'd want to send it away!

JamoLew

Think it depends on the location.

Stall in my local market did a battery in my Tag 3 years ago fo £20 and it's still going strong

Frank99

My local Timpsons has quoted me £89 eek, wondering if at this rate i should start changing my own batteries.

Joe_Horner

The problem with most of those Sovereign models is that the back is part of the case and you open them by removing the glass, (physically) pulling out the stem and crown (winder) then dropping the whole lot out the front.

A good watch repairer shouldn't really e charging more than their normal battery change price because it doesn't take any longer, it's just different, but a lot of places (if they do them) add to the price because they know a lot of places won't touch them.

There's a jeweller in town who does exactly that, asks the owner to leave it for a couple of hours, then sends them down the road for me to do

Over the years have seen an awful lot of them where someone who doesn't know what they're doing have attacked the "back" with a case knife and badly dented it or (in a couple of cases) actually split the metal! It's usually repairable but shouldn't be happening iin the first place