Kind Of Watches Battery and Basic Learning

To prevent you from damaging your favorite watch, it is important to know about watch batteries.

The battery in a watch is usually small, also called a button cell, cell battery, button battery, or coin battery.

The battery life is 2-5 years, the better ones are original and are 5 years. Slightly average, 2 years.

Watches that require a battery are either quartz or electronic watches(smart watches).

There are 3 main types of batteries in use in a watch:

• Mercury battery.

• Silver Oxide battery.

• Lithium battery.

I have a watch made by our factory, with a Japanese Miyota movement, which is years old and was run out of battery, so I always ask my colleagues to change the battery for me.

Now let me share some information I have learned. And before we change the battery, let’s learn some general knowledge about watch batteries.

Types of Watches Battery

3 main types of batteries in use in a watch:

• Mercury battery.
• Silver Oxide battery.
• Lithium battery.

A more detailed answer is also given in Wikipedia about coin cell batteries.

See also：https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Button_cell

For some more detailed information on batteries.

See also：https://www.batteryequivalents.com/wrist-watch-battery-replacement-chart.html

What Does Meaning the Model Designation?

The model number of a watch battery is usually an identifier consisting of a string of numbers and letters, and different watch models require different battery models. The most common watch battery model on the market is the SR626SW, also known as the 377 battery.

This battery is small, has a high capacity and is widely used in small electronic devices such as watches, alarm clocks and calculators. In addition to this, there are also models such as SR920SW and SR621SW which are also widely used.

What do some of the codes or models in the battery mean?

For example, CR2035, SR626SW, LR626, 626SW,

let’s see

The Letter Suffix of the Battery：

The following additional suffix letters may optionally appear in the type designation to indicate the inside electrolyte used:

• P: potassium hydroxide electrolyte
• S: sodium hydroxide electrolyte
• No letter: organic electrolyte
• SW: low drain type for quartz watches (analog or digital) without light, alarm, or chronograph functions.
• W: high drain type for all quartz watches, calculators, and cameras.

The Prefix of Battery Type:

Normally, the first or first 2 letters are for the type of battery

• BR or CR=Lithium Battery
• SR or SG or S =Silver oxide cells
• T=Silver peroxide
• LR or A=Alkaline batteries
• M=Mercury oxide(This is not allowed to be used now)

Manufacturers using SR for silver oxide watch batteries will tend to use LR for alkaline.

Those who use SG for silver oxide tend to use AG for alkaline.

L, S, and C-type batteries are the most common types used today in quartz watches, calculators, small PDA devices, computer clocks, and flashing lights.

Miniature zinc air batteries – type P – for hearing aids and medical instruments

Some other differences in battery suffixes:

In the silver oxide type of batteries, you will often see different suffixes for the same battery model. The letters at the end of the reference number are different, one is W and the other is SW. Which one do you choose?

For example, you have the SR1130W and SR1130SW. “SW” refers to use in low power consumption devices, while “W” refers to high power consumption devices. So what’s the difference?

Well, you tend to use “SW” batteries only in watches without a backlight. Your standard analog quartz watch can use a low-drain watch battery, whereas a watch with a backlight does require a high-drain ¨W¨ watch battery.

Having said that, you can very happily use a high-drain watch battery to run a low-drain watch.

When used in low-power consumption devices, the ¨SW¨ battery tends to last slightly longer than its ¨W¨ equivalent.

If for more details, please see this article.

What Kind of Batteries Do Watches Use?

Someone asked me, Do I need to choose a battery according to the model of my watch? What is the usual type of original battery in a watch?

The performance of the original Japanese Miyota movement battery is very good.

But you might not understand the mark of the original battery, so let’s read it in detail!

MIYOTA original batteries are produced under strict control in Japan and are identified as Japan Maxell XXX or Japan SONY XXX, where Japan means produced in Japan, MAXELL or SONY means the battery brand and XXX means the battery model. In the Japanese battery model number, each letter of the alphabet and the Arabic numerals have a specific meaning.

Remember we talked above about the prefix and Suffixes? you can open your back cover and look at the battery type at:

For an example of SR626SW:

Prefix SR

• S=Silver oxide
• R=Round type battery
• 6=6MM diameter
• 26=2.6mm thickness

Types of electrolyte

• S=Indicates sodium gas oxide (for weak currents), where no letter indicates potassium gas oxide (for large batteries)

Range of uses

• W=usde in watches

Below is: Type of MIYOTA movement and the type of battery fitted, battery life.

Notice When Using the Relógios Battery:

When identifying the type of coin cell batteries you may have, be sure to distinguish between silver oxide batteries and lithium or alkaline batteries. Make sure you don’t throw it in the wrong bin when you throw it in, These batteries type are identified by the prefix letters:

• The first letter (LR) indicates an alkaline battery, which can be thrown in the rubbish bin.
• Batteries with the initials (CR) indicate lithium batteries and (SR) indicate silver oxide containing heavy metals, which can’t be thrown in the rubbish bin.
• Batteries marked with the letter (P) are rechargeable and contain heavy metals and/or mercury, which can’t be thrown in the rubbish bin.

FAQ on Watches Battery:

When I want to replace a watch’s battery, What battery should I buy?

When you want to replace a watch’s battery, the specific battery you should buy will depend on the brand, type, and style of your particular watch. To determine the correct battery for your watch, you can follow these steps:

1. remove this cover to access the battery.
2. Identify the battery type by reading the serial number on it.

It’s worth noting that if you are unsure or uncomfortable with replacing the battery yourself, it’s always a good idea to take your watch to a professional watchmaker or a jeweler who can assist you with the battery replacement process. They will have the expertise and tools to ensure a proper and safe battery replacement

What tools do I need to change a watch battery?

The screwdriver, case opener, and battery are the essential tools

The sealing glue, sealing plastic o-ring,

Watch Battery Replacement: How to Remove and Replace A Watch Battery

How do I know which battery fits my watch?

If you don’t know what kind of battery your watch has, either ask the seller or open the back of the watch to see the battery type

What is the most common watch battery?

The most common watch battery used in watches is the button cell battery. Button cell batteries are small, round, and flat batteries that provide power to various electronic devices, including watches. They are commonly used due to their compact size and ability to fit within the limited space of a watch case. The most popular brand for watch batteries is Energizer.

In terms of specific sizes, numbers, and letters, there are several commonly used watch battery types. These include

Silver oxide batteries: These batteries are commonly used in quartz watches and provide a stable voltage throughout their lifespan. They are available in various sizes, such as SR626SW, SR626W, SR621SW, and SR920SW.

Alkaline batteries: Alkaline batteries are also used in some watches and are available in sizes such as LR626, LR626SW, and LR621.

Lithium batteries: Lithium batteries are commonly used in digital and high-tech watches due to their long-lasting power and stability. They are available in various sizes, including CR2032 and CR2025.

It’s worth noting that the specific battery type required for a watch depends on the watch’s movement, design, and size. Some watch brands may have their own proprietary battery types. Therefore, it’s important to consult the watch’s documentation or refer to the manufacturer’s recommendations to determine the correct battery for your specific watch model.

While Energizer is a popular brand for watch batteries, there are also other reputable brands available, such as Renata, Varta, Sony, and Maxwell. These brands offer a range of watch batteries that are compatible with various watch models.

How do you take the back off a watch without scratching it?

Separate the tool and watch between with a cloth or with tape

How much does a wristwatch battery cost?

The best-selling watches battery on Amazon is between $5.36-9.29 per 6 units.

If you need to replace the battery, you need to open the watch’s back cover, Perhaps you need to use a different tool because each watch has a different style of the bottom cover. The three types are usually screwed bottom cover, press down bottom cover, and rotating bottom cover.

Check this post in detail if you want to replace the battery

Final

We suggest that if you need to change the battery yourself, you can change the inexpensive quartz watch battery, Buying a good cap opener, battery, waterproof rubber, or waterproof rubber ring is best. If it is a more expensive watch, it is best not to change the battery yourself, in case your watch is not waterproof after you have changed the battery. That’s not uneconomical.

See also our post:

• How to change the battery for my watch?