Watch Battery Replacement & Pressure Testing
We can replace your battery and test your watch for water resistance on site. We can perform vacuum testing, water leak testing and dive watch testing to 125 bar.
Expert Watch Battery Replacement in Lancashire & UK-Wide
A dead battery is more than just an inconvenience; leaving a flat cell inside your quartz watch is the leading cause of movement damage. Over time, old alkaline batteries can leak corrosive acid, destroying the delicate circuit boards and copper coils inside. At Prime Time Watch Repairs, we don’t just “swap and go.” We treat a battery change as a mini-service, ensuring your timepiece is powered by fresh, high-grade Swiss energy sources that prevent leakage and ensure longevity.
Crucially, every time a watch case is opened, the factory water-resistant seal is broken. A standard jeweller or market stall often neglects this, leaving your watch vulnerable to moisture, sweat, and rain. We take a different approach. We replace the rubber gaskets and perform a full vacuum and pressure test to certify that your TAG Heuer, Omega, or Breitling is once again watertight to its manufacturer specifications, giving you total peace of mind.
We also offer a standard battery service as pressure testing is optional. All battery replacements come with a 12 month warranty card.
Certain brands we offer a 2 year warranty.
Get a free estimateOur Watch Battery & Pressure Testing Process
We use the same diagnostics and tooling as the major Swiss service centres.
Before opening the watch, we test the movement from the outside to ensure the issue is indeed the battery. Once opened, we test the “consumption” of the movement circuit. If the watch is draining power too quickly (indicating dried oil or dirt), a new battery won’t last. We will advise you if this is the case.
We use specific case dies and tools to make sure no damage is done to the caseback.
We remove the old cell and inspect the contacts for corrosion. We then install a fresh Renata Swiss Silver-Oxide battery (0% Mercury). These are the industry standard for stable voltage and leak resistance. We do not use cheap alkaline alternatives.
This is the “Reseal” part of the service. Rubber O-rings perish and flatten over time. We remove the old case-back gasket and, where accessible, the crown gasket. We lubricate new silicone seals with Fomblin grease and install them to ensure a perfect airtight barrier.
If you have requested your watch to be pressure tested then we will test them using our vacuum tested for an industry standard test up to 100M (10 bar). We do have the equipment to test up to 125 bar (1250 Matres)
We set the time and date (ensuring the date changes at midnight, not midday). We check the EOL (End of Life) indicator if applicable and give the case and bracelet an ultrasonic clean (This is usually done whilst the case and gaskets have been removed)
See why hundreds of customers trust us with their watch battery replacement
Brands we cover for watch battery replacement
We regularly perform watch battery replacement on major brands including TAG Heuer, Cartier, Rolex Oysterquartz, Omega, Breitling and many more.
Frequently asked questions
Here are the answers to the most common questions our customers ask about watch battery replacement.
This is completely up to you. We would always recommend if you have paid a lot of money for a watch then the sensible thing would be to maintain it. Without a pressure test and gasket check then you are not protected against water damage however we realise not everybody will want this service so we do offer a battery replacement without test at your request.
If you visit our Lancashire workshop, we can often perform a Battery only or Battery & Pressure Test within the hour (Parts dependant). For our postal customers, we post once a week and it will be returned on our usual postal day unless requested otherwise.
We primarily use Renata or Energizer Industrial Silver-Oxide cells. These are Swiss-made, high-capacity batteries used by most brands.
Many Swiss quartz watches (like the Omega Seamaster) have an EOL (End of Life) indicator. When the battery is low, the second hand will jump in 4-second intervals. This is a warning to change the battery immediately to prevent leakage.
Yes. We offer a 2 year warranty on the battery life and the water resistance (provided the watch passes the pressure test). If the battery dies within a year, we will replace it free of charge.
This usually means the movement has high consumption (dried oils or dirt in the gears) or the previous repairer used a stale/cheap battery. Our consumption test identifies if your watch actually needs a service rather than just a battery, preventing you from wasting money on batteries that drain in weeks.
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