You may have noticed that when you first purchased your watch, it took at least 2 or 3 years before the battery stopped. This is not because the factory uses magical, longer-lasting batteries than the rest of us 3rd-party watchmakers and repairers. At Fix My Watch we actually use the same batteries as the brands to ensure we are in keeping with their standards.

Since your first or second battery change have you noticed that the battery doesn’t seem to last as long? This is nothing to do with the battery. Just like with all electronic devices, the more powerful the device or the more power the device requires, the shorter the battery will last. If your watch’s movement isn’t operating efficiently because there is dried oils blocking the internal gears or the circuitry is slightly damaged or there’s too much friction inside, it’s going to need to draw more power from the battery in order to keep your watch accurate. This therefore results in your battery being drained quicker and not lasting as long.

Watch manufacturers place various timescales on their watches when it comes to the service interval question. Much like cars, manufacturers use various techniques for creating watches and movements and therefore use different components and so ultimately what works for one watch or brand may be contrasting to the recommendations for another.

Even the simplest of quartz watches have a lot of moving parts to ensure it operates optimally. Internal parts are greased and oiled to reduce friction and wearing on the parts. Once this oil has dried out or debris gets into the movement, parts may break or the friction is built up between these parts and your watch will reduce its performance or cease working altogether.

These lubricants within your watch do not last forever and this is why the manufacturers suggest servicing your watch every few years. Some watches may require less frequent servicing, however a good rule of thumb (in our opinion) is no longer than 5 years.

It is also good to note that servicing a luxury watch such as a Tag Heuer, Breitling or Longines quartz watch is a lot cheaper and more efficient than replacing the entire movement inside because everything is damaged due to it never having been serviced.

Get a free quote for a battery or service using our price calculator here.