The Breitling Watch Source Forums

Emergency Battery Change Procedure
Copyright vic03jay 2016


Disclaimer… If you wreck your watch don’t blame me… I sacrificed my perfectly good watch so you can change your own battery.
For the record when you send your watch in for service your getting a full service, not just a battery change. The watch is completely disassembled, inspected, all parts are cleaned and refinished, new gaskets installed, adjusted and fully tested for functionality and water tightness. It’s not just a $500 battery change. It's a pro service. If you can afford it you should do it.
This is simply a battery change, nothing more. I made the procedure as detailed as I could but in reality it only takes about 10 min.
Prerequisites:
1. You must have reasonably good vision
2. You must be reasonably mechanically inclined. On a scale of 1- 10, 1 you can change a flashlight battery, 10 you can install a Supercharger kit on a C6 Corvette you need about a 2.
Tools:
1. Transmitter tester
2. Precision screwdriver set
3. Blade type caseback opener, you could use a screwdriver but it’s not the right tool for the job and may cause undue marring of the movement case back and damage to the gasket. You could use a pocket knife but I would not recommend it. Don't be A HACK. You can get a cheap watch tool kit for 20 Bucks off ebay.
4. Q tips
5. Rubbing alcohol
6. Maxell SR927W batteries for the movement
7. CR2025'S for the transmitter
8. Lint free work surface
9. Nice bright light
10. Latex exam gloves
11. Jewelers Loupe
12. At least 1 beer, I prefer XX Lager.
13. Camera, so you can take pictures and show us all how easy it was!

Procedure:

1. Thoroughly clean and dry your watch, leave the watch to dry overnight because there is a gap between the movement and the case that can still have some liquid trapped. You could try and blow it out with an air gun but I don’t recommend it. Remove the band.
2. Put on your gloves, pop your beer and take a swig.
3. Place the watch face down on the lint free cloth.
4. Select a screwdriver that fits the screw head properly. Do not use a screwdriver that is too small or you will mark the screw head, you want it to be perfect right?
5. In a star pattern start to relieve the tension on the screws, � - � turn on each screw till all the screws are completely loose. Hold the case and movement together and flip the watch over to get the screws out then place the watch face down.
6. Lift the watch up off the lint free cloth leaving the watch movement case face down on the cloth. Set the watch back down, face down.
7. Clean the watch movement. Using your q tip and alcohol very gently clean around the bottom corner of the movement to remove any trapped dirt. Do not remove the gasket that seals the transmitter. Basically you want to remove any dirt that may contaminate the sealing surface during reassembly. Because the gap between the movement and the case is so small there should be very little to clean up.
8. Open the movement. Under the 6 o clock position in the side of the movement case you will see a slot. This slot is designed for a caseback tool, not a screwdriver . With the watch movement face down on the lint free cloth place gentle pressure inward until you feel the tool is engaged then twist very slightly. The case back will disengage from the movement case. Do not push inward with the case back tool or you may damage the seal. Just be gentle and you should not have a problem. The movement case back is actually held in place with the 4 screws removed in step 5 so the only thing your doing with the case back opener is popping the gasket.
9. Make note of the orientation of the movement back to the crown of the movement for easy reassembly.
10. With the back off of the movement replace the battery.
11. Using a q tip clean any residue off the movement case back and movement sealing surface.
12. Using your Jewelers Loupe inspect the sealing surfaces for residue, clean further if necessary. If cracking is found in the gasket you need to send the watch in for a full service if you want it to be watertight.
13. Place the movement face down on the lint free cloth. Carefully align the movement case back taking note of it’s position from step 9, gently set it on the movement. Use two of the screws removed from step 5 and place them into the holes and screw them in 3 or 4 turns, this is to align the case back perfectly.
14. Press gently down on the case back until the back pops back on. You won’t need to push too hard. Take a swig.
15. Remove the screws and place the movement to the side.
16. Lift the watch case straight up and look inside the case at the sealing surface. If it’s clean you can flip the watch over, if not you need to clean it with your q-tip. You do not want any dirt falling into the watch.
17. Using the proper screwdriver replace the transmitter batteries. Do not touch anything else.
18. Clean the sealing surface of the main case.
19. Place the case face down onto the movement, press down with your finger and hold the back of the watch down while you insert the screws. Do not remove the pressure until the screws are tight. You want to keep any particles that come off the screw from contaminating the sealing surface during reassembly.
20. Insert the 4 screws into the holes and start to turn them in � to � turn at a time in a star pattern. Continue until the screws are tight. Do not over tighten.
21. Re install the band.
22. Set the watch.
23. Test the transmitter
24. Get the watch wet, you want to know if it’s water tight now not when you need it.
25. Test the transmitter again.
26. Enjoy.

Hi, I have a question.
to close the caseback have you used a press or simply the screw when you have close the watch>?

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Good to see vic03jay put a disclaimer at the top! While battery changes are usually very simple, this is still a very brave thing to do on this particular watch given a) the cost of an Emergency especially if something breaks or subsequently goes wrong, and b) the not inconsiderable fine you get if you accidentally set off the transmitter!

Just to add (and this should be fairly obvious to everyone, but just so people know), please be aware that this type of thing will immediately invalidate any warranty you have left on your watch, so just bear that in mind before you crack open the caseback. And while I can't speak for the actual simplicity (or otherwise) of undertaking this job since I've never owned or opened an Emergency, I would at the very least suggest amending step 24 to something like, "Get your watch properly pressure tested by a watchsmith before getting it wet as it could save you a whole heap of cash if there's a problem". Getting it wet is not a sensible way of testing water resistance when a decent watchsmith can do it for peanuts.

Otherwise, if you're aware of the risks (and potential cost involved) then happy tinkering...... all entirely at your own risk of course! (But it's not something I'd personally do!)

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Driver8

Site Moderator

I just love item 12 in prerequisites and step 2 in the procedure

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"It is just a matter of time!"

I changed the battery (to be onest my friend changed the battery because is a professional watch specialist). First off all I want tell you that this operation is very hard if you are not a watch maker professional because the most thing hard is open and close the back side of the movement. In any case is possible if you have power in your finger. He don't use a press because we have not one but in any case is not essential to have one. Other thing is to put a grease in the gasket. Years ago I made a service in Breitling for 450 euro and now I know they have not put the grease in the gasket. This have made corrosion round the back cover. We have eliminate the corrosion and the dirty s**t around the movement. No problem inside the chip.

This is important thing. The watch can't resist to water presurized. Is extremely sensitive to the water because if you swim it could be destroy by the water. Worst if you swim in the sea. In any case we tested the watch for the resistance to the water in a special machine without water. Time to do all things: 30 minutes. So, remember to use the correct instruments, change all batteries (Renata is the best one because is a good battery and the sized is the correct one for the movement. I use energizer for the Radio but the old one was good. I changed in any case with 2 new one), use grease for the 2 gasket and keep all the time to do your best. If you are not able to do it, ask to a professional watch specialist. He can help you and he can save your money because if you wrong something, Breitling will kill you with a big amount of money to spend for a new service plus charge for components broken like mirror, movement, electronics and so on.The problem with transmitter doesn't exist because the radio is out of your businesswhen you will change the battery. Remenber: DON'T TOUCH THE TRASMITTER.
Finally, check the radio with your black box.

I hope could be help to all people want keep his money in the poket and make Breitling service every 4/5 year. After 5 year I think is necessary a service to Breitling to change the gaskets and to test the watch, clean the electronics with a ultrasonic machine, polish the case and bracelet and clean or change the antenna caps. Only after 5 years af course. Not 2.

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I sincerely hope they don't do that, it wouldn't work too well afterwards!

why? If you lubrificate after that what is the problem?

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Electronics do not like being immersed in liquids and subjected to intense vibrations!

ok.

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Please do not panic guys. The transmitter part and quartz movement are by no means connected in any way. Zero. Changing the batteries of the transmitter is VERY easy. Your only enemy is static electricity or shirt circuiting the batterie(s) during placement.
The battery in the movement should be a piece of cake for any good equipped watchmaker if you dont want do it yourself.

The only problem could be to open the back side of the movement and after that close it.

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Quite frankly, I would do what I do with all my Breitlings, I'd send it to BReitling because I know I'd mess it up. I'd rather lose a few hundred quid than my watch.

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Breitling B-1 1999
Breitling Chrono Superocean 2004
Casio G Shock
Citizen Eco Drive AT4000-02E (for gardening)
Seiko 5 SNZG15J1
Hamilton X Wind LE

The watch and the money are yours.
I prefer send to AD every 6 years.

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